Any "Trapdoor" collectors or shooters here?

eos

eos

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Just acquired my 3rd Trapdoor, an 1884 Cadet made in 1890. SWP cartouched and "P" proofed on the stock.

I already have an 1873 (made 1884) and an 1877 Carbine (made 1880).

I love shooting these old guns. They can be suprisingly accurate with the right load. I'm having a buddy load sub 1300 fps loads using 405gr lead bullets which work well in the rifle but will not shoot to the carbine's point of aim. Any carbine shooters have a pet smokless load to share?

I'll post pics of my Trapdoors later this week. I'd like to see those owned by other CGN'rs as well.
 
Hi there

I am new to this forum, hope I am doing things right.

I have an 1884 Model, Trapdoor Springfield 45-70, infantry model. The stamp on the stock says 1893.
It has become necessary to sell my guns, and I am curious as to the value of this one. It is in fairly good condition. It was given to me by an uncle 30 years ago, when he was in his 80's. He had owned it most of his life.

If anyone can tell me who to contact for evaluation, I would apreciate it.
Thanks for your time.
 
I have an 1866 model with a 50-70 barrel factory sleeved into the original muzzle loading barrel. Semi accurate but shoots to one side and the sights are not adjustable. I did find that it is extremely important to use a loverin style bullet in original 50-70's because their chambers tend to be quite a bit too long for the official government style.
Also have an 1884 (I think) one that I rebarreled to 38-55 and it is a lot of fun to shoot plus extremely accurate. Trouble is that both guns have had the forestock chopped back on them.

cheers mooncoon
 
Fremont said:
Hi there

I am new to this forum, hope I am doing things right.

I have an 1884 Model, Trapdoor Springfield 45-70, infantry model. The stamp on the stock says 1893.
It has become necessary to sell my guns, and I am curious as to the value of this one. It is in fairly good condition. It was given to me by an uncle 30 years ago, when he was in his 80's. He had owned it most of his life.

If anyone can tell me who to contact for evaluation, I would apreciate it.
Thanks for your time.
Click to expand...

Any good condition or better trapdoor is worth from $900 Cdn. up
 
mooncoon said:
I have an 1866 model with a 50-70 barrel factory sleeved into the original muzzle loading barrel. Semi accurate but shoots to one side and the sights are not adjustable. I did find that it is extremely important to use a loverin style bullet in original 50-70's because their chambers tend to be quite a bit too long for the official government style.
cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...

I have a original 50-70 with really beautiful rifling. I use a Lee (#50255) bullet mold that comes out right around 400gns using wheelweights. With 25gns of 4198 (if I remember correctly) & one square of 2 ply toilet paper for a wad it shoots right on target, better than I can at 100yds :redface:
 
While I really like the trapdoor....I wonder why it(or its clones) are never used to win or even compete in Long Range tournaments like BPCR Silhoutte, seems to me that they could be made to shoot as well as the Sharps, highwalls, and Ballards, CPAs, etc.
 
Good question, since when it was used by the military 1000 yd shooting was normal. (Of course the trajectory would make a rainbow look small);)
Nevertheless it was fired at that range and should be quite adequate at shorter distances. the 1884 Buffington sight is adjustable for windage.
 
I think the reason is that the trapdoor is not particularly suited for a tang mounted peep sight and those border on essential for long range shooting.

cheers mooncoon
 
Original Trapdoor

I have an original 1884 model with rod bayonet. As a young tee-ager in 1943 I hunted with it. A neighbor said he had some ammo I could have and he gave me nearly two boxes of Winchester, 405 grain, in two different style boxes, which I still have with some shells. The original sight folds and telescopes up to 4.5 inches. Sights are 26 inches apart, so I calculate this would make it shoot 52 feet high at 100 yards. (621 minutes of angle) The marks on the sliding sight are marked 20 at this hight, which may be 2000 yards. The markings, start out at 1, with 2 being .1 inch up, which would give it 13.8 minutes of angle. The numbers get farther between as the sight goes up, with the 10, which I believe represents 1000 yards, at 1.56 inches up, being about 215 minutes of angle. This seems about right to me, as if my memory is OK, a 303 with militaray ammo requires 48 minutes of angle for 1000 yards.
Interestingly, the sliding sight is angled left as it rises, to compensate for the bullet walking its way right across the sky, due to the spin. This sight, which has a "peep" for aiming through is probably far superior to a tang, which has no compensation for the bullet working its way sideways in flight.
 
Buffington Sight

Murf said:
H 4831. It sounds like you are describing the Buffinton sight.
Here is a bit on this sight.


http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/shooterstext.html


The info on this sight is about 1/4 of the way doen the page and is in black on white so it is easy to scroll down to the article.
Click to expand...

Murf, Thanks a lot for the info. Mine is a Buffington, exactly like described in the drawings, and I certainly didn't know that before! That is a tremendous web sight for Springfield Trap Doors.
Where in Sask, are you. When I said I hunted with that rifle as a young teenager, the area was about 25 miles north east of Nipawin. You could leave me a private messsage with it, if you like.
 
Just found this post.
I have been collecting U.S. Springfield since the early 80's. Havr displayed parts of the collection at local and regional shows till about the late 90's. Unfortunately, I have sold most of the stuff but kept a few choice pieces.
My first 1884 rifle...a cherry with razor sharp inspector marks.
An 1877 rifle in nearly unfired condition.
An 1865 First Model Allin's conversion, 58 rimfire.
an 1866 Second Model Allin's Conversion, 50-70.
An 1868 rifle 50-70, another excellent piece.
Still have the 1881 Forager shotgun, one of 1376 made it will be going up for sale very soon.
Need to check the rack to make sure thats it.
Plus, the Krag rifles, 1903's etc.
Been focusing on military uniforms and equipment from 1860 to 1950.
Good to hear there are more TD collectors out there.
Cheers
 
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