Trapdoor ftf issue:

Cold Warrior

Cold Warrior

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Vancouver Island
I've got a very nice Pedersoli/Springfield 'Trapdoor' rifle
in .45-70 that's begun Failing to Fire. I was out to our range the other day to check my zero. I'd fired six rounds of new 300g factory ammo successfully exactly as expected, but the next three shots just went "click". There were no dimples on the primers. When I opened the breach block and pressed on the button that's struck by the hammer, no firing pin poked its nose from the boltface.
WTF? Has my fp broken? The Trapdoor is such a simple design, the ammo is new, and the first six rounds fired perfectly. I've got the schematic from Pedersoli, but no description of how to disassemble the breach block.
Please chime in if you've experienced this problem and you can advise. Maybe it's something I'm forgetting to check.
thx
 
Flip your breach block forward. Two screws. From the right. Lever screw , needs to be removed first. Pull lever out. Second screw right side, one holding firing pin in. With the lever removed that screw will be clear. Only two screws in the breech block.
Possible tip is broke or dirt build up. You should be able to push the FP forward before you take stuff apart. Pin will stick out the front. Should move easily forward and backwards.
FP has no spring,it just free floats.
I have an original which I shoot black powder through. When I first got mine the pin was stuck due to dirt. I now keep it well oiled with Rust Check.
 
sounds like broken firing pin from your description of pushing the top side of the pin and no visible pin on the bolt face .Check with marstar for parts and if new for warranty work from retailer ?
 
That TRAPDOOR malfunction...

Good Q, but, no, the tip of the firing pin is "MIA"!
I managed to get two firing pins online, so I'll have
a go at this long-dreaded repair tomorrow.
Thx so much for your reply.
Cheers,
Tom
 
I fix him!

I managed to get a new firing pin from "VTI" in Connectagutt, USA.
'Just in case', I ordered two new firing pins. What came in the bubble
pac was two long rods, a spring, some screws, and...one tiny firing pin.
I'll have to contact them about sending that 2nd fp. Maybe they only had the one
in stock! IDK, there was no pprwk in the envelope.
Anyway, the install was dead easy: Open the breach, and there is but one screw to remove, then there is a long rod, a small spring, and then (what remained of) the firing pin. What a wimpy, tiny pin for such a powerful buffalo rifle! I'm glad I ordered the spare.... I wonder if broken firing pins is a common occurrence on these trapdoors? I'd been shooting the 300g loads; It'll be interesting to find out what the 430g will do...!
I've yet to test fire this beauty since the repair; I'll report back after I've done so.
Thx for your replies!
CW
 
When I tried to shoot the camera, it blew it to bits!
Try closing your eyes and whispering, "There's no place like home...
there's no place like home..."
There's a saying: 'A thousand words is worth a picture.'
Hey, I'm workin' on it. ;)
 
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