Model 1873 Springfield trapdoor ejector

[JohnnyB]

hi folks,
I just acquired a very nice Springfield Trapdoor rifle. The gun is in very good shape (except some fool sanded the wood and pretty much removed the cartouches). The rest of the gun is great, bore is shiny with pronounced lands and grooves. My question is: isn't the spent shell supposed to eject completely out of the gun when the trapdoor is opened? Mine only ejects the shell just enough for me to grab it and pull it out of the breech. Maybe full ejection was a later revision. (mine was made in 1874) I could have swore the spent case was supposed to eject completely out of the gun.
Any ideas

 

[DPris]

It is.
Denis

 

[Big20]

There is supposed to be a pin sticking up at the rear of the loading trough visible when the breech block is raised. This pin has an angled face facing the barrel. The empty case "richochets" off the face of this pin. If your case does not come back out vigorously the ejector spring may be at fault.