Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 flea market find.

[6.5x55swedish]

I just wanted to share my Flea Market find for today. It is a Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 rifle model 1873. The good news is I got if for a song... the bad is that I have since spoken to some people and while it was a steal at the price I paid, it isn't worth 1000s because it is a rifle that has been cut down to a carbine. It is also post Custer era so is not really worth much to a collector except for parts.
I am going to try and get an official appraisal next week.
Will be a great shooter though, just have to find some cowboy loads.

 

[6.5x55swedish]

Just to add a few more pics

 

[splithoof]

Mine's just like it, and resides up over one of the barn doors. I won't trust one of those to shoot.

 

[CountryUgly]

Sweet find..... Better have a 'smith give it a once over before any range time though. It is pushing a hundred and fifty years old but if a 'smith gives it a go I'd be slaying deer with that sucker....

 

[6.5x55swedish]

Yeah I had a local shop look at it today and their smith said as long as I stick with the cowboy loads or the "Springfield safe" loads that the gun is in fireable condition... He said these have been known to handle modern loads, but that it isn't really a smart thing to do. He said they do best with hand loads.

The serial number puts it's manufacture date at 1881.

 

[FROGO207]

I load with a friend to help him until he gets his own setup. IIRC we use a 305 grain lead bullet over just under the max load of TrailBoss for CAS loads. It is accurate and not too heavy for that style rifle. The data is on the IMR website.

BTW that's a great find for sure.

 

[drcook]

check out the trapdoor on this site:

http://www.treebonecarving.com/id2.html

this is what can be done with those old actions and a bit of work and investment

 

[BCRider]

I think it's great that it's "only" a shooter grade. Because now you'll shoot it and enjoy it without feeling guilty about lowering any sort of collector value.

 

[O C]

I use 14gr Unique behind a 305gr LRN in a 1885 Hi Wall, sends it out at 1400fps. 70gr of black powder sends a 500gr bullet out at 1375fps. Go slow, and it will be a hoot to shoot.

 

[CountryUgly]

That's good news and again great find now go shoot the heck out of it and post pics so we can see how the old work horse groups.

 

[Jim NE]

I agree about having an experienced repairman check them over.

I had two trapdoors given to me 25 years ago, but the neglected rust in the bore made them poor shooters so I gave them away, too. Not before I spent some money getting them to work, though.

If they're good safe shooters, then have fun. Best wishes.

 

[Iggy]

Don't underestimate the old TD. I put a new surplus barrel and a Rienhart-Fajen stock on one 30 years ago. I've taken antelope, mule deer, and an elk with it, not to mention many coyotes, badgers and other critters with it.

 

[Iggy]

Durn double taps.

 

[Fishslayer]

Finding a gun at a flea market.

Sigh... you folks in the Free States...

 

[Jim Watson]

We had a guy shooting a Trapdoor at the BPCR match this weekend.
It wasn't your garden variety Indian Wars Army Surplus, though.
He had accumulated enough parts to assemble a replica of the Gemmer Hawken styled Trapdoor. Very handsome and a good shooter.

The Trapdoor is a subtle and well thought out design, even though it started out as a way to get some use out of obsolete Civil War rifle muskets.

 

[Slamfire]

Why don't I find these deals?

 

[StrawHat]

The Springfield Single Shot Rifle is a great firearm. I reload mine with black powder and lead but used to use smokeless loads in the 45-70 version. The original ballistics are hard to improve upon, they have accounted for all the game on this continent. Have fun with it.


By the way, whoever reassembled your carbine put the barrel band on backwards. The open end of the U points toward the muzzle.