H&R Trapdoor

[SFRanger7GP]

I am running around Dallas this week working and stopped by a small gunshop in Springtown, TX. They had a like new H&R Officer Model Trapdoor Springfield that I will be taking back to Florida with me. I've been wanting one for quite awhile. I know a few of the forum members have one of the H&R replicas, has anyone tried the original black powder loadings?

I'll post pictures when I get home.

[rjohns94]

I shoot my new to me Springfield 1873 Trapdoor with BP loads. 500 grain Govt Bullet, 70 grains of Goex, .030 vegetable wad, BR-2 primers. FUN FUN FUN

[Pete44ru]

I never did, in the one I let go, back in the late 70's - just lame/tame factory 405's, since high-performance 300gr stuff was handloaded Nosler's only at that time.

They're beautifuly-finished rifles, though - I be waitin' on da pics - fer sure !
.

[SFRanger7GP]

rjohns94,
I shoot a similar load in my Sharps. My 500gr Govt bullet is actually Steve Brooks version and weighs 520gr with 1-30. I use the Fed Mag Match primer. I'm hoping this load will shoot good in the trapdoor but as light as it is I may be loading up some of the 400gr carbine loads for this rifle.

[rjohns94]

typically, the trapdoor sights aren't really on because of the loads we choose to use from the factory which don't represent what they were shooting back when they were made. Also, it was a battle rifle with battle sights, so I'm thinking the Zero was somewhere around 200 yards instead of 100. That means that they usually shoot high with, lets say, Remington green box. I found the 500 grain Govt Bullet pushed with a full measure of BP had the sights pretty much on for me, first time out. Good luck with the new purchase and I look forward to the range report and pictures.

[Ysabel Kid]

I have one, and she's a beauty. I have not fired BP through it yet - but will, probably this summer when I visit my FIL's house. He lives on a farm, and you can shoot right off the back porch!

[Old Time Hunter]

45-55-405 or 45-70-405 or 45-70-500, all were traditional ML spec back in the day, utilizing approximately FF(+1/2F)g BP loads. The original 405's were hollow base and nominally sized at .459 or a tad under, the 500 was sized at .459+ there abouts.

I am very happy with my 62.5 grains of Pyrodex RS under a .030" veggie wad and a 405 gr HB sized at .4595". Out of a '73 rifle it scoots along at around 1450fps per my chrono and just about 1400fps out of both an '73 and '84 carbine. My guess these are fairly stout loads as most factory stuff (like Black Hills and the Goex Black Cartridge) meanders out at between 1250 and 1300 fps. But, with the rifle set at point blank ('77 rear sight), my loads are right at + 2-3" at a hundred. The factory stuff is usually about 1" or so low. Therefore my conclusion is that the original 405 loads were closer to 1400 fps than 1200 fps. I am going to load some with 55 grains of Pyrodex RS and see if that puts 'em closer to the factory stuff.

I have loaded some FFg Swiss before, 70 grains, and was relatively disappointed at the consistency. 'Course that was before I had the mould for the HB bullets.

[awp101]

I am running around Dallas this week working and stopped by a small gunshop in Springtown, TX.

Springtown? That's a fair piece from Dallas...

[Ben_Rumson]

Congrats SFRanger7GP.. I always wanted the H&R Officers Model... As has been said, they are beauties... I'm not sure if it pertains to the H&R or not, but I recall reading on the net somewhere that the latch on the replicas is not the same as on original Trapdoors and don't stay locked up as good as the originals. Good luck and have fun fun fun!
Edit: Here is a link to the unlatching problems I mentioned.
http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?topic=3085.0

[Bear 45/70]

I'm in the process of acquiring an H&R Trapdoor to go with my 1889 built Trapdoor. I waited 6 years before the right H&R came along.

[Ysabel Kid]

I'm in the process of acquiring an H&R Trapdoor to go with my 1889 built Trapdoor. I waited 6 years before the right H&R came along.

Bear - and if I was a betting man, I'd bet it will be worth the wait! So, what makes the one you're acquiring the "right H&R" versus others?

[rjohns94]

post pics Bear when she arrives

[Bear 45/70]

I'm in the process of acquiring an H&R Trapdoor to go with my 1889 built Trapdoor. I waited 6 years before the right H&R came along.

Bear - and if I was a betting man, I'd bet it will be worth the wait! So, what makes the one you're acquiring the "right H&R" versus others?

It is as close to a clone to my original Trapdoor that I could find.

rjohns94, I am a picture takin' and postin' fool.

[don Tomás]

I use BP in my original TD, but lately have been using something called BlackHorn 209. You get the BP smoke and boom without the hassle of BP cleanup. (Of course there are folks here that say BP cleanup is no hassle at all and that I'm just being lazy - they're probable right!) My father-in-law loves to fire a couple of rounds out of my Trap Door when he comes to visit. Fire 1 BP round or 50, cleanup is the same. With the BlackHorn 209, cleanup is the same as for smokeless; Hoppe's #9, etc., and you don't have to immediately clean the piece.
Tom

[Ysabel Kid]

I use BP in my original TD, but lately have been using something called BlackHorn 209. You get the BP smoke and boom without the hassle of BP cleanup. (Of course there are folks here that say BP cleanup is no hassle at all and that I'm just being lazy - they're probable right!) My father-in-law loves to fire a couple of rounds out of my Trap Door when he comes to visit. Fire 1 BP round or 50, cleanup is the same. With the BlackHorn 209, cleanup is the same as for smokeless; Hoppe's #9, etc., and you don't have to immediately clean the piece.
Tom

Tom, I remmeber you telling us all about this. IIRC though, it is a might pricey. Still, to not have to rush out and clean after one shot would be nice and worth the extra money!

I was at a local gun store today and they have a "bargain barrel". It is literally a plastic trash can with "as is" rifles in it. It had a CVA Plainsman rifle in .50 caliber in it marked at $79.99. The gun must have been shot and put away without cleaning. The barrel inside was a tube of rust, and the area around the percussion nipple was also covered in an ample amount of oxidation. I offered the guy $50 cash, figuring it might make an interesting project gun for Y2K and I to work on this summer, but he wasn't interested. I will stop by in a month and do the same thing, unless someone is crazy enough to buy the rusted hunk of junk from him for what he's asking for it!

[Brian in FL]

It's been a long time since I shot any BP in my H & R Officer model Trapdoor. The load I like, because I'm just too lazy for BP cleanup, is 13 grains of Red Dot ahead of a 405 grain bullet, jacketed or cast. It shoots right well in my rifle without any filler over the powder. On a good day for me, it will do 3" for three shots at 200 yards off the bench.

[rjohns94]

Brian, that sounds like a good shooter you have there

[Brian in FL]

She sure is. I ought to take her to the range more though. I haven't shot her in quite a while. I guess I need to load up some cartridges and give her a chance to sing again soon.

[SFRanger7GP]

Here's a picture of my H&R Trapdoor Officer Model



I took it to the range a couple weeks ago. All I shot was a 405gr LFN over 26.0gr XMP 5744. It shot a big ragged hole at 50yds and under 2" at 100yds when I did my part. I can't wait to try the Govt black powder loads in it.

[Ysabel Kid]

Sweet!

[Hobie]

I wanted one when they first came out but was a poor E-2 living on base and very transient. I'm glad you've got that one.