A Targetized Trapdoor Rifle

The following describes and illustrates with photos an original 1884 rifle .45-70 Springfield which I altered to make it more .user friendly. for target purposes at range distances out to 600 yards. This particular rifle had been reblued and the stock sanded and refinished by a previous owner. Stocks dents had also been filled with an epoxy compound. Since these alterations from original condition had been already accomplished I felt no guilt in further .improving. things for my purposes. In no way do I recommend that someone alter/devalue an original collectible Springfield Trapdoor. I am obviously not a professional gunsmith. Someone who possesses equipment and skills above and beyond my level could certainly produce a work of art that would far outshine my efforts. I am, however, pleased with the intended results of my labors. The rifle shoots very well and it is more suitable for serious target work. It is fully capable of producing and has produced scores over the standard Black Powder Cartridge Silhouette course into the low Master classification. In "minute-of-angle" terms it will shoot 1.5 to 2.0 MOA consistently with a "target-tuned" straight black powder load. The trigger of this rifle is "as issued".. engagement surfaces being polished a bit and Brownel's "Action Lube Plus" moly lube applied. Pull weight is around 5-6 lbs. Unseen are randomly placed strips of common plumber's Teflon tape in the stock barrel channel to "slick" things up a bit there and allow for unhindered barrel expansion/lengthening as it heats up during firing. A large "gob" of steel-filled automotive use epoxy has been applied to the butt plate and shaped to provide a more "shoulder friendly" surface. It almost appears to be hard rubber. The shadow cast from the sun in the overall view picture gives clues as to the actual profile. Sun was over my right shoulder. Below: Overall view, rifle weighs 9 lbs 3 oz. Approximately one pound was added by installing a cast linotype rod into the stock.s butt trap hole (cushioned front and rear). Why there was a butt trap hole in this stock is unknown to me. The buttplate was solid and had no hinged cover.

Below: Front sight detail. Lyman 17A by Lee Shaver with my own larger "bubble" assembly. Sorry Mr. Shaver. my eyes are aging and I just could not see the smaller one well.

Below: Rear Sight Attachment Detail. sight is attached to a steel block inletted and epoxied into the upper stock wrist. Pardon the Phillips head machine screws!

The rear sight is an "eastern European" made item purchased from Dixie Gun Works about mid-1997/98. The sight is mounted to parallel the angle made by the original Buffington sight which is offset slightly left to compensate for gyroscopic bullet drift. Below: Several views showing "pistol" grip knob and other details.. Note clearance between hammer at full cock and right windage knob on Soule sight. I may at some future date inlet the sight base deeper into the stock to permit lower sight elevation. Sight must be almost "bottomed" at this time to "zero" at 200 yards.

Below: Two views showing partial fake cleaning rod glued (Automotive "GOOP") into rod channel. Band is pulled forward to reveal tip of rod. Forward three inches of "rod" is not glued and is bent downward to put slight pressure on inside lower surface of band to hold barrel positively in contact with stock.

I hope this has all been interesting and enjoyable.

John Ryckman