H&R Trapdoor

[omgb]

I need a good gunsmith who knows Trapdoors. My H&R Officer model open upon firing. I need a smith who knows this action and can mate an original breech door to my H&R gun. Anyone know of one?

[1Hawkeye]

I'd give Lee Shaver a call and see what he could do.

[Alasgun]

Id be real concerned over a trapdoor that “opens at firing”!
You’ve either got a pressure problem OR a huge mechanical problem. As a machinist of over 4 1/2 decades; i’ll tell you that anyone who could make a breech block for that rifle would want far more for it than the gun is worth. Trying to mate an original block to that action is not going to happen either. Have you contacted the factory? I’m not sure if H&R is still in business but if they are id go that way. If you have no “factory option” the next thing would be to contact Numerich gun parts corp to see if they have any parts.

[M-Tecs]

Id be real concerned over a trapdoor that “opens at firing”!
You’ve either got a pressure problem OR a huge mechanical problem. As a machinist of over 4 1/2 decades; i’ll tell you that anyone who could make a breech block for that rifle would want far more for it than the gun is worth. Trying to mate an original block to that action is not going to happen either. Have you contacted the factory? I’m not sure if H&R is still in business but if they are id go that way. If you have no “factory option” the next thing would be to contact Numerich gun parts corp to see if they have any parts.

That is a known issue with the H&R TD's. It is related to a design change that H&R did. Also, the OP is asking to have an original breech block fit to the H&R action.

The design change that H&R did was to use a locking cam as separate and distinct piece from the cam latch shaft that used setscrews or a roll pin (depending on date of manufacture). Some people fix the H&R parts, and some fit an original breech block.

Larry Gibson opted to replace the breech block with originals. I opted to repair the H&R parts. Both are relatively simple mods. Mine never open but I did the repair as a preventive measure. If you do send it out I would recommend having an original M1879 rear sight installed. Both Larry and I have done this to ours.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...p%3BR+Trapdoor

https://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/Y...num=1278855505

https://www.trapdoorcollector.com//c....pl?read=38347

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...kick-a-lid-off

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...Model-Trapdoor

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=390137

https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/in...?topic=13102.0

[Alasgun]

Well, it looks like you have another viable option now! Good luck with this! There are also plenty of good original trapdoor’s out there, you may consider.

[M-Tecs]

As a shooter the H&R's have .458" bores and no issues with shooting jacketed ammo.

I have 5 originals yet my H&R get shot the most. Haven't seen an original OM for under 30K and nice carbines start at 3K. If I find another H&R OM or LBH for a fair price I will pick it up in a heartbeat. I really enjoy the carbines or the OM's but never really developed a soft spot for the rifles. I own 3 original rifles and two cutdowns. Cutdowns still can be had for a reasonable price.

I did add an original mainspring, an M1879 rear sight, an Office Model pistol grip and a trigger job to my OM. At some point I am going to do a set trigger like some the originals.

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/...od+Pistol+Grip

https://www.trapdoorcollector.com/PistolGrips.html

https://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=C1245G

[Ecramer]

I have the Officer's Model (not for sale). I'm outside the U.S. right now, but I've always shot it using 65 grains of Goex 2f and the Lee 405 "hollow base" projectile. It's accurate enough for deer hunting. I've been thinking of having Lee Shaver put a better rear sight on it. The factory sights are good replicas of the original sights from Springfield -- but the original sights from Springfield weren't very good.

[MC One Shot]

A few times on the H&R TDs I have seen where the latch lever bottoms out on the stock thus preventing it to properly latch closed.

[StrawHat]

A few times on the H&R TDs I have seen where the latch lever bottoms out on the stock thus preventing it to properly latch closed.

The cause is the same as the popping open problem. The locking cam rotates on the shaft. Once pinned in the correct place the problem goes away.

Kevin