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?
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?
R J Talley
Teacher/James Madison Fellow
I'd give Lee Shaver a call and see what he could do.
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.
Last edited by Alasgun; 02-06-2022 at 09:10 PM.
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
Last edited by M-Tecs; 02-07-2022 at 03:28 AM.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
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.
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
Last edited by M-Tecs; 02-07-2022 at 02:00 AM.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
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.
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.
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