are there any trapdoor experts here?

[sac]

Hello,

I have a 1873 Springfield trapdoor that was a rifle originally, but sometime over the years along time ago someone cut the stock and barrel down and the barrel has no rifling. I don't mean not good I mean not there at all. I thought maybe it was a forager but found out they where 1881's and only have a bead front sight, mine still has the rifle rear and a aftermarket front sight. I did read in a 1902 sears roebuck that someone was making them into 20ga. So it is a mystery to me as to what I have.

What ever it is its in good condition, now what to do with it. I tried to sell it at the last gun show I was at but no luck, so I guess I would like to find someone to re barrel it so I can shoot it. Any ideas.

Thanks Scott

[Don McDowell]

Have someone stick a liner in it, might be as good of an option as rebarreling.

[Chill Wills]

Can you post a few pictures?
That would help and some of us that didn't get through the 8th grade like to look at them.
:kidding:

[bob208]

a liner would be the best way to go. the right one could even put it back to rifle length.

[M-Tecs]

John Taylor on this forum does this type of work.

http://www.johntaylormachine.com

[sac]

I will get some pictures up tomorrow, just got off work from taking inventory.

[johnson1942]

do as they all say, reline the barrel. it will shoot better than a new cut barrel for it.

[StratsMan]

I second the recommendation of John Taylor... He just sleeved the chamber on my Trapdoor, and it came back a shooter. Cost of a full barrel sleeve will be up there, but I think these guns are worth it...

[varsity07840]

Ebay usually has a number of barreled actions and or barrel/receivers. If you have to reuse your breech block make sure that it is compatible with the receiver. A low arch block will not fit in a receiver intended for a high arch without grinding and filing.
trapdoorcollector.com is also a good source.

[Nobade]

Since it is already cut on, you have the perfect opportunity to build the custom rifle you have always wanted! Relining a trapdoor is not an easy thing, as normal 45 caliber liners are about the same size as the barrel. The only one I know who can do them right is Bobby Hoyt, he bonds in a very thin liner and then bores/rifles it once it is installed. Of course you could install a new barrel, and it doesn't have to be a 45-70, it could be any suitable cartridge. And then there is stock work, make it whatever pleases you. Personally I have been thinking a Gemmer style trapdoor chambered for 38-55 would be a fun thing to build if I had something to start with like you do. Make it look like a full stock plains rifle with set triggers and the whole works. Lots of possibilities that you can do with your gun kit!

-Nobade

[M-Tecs]

My favorite TD is a rebarreled 1884 styled after the Officer model.

http://www.texas-mac.com/Relining_a_Springfield_Trapdoor_Rifle_Barrel.html

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?161721-Relining-a-Springfield-Trapdoor-Barrel

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?109731-1884-trapdoor-needs-barrel-reline

[sac]

186446Here is a picture of it, thanks for the great ideas. Sorry I don't do pictures well.

[Nobade]

Nice! That would be a good way to build it up also.

-Nobade

[hiram]

http://www.ssfirearms.com/search.asp

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/shooterstext.html

[elk hunter]

Years ago I bought a trapdoor carbine that Bannermans had removed the sights and sling bar from and put a thin brass liner in the chamber so it would shoot 2" 12MM/410 shotshells. I was lucky in that it still had the rifling intact so I pulled the sleeve and put correct sights back on it and now have a decent shooter. If I had yours I would install a liner put on a period correct front sight and shoot it like it is.

[sac]

Thanks guys you have given me some options I hadn't thought of.

[KCSO]

Option #2 Take off the back sight and bore and hone it to 28 Ga and have a neat forager gun.

[sac]

Tried to get ahold of Bob Hoyt and machine say he is closed for six weeks and Taylor machine's voice mail is full, anyone else to try for barrel relining?

[Don McDowell]

Steve Rhodes at Arizona Sharpshooters.com, Signal Mtn. Gunworks Roundup Mt, Sulphur Gulch Gunsmithing in Parker Co, Wyoming Armory Cody Wy, just to name a few.
But any gunsmith worthy of the title ( not to be confused with a gun parts changer) should be able to do it.

[sac]

thanks Don

[Don McDowell]

Ubetcha. Hope you can get that rifle up and running.

[Lead pot]

A lot of the TD had the rifling cleaned out for shooting shot shells. they are great for birds and rabbits. If your a hunter I would leave it as is.
I know a guy that shot trap using one and he did not give up many clays in the .410 caliber his shot.

[RobertS]

Is there any chance the rifling grooves could simply be filled with lead from insufficient lube? I'd try some de-leading techniques before I spent money on other stuff. I picked up trapdoor that had what appeared to be worn rifling near the muzzle but turned out it was lead and visually it looked clean and shiny.