H&R Trapdoor

[Paratus]

I am in the process of buying an H&R Officers Model Trapdoor Springfield and want to mount a period correct rear sight on it.

I understand the Pedersoli sights will fit the H&R but this is the only TD sight I can find listed.
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/img/AccessoriesPreview/USA%20473.jpg
USA 473 http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/?item=AccessoriDettaglio&CategoriaId=1310&lang=en


The Pedersoli Officers Model wears a different sight as below:
http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/dapenko/IMG_0209.jpg

Does anyone know:

1. If the Pedersoli USA 473 sight will fit the H&R Officers Model?

2. Which would be more correct?

3. Where I might get the one shown in the second pic?

[StrawHat]

Can't help you with the Italian sights but these sites have a good bit of info on what is authentic.

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/

http://www.trapdoors.com/

[NickSS]

The one in the first picture is the model 1879 sight and the one in the second picture is the Model 1873 sight. You can buy both sights from S&S firearms. Just google the name and their web sight will come up. They have lots of parts for original trapdoors.

[Tom-ADC]

The H&R Officers trapdoor the sight does not mount on metal tang, they are inletted into the wood and the hole to hole spacing is different.
I have one if you need a measurement let me know. Also they don't have a barrel sight mounted.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL174/1021972/18168454/370401695.jpg

[Larry Gibson]

The Pedersoli's OMs have the m1873 rear sight as shown above. I prefer the M1879 Type II or III Rifle rear sight on my H&R OM. The M1879 has much finer elevation adjustments and is also adjustable for windage. The m1879 rear sight fit the countour of the barrel ok and required the D&Ting of the 2 mounting holes. I also replaced the front sight with a Beech front sight.

Larry Gibson

[Paratus]

Thanks for your replies.

I will order the Pedersoli 1879 sight and one of these combination sights from MVA:

http://www.montanavintagearms.com/images/subs/2010_mva_combo_ft.jpg

[Larry Gibson]

Paratus

I'm not sure that Pedersoli makes/sells a M1879 rear sight, they do a M1873 rear sight. M1879 rear sights can be found, make sure you get the rifle rear sight and not the carbine rear sight if you are shooting M1873 rifle duplication loads. The carbine rear sight works beat if you are shooting 45-55 level loads. The difference between the two rear sights (rifle and carbine) is where the range graduations are in the slide. With 400 - 415 gr bullets at 1300 - 1350 fps the gradualtions on the rifle rear sight are very close out to 800 yards on my H&R OM. With the carbine M1879 rear sight on my H&R LBH carbine the same bullets at 1150 fps are also very close out to 600 yards. I expect they are close farther but i have just not ried farther yet.

Larry Gibson

[Four Fingers of Death]

My gunsmith in Sydney specialises in Black Powder firearms and ordered one in for me. I asked him about it one day and the Pedersoli rep called in the next day. He asked and they had one in stock, so he went ahead and ordered it. I would like to fit a genuine sight, but getting it out of the States is a bigggggggggggg hassle. Our customs are ok with it, but more trouble than I need at your end.

If I lived in the States, I'd be checking out original parts for the sight and breechblock.

I'm not so much interested in a precision sight as my rifle will be used for cowboy action and black powder hunting, so the Pedersoli sight be be ok.

[Paratus]

Paratus

I'm not sure that Pedersoli makes/sells a M1879 rear sight, they do a M1873 rear sight. M1879 rear sights can be found, make sure you get the rifle rear sight and not the carbine rear sight if you are shooting M1873 rifle duplication loads. The carbine rear sight works beat if you are shooting 45-55 level loads. The difference between the two rear sights (rifle and carbine) is where the range graduations are in the slide. With 400 - 415 gr bullets at 1300 - 1350 fps the gradualtions on the rifle rear sight are very close out to 800 yards on my H&R OM. With the carbine M1879 rear sight on my H&R LBH carbine the same bullets at 1150 fps are also very close out to 600 yards. I expect they are close farther but i have just not ried farther yet.

Larry Gibson

Larry,
This is the sight shown on the Pedersoli accessories site with their description below:

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/img/AccessoriesPreview/USA%20473.jpg

"USA 473
U.S. model 1879 Springfield Trapdoor rear sight, sometimes referred to as “Buckhorn” style. Used on Trapdoor rifles from 1874 [Typo ?] until superseded by Buffington style in 1884. Side ramps are graduated to 500 yards and the ladder to 1500 yards. Slide has windage adjustment."

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/?item=AccessoriDettaglio&CategoriaId=1310&lang=en

You can click on the picture on the above site for greater detail.

Am I right in thinking this is the 'rifle' sight?

[Larry Gibson]

Paratus

Yes that is a M1879 sight. Very good that pedersoli is making it. From the range markings in the photo and the 500 yard on the ramp it appears to be the rifle version, that's the one you want for the OM.

Larry Gibson