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Thread: 1884 Trapdoor Woods Sporter

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
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    248

    1884 Trapdoor Woods Sporter

    When I got this Trapdoor rifle the barrel was already cut to 24" and the stock had been cut back to a stub and there were no sights. I attached a front sight base with JB Weld and a Krag 1902 rear sight with one screw just to try shooting it and then put it away for awhile. Last year I took it out again and looking at it the barrel seemed a bit gangly for the shortened stock so I checked out the proportion of barrel to stock of the Trapdoor Carbine and decided to cut the barrel back to 20" to get the same look and better handling. The barrel was filed flat and an RCBS chamfering tool used to clean up the crown.

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    To replace the temporary rear sight I made a simple sight that would use the tang screw and not require any further alteration and would work nicely in the woods.

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    An old feeler gauge body was used for the forward portion with the pieces held together with JB Weld and the elevation screw and one of the thicker gauge fingers allowed flex for the adjustments to be made. A Williams sight eyepiece is held in place by two size 00 faucet washes that were softened a bit in a microwave to accept the eyepiece that is now held securely in place. The rubber washes also match the contour of the feeler gauge body piece. The sight is the same width as the tang and sits centered over it.

    I developed a hunting load using a LEE 459-405-HB and 24.0gr IMR4227 topped with a .75gr puff of dacron which chronographed at a comfortable 1120fps. Took it hunting in VT several days this past season but didn't get a shot. One day I met a local hunter at the end of the day and as we chatted I noticed he kept looking down at the rifle but didn't ask about it. You don't see many 20" Trapdoors in the deer woods these days but this one is definitely going back.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Lenawee County , MI
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    1,324
    I like it ! I shot a deer a couple years ago with a Werndl rifle that I brought back to life now as a 45-70. Have fun ��

    Jedman

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Monticello, KY
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    1,723
    I have one similar to yours. Nice looking rifle thanks for sharing the pics with us.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master

    pworley1's Avatar
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    Dec 2013
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    Mississippi
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    3,252
    Nice work. I love the sight.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  5. #5
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
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    Mar 2016
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    Texas
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    14,332
    Great work, Doctor. You brought it back to life. I would hunt with it too!

    Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
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    1,167
    It turned out great. You made yourself a nice little carbine there for sure. I like your ideas on the sights and how to mount them too.

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    19
    I really admire your rifle, and even more your skills and ingenuity to build the gun the way it turned out. Very nice job.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Western Colorado
    Posts
    663
    Go on to trapdoorcollector.com post the serial # of the rifle they will be able to tell you when it was made and any other info on your rifle . I just love the trapdoor 45-70 rifles .

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master bedbugbilly's Avatar
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    Sep 2013
    Location
    MI (summer) - AZ (winter)
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    5,098
    Very nice! A great looking rifle!

    Years ago, I had a "cut down" 45/70 but had no real interest in it so traded it off. Now I'm looking for a trapdoor to play with - funny how our interests change. A "cut down" (Bannerman Special) would be a fun project.

    Thanks for sharing - you did a great job!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check