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Though not a particularly fast calibre, the 45-70 is well suited for short range hunting on big game a fact not missed by the ammunition industry, with most US companies offering soft and hollow point loads specifically aimed at hunters. I used this gun for Quigley competition until I bought an 1874 Sharps Silhouette (Pedersoli again), which was more suited to the event! Years later, I picked up a second hand, H&R Little Big Horn Commerative model when I started Western shooting, with my final example being Pedersoli’s excellent repro of the Officer’s Model.
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I admit to being a bit of a Trapdoor fan and bought my first reproduction a Harrington & Richardson (H&R) Cavalry Carbine way back in 1976 for the simple reason I thought it looked good! I had fun with that gun, which probably set me on the path of both the calibre and the generic black powder cartridge rifle (BPCR).
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History tells us that Tom Custer, General George Armstrong Custer’s younger brother, who was an officer in the 7th Cavalry, carried one at the Little Big Horn. As the name suggest, this was made for private purchase by officers that gave them a similar rifle that used the same ammunition and could be used for hunting. One of the most useable variants was The Officers Model with better sights, finish, a longer 26” barrel and single-set trigger. However the Trapdoor saw service in the Spanish/ American war in Cuba by reservists. The Trapdoor was further modified in 1884 with a new (Buffington) rear sight that gave windage and elevation correction and the rifle soldiered on until replaced by the 30/40 Krag-Jørgensen in 1892, which was the US’ first smokeless cartridge. Carbines were carried in a socket when on the saddle, though still attached by the sling. This allowed the empty gun to be dropped without losing it and access to sabre or pistol.
BEST 1873 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR REPRO BLACK POWDER FULL
The 1873 was issued as an Infantry Rifle, with full forend and 32 ½” barrel and a Cavalry Carbine with a shorter 22” barrel and half-length forend, with a bar and ring on the left that a cross belt sling attached to. A change to brass remedied this! Custer’s 7th Cavalry were one of the first units to be issued with the 1873 Carbine, when they rode into history in 1876 at the Little Bighorn! Like many military rifles, the Trapdoor had some initial problems, perhaps the worst was the copper case used on early ammunition could jam in the chamber and the extractor had a tendency to shear through the soft rim. I believe it was always a one horse race and as the gun and ammunition had already been developed, why waste it? After all, the decision makers would not be the ones to use it! Good or bad? Unsurprisingly, the Trapdoor was picked, as the board decided that reliability was preferable to capacity. Firing a 405-grain lead bullet, there were two loadings 70-grains of blackpowder (rifle) and a 55-grain Carbine load to reduce recoil in this lighter model.Īt the time, the 1873 was one of the contenders for the US Ordnance Board trials to determine a new rifle, with many makes, both single shot and repeater considered. The prototype was called a Trapdoor due to its breech system and in 1873 after a number of prototypes and changes it was adopted as the standard US service rifle and chambered in 45-70 Government. The side hammer was retained as was the trigger and stock and hey presto a new/ old service rifle. Allin devised a simple conversion taking a 1863 Springfield musket, the chamber area was modified for a flip up breech block with blade-type ejector to facilitate breech loading. 58” muzzle-loading rifled muskets of the American Civil War. The Trapdoor Springfield has its roots in the.