How many own/shoot H&R Trapdoor Replicas from 1970's?

[ShortStake]

Gents and Madams,

See where Marsh posted his ownership of said Officer's Model made by H&R in the 1970's.

Having owned a number of the various configurations of the H&R Trapdoor models; carbines, saddle ring carbines, rifles, Officer's Model and another model with a screwed on, steel grip cap.  

All were good lookers and the Cavalry ReEnactment groups have about gloomed onto all in this part of the country.  Horse Cavalry ReEnactment Groups seem to be quite popular in this area of the south west.  Fort Huachuca in Arizona and Fort Selden in New Mexico both have active ReEnactment Groups.  Fort Bayard adjacent to Silver City, New Mexico also has quite a following during some of their annual events.

My last remaining H&R is also an Officer's Model.  With a barrel length longer then a normal carbine it is handy and fun to shoot.  Difficult to clean properly.  Spartan sights seem to work after making sufficient notes petinent to loads and target distances, even though the windage is not equipped with reference marks.   It's a "keeper", ............Not for sale, either!

Have read somewhere of the H&R Trapdoor Replica's suffering from action springing and the action unlocking itself upon firing.  Having never experienced this malady cannot confirm or deny.  Anyone so experienced?

[Larry Gibson]

Gatofeo & Marsh

I must be the idiot you're talking about.  I have both an Off Mdl and a LBH and have had the breech blocks of both pop open.  Not only with quite mild and recommended TD smokeless loads but with BP carbine loads (457124 over 55 gr Goex Cartridge).  The thumb latch on both would not stay tight.  I tried about every remidy I could think of and several recommended ones, none worked for long.  The LBH I picked up just to put the pistol grip adapter on the Off Mdl but it shot so accurately the wife figured it is hers.  I have installed M1879 rear sights on both and scribed MOA reference marks on the Off Mdl tang sight for both elevation and windage.  Also made a fold up front sight for it similar to a Beech only without the hood.  Took the tang sight off the LBH and just use the '79 sight.  The breech block was very poorly finnished and fitted by the factory on the LBH and it started popping open with in 50 rounds of BP loads.  

I replaced both H&R breechblocks with original SA breechblocks and haven't had a problem since.  Even with them "dangerous" smokeless loads.  By the way I shot several thousand smokeless loads through both of them this last summer.  Not a single problem, kind of lucky for an "idiot" eh?

Hope you don't have the problem with the breech blocks popping open.  But if you do I know an "idiot" with the cure.  Trouble is he can be cantankerous when his care and feeding of his rifles is insulted.  Probably would help anyways, he's that kind of guy.

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

Marsh

Quote; "Now LGM, I don't know you from adam!  No one here called you a idiot and I see no reason to take issue.  All I ask here on this part of the forum is for everyone to be nice to each other."  

I do thank you for the info!!

Marsh[/quote]

The "idiot" part was all "tongue in cheek" as a lead in on Gatofeo's statement; "I agree with Marsh, probably some idiot who tried to exceed the limitations of the Trapdoor's design. "  referencing anyone who had trouble with H&Rs popping open.  Besides being nice to each other we should maintain a sense of humor.  I took no issue, just like to discuss TDs and shooting them.

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

Marsh

Sounds like you've got some pretty nice shootin irons there.  What was the problem with the Remington?

"I see in your profile you are in service.  Hope all goes well for you.  How long you been in?"

Since 1964, some reserve time but active duty since '91 again, coming up on 38 years total.

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

Yup, in about 4 years they are going to throw me out.  I'll go out kicking and screaming BTW.  Started playing Army when I was 3 or 4 years old.  Will make my Mom happy when I'm out of the Army, she figures it's about time I grew up and got a real job;-)

Too bad about the RB.  One would think something coming out of the custom shop would be good to go.  Never know though, it might come back a winner.  One can always hope.  Be talkin with you again.

Larry Gibson

Dang, Larry!  You're about ready to retire!!

Well, when I got that rolling block the wood was straight grain walnut that stood out around the frame about 1/8" and was'nt matched with the metal at all.  Well, I sent it back to have that corrected and they sent it back to me a beautiful rifle!

I put about 25 rounds through it and after shooting wouldn't catch in the safety.  And there was something sounding loose inside.  Had to send it back again.  So.  Had it for 8 months and only shot it 25 times.

Gonna take a long time for me to trust the dang thing.  Probly just not shoot it any more.  Got it more or less for grands.

Marsh

[Win71]

My wife gave me a LBH Commemorative as a wedding present in 1973. I still have her and the rifle! I have hunted deer with the Trapdoor and shot 400-500 rounds, both factory and handloads black and smokeless. I was always a little leary when using the factory 300 grain loads of +/-1800 fps. I have yet to have a problem with the breech block popping open. When does this happen, from new or after a lot of use? Kind of makes a guy think about keeping it the gun safe, eh?

[Larry Gibson]

Win71

Congradulations on still having the wife and the rifle.

The factory loads I have checked are loaded to be safe at TD pressures.  Nice thing about the H&Rs is the modern steel with .458/9 barrels.  They shoot jacketed bullets quite well.  The latest Hodgdon Manual shows some pretty decent 300 gr HP loads for TDs.  Upwards of the 1800 fps of the factory loads.  While I haven't fired any in mine a friend has in his H&R and reports no problems.  He hunts with them but basically isn't a very good hunter so he hasn't shot a deer yet.  

In my earlier post you'll notice I had problems with my LBH breech block "popping open".  Have read some reports of them opening completely and auto ejecting.  Didn't happen with my LBH or the Off Mdl even with stout TD 400 gr rifle loads.  Mine just unlatched with the hammer being pushed back to the safety notch.  The BB was extremetly poorly fitted and the screw holding the thumb latch to the cam lock kept loosening.  There was a 3/32 gap at the rear of the BB between it and the receiver, ugly unfinished casting marks underneath.  Tried pinning and a few other tricks but finally just replaced the BB with an original.  I have not had a hint of trouble with mine since then.  I run a 400 gr Lyman 457124 out at 1400 fps with smokeless (1250 fps with BP).  The wife shoots up most of my 275 gr loads at 1050 fps faster than I can reload 'em.   If I was going to hunt deer with mine I would probably use a cast bullet but I wouldn't hesitate using the 300 gr factory loads if need be.  

Have seen more of the H&Rs that have not had any problems with BBs than those that pop open.  Hopefully yours is a good one.  I wouldn't sell it.

Larry Gibson

My wife gave me a LBH Commemorative as a wedding present in 1973. I still have her and the rifle! I have hunted deer with the Trapdoor and shot 400-500 rounds, both factory and handloads black and smokeless. I was always a little leary when using the factory 300 grain loads of +/-1800 fps. I have yet to have a problem with the breech block popping open. When does this happen, from new or after a lot of use? Kind of makes a guy think about keeping it the gun safe, eh?

[J.W.Neely]

I have  an Officer's  Commemorative model,  I still need an eye cup for the rear sight. I traded  for the gun a few months back and have never fired it, the thing spent it's life as a wall hanger and I don't think it has ever had a round through it.
So many guns, so little time.

[Larry Gibson]

Sgt. Drydock

Interesting assesment, hadn't heard that before.  But like the thread on the cartridge forum, we manage to learn something new every day.  Even though it may be old information.  What you say makes perfect sense to me.  I assumed that was happening because of the poorly fitted breach blocks, particularly the LBH one.  Didn't know they were engineered that way.  No doubt that is why some have the problem and others don't.

I was also glad to see Pedersoli use original milspec barrels.  However, one of the nice things about the H&Rs is their .458 standard barrels.  Works out better for those who don't cast their own bullets or even want to use jacketed bullets or current "cowboy factory ammo.  The plethora of hard cast  45-70 bullets work much better in them.  Though there are several commercial casters catering to the original TD size these days.  All the better for everyone.

Thanks again for the info.

Larry Gibson