S.906  Springfield Trapdoor Long Range Rifle

Anybody shot one of these a lot?  If so, what do you think of it?

Found it.

It's not realy a long range rifle more a copy of one of the conversions of issue rifles for target shooting. Thats what my favorate Trapdoor is, There are some limitations.

The Pedersoli is 45/70, has the wooden pistol grip added ,as well as a tang sight. The Stock looks issue in shape.

My # 1  and favorate Trapdoor has an Arsenal Cast steel pistol grip which helps offhand.  It's a 45/70 at while I have shot it at long range it does run out of gas at 1000 yards. It's been a long time since I shot it over the course with a 1000 yard leg but I won no prizes at long distance. 45/90 is the way to go. The big problem with a Trapdoor long range is the stock shape, all but impossable to shoot well prone.  Mine was fine offhand and sitting but 600 & 1000 it was not competitive.

I don't know how they attach the tang sight. If it's screwed to the wood like the H&R repro officers models were it's a poor set up. I had one of those and it would not hold zero.  The Arsenal long range guns had longer tangs to mount the sight. Actualy the Buffington sight on a issue rifle is not too bad as a target sight. You can make them perfectly repeatable and they have a good windage adjustment.

A true long range Trapdoor would probably not cost much to put together. There are a lot of cut up rifles around that could be converted. Stock would be the major issue but there are inletted blanks around for those rifles and if you cut one with a flat buttplate and higher comb it could work well.

I don't know what the Italian imports cost but a friend of mine just sold a real nice Trapdoor for 600 dollars. He had it priced higher but let it go at a show when he thought he had it too long.  Between 600-800 should bring a nice shootable gun.

That's all I know about it

Boats

I have no experience with the Pedersolit trapdoor. However, I did own one of the H&R Officer's models.  It was a great rifle, good looking and very accurate. However, they took some shortcuts when they copied the breechblock lever, and the locking cam would come out of alignment and the action would open up and "auto eject" when you fired it.  I have been told that when Pedersoli took over the production, they basically built them the same way H&R did.  I cant say so for sure, but I would check it out before buying one. 

   I  had a trapdoor sporter  built a few years ago, had the gunsmith extend the tang for mounting a tang sight, and I put the pewter nosecap on.  Very good and servicable cut down rifles are plentiful and cheap. I bought one about two years ago at a gun show for under $200.  I built my trapdoor for less that what it would cost to buy a Pedersoli. If you are patient and hit some good gunshows you can get  a cut down or otherwise altered rifle pretty reasonably and you will have all the original parts you need. As much as I liked the H& R trapdoor, I would choose original parts over a replica any day .  I have fired thousands of rounds through my trapdoors and never broke any part or had any problems with the original rifles. They were very well made, parts will generally interchange ( with some exceptions such as making sure you put a three notch tumbler with at three notch sear,and there are some variations in action width) . At any rate, If you make your own stock you can overcome the shortcommings of the original wood and have a great rifle. Keep us posted on your progress. Joe s

Sorry Klw

I thought you wanted an opinion on how such a rifle will shoot.

Buy a import if thats what you want

Boats

I have an H&R Officers model and two friends with them and we have experienced no problems. The three rifles are very acurate for what they are, Will shoot under 2" AT 100YDS. i WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH SOME ONE ON MY NICKLE THAT HAS HAD ONE COME OPEN. I think it would take a tremendous amount of force to get the latch past the hammer with out a lot of damage. 
Thanks for any input
Tom

Screwloose I had it happen if you want to talk about it.

Think that this problem has been fixed on later Pedersolis?

So is the solution to make sure the bolt is latched before pulling the trigger?
Tom

I was told that Pedersoli did it the same way H&R did, but I have not confirmed it. If you can find a parts schematic online someplace, that might tell you something. Otherwise, you will have to either call or write Pedersoli, or one or their distributors, or personally examine one of the rifles. If you are willing to travel to Milwaukee for the NRA convention in May, you might be able to talk to a factory rep or examine a rifle there. Joe S