My question to Val Forgett followed by his answer today:
>There has been something of a discussion on
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) >bin/yabb/yabb.pl, the american singls shot rifle association, about exactly how
>the current pedersoli trapdoor works.
>
>Early guns, and I had one of the rifles, would pop open and spit the fired case
>out sometimes with considerable force. I asked if this was still happening.
>The answer seems to be yes that it is a design flaw. There is, of course, a
>better explaination at the web site.
>
>Essentially the arguement is:"
>
>the problem was that force had little or nothing to do with it-the locking cam
>was retained on the camshaft by a SETSCREW-the originals were one-piece with
>the shaft for safety-on the H & R's the setscrew would get loose and the cause
>the breech to open when fired, sometimes. A very bad arrangment-i'm amazed no
>one was hurt firing them. Buy an original, don't brother with a copy. "
>
>Know if this is still true?
>
>Also on the long range target version of this rifle Pedersoli has a rear peep
>sight but placed where there is no metal. Must attach right into the wood
>somehow. Wouldn't this arrangement looses up if the gun was fired much?
Ken:
The H&R guns are far different guns than the Pedersoli one's. I remember when Dad purchased H&R and he wanted to ship the tooling to Pedersoli. Pierangelo looked at the H&R gun and told my Dad that the design was inferior and they agreed to make new tooling.
So, in short, one cannot compare an H&R gun to a Pedersoli Navy Arms gun.
On the rear sight, you are correct, it is attached to the stock. I would agree that putting a sight on wood will change its point of impact with the expansion/contraction of the wood. However, I also do noth think a Trapdoor was ever designed for long-range shooting.
If people in SASS are looking for a gun to shoot other than a Sharps or Rolling Block, we are selling original Snyders from IMA's Nepal guns. Ten-X is building the ammo and they spoke with me yesterday to tell me the gun is far, far more accurate than they expected. (i.e. 5 shots in a 3" circle at 100 yards...)
I hope this helps!
Val