I'd like to pick up A Springfield Trapdoor in 45-70. I shot A friends at A long distance shoot and we really had A blast. Are there certain serial# or model of one's that are better or to look for? I just want A shooter, but they still seem to be pricey.I  Any help would be appreciated. I 've learned alot from this forum, Thanks, Pete

Pete--

Also visit (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) The owner will talk to you on the phone and answer you questions honestly.  He has many models, rifles and carbines, in stock and listed for sale.  Photos of many of the weapons can be viewed online, also, giving you a feel for what a $700--$800 on-up trapdoor looks like.  I bought my Trapdoor from Martin B. Redding here in So Cal for $995;  the bore is beautiful, all of the cartouches are nice and crisp, the color cased breech and breech block are still pretty, and there's some original blue on the barrel.  I've seen similarly conditioned rifles at the Stockade in Orange County, CA, similarly priced.  Expect to pay much more for the carbines, in any kind of decent shape--the "romance" of the cavalry them pricier, even though Trapdoor rifle-armed infantry also engaged in combat during the Plains Indian wars, and many rifles were used by volunteer troups in the Spanish American War.   

My trapdoor rifle came out of the Springfield Armory in December, 1889, and has the Buffington sight.  These sights were beautifully crafted, and if you have middle-aged presbyopia, you'll appreciate the peep on the ladder.  Carbines weren't made with good rear sights like these. I got a front sight blank from Trapdoors Galore (& other parts, including a pristine bayonet), and shaped it to match the contour of the original, but to sit quite a bit higher.  The front sight is now much more visible, and the modified sight brought my point of impact down to within acceptable limits at 100 yards. (Yes, of course I saved the original sight!)

I shoot a cast lead 405 grain bullet over 38 grains of IMR 3031, with nice results.   
Even though I bought mine as a shooter (I can't afford guns that I can only hang on a wall and look at), I would not take steel wool to mine, due to the historical connections of these rifles.  Mine is only 10 serial numbers away from a rifle known to have gone down with the USS Maine.

As far as love goes, I agree with Jerry--love is not too strong a word for these rifles. 
Borrow or buy a copy of Frank Sellars' book on the Trapdoor, for an historical treatment of the weapons, and lots of detail on model and accoutrement variations.

Hope this is helpful--and you should hear my enthusiasm for these fine pieces of history coming through, loud and clear!
 
Tommy

Thanks for your help guys, have been gone the last few days so will start looking up all the info you have given me. Pete

...and, if you'd like to have rear apperatures of different sizes, say larger for low light conditions, (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links); has modern repro rear sight slides.  You could calibrate these with a scribe and retain the original if you ever feel like selling the rifle (if it's a good shooter, my guess is that you'll keep it).

Tommy