New rifle

[Septicdeath]

I usually post in the Airgun gate. It's been my passion for many years. But also have several black powder guns. My new find from my friend that owns a pawn shop. I couldn't pass it up. It's in great condition and was a steal. Can't wait to shoot it.

 

[Mike 56]

Wow, nice rifle enjoy. Go out and shoot it and report back.

 

[Dave T]

Any chance of your telling us what it is? Inquiring minds want to know. (smile)

Dave

 

[robhof]

Any chance of your telling us what it is? Inquiring minds want to know. (smile)

Dave

Looks like a Zuave!

 

[Flintshooter]

Trapdoor Springfield folks.
Does it have the Buffington rear sight? Hard to tell from the picture

 

[Septicdeath]

1887 Springfield 45-70 condition 95%

 

[Septicdeath]

Has the sight. Its folded down in picture.

 

[SlowFuse]

Great looking rifle.

I never see stuff like that in pawn shops around here!

 

[woodnbow]

Here either. I did buy a Renegade .54 for less than 100 bucks once. It had rust in the bore and the set trigger wouldn’t fire the rifle. I adjusted the trigger and scrubbed up the bore, gave it to a friend for his first muzzleloader.

Never found anything like the posters trapdoor let alone at 95%!! It pays to be lucky and in the right place, at the right time... I hope he doesn’t come back and tell us he gave a couple hundred dollars for it!

 

[TheOutlawKid]

I dont want to know if he paid a couple hundred or even a little more...id be kicking and stomping and flailing my arms around cursing the sky and asking god why i never have that kind of luck.

 

[Septicdeath]

No it cost me $999 but similar guns in this condition go for $1500+
Bought 80 rounds and will shoot it this weekend.

 

[Acorn Mush]

Beautiful rifle and a most fortunate find. Congrats!

Have you ever fired a .45-70 before? If not, you may want to consider using a pad on your shoulder if shooting from the bench. That ol' 405-grain bullet tends to really wake things up on both ends of the rifle when it departs. This is of course merely a guess, but I'm thinking you'll probably be bringing a whole big handful of ammo back home with you to use on a subsequent trip to the range.

Best of luck to you. Enjoy your new toy!

 

[Septicdeath]

Yes I have fired one before. They are a cannon. I will leave it and not use a butt plate. I like my antique guns kept original as possible.

 

[AlexanderA]

Trapdoor Springfield folks.
Does it have the Buffington rear sight? Hard to tell from the picture

Yes, that's a Buffington.

1887 Springfield 45-70 condition 95%

You are not necessarily limited to black powder loads. As a late Trapdoor in good condition, this should be safe with factory .45-70 smokeless loads. These are made with Trapdoors in mind.

 

[Septicdeath]

The loads I purchased are the smokeless.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Go to black powder or a substitute, it makes a difference in how the rifle thumps you, I shoot 350 grain bullets in my rolling block as well as the 405 s, loaded some with smokeless and quickly went back to the black. If you load with 777 keep in mind it doesn't like to be compressed much.

 

[dave951]

Original Trapdoor? Don't shoot much jacketed in it as the steel was designed around a lead bullet and black powder. The rifling is designed around black powder and a lead bullet. It's safe with the low power loads only.

If you're going to play with black powder, stick with the REAL stuff as the modern subs are extremely corrosive and old soft steel won't fare well with a steady diet of the subs. And no, it's not elitist to advocate the real stuff over a sub. If you can't get the real stuff local, then get with some others who ship and split the hazmat fees. Otherwise, don't screw up a 95% condition piece of history.