modern repro of 1870 Trapdoor Springfield in .45-70:wavey:

 

modern repro of 1870 Trapdoor Springfield in .45-70:wavey:

First thing I thought of as well.^^^^

 

Just curious, do the repros take the modern power loadings of .45-70? Do the originals?

___________
I joined the NRA, have you yet?

 

I've shot and hunted with original trap-doors in .45-70. Neat guns, but my vote in your time frame would be a Sharps.

 

My first thought was a Martini-Henry rifle - I always have been interested in them partly due to Britain's Zulu wars.

 

I've shot and hunted with original trap-doors in .45-70. Neat guns, but my vote in your time frame would be a Sharps.

Yeap! or a Rolling Block.

http://www.goodmanguns.com/

scroll down a bit

 

As others stated above- Trapdoor Springfield or Martini-Henry. I have an 1886 mfg Trapdoor and shoot it occasionally with handloads but cannot speak for the repro 45-70s with modern loads. Have never owned a Martini-Henry but always thought they were neat. A bit harder to find ammo for unless you reload.

 

Before you sink a bunch in a trap door, get a good Mauser or Mosin bolt gun. If accuracy is a big deal to you, establish a baseline on the cheap for what you expect from anything else. I know you specifically said you did NOT want a bolt gun, if that is because you already have that niche filled, pardon me.

I would really like a good lever gun in my arsenal, but would not go antique for than, way too much bang for the buck available in a modern rifle.

If you are looking for a collectable that you will not shoot, the rarer the better. Learn the market before you invest, some pretty crappy older guns command big bucks due to their historical significance.

 

High Wall. John Browning's first design. Most beautiful gun ever made (to my eye). Get it in 38-55 and shoot the eye out of a knat at 200 meters. Knocks bears over with a single tap.

 

If, by "modern loads" you mean the high pressure, high velocity stuff the specialty shops like Buffalo Bore and Garrett sell, the answer is no, even NO!. The Trapdoor Springfield reproductions are made out of better steel, but that does not make up for a black powder design. The only thing the reproduction will do that an original won't is shoot standard smokeless loads with jacketed bullets with decent accuracy and low wear and tear.

You can get reproductions of all four models of Sharps cartridge rifles, Winchester Single Shot, Remington Rolling Block, Remington Hepburn, Ballard, Stevens 44 1/2, and Peabody that I can think of offhand.

Reproduction repeaters include about all Winchesters. There were several attempts at making Colt Lightning pumps but I don't think anybody got the bugs out. There is a repro Burgess lever action. Marlins are still in production to what is pretty much the 1893 design and look "right" if you get a blue gun with walnut stock.

If you want to look for and pay for a sound original antique, the sky is the limit, both on guns available and price to be paid.

The field is huge and I don't feel qualified to spend your money for you. Get some books, go to some CAS and BPCR shoots to see period guns in action, and make a study of it.

Me?
Winchester Single Shot "Highwall" .38-55
Miroku/Browning modern knockoff of same .40-65.
Winchester 1892 .44-40.

 

Despite what the antis think, many AR15s qualify as antique rifles.

 

High Wall. John Browning's first design. Most beautiful gun ever made (to my eye). Get it in 38-55 and shoot the eye out of a knat at 200 meters. Knocks bears over with a single tap.

High wall here too. .45-70/90 for me.

 

.22 LR was invented in 1887. I am a big fan of old .22s. My oldest are from the 1920s.

 

Get a Mosin M39. I have one made in 1894 and it is awesome. I understand this may not be what you are looking for as the receiver was made in 1894 and rebuilt by the Finns during WW2 but it's still a good rifle to own.

 

A pre-1898(?) gun does not require federal paperwork and can be shipped directly from the seller to the buyer, state and local laws permitting. A factor to consider when seeking an older gun.


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Trapdoor Springfield .45-70, Cavalry Version.

 

1873 or 1894 Winchester, rolling block Browning, or go old school Pennsylvania /Kentucky rifle. Black powder can be a lot of fun. Sharps 50-100.

 

Trapdoors martinis British sniders ( kind of the Brit equal to the trapdoor) Winchester levers. Any original should be used with black powder or equivalent loads only. Even modern reproductions still have the fundamental action design weaknesses so heavy loads in them are not a good idea either

 

I am partial to my straight pull rifles.

The swiss 1911 rifle is a nice shooter and ammo is about 50 cents a shot. (7.5 swiss) I hit 6 of 6 on a paper plate sized target at 200 yds open sight.

my 1905 ross rifle is fun too. shoots 303 brit. dont see too many of these around though

 

A pre-1898(?) gun does not require federal paperwork and can be shipped directly from the seller to the buyer, state and local laws permitting. A factor to consider when seeking an older gun. ....

And,
guns made pre-1963 are C&R. Good reason to get the license.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the pre-64 Winchester lever-actions (or other actions).
Pick an important date (your birth-date, dad's birth-date granddad's birth date, the year they bought the house, the year grand parents were married, came to America, etc., etc.) then start searching.


I have rifles, made in my birth year, to be left to each of my grandsons.
All are 30-30's

 

Sharps, in any number of Cal. Mine is a Pedrasoli 45/70....got it from a friend way back in the early 90's after the big Quigley rush. Shoots well with 405's.......Use a nice tang sight or a ladder.
My other favorite is the Henry, Henry firearms are bringing out the reproduction of the 1860 Henry in 44/40.....or you can look for the older Navy Arms imported from Italy in both 44/40 or .45 Colt.

 

modern repro of 1870 Trapdoor Springfield in .45-70:wavey:

I have an original model 1870 Springfield trapdoor, and it is cal. .50-70. I reload for it, shoots well.

 

Busted Knee- Awesome collection and great story/idea!

All great considerations, more are welcome. As of now I am thinking a falling block .45-70 or an original pre 1898 .30-30 or .44-40.

 

Sharps in one of the 45- calibers. Personally I'd go for something larger than the 70, I like the 90 and 110 myself, because you can shoot 45-70 in them in a pinch.


I also have a high wall, but IMO, its not the weapon the Sharps is......



If you really wanted an old lever gun, I'd personally look at a Winchester 1895 in 405. Thats my idea of an "antique" lever gun. Always loved the look of that gun.

 

Sharps in one of the 45- calibers. Personally I'd go for something larger than the 70, I like the 90 and 110 myself, because you can shoot 45-70 in them in a pinch.


I also have a high wall, but IMO, its not the weapon the Sharps is......



If you really wanted an old lever gun, I'd personally look at a Winchester 1895 in 405. Thats my idea of an "antique" lever gun. Always loved the look of that gun.

When I was typing that I was thinking about the .45-90 but I just wasn't sure about the availability of ammo. I want to get into reloading one day and I know that the 90 or 110 would certainly push me there.

As for the 1895 Winny, I have seen several videos over the past few months, mostly by Hickok45, and just don't like the looks of it although I am sure it may grow on me. Personally though I think I want something a little bit older than that.