SRS Check Please

[PhilRich]

Hi,
I've just joined this forum. I recently purchased my first Trapdoor that is in pretty nice condition. The serial number is 564568. I'd appreciate a SRS check for this rifle to see if there is anything concerning it's history.

I did have it out to the range this week. It is shooting over a foot high at 50yds! It has the Buffington sight. In using the lower peep hole it is shoot more to point of aim. It will take a while to figure this one out. A taller front sight would help, but I don't want to modify the rifle.

Thanks,
Phil

[JimF]

What you are describing is normal . . . .

If you are interested only in shooting for group size, a blank (white) sheet of paper above your aiming point will do.

If you want to shoot to POA (point of aim) I’ve fabricated a taller (and wider) front sight of WOOD, then glued it to the back-side of the original front sight . . . .then sanded the top down ‘til the POA and POI (point of impact) coincided.

The glue I used was easily removed when the rifle was sold, and left NO RESIDUE to indicate anything was ever attached to the original front sight!

O’course, one must handle the rifle carefully to avoid damaging that tiny chunk of wood out in front!

[Tom Trevor]

No listing for your number in SRS.

[PhilRich]

No listing for your number in SRS.

Thanks for looking!

The rifle I have has been modified to a 25 inch barrel length, the stock shortened, along with the ramrod and nose cap to fit. The question I have is: Did the Springfield armory provide such such conversions upon request by an officer? I'm aware of the special officer's models, but this in not one of them. I was told that this rifle was modified by the armory. I was aware that the story may not be true when purchasing the rifle, I just like rifles with shorter barrels and this one is in really nice condition. It is not a parts gun.

Phil

[Tom Trevor]

The short answer is NO. It was done by the world famous gunsmith BUBBA.

[Fred]

Because your barrel has been shortened, its rifle rear sight, when sighting with your front sight, raises the muzzle of your trapdoor higher.
Also using a bullet that is lighter than 500 grains (for which your rifle was originally calibrated to shoot) will raise the point of impact.

[Dick Hosmer]

The short answer is NO. It was done by the world famous gunsmith BUBBA.

Well, not exactly, but certainly not after 1875!:1948:

[PhilRich]

What was different after 1875?

Pictures of the rilfe:
48412
48413
48415
48416
48414

[Dick Hosmer]

Prior to that date, even back into the .50-70 period - 1866 to 1872 - SA would, upon request, make up "special" rifles for officers and dignitaries, but the process became burdensome and it was decided (in 1875) to produce ONE "standardized" fancy rifle available for purchase by anyone who wanted a special arm.

[PhilRich]

My attempt to post pictures didn't work out correctly. I thought it would be in two separate posts. I'm going to order a higher front sight blade correct the POI at 100 yds.

48425
48427
48428
48429

[Dick Hosmer]

Handy little gun. Someone - but not SA - did a very nice job indeed. It was originally a M1884 Cadet rifle, type 2 with 29.6" barrel.

Were I doing it, I'd have made it just a bit longer, probably 26". It should be a fun gun to shoot!

[JimF]

. . . It was originally a M1884 Cadet rifle, . . . .

I would have thought it was originally a 1888 RRB rifle, given the high serial number, stock cartouche, and one-piece trigger guard.

[Dick Hosmer]

I would have thought it was originally a 1888 RRB rifle, given the high serial number, stock cartouche, and one-piece trigger guard.

That was my first thought of course, but then I noticed the thin wrist short comb stock! Cadets were among the last guns produced, I once owned 565115 (a pretty high number).

[PhilRich]

Handy little gun. Someone - but not SA - did a very nice job indeed. It was originally a M1884 Cadet rifle, type 2 with 29.6" barrel.

Were I doing it, I'd have made it just a bit longer, probably 26". It should be a fun gun to shoot!

Thanks for the feedback concerning the origin of this rifle. What is the significance of the number stamped on both sides of the buttstock? I am planning on having fun shooting it. I too would have made the barrel 26 inches if shortened.

I've gotten bit by the blackpowder cartridge rifle shooting bug. I now have three Sharps replicas made by C Sharps, one in 45-70, another in 45-90, and one in 40-70ss. Since getting involved in shooting these at the local club and at their matches my interest has drifted away from the more modern firearms. I do have a collection of WW2 enfields, arisakas, mosins, M1 Garand and carbine as well as the 03A3 I bought through the NRA way back when. Unfortunately I sporterized it not knowing what I now value, but have returned it more to it's original condition with the exception of a repo stock and new barrel. A while back I picked up a shortened Krag for $150 at Cabelas, just to have one to get a feel for how they handled, etc. It is a pretty good shooter, however would be an eye sore for a Krag enthusiast. I reload for all of these. For the BPCR's I'm using real black powder.

[Dick Hosmer]

Thanks for the feedback concerning the origin of this rifle. What is the significance of the number stamped on both sides of the buttstock? I am planning on having fun shooting it. I too would have made the barrel 26 inches if shortened.

I've gotten bit by the blackpowder cartridge rifle shooting bug. I now have three Sharps replicas made by C Sharps, one in 45-70, another in 45-90, and one in 40-70ss. Since getting involved in shooting these at the local club and at their matches my interest has drifted away from the more modern firearms. I do have a collection of WW2 enfields, arisakas, mosins, M1 Garand and carbine as well as the 03A3 I bought through the NRA way back when. Unfortunately I sporterized it not knowing what I now value, but have returned it more to it's original condition with the exception of a repo stock and new barrel. A while back I picked up a shortened Krag for $150 at Cabelas, just to have one to get a feel for how they handled, etc. It is a pretty good shooter, however would be an eye sore for a Krag enthusiast. I reload for all of these. For the BPCR's I'm using real black powder.


You're quite welcome. Be careful about Krags; one is usually not enough, but I'd suggest you get an original uncut one for your next buy.

[PhilRich]

A curiosity question: is there an earlier sight that is simpler and that has a larger notch like the earlier carbine sight I just looked at, that would be easier to use at moderate ranges with old eyes? That would have the same mounting hole spacing and thread size.

[Dick Hosmer]

A curiosity question: is there an earlier sight that is simpler and that has a larger notch like the earlier carbine sight I just looked at, that would be easier to use at moderate ranges with old eyes? That would have the same mounting hole spacing and thread size.

Are you asking about the Krag or the TD? There are a multitude of sights for either. Hole spacing and thread size are the same (within makes) but screw shapes and lengths differ. I've never checked to see if a Krag sight would mount on a TD, or vice-versa. The barrel tapers are probably different - I've seen a Krag sight on a TD, but did not look into it any further to see whether it was Bubba'd, or just screwed right on. Well, it HAD to have been Bubba, but I don't know the details! :1948:

[PhilRich]

For the trapdoor. I have a replacement front sight blade ordered, one that is extra high to modify to register. I was looking at a rear sight on Ebay, It appears that the distance between screws is slightly different, as he had a ruler beside the sight showing the distance between them. I could get it and just use one screw and blue loctite. Most likely I will just keep working the Buffington. I'm used to the tang peep sights on my Sharps repo's. I don't want to drill the stock to put one on the Trapdoor.

Actually, the Krag, modified as it is, shoots to point of aim.

[Dick Hosmer]

Well he either missed a bit on his ruler/tape placement, or there is some camera distortion!!

After over 50 years of collecting those guns, I can tell you that the hole spacing IS the same!

The Model 1873 (fairly common) and Model 1877 (scarce and expensive) sights have a rather crude open notch and are not adjustable for windage, whereas the Model 1879 "Buckhorn" (also common) sight has a better-defined notch and IS adjustable for windage - though it is only a friction-tight connection. Any of them (with the proper length and shape screws) will fit your barrel, like a glove.

[PhilRich]

For the trapdoor. I have a replacement front sight blade ordered, one that is extra high to modify to register. I was looking at a rear sight on Ebay, It appears that the distance between screws is slightly different, as he had a ruler beside the sight showing the distance between them. I could get it and just use one screw and blue loctite. Most likely I will just keep working the Buffington. I'm used to the tang peep sights on my Sharps repo's. I don't want to drill the stock to put one on the Trapdoor.

Actually, the Krag, modified as it is, shoots to point of aim.

[Carlsr]

Also, one trapdoor is not enough :icon_lol:

[alfajim]

I picked up a stock from a seller in Florida that is modified just like yours shortened with cap and both barrel bands plus a sling swivel on the bottom of the stock like the

experimental carbine. Got it to make a shooter so as to not shoot the 1879 heirloom I got from my Grandfather from his Dad. Also picked up a brand new barrel and receiver that

had been damaged with a cutting torch when some of them were sold new at sometime have repaired the damage just need to finish the machining back to original shape.