Thread: The .45-70 Govt turns 150 next year

The trapdoor is a rifle that got stuck in a timewarp. When everyone else had dropped the transitional designs in favour of dedicated single shot rifles the yanks kept churning them out. I've an 1884, the "improved " model. They are basically the same thing as the 73 with small changes to the block and extractor and the wondrous Buffington sight.
It's a rifle thats fun to shoot and quite acurate even with a lighty pitted bore, but its awkward to operate compared to the martini.
Funnily enough it attracts more attention at demonstration range days than the martinis do. People see the hammer and think it's a musket.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

The trapdoor is a rifle that got stuck in a timewarp. When everyone else had dropped the transitional designs in favour of dedicated single shot rifles the yanks kept churning them out. I've an 1884, the "improved " model. They are basically the same thing as the 73 with small changes to the block and extractor and the wondrous Buffington sight.
It's a rifle thats fun to shoot and quite acurate even with a lighty pitted bore, but its awkward to operate compared to the martini.
Funnily enough it attracts more attention at demonstration range days than the martinis do. People see the hammer and think it's a musket.

Yes they stuck with the Trapdoor for a very long time despite having better options available

I guess the state arsenals were enormous and expensive and the longer a series ran for the cheaper it was

Despite its faults and early issues with extraction due to weak cartridge rims
It would seem that they liked the Trapdoors extraction power more than the rolling blocks