original trapdoor shooters

[REELFOOT REGULATOR]

Howdy Pards, I have an original 1884 trapdoor with a buffington rear sight. Have not shot it much at this time but it seems to shoot very high at 100 yrds.Would like to deer hunt with this fine rifle, is 200 yrds the minimun sighting distance for this rifle with original sights?
Thanks for the response
                                 Reelfoot Regulator

[Terry]

If you are not duplicating the original black powder load, then the sights will be off.  I have a '73 carbine with a taller than original front sight to bring it back into alignment with current loadings.

[Old Top]

Reelfoot,

Go to Trapdoor collectors . Com and they have several threads covering the sights on these, the sight was set for 250 yards and with the trajectory of the 45-70 it will shoot high at anything closer then this.

Old Top

[Advertising]

[Bad Flynch]

Go to Wolfe's Western Traders http://www.the45-70book.com/ .  You want their book and their set of five loading dies so bad you can taste it (you just don't know it yet). This is the book for any original Trapdoor or any rifle set up and chambered like it. The book will explain everything you ever needed to know and then some.

[chas_harsbro]

I bought an 1884 .45-70 this summer. It shot about 15" high at 100 yd. with a 405gr bullet and 60gr FFG. I bought another sight (extra tall) from S&S firearms in New York and cut it down so that it is now zeroed at 125 yd. I meant to zero at 100 but overfiled the sight when I was BS-ing at the range! The sight was something like $15 or so and I saved the original. Works great!

S&S Firearms:     718-497-1100. 74-11 Myrtle Ave. Glendale, NY. 11385

Have fun,

Charlie Harsbro