1873 Trapdoor Springfield Carbine

This review celebrates the 150th anniversary of the iconic Trapdoor Springfield rifle, chambered in .45-70. It details the evolution from muzzleloaders to breech-loaders, comparing carbine and rifle variants and discussing historical ammunition issues like copper case expansion. The video highlights the rifle's significance in the American West and its mechanism, noting its service until the adoption of the Krag-Jørgensen.

This review details the evolution of the Springfield Trapdoor rifle, from the 1861 muzzleloader to the 1870 .50-70 model and the later .45-70 variant. It highlights the Allin conversion's significance in modernizing surplus firearms and discusses the historical context of these rifles, including their use by Geronimo and their presence in frontier conflicts. The video also provides a close examination of Geronimo's personal 1870 Springfield rifle at the Arizona Historical Society.

This review details the First Pattern 1865 Allin Conversion, the initial Trapdoor Springfield variant. It highlights the post-Civil War need for breech-loading conversions of surplus .58 caliber muzzleloaders. The design by Erskine Allin involved cutting the barrel to insert a breech block, initially using a .58 rimfire cartridge before later models adopted .50 and .45 caliber rounds.

This video examines an experimental .30-40 Krag chambered Trapdoor Springfield, a reproduction used as a baseline in 1890s US Army magazine rifle trials. Despite its appearance, it featured unique sights and a smaller bore. While surprisingly accurate, the Trapdoor action proved unreliable with high-pressure smokeless loads, leading to its limited adoption.

This video provides a direct comparison between two iconic Springfield rifles: the .45-70 caliber Trapdoor Springfield and the .58 caliber Civil War-era Springfield Rifle Musket. The description highlights the comparison aspect and mentions the caliber of each firearm, indicating an analysis of their historical significance, design, and potentially their performance characteristics. The content is presented by Hickok45, a well-known firearms personality, and is filmed on his private range with an emphasis on safety and responsible gun ownership.

The Model 1870 Trapdoor Carbine represents a rare and significant step in US military firearm evolution, being the only Trapdoor carbine produced in .50 caliber before the shift to .45-70. Its design incorporated mechanical improvements over the 1868 model, such as a wider breech block opening angle, and featured distinct carbine elements like a side-mounted sling bar instead of swivels. With only 362 units manufactured, its extreme rarity makes it a highly prized collector's item for enthusiasts of early breech-loading firearms.

This short showcases the historical 1855 Springfield rifle musket firing a .58 caliber Minie ball. It demonstrates the traditional muzzle-loading process with black powder and a percussion cap. The video highlights the satisfying impact on a gong, offering a glimpse into historical ballistics and firearm handling.

This review covers the Uberti reproduction of the 1860 Henry Rifle, highlighting its historical significance as the first successful lever-action. It details the unique loading mechanism, design flaws like the open magazine, and its evolution from Volcanic Arms to the Winchester 1866. The video demonstrates its rapid-fire capability and discusses its legacy as a precursor to modern lever-action firearms.

The 500 S&W Magnum, built on the X-frame, is a handgun designed for extreme power, dwarfing the .44 Magnum. It demonstrates significant recoil and impressive penetration capabilities, capable of passing through over 2,100 pages of a medical textbook. While not ideal for precision shooting due to blast and recoil, it serves as a powerful novelty or specialized hunting tool.

This video features a detailed look at a Mauser Kar 98K BYF 43, showcasing its historical significance and practical performance. Hickok45 demonstrates its accuracy on steel targets, discusses its all-matching condition, and explains the functionality of stripper clips for reloading. The review also touches on the rifle's historical context, the Mauser bolt-action design's influence, and the 8mm Mauser caliber's characteristics.