General Hints

43
LOADING AND SHOOTING INSTRUCTIONS
FOR 1873/1875 SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR
WARNING: BEFORE PROCEEDING ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE FIREARM IS UNLOADED AND POINTED IN A
SAFE DIRECTION.
See exploded view at page 21a, 22a of this booklet.
The exploded view drawing shows S
PRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR OFFICER RIFLE, but the suggestions
apply for all Trapdoor models.
CAUTION
• We strongly recommend you to practise the procedure of placing the rifle on safe
BEFORE
attempting to load and fire the rifle.
• To place the rifle on safe, slowly drop the hammer in the safe half-cock position. We strongly
recommend not loading the rifle until you are in the hunting field, or on the target range and
you are ready to shoot safely.
• With this rifle the hammer has four positions, (except the Officer model, which has three of
them, lacking of the safety position 1
st
. click):
• Fired position.
• Safe position.
• Half cock position (used to open breech).
• Full cock, ready to fire.
LOADING AND FIRING
1) Use only factory loaded .45-70 ammunition C.l.P ruled or reloaded with black powder or
equivalent propellent (Pyrodex). Ammunition used should not exceed 18,000 C.U.P.
2) Put hammer (part. # 21) at half cock. Keep finger off trigger (part. # 49).
3) Open action (part. # 15) by pushing forward and up on breech block release lever (part. # 14).
4) When open, inspect chamber and barrel to see that they are free of obstruction.
5) Insert cartridge into the chamber. Make sure rim of cartridge does not go beyond extractor
(part. # 7).
6) Close action, making certain locking block is engaged (you can see it from the position of
release lever, hammer must be able to swing over release lever).
7) Return hammer to the safe position, keeping the thumb on it, while pulling the trigger. The
hammer, in this position, should be over the release lever.
8) When ready to fire, bring hammer back to full cock.
To adjust and use the set trigger and for sighting adjustment, see section “G
ENERAL TECHNICAL
INSTRUCTIONS” in this booklet.