Picked up a Trapper

[C. Cash]

Well I made my first gunshow purchase in my life this past weekend. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It seems to be a ca. 1992-3 mfg. and in 44 mag. Looks to be fired very little. I took off the carrying handle(Bushnell scope) and am looking at reciever site options. Gonna try some Mt. Baldy Keith 250's, after I make sure i can get a dummy round to cycle.

[Borregos]

Looks nice, well done.

[C. Cash]

Thanks Borregos. I didn't get it for a song, but you just don't see these in my neck of the woods too often so I had to drop the hammer. I load for 44 in my Rugers/US Arms so it made sense. 9 Rounds of 44 mag. is my idea of a tactical rifle. I am very impressed with how they handle and hang steady on target. Hope she shoots as good as it looks/feels.

[rjohns94]

awesome. those trappers sure are nice! next up, range report! thanks

[kimwcook]

I'm debating on what lever I want to use for my saddle longarm. A trapper might fit that role nicely. Looking forward for the range report.

[C. Cash]

Thanks guys and will do on the range report! This one looks to have the factory "feed ramp" polished into the chamber face, so maybe it will tolerate the Keith bullets crimped at the crimp groove. I'm going to put my feelers out for the non-rebounding hammer parts as well....forgotten how stiff the rebounding hammer can be. But for now just to have some fun and find out what it likes......

[RIHMFIRE]

[Pete44ru]

I hope you enjoy your trapper as much as I've enjoyed mine !

Both Williams and XS Sights make receiver peep sights which utilize the two rear scope mount holes atop the rear of the receiver sidewalls.

The XS will require a much higher front sight blade - not usually needed when peeping a Trapper - because the body of the sight sits atop the base which straddles the bolt.

Both Williams peep sights, the 5D-94AE and the FP-94AE, also have a base that straddles the bolt, but the William's sights are designed to carry the peep's horizontal bar behind the base, which allows a much lower positioning, AND zeroing with the issue-height front sight blade.

[mav]

Congrats Chris. Did you get it over at the Grange Fairgrounds? What was the turnout like? I haven't made that show the last couple of years.

[JReed]

Yep I have one in .45colt and wouldn't trade it for nothing. You are gonna love yours.

[madman4570]

Very nice!
You have some very nice guns!
Can't wait to hear how she shoots!

[Ysabel Kid]

Excellent Chris! Congratulations!!!

[C. Cash]

Appreciate the kind comments and tips fellas! I am indeed very blessed with the collection I have.

Pete...yeah, love the Williams FP...it is on the Big Bore 356 Win. on the left,with an Ashley front. I have found that the best thing about the Williams is that it puts the peep closer to your eye and provides for more precise accuracy, IMHO. I had the Ashley rear on the BB for a short time, but did not get the accuracy I've gotten with the Williams. I am tempted to get the Williams again for the Trapper but hate to clutter up the left side with the saddle ring already on there, but may have to go for it anyway. Pretty is as pretty does I guess so I probably shouldn't be so concerned. The Ashley would look better and be faster on target. Still trying to decide.

Mav....yes indeed, got it at the fairgrounds. There were probably 60-70 people in the building when I was in there. I was there at noon, which means the Dutchmen had already been picking stuff over for 6-7 hours! I still cannot get used to the post Obama prices. Saw a couple of decent deals but mostly sticker shock. Lots of Winchester 37's and almost bought one as a parts gun.

[Gregch44]

Nice, I love Trappers. I have a matching set with big loop levers installed. .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .45 LC, and I have now added a .30-30. And yes, I know that I need one in .32 special. Did I mention that I love Trappers. I have 11 Winchesters in total.

[Alan Wood]

I love my ranger (trapper in cheap stock) in 44 magnum. I don't know how much you plan on shooting in one sesion but my shoulder tended to be rather tender after 50 in one range session till I put a recoil pad on it.
Alan Wood

[Bob]

I put a Lyman 66 on mine and love it. It feeds the big Lee 310 grainers just fine. You're going to love that little sweetie!
Bob

[Pete44ru]

FWIW, this is what a saddle ring Trapper looks like, Lyman peeped:



.

[C. Cash]

Very nice Pete, and thank you for the reference pic. That looks a little slimmer than the Williams. I've heard about the legendary recoil impulse of the 44 mag. in a rifle. I'm kind of a mild dude when it come to loads...feel that a med-large diameter bullet moving at a moderate speed will suit my needs. Accuracy is more important to me than end to end penetration on a Bull Buffalo. Some 310 Gr. Camp/Hog/Bear Defense loads would be nice to work up though. Appreciate the input fellas!

[Blaine]

I'm so sorry you got stuck with a hunk of junk like that.....I will give you 200 dollars for it to ease your pain....

[J Miller]

Congrats on the .44 Trapper. My .45 Colt Trapper also has the throated chamber:

Extractor cut cropped web.JPG

It will feed and chamber any bullet shape, any weight, as long as the COAL is 1.75" or less.
I hope your .44 does the same.

As for recoil on the heavy loads it can be noticeable , but ... you know, pain makes you more of a man.

Oh yeah, I forgot, mines got a steel Lyman 66A on it:

AE 45 - bolt face r forward a web.JPG

AE 45 - bolt face top forward web.JPG

Joe

[C. Cash]

Hey Blaine....uh, I think I'll pass! I may have something your interested in though, and will email you.

Those are great pics Joe...many thanks my friend. I was beginning to wonder if anyone else had the feed ramp on there. Had a BB 94 in 444 Win. which also had it. I am told that the factory did this to aid in feeding, which I did not know. I was nervous about it at first but then realized that the extractor groove actually goes deeper. I am glad this one has it, based on your experiences with feeding. The Lyman looks good on those.

[Nath]

Nice purchase mr Cash.

Now then, my trapper and a fool proof Williams needed a taller front in 30/30! With out it the sight was down on the bolt!

Best wishes.

N.

[C. Cash]

Nice purchase mr Cash.

Now then, my trapper and a fool proof Williams needed a taller front in 30/30! With out it the sight was down on the bolt!

Best wishes.

N.

Thanks Nath!

[william iorg]

Chris,

Some of the worst thumping I have taken from rifles has been at the hands of light 44 Magnum rifles.
I prefer the Williams sight to the others for this type of rifle as you will be adjust elevation as you try different load and bullet weights. It is really too bad Lyman does not make a sight for the Angle Eject rifles as the Lyman sight is more easily adjusted in the field and easier to remove (read quickly removable) when you want to use open sights.

[C. Cash]

Great to see your post Slim. Yeah I always remembered your comments on the 44 Mag, especially since you already shoot the light Big Bores. The 444 Marlin always impressed me but I must admit I've not ever fired the 44 Mag. in a rifle. I've only gotten as far as getting my brass ready to prime as this past week has been getting ready for the Turkey opener with my middle boy. I'll have to email you about that...good fun. Should be back this week with a range report on Skeeter's load in the Trapper and US Arms Abilene.

[J Miller]

Chris,

Some of the worst thumping I have taken from rifles has been at the hands of light 44 Magnum rifles.
I prefer the Williams sight to the others for this type of rifle as you will be adjust elevation as you try different load and bullet weights. It is really too bad Lyman does not make a sight for the Angle Eject rifles as the Lyman sight is more easily adjusted in the field and easier to remove (read quickly removable) when you want to use open sights.

They do. It's the 66A. All you have to do is drill and tap two little tinsy holes for it. Gunsmiths been doing that for a couple weeks anyway. Seriously though my AE Trapper has a Lyman 66A on it. I D&T'd the holes for it myself.

Joe

[gak]

I've got a different .44 Mag experience. Having had several 20" carbine and 16" (both round barrel) trapper 92s and multiple Pre and Post 64 20" and trapper .30-30 94s, I've felt the recoil tables have it wrong.


The books show the .44 having greater "measured" recoil by at least a pound or two. To me, WRT at least felt recoil, it is the other way around. The 44's is more sharp or abrupt, shorter "cycle"--as in a .357 revo is more sharp than a .44 in terms of characteristics--I'll grant that, but much less of a "big deal" than the .30-30's ka-whomp. Neither the .44 or .30-30 are really objectionable, but comparatively speaking the .44 is lighter to me--to the degree that, .44 cost advantages aside, I consider the .44 the only "plinker" between the two.


I think I'm in the minority view on this, and that's always puzzled me, but that's been my observation over 30-35 years of both cartridges/formats side-by-side. Btw, we're talking a variety of mostly 240 grain .44 Mag loads--no cowboy stuff or Specials (in this comparison)--and mix of "standard" 150 and 170 .30-30s.

[71fan]

My 44 trapper was my first levergun, is my go-to levergun, and will be my last levergun should it ever come to that.

Mine wears a XS rear and the factory front, but I use threaded apertures in all my XS rears so I can use smaller peeps if desired.

Mine won't reliable feed SWCs loaded in 44 sp cases, but everything else feed just fine.

They are great rifles. Congrats on the addition to your collection.

[C. Cash]

Finally got to touch off a few rounds today. As usual, I was on the run but couldn't take not shooting it anymore. Frustration! First shots at 50 yards I could not get on paper, holding up or down, left or right. Fired up most of my rounds just trying to get on there. Brought it back to 25 yards and it still was not on paper! Aiming 12" down and to the left on a diagonal, I finally got in the black. Remember this is at 25 yards, with the elevator on it's lowest notch. I did not take photos of the groups as it was all over from having to aim so far off. I drove home kicking myself, thinking I had once again bought some one elses problems...off center sights I was pretty sure as they looked really cockeyed. The sights had been hidden by a scope when I bought the rifle, and on closer inspection when I got home from my range trip, I could see the the rear sight was either bent way to the right or it was milled at an off angle. I am not too bothered by this as a receiever sight is in my immediate future. This is good news . The other good news is that I am love with the recoil of this rifle and the Skeeter loads(7.5 gr. Unique and Mt. Baldy 250 Keith). Leading seems to be not a problem at all. The gun really seems to like the Federal 200 gr. LSWCHP, with bullets stacking on top of each other. Only problem is it spits junk back in the face. I've never experienced this with a rifle. So, off I go, shopping for a good reciever sight, and will get some more bullets loaded up. I think my wife and kids will love shooting this one. Such a break from getting beat up by the 356 Win.

[locodriver98]

My little trapper is now chambered for the 454 Casull.
Deer killing little pipe and still shoots the 45 colt.
I use Little Gun for reloading lot less pressure and it will shoot the 250 xtp over 2000 fps.
locodriver

[Paladin]

I hope you enjoy your trapper as much as I've enjoyed mine !

Congratulations, on a great find.

[C. Cash]

Thank you Gents. I am smitten with how this little thing handles and feels....I now understand why so many get addicted to this handy little rifle.