traditions trapper pistol
- Thread starter jsams
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I think you will like it!
1st thing to do...replace the nipple with something of quality.
2nd thing....get it sighted in and dimple a reference mark on the top flat. the sights do/can move when they get the notion!
Find a comfortable grip and remember it!
I have found, and some fellow shooters as well, that these guns dont need much powder to group tight, repeatedly!
I shoot 15gr 3f and can group 3 to 3 1/2" at 35 yds fairly regular. My buddy's son shoots 10 gr and his scores are great!
We shoot a true measured .015 patch, .493 (mic'd) home cast RB out of a Lee mold and lube is olive oil.
1st thing to do...replace the nipple with something of quality.
2nd thing....get it sighted in and dimple a reference mark on the top flat. the sights do/can move when they get the notion!
Find a comfortable grip and remember it!
I have found, and some fellow shooters as well, that these guns dont need much powder to group tight, repeatedly!
I shoot 15gr 3f and can group 3 to 3 1/2" at 35 yds fairly regular. My buddy's son shoots 10 gr and his scores are great!
We shoot a true measured .015 patch, .493 (mic'd) home cast RB out of a Lee mold and lube is olive oil.
I have both and shoot them side by side a lot. What I've found is that the Patriot has slightly better inherent accuracy shot from a rest, but the Trapper is easier to shoot offhand and will generally shoot with, or slightly outshoot the Patriot. The Patriot has better balance and fits the hand better. The Trapper can be adjusted to have a really sweet, light and crisp trigger though. The sights are good on both, with a slight edge to the Trapper because of the thin front blade.
One thing I've learned on the Trapper is to grip it higher up than you normally would. This lets it point a little more naturally and has helped my consistency.
Brett is right that the sights can shift. A reference mark is a good idea. So is tightening the dovetail. I built mine from a kit, so I tightened it when I built it. You can either use a pointed punch to stipple the bottom of the dovetail slot, or lightly tap down the tops of the dovetail. The stippling raises metal inside the dovetail and tightens the fit.
Mine seems to like a fairly hot load. I generally run 30 grains FFFG Goex, .490 riding in a .018 pillow ticking patch using Ballistol or Hoppe's #9 black powder lube/solvent. It's more accurate with Ballistol, but it fouls less with Hoppe's.
One big negative with the Trapper, at least with mine, is that the lands are sharp and cut patches when the gun was new. Also, the crown had a sharp "rim" all the way around. I'd suggest a slight recrowning to break this rim if yours has this problem. It took a bit of lapping to get rid of the sharp edges on the lands, but they would have smoothed out after a couple hundred shots anyway.
I would be hard pressed to pick between the two guns for target shooting. That's the reason I shoot them both together so much. I love the Patriot, but considering that they're hard to find and expensive, I'd probably give a nod to the Trapper. I score better with it anyway.
One thing I've learned on the Trapper is to grip it higher up than you normally would. This lets it point a little more naturally and has helped my consistency.
Brett is right that the sights can shift. A reference mark is a good idea. So is tightening the dovetail. I built mine from a kit, so I tightened it when I built it. You can either use a pointed punch to stipple the bottom of the dovetail slot, or lightly tap down the tops of the dovetail. The stippling raises metal inside the dovetail and tightens the fit.
Mine seems to like a fairly hot load. I generally run 30 grains FFFG Goex, .490 riding in a .018 pillow ticking patch using Ballistol or Hoppe's #9 black powder lube/solvent. It's more accurate with Ballistol, but it fouls less with Hoppe's.
One big negative with the Trapper, at least with mine, is that the lands are sharp and cut patches when the gun was new. Also, the crown had a sharp "rim" all the way around. I'd suggest a slight recrowning to break this rim if yours has this problem. It took a bit of lapping to get rid of the sharp edges on the lands, but they would have smoothed out after a couple hundred shots anyway.
I would be hard pressed to pick between the two guns for target shooting. That's the reason I shoot them both together so much. I love the Patriot, but considering that they're hard to find and expensive, I'd probably give a nod to the Trapper. I score better with it anyway.
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I don't have a Patriot for comparison (wish I did) but I find the Trapper a very accurate, comfortable shooter. The trigger is great once adjusted to your preference. Like brett sr, I found that 15 grains of 3F works best.
One caveat: I find that accuracy falls of if the barrel gets too dirty. I normally give it a quick swab after a couple of shots and make sure the bore is dry. This may only apply to my specimen as I haven't seen it mentioned in other posts.
Jeff
One caveat: I find that accuracy falls of if the barrel gets too dirty. I normally give it a quick swab after a couple of shots and make sure the bore is dry. This may only apply to my specimen as I haven't seen it mentioned in other posts.
Jeff
thanks for the info to everyone. i found a trapper at sportsmen's warehouse yesterday and picked it up for $239 (not the kit). i went to the muzzleloading range and used 15 grains of 3f goex with a .490 round ball and teflon coated patches .015 thickness. at 25 yards off the rest first shot was in the x ring and two shots in the 10 and two in the 9 rings. all five shots could be covered with the end of a coke can. did not touch the sights. i shot one shot at 50 yards off the rest and it was in the 9 ring with the same load. shooting off hand i had all shots in the scoring rings and that good for now. i'm just starting to shoot pistol. i did find that the sights move so i put blue lock tight on the sight screw and shot some more. i just bought a ruger old army (new) and shot it about 15 times and after cleaning it and cleaning the trapper the ruger will be up for sale. i shoot the trapper better it seems so far. and the trapper was half the price. thanks for all the info and keep on shooting black powder. jsams
rafterob
62 Cal.
I thought maybe I was the only one who enjoyed his single shot more than the revolver :thumbsup:
zimmerstutzen
70 Cal.
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I have both a patriot and a trapper. The trapper is unwieldy, clunky, and the flint lock needs tuning badly. I also have a very early Italian kentucky style pistol with a 45 cal brass barrel, which shoots better than either the Patriot or the trapper.
I had a really nice half stock style pistol that was light and balanced and came with both flint and perc locks. I purchased it at a pawn shop in Va Beach. As it turns out it was stolen and I ended up returning it to the Va. State Police as evidence. The investigating officer did manage to get the Judge to order restitution and I was reimbursed, but it took 18 months.
I had a really nice half stock style pistol that was light and balanced and came with both flint and perc locks. I purchased it at a pawn shop in Va Beach. As it turns out it was stolen and I ended up returning it to the Va. State Police as evidence. The investigating officer did manage to get the Judge to order restitution and I was reimbursed, but it took 18 months.
