Originally Posted by
AZshooter
I have a Pedersoli TD & read that they used the basic H&R design. That would include the breech lock and locking lever, which is a 2 piece design. There is a tiny set screw in the latch that tightens against a flat on the lever shaft to prevent the 2 pieces from sliding apart. Even if the set screw were loose, the latch cannot rotate out of locked position since it is a square shaft into a square latch hole. The lever could slide out and leave the latch unsecured, but if you're aware of your firearm when you lock the action, you'd notice the lever no longer positioned in the notch in the wood under the hammer. Another clue is if you can hold a separate piece in your hand, best not pull the trigger.
I read about the locking concern & took a look at my brand new Pedersoli - just brought it home this last weekend. It was proofed in 2001 and looks to be unfired - no wear on hammer-to-firing pin finish, no wear in the lock mechanism or between sear lever & trigger. Yep - that set screw was not only loose, allowing the lever/latch to wiggle a little, but looks like they never tightened that setscrew up against the lever shaft flat.
And I installed an original ejector spring and plunger into the Pedersoli, it now ejects with force and authority - just like an original!
Hodgdon and Lee Trapdoor loading data generally corroborate each other for safe pressures using smokeless, and shooter data from some of the Trapdoor sites indicate they load even lighter for accuracy loads. I've fired black powder loads in my Bannerman Conversion, but there are several I'd not hesitate to try; the rest I'll use in my replica.