Need Info on H&R Buffalo Classic or Target

[doc tc]

Does anyone here have knowledge of the H&R 45/70 Buffalo Classic or the Target 38-55?

I am looking for a heavy rifle for primarily off-hand shooting and I greatly admire the lines of these rifles but some input from those of you who have first hand experience with either of them would be welcome.

Thanks,

doc

 

[TIMC]

I have the Buffalo Classic in 45/70. Nice rifle but very front heavy. It shoots pretty decent but my old eyes have trouble focusing on the sights.

 

[doc tc]

TIMC,

Thank you for the response. My eyes also are a bit unfocused but markmanship from the off-hand position is an approximate affair anyway so I am not looking for a drill-the-bees-ass kind of performance, at least not from me. The rifle should, however, be capable of providing acceptable accuracy; MOA would be more that adequate considering the circumstances.

So I suppose the next question I have for you is what load? 45/70 in a 32" barrel, 7-8 pound gun suggests to me that maybe a lighter load might be in order. This is a "lob the lead" sort of proposition anyway, right?

So thanks again and I hope that you will share the benefit of your experience with this simple, old style rifle and the loads that make it smoke.

doc

 

[Gewehr98]

I've worked up loads for something similar if you like...

I have a 32" Model 1874 Sharps Business Rifle, and have been running blackpowder .45-70 loads in it, with bullets ranging from 450 to 550 grains. I don't know about the H&R Buffalo Classic rifle's sight settings, but the Sharps has enough elevation and windage adjustment to accept the .45-70 blackpowder cartridge's loping trajectory. The loads themselves are fairly straightforward, but it's a bit of fussy technique work when loading with blackpowder, using drop tubes, compression dies, wads, 20-1 cast or swaged bullets, and blackpowder bullet lubes. Let me know if I can help.