Any experience with the H&R Buffalo Classic .45-70?

[Tallinar]

I have been bit by the .45-70 bug, and I was looking into the H&R Buffalo Classic. These guns are within my price range (I'm trying to sell my nearly new Rossi 92 .44 mag trapper to fund it, actually), and I've yet to read anything negative about them.

My plans for this gun would be to try to make it a solid 200 yard target rifle, but I'm wondering if it would be capable of performance out even further -- comparable perhaps to some of the many quality Sharps reproductions out there. It looks like I'd probably invest in a different rear sight at some point, but I digress for now.

Do any of our forum members here have experience with these guns? Any comments, praises, or problems they've encountered?

Thanks.

 

[Tallinar]

I'm typically not one to bump, but I wanna give this thread one more try before I let it die.

/bump

 

[moewadle]

I do not have experience with it but

I am very intrigued with the 45-70 cartridge. I remember reading an article by this old time shooter several years ago. He talked about taking his old Springfield Model out and learning how to hit targets like almost a mile away. He experimented with the gun learning how high to lob his bullets, so-to-speak and was hitting some targets much more than 200 yards away. I think that model you are speaking of would be just the thing to do some fun shooting like that and get a lot of enjoyment from the 45-70. However, unless you reload you are going to go broke buying ammo. I remember this old gentleman talked about shooting with black powder. He would would load 70 grains of black powder in the case and just hand push a lead ball in or something of the sort. He was really using spit and baling wire it seems but doing it safely. I say if you have figured out how to afford the ammo then go do it. I envy you for having the chance to do so.

 

[Gryffydd]

I don't own one, but I was extremely interested in them for a while, and as no one who owns them seem to be responding, I'll tell you what I've read so far.

They tend to be fairly accurate, 1-2 MOA with good loads. Recoil is fierce, and the consensus seems to be that they're OK with the Lever Action level of .45-70 loads. You'll want a recoil pad if you're shooting that stuff. That steel crescent can be a real beater.

They can be real fun with blackpowder as well.

I can also say that they handle really nicely. They certainly don't feel like they have as long of a barrel as they do, but it holds nice and steady easily.

 

[Winger Ed.]

There's several threads up & down here about .45-70s.

I load a cast 405gr flat point in my open sight Marlin CB that is more accurate than I am.
The 70gr of Black Powder loads clock right at 1275, and are almost pleasant to shoot.
The 1600 fps smokless loads---
WHEW!! I'm not exactly sure which end of the thing is more dangerous.

 

[BMW2]

Black powder silhouette shooters shoot at distances much greater than 200 yards with the 45-70. Some of those targets are pretty small for the distance they're at too. I say go for it, I've been considering one myself.

 

[Paul Kersey]

I've had one for 3 or 4 years. I've shot it quite a bit with mostly 405 gr. lead handloads. They have ranged from mild to wild (which are absolutley no fun).
I've also fired some 300 gr. flat and hollow point rounds but since I don't hunt it hasn't been to many of those. Anyway, the rifle is solid and problem free. It is very accurate out to 150 yds., the limit of my shooting range. It uses an ejector which will send a loaded 405 gr. round out the back end at around 750 fps. I think the newer ones may use an extractor. A really fun gun with sane loads.

 

[JohnBT]

I shot one way back when at 100 yards. A guy at the range had just purchased it and was having trouble shooting groups. It shot fine for me.

I was impressed with the rifle and still might buy one even though I have no use for it right now.

JT

 

[fireman 9731]

I love mine!

Not a single problem out of it. I reload and cast bullets for it, everything from super light loads that are like shooting a 22 up to nearly 458 win-mag territory.

I did replace my rear sight with one from Smith Enterprises, it was a little pricey but a solid setup.

I say go for it, they are loads of fun and a lot rifle at the same time.

 

[Tallinar]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I'll go for it. Fireman 9731; could you please post a link or picture with the Smith Enterprises sight you bought for it? I am very curious to see some of the replacement sight options that are out there.

One obstacle I can see with replacement sights is the fact that there is no exposed metal for the tang, so I'm not sure how easy it would be to modify it to support a tang sight.

Thanks again.

 

[fireman 9731]

Here is a thread that I started about sights a while ago: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=407102

The Smith one is the only one that I could find that didn't require any modification on the sight or rifle.

Brownells has the best price on them but they are out of stock right now.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=18735/Product/WESSON___HARRINGTON_LONG_RANGE_SIGHT

Its a good match with the front globe sight that comes on the rifle. keep it down for closer shots then flip it up for the longer ones.

 

[kds99]

I have one, and feel that its a nice rifle. I had a tang sight installed on mine, had to remove some wood from the stock to make it work though since the rifle does not have a tang to mount it on

 

[Tallinar]

Thanks for the link, fireman. That sight looks like it would work well, but the price is pretty steep, as you said. I'd like to look further at the possibility of installing the tang sight. Those of you who did so and had to drill the wood, how did that go? Is there metal underneath the wood at the tang that you mounted the sight base on?

Did you do it yourselves, or have a gunsmith/woodsmith do it?

The Smith one would be ideal, I think, as I'd prefer for the sight to remain on the barrel as opposed to the tang, but that cost is up there. I guess a Williams FP would work too, but looks too modern. =-D

 

[kds99]

I had a gunsmith do it, he used a router to remove the wood about 1/4 inch. mounted it with screws and epoxy. 3 years and it has not moved yet.

 

[fireman 9731]

The Smith Enterprises sight does seem expensive, but it is well made and much less invasive than trying to drill the stock. There isn't any metal anywhere underneath there, its just like the single shot shotguns.

The only downside I see to the Smith sight is a long eye relief.

 

[JohnBT]

"It uses an ejector which will send a loaded 405 gr. round out the back end at around 750 fps"

The one I shot at the range gave me a really good thump on the breast bone with the first empty. I didn't do that again and sure wouldn't want it in the face.

 

[fireman 9731]

I think the older rifles came with ejectors. Mine, and all the others that I have seen have had extractors.