H&R Buffalo Target Rifle

[Zeke Menuar]

Saw one live and in person while window shopping at Sportsman's Warehouse

http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=23#45

Looks to be a loose copy of the original H&R break open rifle. Sights aren't original. They are Williams sights front and rear. Nice fit and finish. This example is in 45/70

I like it and SW has a layaway. $310 out the door. Anyone have one of these?

Thanks
ZM

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't have one but they are dead common in Cowboy side matches. Cheap, simple, and accurate at the usual ranges. And a Smith ladder sight will look more period and handle longer ranges than the Williams. They make a similar .38-55 but the .45-70 seems to be easier to get to shoot well. Kicks in that light gun, though.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I bought a used H&R Shikari .45-70 in the early 70's for $75 and kept it for 20 years. Regret selling it. When I used to reload I worked slowly up to an elephant load using cast lead 500gr round nose bullets and a full case of IMR 3031 (51gr IIRC). The gun had a strong, thick breech...I was twenty-something...and with that load it might well have been a pipe bomb instead of a rifle. It was a better testimony to the strength of the gun than to my brains. I can remember it penetrating an old truck's engine block on some of my dumber test fires.

If the new H&R's (or NEF's) are as good as the old you can have a lot of fun with reloads. I always wanted to have it rechambered for the RCBS Basic Brass in .45-110. Don't know if it is still available, but that gun rechambered for .45-90 or better ought to be interesting. It was also fun to reload with black powder loads.

 

[jefnvk]

Thats it for one?

Where can I come up with $300 now? Thanks for adding a realistic, affordable rifle to my to-buy list (which happened to just be emptied, oh well, gotta look forward to something).

 

[drinks]

H&R

A friend has a Buffalo Classic, .45-70, hates cheap guns, loves his BC.
I have the really cheap one, a Handirifle in .45-70, less than $200 at Walmart, still got a 500gr 3R cast gas check to do over 1600fps, recoil in the 7.5 lb. rifle was a bit much for my bad shoulder, 1400+- fps is more fun, still get 1600+ fps with 320 and 405gr bullets, what ever you do , do not buy one of these rifles, you will be hooked for a bunch of other stuff, dies, bullets, molds, sizers, lubes, it just goes on and on.
Don

 

[racenutz]

Funny story, I bought a box of .45 bullets that were on sale for my .454 Casull. When I got them home I realized they were .458" instead of .451". Now I need to buy a .45 caliber rifle & these look to be a really nice rifle for the price.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

do not buy one of these rifles

I am not buying one!





I am putting one on layaway.....


ZM

 

[Jim Watson]

Or you could do as the woman said of her fashions: "I buy them on the lay-awake plan. I take them home and then lay awake at night wondering how I am going to pay for them."

 

[ID_shooting]

They have one of these at my local shop I have been drooling on. I wonder if it can be rechambered in .458 Win Mag.

 

[thatguy]

These guns are simple and fun. You may find the recoil in such a light rifle a bit much. The 45/70 is a neat cartridge to load and shoot. I have a couple of 45/70s and they shoot well using 250 grain .454 Colt lead bullets loaded to around 1,400 FPS. Great plinking with very light recoil.

 

[mohican]

I managed to wheel, deal, and pick up the 38-55 version because locally no one wants that cartridge. Local gun shop say to order one is about a 6 month wait? The cowboy shooters buying the 45-70 buffalo's as fast as they are made?

I'd say if you can get one, and it doesn't break your budget or take food off your kids table, go for it.

 

[Gewehr98]

Hmmm...

I have a couple of 45/70s and they shoot well using 250 grain .454 Colt lead bullets loaded to around 1,400 FPS.

Just think how well they'd shoot if they were sized to .458"!