Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Buffalo Classic Rifle

Anyone have experience with the Harrison and Richardson Buffalo Classic Rifle in 45/70? I am also looking for what kind of chamber pressure it will take. Thanks! MV

I have one and it's an accurate and fun rifle. Can't figure for the life of me why I have one but I do. Don't worry about chamber pressure as your shoulder and that crescent steel buttplate will make you stop long before pressure is an issue. I understand the action will take loads suitable for Marlin rifles. Ward

You might ask here......

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/board,126.0.html

My thoughts exactly. I started shooting mine with the lever-evolution (sp) round by Hornady, 300-325 gr. IIRC. It handled them just fine but the kick with the butt plate is much. Plus, the sights are really designed (range of elevation) for heavier, slower rounds. If you get one try Ultramax 405's.

I also got mine on a whim, glad I did, relatively light too. I think it has a cool factor. Right now I'm loading 405 lasercasts over IMR 3031 in nickle cases. Fun to shoot. I wouldn't hesitate to wack a deer with that.

BTW, I got 7-8" groups of (6) at 300 yds with the factory Hornady. I set the rear sight 1/8" off the rear of the base and held 12" high. Easy paper plate accuracy with windage right on, could have hit my anteope this year with it. Good luck with it.

Yes, I have one as well. Bought it because it just "felt" good at the shoulder. Plus I absolutely love the 45-70 cartridge. I have shot 300 Winchester JHP factories, and they shoot real well in that rifle. I have handloaded some 350 gr Hornady RN and they shot well, too. Then I bought a Lee 405 gr FP mould and cast some wheel weights into a pail of water. Used Liquid Alox lube and shot them as cast with some AA5744 powder - light load - MV @ 1250 fps. Again it shot very well. It just seems to shoot a lot of different ammo very nicely.

As far as chamber pressures, I think like was said above, the recoil factor will let you know. I had a few loaded up with RL7 and the 350 grainers, and it rattled me pretty good. It was not a hot load. Garrett has some ammo that he sells for WAY too much money, and he claims to keep the pressure down to 28,000, IIRC. Funny thing with the 45-70 is that you don't need a lot of speed for it to work well. They just keep rolling along - destroying everything in their path quite nicely. Enjoy. If you want a hot rod, buy a #1 Ruger, and hang on!

I may well have one of the most unique Buffalo Classics around. When the rifle was first introduced I wanted something different. I have a gunsmith friend that specializes in restoring antique firearms. First off this was not done at the going price since this smith is backloged almost a year now. My Classic has a Creedmore sight installed, beautiful case hardned receiver, & buffalo silver dollars inlaid in the buttstock. I used the rifle to shoot a bison on an indian reservation in SD. I have the bison sholder mounted grazing in a wheat field with the rifle mounted on the bison hoves overhead. This is part of my trophy room that displays about 40 mounts.

Pics would be nice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks! I am thinking about getting one for the really long shots my Marlin 45/70 can't make. I am in love with this caliber. MV out!

I have a Wesson & Harrington 1871 Buffalo Classic and it will take a steady diet of 40,000 CUP loads intended for the Marlin 1895. The question, as previously alluded to, is whether or not you can take the same.

I target shoot at 600 yards with the Schmittzer at 1350 fps with mine.

What do you use for sights for that long range stuff?

I use my BC for hunting. I made a few changes to it. First I changed the steel butt plate out and added a Hi-viz recoil pad so that I could shoot it without getting bruised, then I removed the iron sights it came with and added a 2.5X scope to it. I also had the barrel cut down to a more woods manageable and better balanced 27". Finally I stripped the stock and applied a tung oil finish. Here's a pic:

Why didn't you just buy a Handi-Rifle? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Looks nice.

LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
One nice thing with these single shot rifles is that the action is so short, that even with the 27" barrel it's about the same length as the average bolt action.
Those bullets in the picture are Barnes 400gr. XFB. At around 1800fps they will penetrate through three pressure treated 6X6's and bury themselves in a fourth. I measured a recovered bullet and it expanded to .93" and retained 98% of it's weight.

Here's my .30-30 with a 22" barrel. OAL is 36" and weight with scope is 7lbs.

Dang, I like what Scoutmaster's done to his rifle. I just made a deal to have the barrel on mine cut back and ordered a spacer to get the LOP to what I want after cutting off that gawdawful buttplate. Since I can hardly see iron sights anymore, a scope will be mounted. Just might make a hunting rifle out of the Buff Classic yet. Thanks for the ideas!

My father sent his Buff Classic back to the factory and had them install the 38-55 barrel on it. Its a lot shorter and a smaller contour than the 45/70. I like it, and it wasn't much $ as I recall.

I may just do the same with mine.

Jason

When using factory level ammo,. the buttplate is a non-issue. My .45-70 Handi barely kicks at all.

45-70 factory is a powder puff, loaded so it's safe to shoot in antique trap door Springfields with a chamber pressure of somewhere around 24,000, and something like 1300 fps with a 405gn bullet. That's about 26J of recoil energy in a 7 pound rifle - less than a 12 gauge

That's why I like it. Plenty of power and no recoil.

Can't give you a number, but buffaloBore bullets loads theirs up to 2350FPS and say it's completely safe in a H&R rifle. That equates to about 44000CUP or 50000PSIA.

Down here in Mississippi we can use certain types of cartridge rifles during "primitive weapons" season and the H&R 1871 is one that qualifies.

I used mine with the 32" barrel last year but got tired of toting that barrel around. This year I changed to a 22" barrel and like it much better.

Terry