Id say theres not really such a thing as a typical buffalo rifle. The hunters were a diverse lot, some were able to prosper for years and some quit after the first hunt. You had market hunters, indians, and local settlers all killing buffalo during the period. Its been mentioned above some of the more ideal firearms used during he era, but depending on who you want to portray its almost hard to go wrong. Not every cowboy had a winchester 73 and not every buffalo hunter had a 16lb sharps, but at the same time we also know that some absolutely did!