QUESTIONS ABOUT H&R BUFFALO CLASSIC .45-70

[PABLO DEL NORTE]

   DOES IT QUALIFY FOR COWBOY SHOOTING MATCHES?
HAS ANYONE SHOT OR OWN ONE? 
I HAVE THE CHANCE TO TRADE FOR ONE.   

[onegunred]

I hate to see a man suffer waiting for a response.  I do not own one but this past February I asked my gunsmith friend a similar question of sorts about the H&R Buffalo, because I wanted one, and his response was not overly favorable.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I think it is a question of speed and timing ... when one can get a single-shot to  fire as fast as a lever-gun, there will be more interest ...I know we say that we are not competing, just living history ... but it is nice to have our name on the first three lines at least ONCE  IN A WHILE ... *S*

Written by a man that normally comes in dead last ... safe but dead last ... (just once Lord, I would like to see my name in the middle of the pack ...) *S*

TTFN,

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[Tascosa Joe]

The H&R is not NCOWS approved.  If you are shooting SASS they are probably OK although I do not know for sure.  My son had one and they kick like a Missouri Mule.

[Bugscuffle]

Doesn't the rifle need to be a "pistol caliber"? There may be someone out there dumb enough to pull the trigger on a 45-70 caliber pistol, but not me.

[wildman1]

Shooting a 45/70 handgun has as much to do with technique as anything. Doesn't mean that yer dumb. WM

[Peddler Parsons]

They can be used in long raonge side matches but you will have to replace the sight on the barrel with a tang peep sight
I have had one for several years if I do my part it will out shoot others, I also use it for deer hunting and bore hunting,
I also have a sharps, and will grabe the H&R most of the time.  It has won it's share of long range matches
Peddler

[cpt dan blodgett]

You can actually replace the existing peep with a blade for very few dollars.  Midway has several different height blades.
I have also read about folks that simply unscrew the peep insert and grind off the top of the theaded mount essentially creating a u rear sight.

[PABLO DEL NORTE]

   THANKS FOR THE INFO FOLKS!!  I WILL LOOK INTO THE MIDWAY USA SIGHTS. 

[littled]

i just got around to reading your post, i bought one new used it two years with the 45-70 barrel killed lots of deer and hogs never had to track any but missed a few. two years ago i sent it back to h&r and had it fitted with a 270,3006 and a 444 cal. barrel. its my everyday gun now and i dont even think of taking one of my other long guns to the woods for deer or hogs. i got one place i hunt where i have some long shots like 300 yards if i go there i use the 270 barrel any where else i use the 444. i never had used a 45-70 or the 444 till i got this gun and now i dont even think i will put the long 32 inch 45-70 barrel back on it. the 444 will shoot so much more flatterthan the 45-70 that its just not worth buying both 45-70 and 444 ammo. the 444 cal bullet does a very good job on everything around my house, and so far nothing has crawled off. the buffalo classic handles very good with the shorter barrels but i just never liked the 32 inch barrel. i have never had any working problems with mine and its slim design is one that my wife can hunt with. you dont feel the kick with the long 45-70 barrel or the short 270 but the short 444 does have a mild kick.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

I've had one for years. Smith makes a ladder sight that mounts right up with the factory drilled sight holes.. On mine I used a BP tang sight. kinda awkward, but it does work. I put some weight in the stock bolt hole to try and absorb some of the kick. They are kinda light weight for shooting 45-70 for long periods

[Guns Garrett]

Kind of off-the-wall, but it "is" period, sort of:  I recently converted my H&R BC to a "Schuetzen-Style" with hooked buttplate and Pope-style palm rest and trigger guard (yes, you have to saw off the plastic triggerguard).  Purchased a rollover-style Monte Carlo buttstock and reshaped it with rasps to the Schuetzen style (not enough "perch-belly", but I never liked that much).  Took the peep sight and base completely off and replaced with an old Digie GunWorks "Swiss Diopter" sight I picked up years ago, with a 1 1/2" disk with a .045"' aperture. With moderate loads, it is a pleasure to shoot, out to 400 yds "on your hind legs, like a man" as old Harry Pope would say.  Impresses the fellows shootin' off sticks!

I'd LOVE to find a (discontinued) 38-55 "Target" barrel for the H&R 1871.  I have even considered re-lining another 45-70 BC 32" to 32-40, but doubt if H&R would fit an "altered" barrel...