Harrington & Richardson firearms and cartridges.

[Mr King]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the board and glad to be here. I've been starting to have interest in these single shot firearms lately. So I came across this board that discusses these types of guns and signed up. I apologize if this has already been discussed on here but I didn't find much results on these brand of firearms nor the answers I'm seeking.

I went by Grady's Great Outdoors store and did some looking around and checked out the firearm department. As I walked by passing through the firearms I came across a rifle on the gun racks, a Harrington & Richardson Buffalo Classic rifle that use the .45-70 cartridge. It was a fine looking firearm; a 32" blued barrel with the american black walnut stock, Williams receiver sight, Lyman target front sight with 8 aperture inserts.

The price range was around $300.00 and looked to be in new condition. I was told that the rifle was a good gun for 200 yards. That suprised me since the 1873 Springfield Trapdoor rifle that used the same round could shoot well over 1,000 yards.

Since I am new with these single shot firearms I do not know much about the .45-70 cartridge nor the rifles that use them. Could someone explain to me why these two rifles that I have mentioned above have such a great difference in range?

I left to do some research and looking around on these Harrington & Richardson firearms; their quality and performance. So here I am on the internet checking different websites out and to see what other caliber rounds these single shot rifles offer. I am not interested in the shorter barrel versions and none of them seem to have the Williams and Lyman sights.

So far, I came across a virtual copy of the same design as the Buffalo Classic .45-70 but use the .38-55 Winchester cartridge. I don't know much about this cartridge neither and I would like to hear some feedback based on your opinion about this round; the accuracy, range, damage, recoil ect...

Thank you.

[STUMPJMPR]

Check out the H&R forum there is alot of info on there
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html

[Mr King]

Thank you for the reply and the link, STUMPJMPR.

[S.E.Ak]

Well the H&R can shoot a thousands yards also but neither of these guns ever did it with good accuracy.I would bet the newer H&R will shoot straighter than any of the old government issue trapdoors ever dreamed of shooting. Now if you compare the new gun to some of the old Creedmoor type target rifles in 45/70 yes it will take a backseat everytime.The H&R shoots very well for its design but for best accuracy a barrel needs to be mounted very well to its action. The H&R does more than it should for its price compared to other guns.

[Mr King]

Thank you for the informative reply, Amigo Will.

[Mr King]

By the way, if I end up purchasing one that has the wooden monte carlo buttstock stock(which I do not like), can I have it replaced with the standard buttstock instead?

[quickdtoo]

All H&R stocks will fit all current production firearms, spend some time in the FAQs and Help sticky, you'll learn all you want there.    The 45-70 BC works fine at 1000yds with the right sights, that's covered in the FAQs too.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,119506.msg1098396326.html#msg1098396326

The 38-55 Target was discontinued for 2008, it's no longer made, but those made by Marlin since early 2007 and earlier models with properly sized bullets and after reaming the chamber neck are very accurate too.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,123798.msg1098431040.html#msg1098431040

The 45-70 BC makes a fine 45-120 too!!

[woodchukhntr]

If it is $300.00, buy it before I see it.  That is a great price, even for a used one!  I've seen regular new H&R's going for that price.