NEF Buffalo Classic

[Mullet]

Has anyone tried the new 45-70 NEF Buffalo Classic yet.  I would like to have a 45-70 single shot but a Sharps or High wall is out of the budget for awhile.  Only read one review and it was so-so mainly complained about accuracy and trigger pull (same thing everyone complauins about NEF or H&R as its now called.  Thanks in advance.

[Cottonwood]

Has anyone tried the new 45-70 NEF Buffalo Classic yet.  I would like to have a 45-70 single shot but a Sharps or High wall is out of the budget for awhile.  Only read one review and it was so-so mainly complained about accuracy and trigger pull (same thing everyone complauins about NEF or H&R as its now called.  Thanks in advance.

First off it is not made by NEF but by H&R 1871 Buffalo Classic.  It is actually called the Wesson & Harrington 1871 Buffalo Classic and you can find out more information about it at http://BuffaloClassic.tripod.com I have posted there all the information about the Buffalo Classic that has been obtainable from the start.  I also started the Buffalo Classic Shooting Society for owners of the Buffalo Classic and the 38-55 Target Model.  I know of two owners that have reamed their Buffalo Classic out to 45-90 and one reamed out to 45-100.  

I will say that the only improvement H&R 1871 did was to put the Lyman 17a front globe sight on.  The Williams peep sight on the rear over the reciever takes away from the Buffalo Classic and gives it limited range from short to semi mid range.  You will need to put a much better sight on the rear to obtain the Buffalo Classic's full shooting potentual.

After trying many sights for the Buffalo Classic I found an origanal sight off of a 1879 Springfield Trapdoor that has full ladder and windage.  I know where there is one for sale at a sporting goods store close to me for $339.00, you may be lucky to find one as they are grabbed up quickly by those that know what they are.

The Buffalo Classic comes stock weight of 8 pounds, I increased the weight of the Buffalo Classic by another 2.25 pounds by adding lead to the buttstock.

Good luck, and if you should find one, get it and you will have much fun.

[Mullet]

Thanks Montanan, I realize they are now H&R old habits die Hard.  I have read all the stuff on the web sites and I have H&R's new sales catalog what I was hoping for was a hands on report and I thank you for the info but how do they shoot?  I believe it was an article by Craig Boddington that said the accuracy was not all that good and he atributed that to the rifling which in his opinion was cut a little shallow for a 45-70.  What kind of accuracy has your group been experiencing?  I am seriously concidering one and will probably order one in the next month or so unless one shows up at a gun show.  Thanks

[Cottonwood]

Mullet - Craig Boddington who I know is retired military, did not do the Buffalo Classic any justice with his bison hunt artical.  First off he was using a bullet that is under weight for taking game such as a bison.  Secondly he even changed out the rear sights using a sight from a 1911 45 acp handgun.  I don't know who guided him in selection, but I for one with all the testing I have done with sights and loads for the Buffalo Classic could only laugh at his artical.

The Buffalo Classic has shooting capabilities along side any 74 Sharps or Rolling Block rifle, if properly sighted up and the proper bullet sellection is used.  My Buffalo Classic is sighted up with a 1879 (origanal) Springfield Trapdoor sight that has windage and elivation up to 1500 yards.  The front sight is a silver blade with brass base for the 3/8th dovetail.  The max yardage that I have shot at is 804 yrds at the Quigley match held every year in Forsyth, Mt. Quigley Match

The barrel twist in the Buffalo Classic is a 1:20 and a proper bullet is required for this to shoot long range.  One such as Craig Boddington used for his bison hunt is not intended for long range but short to semi mid range.  A 400 + grain bullet would be needed for long range, and even better a 500-gr 1881 design or a 520-gr Postel or Creedmore disign with 63.0 to 70.0 gr of BP.

The limiting factor in Craig Boddington artical was his knowledge and experience with the Buffalo Classic as attested with his comment that the 45-70 is a limited range cartridge, that should have been the key to each and every reader of that artical and the fact that the Buffalo Classic rifle that he was using was sighted up improper.

Here is .45-70 at Two Miles: The Sandy Hook Tests of 1879 the rifle used was a .45-70 Allin-Springfield Model 1873 Army rifle which had a 1:22 barrel twist.  There are those today that try and dispute the Sandy Hook Test and it's results.  I was not there, but feel the end results were valid and true to the test.

The Buffalo Classic is a very good entry rifle into BPCR if one wants to shoot black powder loads.  It will also handle the strongest smokeless loads available today for the 45-70.  The only limiting factor is the shoulder that is butted up against the Buffalo Classic, as that shoulder will give out before the Buffalo Classic will.

I forgot to add about accuracy:  Accuracy is great and here is a link to my target that was shot off cross sticks at 200 yards with the sights that I currently use 200 yard target from our Spring Target postal shoot several years ago.

I hope you find one and for a good price, I think you will enjoy it and have much fun shooting it, as I and my son do.

[Mullet]

Thanks again Montanan, this is why I love this forum, you can usually find someone who has had hands on experience with a particular firearm or product.  Glad that you were familiar with the Boddington artical and your explainations were what I expected (and hoped for).  My only experience with the 45-70 is with the Marlinn 336 lever gun which I also have in the 336A 30-30 and dearly love both rifles.  They are not, however, singles which is what I really love and it just doesn't seem right not having a single in 45-70.  The problem is, as always, the funds to purchase one  so I was happy when H&R made the Buffalo Classic.  You have eased my fears about the rifle and I appreciate it.  Thanks again.

[Cottonwood]

Mullet, now when you get your Buffalo Classic, I have a feeling that you may want to load black powder and make much smoke with it (grin).  I was very lucky to have a found someone that gave me hands on loading experience... I was very lucky, some are not.  I would highly recomend this link Introduction to black Powder Cartridge Loading you must have Adobe Reader to see this or print it off.  The nice thing is that Chuck Raithel does not charge for it.  Chuck gives step by step instructions on many of the calibers used in BPCR.

I have many more things on my Web Site for you to see as well.

You will find those that feel the Buffalo Classic is not worthy of BPCR, but it is.  The Buffalo Classic can hold it's own very well.  Many in SASS have one because they just can't afford a C. Sharps or Shiloh Sharps rifle.

There are those that feel the Buffalo Classic is infearior and so there for will tout off that what they feel is good advice without shooting one first and comparing.

Making mine 10.25 pounds does make it a tad heavy for hunting with.  But I had to keep reminding myself that our forefathers did have rifles much heavier and they did it and so can I.  I had to get rid of the crutch I was in, shooting a modern rifle with scopes and learn and practice with the Buffalo Classic to get where no matter if the target is 50, 100, 150 etc I learned distance and sight settings as our forefathers did.

I'm glad to be able to help.

[Mullet]

Thanks again, you bet I'll be hand loading BP and I appreciate the link as I do not have experience with BP cartridges.  I do love BP shooting though.  I built my first muzzle loader about 26 years ago . It was a CVA mountain rifle kit in .58 cal. and I still use it to this day.  I also am a hand loading nut and am looking forward to using BP.  Thanks again