Author Topic: Found my second single shot rifle  (Read 920 times)

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Offline Flintlock61

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Found my second single shot rifle
« on: February 21, 2014, 08:18:33 AM »
Today I purchased a 45-70 Wesson-Harrington 1871 Buffalo Rifle off GunBroker.  It has a 32 inch barrel and comes with a globe front site and a creedmoore rear site.  I think I will try my hand at black powder cartridge reloading for this rifle.  Any of you out there use one of these rifles for hunting / shooting?  How do you like it? Thanks

Offline tacklebury

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2014, 08:19:56 AM »
They are fun with black or modern.  I load both for mine.  ;)


Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.


Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2014, 08:43:12 AM »
Nobody in this group likes .45-70s ::) ..............Well maybe a couple people do. :o
Badnews Bob
AE-2 USN retired

Offline RPRNY

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2014, 09:18:42 AM »
Those things are dreadful. Inaccurate, unsafe and no fun. Luckily, you've found a nice group of guys who feel sorry when some unsuspecting fellow gets saddled with one of these. Why I myself would be willing to take it off your hands and would pay the shipping and transfer fee myself. :-)
[spoof]The Handi-Rifle is a highly matrixed, vintage tactical shooting platform allowing operators high interchangeability, extended caliber diversity, and a wide choice of range related optical solutions suited to the demands of their tactical operating environments.  ;) [/spoof]

Offline spooked

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2014, 10:18:01 AM »
They be woefully inaccurate.....But dem deer is stupidz...Little brudder lobs a 45-70 bullet inta the brush an them stupid deers will jump in front of it... ;D
Lost between sunrise and sunset yesterday-one golden hour...never to be found or reclaimed:-(

Offline HWB13

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2014, 10:41:32 AM »
Honestly, I don't know what RPRNY is talking about.  I stack them on top of them selves at 100 yards.
Kevin   
Handi's:17 Mach2, 17 HMR,17 WSM, 22LR, 22 Win Mag, 204 Ruger, 22 Hornet UV, 22-250 UV, 25-06, 30-30, 35 Whelen, 30-06, 20gaX2, 20GA ultra Slug, 12ga ultra slug, 12 ga Turkey, H&W 45-70 BC X2, 45 LC CC, 44 Mag, 500 S&W and 140+ non-H&R types

If you have to shoot more than once you should not have shot the first time.

Offline rdlange

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2014, 11:13:02 AM »
They be nice.  I'm a heretic.  Cut mine to 28" for balance and asthetics.  I like the ejector and the W&H just seems better made than the BC I had.  Still a little long for woods walking.  Reload... please..!
Think as if you LIFE depends on it... IT does..!  Be Well...

Offline HWB13

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2014, 12:00:48 PM »
Maybe they just don't like big bore guns. I've got a Chipmunk and some CB caps for them
Kevin   
Handi's:17 Mach2, 17 HMR,17 WSM, 22LR, 22 Win Mag, 204 Ruger, 22 Hornet UV, 22-250 UV, 25-06, 30-30, 35 Whelen, 30-06, 20gaX2, 20GA ultra Slug, 12ga ultra slug, 12 ga Turkey, H&W 45-70 BC X2, 45 LC CC, 44 Mag, 500 S&W and 140+ non-H&R types

If you have to shoot more than once you should not have shot the first time.

Offline theratdog

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2014, 04:38:49 PM »
i have both the 22'' barreled and the 32 shoot mostly trail boss powder i did not have the heart to chop the bc  so i bought a 22'' barrel. sold my trapdoor the hr is more accurate.sweet guns.

Offline gcrank1

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2014, 08:06:03 AM »
What kind of smokeless powder(s) do you have on hand. FWIW, it is usually easier to get shooting accurately with smokeless if you do not have BP cartridge experience behind you. Once you find out what it is capable of then you can consider going to the 'Dark Side'. I suggest starting with something like a 300, 340 or 405grain cast bullet of about .459-.460 dia. and a 'trapdoor' level load.
If you have to buy powder find out some stuff here before believing a salesman.
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Offline Flintlock61

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2014, 09:20:41 PM »
Thank you the suggestion.  I am a flintlock shooter too so the powder on hand is goex 2F, 3F and some 4F for pan charging.  I have been doing lots of reading on bpc reloading.  I also hand load 12 ga brass shotshells for an old dbl barrel. 

Offline Old Fart

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2014, 10:36:06 PM »
The Buffalo Classic is clearly my favorite Handi. I think you'll be very pleased.
"All my life I've had a bad case of the Fred's. Fredrick Vanderbilt taste on a Fred Sanford budget." CR
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2014, 11:08:56 PM »
Im a long time flint & perc BP front loader shooter too, and some BPCR and more.......I have mostly decided that the BP will be used in my stuff that requires it, and those suitable to smokeless will get such. The TrailBoss loads I use basically duplicate the BP ballistics and felt recoil of those cartridges I have directly compared. In the 45-70 that basically means you get an 1873 Springfield 'trapdoor' equiv. load and more economically than using BP too. Unique has a 'universal' 45-70 load of 13.0 grains (weighed, NOT bulk) that has worked well in lots of 45-70 rifles and is super economical too. There are other 'fast' smokeless powders that work for cast bullets too, and they fall into that 'shotgun powder' end of things, so if you have a shotgun reloader friend or club nearby you may be able to get some to try. Dont get me wrong, there are 'rifle' powders that work very well, these I mention will get you going and provide a lot of bang for the buck.
As to Loading BP cartridges, there is a plethora of info on this and it can get confusing. Take a look and bounce your ideas here first and we will try to help you weed out the if, ands, or buts of it all before you stuff up a bunch or head off down the wrong rabbit hole.
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline Jim Flinchbaugh

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2014, 11:29:25 PM »
I bought a used B/C  this month.
My first 3 shots I  fired out of it


Then to 100 yards


Terrible accuracy, all of these should be gathered up and sent to me for destruction  ;D

Offline HWB13

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Re: Found my second single shot rifle
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2014, 04:42:14 AM »
Can't and won't beat that with a stick.  Good job
Kevin   
Handi's:17 Mach2, 17 HMR,17 WSM, 22LR, 22 Win Mag, 204 Ruger, 22 Hornet UV, 22-250 UV, 25-06, 30-30, 35 Whelen, 30-06, 20gaX2, 20GA ultra Slug, 12ga ultra slug, 12 ga Turkey, H&W 45-70 BC X2, 45 LC CC, 44 Mag, 500 S&W and 140+ non-H&R types

If you have to shoot more than once you should not have shot the first time.