H&R 45-70 Buffalo Classic

[ozstriker22]

Well, I finally decided to go for it... Picked up my H&R 45-70 Buffalo Classic with williams peep on the back and globe on the front with 7 inserts!!! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-shootin-green.gif

So... now what can I do?

Can I use HOT-loads in it? ANY recommendations on what to try (accurate loads, big loads, etc)?

What modifications can/should I do it? I love this stuff... You should see my Mini14. Also, there was a brochure to buy "second barrels" in various calibers. Basically what I&#39;m saying is, what types of cool things can I do with this gun?

Thanks for any info.


JEsse

[AMMOe]

Shoot it. That&#39;s the coolest thing to do. After that decide what -if anything- needs to be done to enhance the accuracy. If nothing is needed, leave it alone. (Rule 1 of gunsmithing: If it ain&#39;t broke, don&#39;t fix it!)

A really practical thing you can do some night is to slug the barrel and determine the bore and groove diameter. This will allow educated cast bullet purchases.

New England has a barrel program. You can send the gun back (depending on the frame ) and they will fit a new barrel for about $100 a shot and 6-8 weeks wait. I wouldn&#39;t run "hot" loads through that gun. The action is strong (the SB-2 actions are produced in 30-06) but, as in all reloading, the brass is the weak link. And the NEF actions don&#39;t provide a lot of shooter safety in the case of a blown case-head. Have fun. ~AMMOe

PS: For a fee and a waiver, NEF will also lighten the trigger... Or at least, they used to.

[Taos]

I shoot cast bullets and black powder in mine with very good results. I enjoy it a lot as just a knocking around rifle.

[ozstriker22]

Update:

I have put 3 boxes of 20 through it, and taken it to the JHO Hamslam last May. It will smack an 8" bull out to 170 yards - NO PROBLEM. That&#39;s with bulk ammo. I can&#39;t wait to work up some handloads for it.

What a great gun!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
slug the barrel[/b] I&#39;m not sure I understand what slug the barrel means?

AMMOe - Thanks for the info on NEF, I&#39;ll send it in and hopefully get a trigger job too (it is a quite a bit heavier than I like). I&#39;ll be buying either a 30-06 or 308 barrel. Probably a .223. Definitely a .44mag. If they have 10mm (doubt it) I&#39;d order that. I love to have rifles that match my pistol calibers. Know what I mean?

Jesse

[larrysogla]

Ozstiker22,
Wait till you smack a hog with that .458 caliber bullet(45-70 actual bullet diameter). If it is just an 80 lb. hog, it will literally lift the hog off it&#39;s feet and throw the hog sideways. Those Big Bores are just awesome. Even a 350 lb. hog does not stand a chance. I would put a scout scope on that 45-70 and use it up to 150+ yds. on big game. Have fun. &#39;Nuff said.
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-ani.gif

[ozstriker22]

The rifle includes a really nice globe sight (double peep) and I can slam an 8" gong out to about 175 yards if I bench it down real well and conditions are perfect... I love that gun!!!

Still haven&#39;t nailed an animal with it... It would be so dang cool to smack a small hog and spin it around.

Jesse

[leehop]

ozstriker22, slugging the bore means you drive a soft lead slug down the bore. This will give you the true diameter of the lands and grooves. Using lead bullets, your diameter should be one to two thousands larger than the groove diameter.

[AMMOe]

One or two thousandth larger than the bore is good, but when you&#39;re going for extreme accuracy, try .001 smaller than the throat... even if this is .003" larger than the groove diameter it will shoot better. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-yellow.gif ~AMMOe