My dad is getting, or trying to get one of these rifles. He was curious as to where to find reloading info for these guns. He wants to load black powder or pyrodex. Does anyone know some good loads for this strength action? How strong is this action anyway? I can't remember the correct nomenclature for the action its a break open like a shotgun or contender etc. Thanks

Order a copy of the "SPG Lubricants Reloading Primer" by Mike Venturino and Steve Garbe.This is as good an explanation of BPCR shooting as I have come across.

Loading for BPCR requires a bit different approach than smokeless. More attention needs to be used in powder compression, case selection, etc. For example, there must not be any gap whatsoever between the powder and the bullet base. Then one has to experiment with just how much compression of the powder a particular rifle / load likes.

There are no specific loads that give universaly acceptable accuracy. I've had folks tell me that a certain bullet wouldn't shoot worth a darn in my 45-70. After a summer's worth of experimenting I arrived at a load that gives me cloverleafs at 100 yds. So, any loads that would be given need to be "tweaked" to be good.

The book by Venturino is an excellent way to get started.

[ 03-25-2003, 17:59: Message edited by: Borealis Bob ]

Hey neighbor, try 50 grains of 3031 under a Hornaday 300 grain or Remington 300 grain HP. I have a Williams peep sight and globe front sight on mine. It shoots very well. E-mail me if you have problems.

Greetings I'm going to post a few links here for you.

One is Introduction To Black Powder Cartridge Loading Chuck Raithel is a good friend of mine and has shot BPCR for years. You must have Adobe Reader for this link.

When I first got my Buffalo Classic rifle I contacted James Garrison of H&R 1871 who at that time was the CEO of H&R 1871, which was well before the merger with Marlin Firearms. We talked about the SAMMI specs and what the Buffalo Classic will hold up to. It will handle Garretts or Buffalo Bores as well. In other words your shoulder will give out before the Buffalo Classic will.

I started the Buffalo Classic Shooting Society along with another friend and now run it by myself and try and keep information flowing for our members and prospective new owners of the Buffalo Classic Rifle. H&R has a Talk Forum for just your questions regarding any of the H&R 1871 rifles. But we do get many questions regarding the Buffalo Classic Rifle.

The Buffalo Classic has a 1:20 barrel twist and favor bullets from 405-gr to 520-gr lubed with either SPG or another BP lube while shooting BP. The Buffalo Classic's factory weight is at 8 pounds, I and others have added weight to the stock to bring in up to or above 10 pounds which really helps with all loads. One thing about shooting BP like Goex, it likes compression. Elephant, Swiss does not, some yes but not like Goex. Not wanting to get the cart before the horse here let me say that several things are necessary for loading PB as Chuck talks about in his writtings, (nice thing is this is free, where SPG's book is not) Either one is great for the beginner.

The first and formost rule of loading BPCR is Consistancy it is this that will help you develop accuracy in your shooting. Several items needed for BPCR are available at Buffalo Arms from Blow Tubes to what ever for BPCR can be aquired from Buffalo Arms.

Very good bullets can be purchased from Bonus Bullets They have great bullets for the .458" 45-70 from the 405-gr to the 525-gr. One that works real well that I have found great accuracy with in the Buffalo Classic is the 500-gr 1881 design.

Black Powder Loading

45/70 63.0 gr Goex FFg for either the 405-gr or 500-gr or 525-gr bullets, Card Wad Grease cookie.
I compress my load and mic to check for Consistant Loading. I personally don't use anything but BP. I just feel BP is more accurate and cost less anyway.

Card Wads can be made from tablet backing or milk carton. .060" to .030" card wads are used depending on what you find that works best. Some just use a peice of wax paper between your bullet and powder seating. Some like using the Ox-Yoke wads but to me its just another cost and card wads work.

Pyrodex Loadings are as follows:
45/70 60 gr. RS/Select 420 gr. Ox-Yoke� Felt Wad 1248 fps

45/70 65 gr. RS/Select 465 gr. Card Wad .030" 1355 fps

45/70 65 gr. RS/Select 540 gr. 1/16" Poly Wad 1107 fps

Tripple Seven
Although others have tried this powder, it is meant only for muzzleloading only and not for cartridges. That is why I will not post the data here for Tripple Seven.

Minor compression will be needed to seat your bullets. You will need to use a caliper to mic the distance from the last driving band to the base of the bullet. Then make sure you use a compression plug or compression die for compressing your powder. DO NOT USE YOUR BULLET FOR COMPRESSING YOUR POWDER if you do you can deform the nose of your bullet and then your cartridge Will Not Chamber.

Other information can be found at my web site Black Powder and BPCR Chronicles

I hope this helps here.

[ 03-26-2003, 19:17: Message edited by: Montanan ]

Thank you very much guys for all this info. I appreciate it very much.

Any time I hear about these rifles the person buying or shooting them always shoots bp loads. Can you choot regular factory bullets out of these guns? I was thinking about getting one.

Atlatlhunter

Yes, you can shoot smokeless and use jacketed bullets if you like. The Buffalo Classic was my first BPC rifle and I just stuck with it. However I have tried smokeless using 38.0 gr of IMR 3031 with great results using a 405-gr bullet.

Hope this helps