need help

[two bit okie]

morning folks. I need help in choosing. It is a given that I am going to be getting a 45-70 soon. the problem is which one.

Rossi Rio Grande. Pro- Lever action repeater, looks neat. fast rate of fire. and I have a
rossi mod 92 and like the rossi product.
Con- can go thru a large mount of ammo in hurry. looks like a marlin (which
dont care for) wood on almost all Rossi's I have seen is butt ugly.
have to use flat point bullets


H&R buffalo classic Pro- walnut stocks, long barrel for best performance (I load all of
my own and cast my own). more economical to shoot a single shot.
allow use of pointed bullets, does not require such a tight crimp.
Con- very low rate of fire????? heavier than Rossi???? poor table manners
and ejects (valuable and expensive) empties into low orbit.

I can no longer walk and hunt so huntability is not an issue. I dont know if the break action H&R product allows the use of higher powered loads or not. Buffalo Bore or garrets would never be needed or used, but would like to exceed trapdoor loads.

Input is requested

[Mescalero]

I would do the single shot.
If you buy the rifle configuration, you can add any and all barrels later.

[stretch]

Well, here's my opinion, FWIW:

I'd go with the H&R.

You say you don't hunt, so quick follow-up shots
are not an issue. For my money, I'd get a Henry 22
to burn ammo with. That H&R isn't the most beautiful
gun, but it's no worse than the Rossi, either. (A Sharps
replica is more pleasing to the eye than either of your
current choices, methinks. )

I like the longer barrel on the H&R, both in terms of sighting
radius and best velocity. The H&R already has decent sights
on it. (I assume you're not scoping it?)

From the bench, or any other position save off-hand, they're
both awkward compared to a bolt-action. Sitting, kneeling or
prone, your position will have to change more between shots
to reload the beast than it would with, say, a Remington 700.

The trigger on my Handi-Rifle is really pretty good. I can't speak
to the Rossi.

Case ejection may or may not be an issue. My H&R only extracts -
it doesn't eject. This slows the reload down slightly. (The Buffalo
gun could be modified maybe?!) Inquire of H&R, and maybe they
can tell you whether or not the ejection can be easily modified. Or
maybe someone on this forum knows off the top of their head.

Good Luck! Let us know what you pick.

(Do I get extra points for NOT telling you to buy both first thing?!? )

-Stretch

[piller]

+1 to what Stretch said.

[Griff]

If it were me... I'd be looking at the Uberti or Pedersoli 1885 (HiWall) clones. For shooting off the bench especially, a break action is a pain in the patootie. The under-lever, falling block action is strong, and ease of shooting bench manipulation.

The new H&Rs have the ejector... I don't know if it can be disabled to just be an extractor.

And just because I'm feeling cantankerous this afternoon... there's always Henry's announced .45-70!!

[harry]

Change from ejector to extractor:
http://www.brimstonepistoleros.com/arti ... r-mod.html
Harry

[madman4570]

Buffalo Classic!
Everyone needs at least one of those long barreled buffalo guns

[stretch]

This just in from "American Rifleman":

http://www.americanrifleman.org/Article ... 1486&cid=5

They seemed to like it, but then again they have paying advertisers. Still,
it looks helpful. Modify your ejector/extractor and it sounds like
it'll work!

-Stretch

[JB]

First of all shame on you for not caring for "Marlin looks"!

But I hunted for years with shotguns with automatic ejectors. It's not that hard to form the habit of putting your hand up in front of the ejected empties. It's also normally not that big of a job to unhook automatic ejectors if you prefer.

[Blaine]

Of your choices, the H&R seems heads above the pack. I think I might be inclined to spend a little more and get a modern Sharps replica.

[Pete44ru]

For shooting off a bench - neither, as you're gonna take a beating from BOTH, ESPECIALLY with heavy loads.

My BC was just flat too light for BPCR loads/shooting - even with it's 32" bbl. A long/heavy scope, like a Malcom ($$$$) might help - IDK, since I was using a WGRS peep.
If the Rio's even lighter than the BC, yer gona be in real pain.

If a .45-70 plinker is wanted, I'd recommend looking for a HB sporter on a Remington Rolling Block - many such of which were built/customized since the 1960's. (Numrich even used to peddle .45-70 octagon barrels as conversion kits for the RB)

You could also do yourself a lot better, by shopping around for a used Miroku/Browning/Winchester 1886/86 - which will of course cost much more than the $300 or so a BC brings.
ne of those would give you enough weight for comfortable shooting, AND won't look like a Marlin.

.

[Rusty]

The biggest problem with the H&R's is the danger of becoming a Handiholic. It starts slow enough then before you know it you're buying extra barrels and stock sets. The BC will stand quite a bit more pressure than your shoulder will. Check out more here... http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html

And this is just the centerfire section. They also have a rimfire section and a shotgun section.

Some have even gone so far as to turn their BC's into .45-120's OUCH!

I love my handis.

[AJMD429]

This just in from "American Rifleman":

http://www.americanrifleman.org/Article ... 1486&cid=5

They seemed to like it, but then again they have paying advertisers. Still,
it looks helpful. Modify your ejector/extractor and it sounds like
it'll work!

-Stretch

That pretty much sums it up...!

[ollogger]

Okie I have one in the BC & its fun to shoot, but not if you load it heavy with 500 gr bullets
yes it will toss brass if ya let it but the hand trick works good
for me i shoot cast mid marlin loads, have loaded 350 hornadys
mid Ruger loads & took it elk hunting but didnt get a shot

ollogger

[Grizz]

I have the buffalo classic too. I shoot 525gr hard cast. shoulder still works. you can get shotgun butt stocks for the gun and you can put a limbsaver on it. I put a pound of lead in the cavernous butt stock bolt hole. the steel butt plate doesn't bother me, but I don't shoot 100's of rounds at a time. It is a steady rifle to shoot offhand. Mine has the wrong height of globe sight, something H&R did sporatically during production. You can get the 'other' one online. It's a fun gun in every respect.

You can also get the 45/70 H&R with a [?] 22" barrel. That rifle is encredibly short and handy, with plenty of sight radius and velocity. It's a very handy powerhouse.

The sb2 frame 45/70 will tolerate any load you would put in a Ruger #1, in case you want to test your grit.

[damienph]

I vote for the Buffalo Classic, as well. I have one of the original "Wesson & Harrington" marked versions and it is a very good shooter. As with most of the H&R/NEF single shot "Handi-rifles", they are surprisingly accurate considering their cost. Plus that 32" barrel with the globe sight is just cool!