Buffalo classic 45LC or 45/70? Trying to decide.

[tacklebury]

I have both, I like the .45 Colt for deer in thick spots or brushy areas, because of the length and weight. Also, I shoot the .45 Colt for plinking also. Keep in mind though that they no longer produce the .45 LC (since 2008), so when they are gone, they're gone. If you're unsure get the colt now and .45-70 later. I use the .45-70 in the early season, when I hunt mostly fields and open areas and it shines for accuracy and power past 100 yards. I do load special .45 Colt rounds using Reloader7 which push the big 300gr. XTP magnum bullets I load a good bit faster than any pistol will send them, making it kind of a mini .45-70. I like carrying the carbine better for much of my hunting though and I carry my .45 Colt New Model Blackhawk for closer off hand/finishing shots, but past 50 yards, I typicall use the carbine.





Unfortunately, due to a data crash haven't got pics of my .45-70 remade, but I love that gun also. Loaded up right, I use it with bullets ranging from round balls up to 405 gr. for a variety of game.

Good luck deciding, but either one is a great weapon.

[DanWalker]

So, do you consider it accurate and shootable enough for deer sized game to 150 yards?
How are the sights?

[geargnasher]

I have the Classic Carbine .45 Colt, identical to the one in Tacklebury's picture, and it's a shooter provided you do some things to cope with the excessivly long throat. Don't plan on shooting anything factory in it and getting any accuracy. I worked up the Lee .457-340-RF sized .453" and seated to crimp in the first lube groove backed by case full of Reloder 7, I don't know the velocity but it was supersonic. 1.5" 50-yard ten-shot groups are the norm with that load and a 4 MOA red dot. The factory sights are decent, but very cheaply made and not consistent.

Since the H&R SB2 frame is good for lots of pressure, I was able to take the .45 Colt to its potential, maximizing boolit weight and velocity. If you think "outside the box" of normal .45 Colt loadings you can easily achieve trapdoor springfield performance from a super-short, extremely light and fast-handling little pack rifle, and even with the steel buttplate and no extra weight in the stock cavity it isn't too gawdaweful to shoot. Get the .45/70 target rifle, and get it fitted for a .38/55 barrel too, then you'll have it all!

Gear

[shovel80]

I always figured one was more of a handgun cartridge, and the other a rifle cartridge!
Terry

[tacklebury]

So, do you consider it accurate and shootable enough for deer sized game to 150 yards?
How are the sights?

Accurate enough for deer, yes. The sights are good quality Marbles front contour and rear buckhorn. I don't really care for the buckhorn and am looking at getting a Skinner Peep sight for the rear, but haven't done so as yet. I think if you want to extend the range to 150yards, I'd probably go with the 240gr XTP Magnum if you can find them. The 300 starts dropping pretty good, but is still doable if you aim at the top of their shoulder. Still has plenty of power, but depends on how good you are at Kentucky windage.

Oh and here's a pic of my BC I took yesterday. Finally got around to doing it. It currently has a scope on it as I'm working on a new load development. Couple reloading buddies suggested, it'd be better for working my Ladders, so I'm giving it a try. I don't like hunting with scopes, but it's something new anyway.



Here's an updated one of my 45LC Classic Carbine:



& Blackhawk:

[Lonegun1894]

I do not have and have not fired the BC .45 Colt, but have the BC .45-70 and several leveractions in .45 Colt. I would go with the .45-70 just for the sake of the heavier boolit, but that's just me. I use the Lee 450gr FPPB sized to .458 at 1300ish FPS to basically duplicate the old loads, and it is as gentle a rifle to shoot as my .30-30s. It isnt as flat as a .30-30, but it also passes through anything flesh and blood I've shot with it so far--jackrabbits, coyote, deer, and hog. Having said that, inside 125 yds, maybe 150, on game the size of deer/antelope, I dont think it makes much difference. I personally prefer the .45-70 for shots over 125yds, but can usually get much closer, so dont feel handicapped by my .45 Colt rifles. Also, the .45-70 will use somewhat more powder and lead to accomplish the same task, if that is a concern for you. As to the comments about .45-70 recoil being on the harsh side, it can be, which is part of the reason I toned it down to the 1873 load levels--a 450 grs at 2000fps (dont ask) was NO fun at all, at least not for me. The slower loads drop a bit more, but as just as if not more accurate and I trust the rifle to 250yds, but haven't tried it beyond that yet, so it may surprize me someday.

[G. Blessing]

Another option; get the .45LC and re-chamber to .454 casull....

Looking into doing that right now myself.

G.

[ShootingLooney]

Best to just keep n mind the distances you are going to shoot. Where are you hunting or shooting?
The .45 Colt is a good 50/75/100 yard cartridge, but it won't buck brush as well as the .45-70.
Remember also that the .45-70 can be loaded DOWN, and with lighter boolits if you are recoil averse, or loaded UP for longer range and/or deadly game. I shoot a 500 gr. Postnel style, out to 500 yards, and yup, it whacks the snot out of me, but mostly the 405 gr., and she will take any North American game animal to 600 yard if you are up to snuff.
Also note that pre 1900, at the Sandy Hook Trials, they shot the .45-70 against the 577-.450 Martini, both loaded with 80 grains of powder [.45-80-405] out to 3,520 yards- yup, two miles!
And people today say the .45-70 is a "good 100 yard cartridge"?!

[fcvan]

Several months ago I purchased the classic carbine in 45 Colt. I picked it up for $229 and truly enjoy reloading for this rifle. So far I am pushing the Lee 255RF at 1400 fps and will start playing with H110 or 296 to see how far I can go at 45+P pressures. Just for grins and giggles I had a blast shooting round balls at 950 fps. Good fun.

As noted in other posts, you can send the action to the factory for a rebarrel with the 32" 45-70 for $120 plus shipping. You will have to buy sights which are available from most places like MidwayUSA. If you dont want the 32" tube, you can get the 24" 45-70 barrel for $96 which includes sights. I am planning on the 32" this winter when my shooting is hindered by weather. The H&R website says its about a 30 day turn-around.

[rockrat]

+1 on the rechamber to 454 casull. You can still shoot 45 Colt. Go to Greybeards and ask them about rechambering.
Some have even gone to the 460 S&W, but that round would be a handful in the Handi.

[shovel80]

(Quote)...Keep in mind though that they no longer produce the .45 LC (since 2008), so when they are gone, they're gone.

I'm pretty Darn Sure....the .45 LC "Long Colt"...and the .45 Colt are the Exact Same Cartridge!!...The term "Long Colt" I believe was undertaken in order to not confuse it with the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)...!
Terry

[Catshooter]

Terrry,

You are correct in that the Long Colt and 45 Colt are one and the same.

However, the 45 Colt pre-dated the ACP by many years and if one was worrying about differentation, wouldn't one modify the newcomer? There were and are lot's of 45s. You'll find quite a contraversy in the actual origin of "Long Colt".

After you have studied cartridge nominclature for awhile it becomes fairly apparent the no one has really cared much, well, about much of anything! Clarity, differentation, just plain ease of buying yer dang ammo across the counter, logic (!), you name it.

But we do have the internet now and that may help. Who knows? For many years I thought that we knew who invented the Boxer priming system until the internet.

Welcome to the forum by the way.


Cat

[TCLouis]

If ya have the Colt in pistola already, go for it.

In the rifle it is significantly bigger performer than folks think.

Least that is what I read.

I have 45-70s, but then one was my Dads and it just grew from there.

If I could get 57s, 44s at a price I was willing to pay I'd have at least one of each

[canyon-ghost]

In a Buffalo Classic, I'd think that a 45 LC would be more enjoyable to shoot.

[Okie2]

I have both the 45/70 and 38/55....Have shot deer with both (under 100 lb Oklahoma deer...little)....the 38/55 killed it just fine...the 45/70 at 20 yards messed it up more than I had imagined! I changed the sight of both gun....38/55 with tang venier...fine for target...not so much hunting. The 45/70 has an aftermarke peep with larger aperature and added a fiber optic for the front sight...really nice set up for hunting. I wish I had it in 45 LC for close range...can really hop up for close hunting....wish I had thought of it. Forgot to add...on the 45/70 I added a really nice recoil pad & added lead to the opening...calms the recoil quite a bit.

[geargnasher]

Just chrono'd some loads this afternoon, here's a target from the same load I shot a little over a week ago for the PP postal competition:



That's from my NEF Classic Carbine with a 20" barrel and a 4MOA red dot sight. Five rounds Chrono'd at 1326, 1313, 1296, 1309, and 1324, that puts it easily in the Trapdoor Springfield class with the 340-grain boolit. Can't get any more powder in the case and it still burns a little dirty, might try IMR 4198. Steel buttplate isn't too tough on the shoulder even at these loadings, but I'll put it up against anything in North America to 100 yards with the soft boolits.

Gear

[tacklebury]

Nice results Gear. 8) I can shoot a few of mine with the steel bp, but after that, I pull out my slip-on Limbsaver small recoil pad. I've shot 70 in a day with only slight soreness. I cannot bring myself to modify my wood, as I love the look.

[geargnasher]

There is no disputing the 45/70 is more versatile, but the .45 Colt is pretty capable with it's +P load tolerance, brass is cheaper, and it does more with less powder due to the smaller case. Also, the .452" groove will handle light, .45 pistol boolits down to 160 grains or so, and few such moulds exist for .457" grooves. All this is only a consideration if economy of powder and lead and low-recoil plinking is a priority.

Gear

[Okie2]

Can someone tell me if the LC45 is drilled & tapped for sights other than the current sights? Another set of holes where you might add a receiver sight? Thanks, Scott

[justingrosche]

Can someone tell me if the LC45 is drilled & tapped for sights other than the current sights? Another set of holes where you might add a receiver sight? Thanks, Scott

No, the 45 Colt Buffalo Classic is not, but I believe the 45-70 version is.