Last H&R Buffalo Classic question (hopefully)

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:31 am

I can't tell from the pics online, does the rear sight mount to the barrel or the receiver? Is the .38-55 mounted the same as well?

Logically I want to say the barrel due to the receiver design but I haven't found a good pic online to verify and I don't remember from the one I held several months ago.

Thanks!

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:33 am

mounts to the barrel

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:36 am

Thanks!

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:58 am

You may want to consider getting rid of the factory sight and getting a Williams FP sight. On my 38-55 I was trying to sight it in for 50 yards, to adjust the sight that comes with the gun you loosen a screw and slide the sight up or down. This is OK but in my case the adjusting screw ended up being right on the edge of the mounting hole so that when I tried to tighten the adjusting screw it would slide down into the mounting hole and I would be sighted in for about 30 yards.

Tha Williams sight bolts right on. The barrel is also set up to use the same scope base as the rest of the Handie's use.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:12 pm

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

I've got a line on a .22H Handi synthetic that I hope the BC and .38-55 barrels can be fitted to. If not that's OK since I want the .22H anyway...

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:21 pm

I think the only way you can now get a 38-55 is with H&R's barrel program and since Remington bought them and are moving the plant you might want to call and see whats up.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:26 pm

From what I've been reading over on Graybeard's forums I think all the .38-55 barrels are gone now as well. Call customer service to find out for sure.

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:38 pm

Thats to bad, I guess everyone wants the 45-70. Not that the 45-70 is bad ( I have several) but the 38-55 is a neat round to shoot.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:41 pm

My Buffalo Classic was an early one, furnished sans sights - but factory D/T'd for them.

I used a Williams WGRS rear with a Lyman #17 tunnel front with a bunch of interchangable inserts - which worked great together.

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:55 pm

I wish mine was an early one, I am not a fan ot the extractor system.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:20 pm

The extractors sure are nice when you handload though.

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:48 pm

They are ok until it gets cold out, you are wearing gloves and need a quick second shot while hunting.

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:42 pm

The 38-55 and 45-70 are both mounted on the barrel.. Same sights.

Gihon · Post by **Gihon** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:18 pm

I have the 38-55 that was marketed under the Wesson & Harringtion name. It has the Williams WGRS rears sight with the #17 Lyman front. I've never been crazy with this set up, I have the rear sight up as high as it will go at 100 yds. and it still shoots low. I have asked Williams, Marbles and H & R for a recommendation for a front bead sight that I could get to replace the Lyman, but they didn't have a clue. Does anyone here know of a different front sight that will work?

[b]Bis[/b],thanks for the tip concerning the Williams FP mounting in place of the WGRS, I have the same problem with the adjusting screw. Believe I'll make that change.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:23 pm

Thanks! It's an SB2 so I'll have to give them a call early next week.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:33 pm

Gihon wrote:I have the 38-55 that was marketed under the Wesson & Harringtion name. It has the Williams WGRS rears sight with the #17 Lyman front. I've never been crazy with this set up, I have the rear sight up as high as it will go at 100 yds. and it still shoots low. I have asked Williams, Marbles and H & R for a recommendation for a front bead sight that I could get to replace the Lyman, but they didn't have a clue. Does anyone here know of a different front sight that will work?

Bis,thanks for the tip concerning the Williams FP mounting in place of the WGRS, I have the same problem with the adjusting screw. Believe I'll make that change.

You just need a lower front sight. Use Brownells calculator to see how much lower and get what you need.

Gihon · Post by **Gihon** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:02 pm

Hobie,
Thanks for the response. I realize that I need a lower front sight, but most of the company's that I have asked do not seem to know which sight will fit the dovetail to replace the Lyman #17. I have asked H & R, Williams, Marbles, Brownells and Midway without much help. I did purchase one sight that was suggested, but it did not come close to fitting the dovetail. So, the search continues.

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:26 pm

Gihon- I just came in from shooting my 38-55 ( it's nice to be able to shoot off the back porch

). My Williams FP sight is almost as low as it will go and I am about 1" high at 50 yards. Maybe your problem will go away with a new rear sight. Mine has the Lyman front sight that came with the gun, but I don't know what number it is. It is a globe sight with all kinds of inserts.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:11 pm

I think the correct globe sight height is .404". They are around. Track of the Wolf maybe, can't remember where I've seen them.

Gihon · Post by **Gihon** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:12 pm

Thanks Bis - It sounds like switching to the FP may solve my problem with elevation adjustments. My Lyman sight also has many inserts and is probably the same as yours. Not long ago, I purchased a used, but very good condition T/C Hawken with a similar globe front sight and a tang peep, but I have not had the opportunity to shoot it yet. I think the globe is good for target practice, but I'm not sure how it would work in a hunting situation. The reason I'd like to find a bead front for my 38-55 is because that is what I have on most of my lever guns, and they work well for me.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:16 pm

Bis wrote:Thats to bad, I guess everyone wants the 45-70. Not that the 45-70 is bad ( I have several) but the 38-55 is a neat round to shoot.

Brain storm...no your computer isn't on fire.

If they're out of .38-55 bbls I suppose a .30-30 bbl could be fitted and then rechambered, eh?

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:24 pm

My Lyman front sight came with 3 post inserts at different heights. With old eyes, I need all the help I can get and a post/bead front sight just does not get it any more.

Gihon · Post by **Gihon** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:19 pm

Bis, certainly understandable. Mine came with no inserts so I bought a set from Lyman. I only have two posts and one is very wide which covers alot of target far out. With time, I'll find what I need. Thanks again for the help.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:45 pm

Gihon wrote:I have the 38-55 that was marketed under the Wesson & Harringtion name.

Wesson and Harrington? Are/were they related to H&R? Never heard of them (which means precisely nada...

)

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:19 am

OK, it looks like they brought the original name back in the mid-90s if anyone else is interested.

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:01 pm

So is Wesson related Dan Wesson ?

Gihon- I hope it all works out without having to spend a fortune. The H&R guns are fun to shoot without having to take out a second on the house.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:08 pm

Bis wrote:So is Wesson related Dan Wesson ?

I think so. Nephew or somesuch. I'll have to dig one of the pages back up that I ran across.

Bis · Post by **Bis** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:44 pm

I guess it really doesn't matter who makes them, as long as they keep making them. I just hope Remington doesn't pull the plug on them infavor of some Chinese import.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:53 pm

Bis wrote:So is Wesson related Dan Wesson ?

Found it. Frank was the youngest brother of Edward and Daniel B. Wesson. And the Harrington was Gilbert, his nephew.

Gihon · Post by **Gihon** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:50 pm

I'm not sure exactly where the Wesson & Harrington name came from, but this model was brought out by Harrington & Richardson a few years ago. In the H & R catalogs description they mention that Harrington & Richardson began manufacturing a similar model in 1871, based on the Frank Wesson tip up rifles that were first made in Worchester, Mass. in the 1850's. If they were ( as awp101 points out ) related, it is possible that Wesson & Harrington started out together and later Harrington went into business with Richardson in 1871. When I get some time maybe I'll look into it more, if for only my own curiosity.
Bis-I couldn't agree more as far as H & R is concerned. Really the only affordable American made option in single shot rifles. Unfortunately Remington has started importing some of their bolt action rifles, only time will tell if they will do the same with the H & R's. On a positive note, I have read a couple of things somewhere claiming that they will be making them in one of the Remington plants in Carolina in the future.