A friend and I shared my 45-70 Buffalo Classic at a long range side match this past weekend, and we were using some 300 grain reloads at targets set at 100, 150, 200 and 230 yards.

Performance was good, with the exception of a few flyers that seemed to defy drift, gravity, and logic. Rifle was shot from standing and seated positions with the latter having cross sticks for support. I have used factory 405 grain loads with similar results, although not quite as many flyers.

Any recomendations as far as bullet weight and such for getting a little more consistency out of the rifle?

Heavier is better.

No offense meant, but most 45-70 shooters consider long range to be considerably more than 230yds, they usually shoot 500gr and bigger cast bullets at 500 to 800yds. Even my 300gr hunting loads are good for a MPBR of over 250yds.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/quickdtoo/Emoticons/icon_wink.gif

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=62996&highlight=long+range

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=62919&highlight=long+range

When I had mty BC, I found that it shot 360 grain bullets just fine, without flyers, but the 405 gave a little smaller groups. Never tried the 500 gr. bullets as I don't think the twist rate on the BC is fast enough to get great performance from a 500 gr. bullet.

The BC's 1:20" twist works great with 500+ grain bullets. I've shot 525gr Beartooth Piledrivers in both my 45-70 and 45-120 BCs, they shoot just fine, even with my old eyes!

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=66109

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=82250&highlight=

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=75253&highlight=500

.460gr. Cast Performance w/a good dose of Benchmark works pretty good in mine.