1897-8 Rising is what I do in 28mm, mainly because there is huge scope for grand skirmish (using units of 8-16 figures but only having 6-10 units per side in a game) and proper skirmish style actions (1 man = 1 man).
There are no big actions in this nasty little punch up but plenty of small scale stuff.
I second ecwcaptain in that to get things moving paint up tribal forces that work for both.
There are more tribal figures available now than when I started but I have Pathan Jezail armed figures from the old Foundry (Perry) ranges and more modern stuff from the Empress range; they carry Lee Enfields I think but unless you are a stickler, and I'm not, its a Pathan with a rifle, so it could be a Martini Henry or a Lee Metford (nicked in a previous action).
For the Second Afghan War we game 15mm using Battle for Empire rules which handle the big actions rather well.