Author Topic: BFR Revolvers (Read 2613 times)

Dave2of5 · « **on:** January 20, 2003, 03:50:09 PM »

I need to ask a question of the expertise in this forum. I have been looking at the BFR Revolvers by Magnum Research. Does anyone have any experience with these guns? They look like they are very well made. For revolvers that are completely machined, at $999 each, they seem to be priced pretty fair. Tolerances in the literature don't seem to be that different from the Freedom arms guns and the other custom remakes.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Dave Brown

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2003, 12:23:05 AM »

youve hit a sore spot with me. A couple years ago I bought a MR bfr in .480 that I was going to have John Linebaugh rechamber to .475 that was before the .475 was available. John reluctantly agreed to do it. I shoud have known when he was reluctant. But figured it was a cheap way to get a .475. I got the gun and I was real dissapointed. First it was huge! way bigger then a ruger. The grip frame fit was terrible. There so called trigger job had more creap in it then a factory ruger! They advertised it as a 6 1/2 in gun but come to find out they measure from the end of the frame instead of the forcing cone like every other manufacture in the world :x The sights were cheesy. They put a stainless front blade on it that you couldnt see in the daytime. The catalog showed a red insert front. and when I called them I got nothing but a runnaround and finally they told me that they have the right to change any specs any time without telling the customer. I got nothing but snoty replys from there service dept. right from the start. The base pin just had a locking screw to hold it in no cross pin. The grip frame connects with two allen headed screws no ears like a ruger. The grips were crap but I new that when I bought it. That thing would have been a bear to shoot in .475 with them big rubber grips. Overall I didnt think the fit and finnish were as good as my rugers and I could have bought 2 and 1/2 of them for the price I payed for this gun. I shot 5 shots out of it and just didnt like it I ended up selling it at a big loss and taking the money and putting it down on a real .475 from John. Its the best money I ever lost! This gun sat at the local gunshop for over a year before some unlucky sob bought it. The gun shop owner told me that everyone that looked at it comented that it was just to big. Save a little more money and buy a field grade FA gun youll be alot happier! Just my opinion. Alot of guys like them my buddy has a .410 bfr and the frame is smaller and the fit and finnish are much better. Ive been told that the older guns were put together better. I think what happened is they started selling a bunch and just started taking shortcuts.

BER007 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2003, 01:09:10 AM »

The only experience with BFR was 2 years ago, I have ordered a BFE Long Maxine in .444 marlin. Because I liked this model, despites the delivery time never respected, the gun has come at my gun's dealer in Belgium. When I have seen this "crappy" gun, not at all great in finition, grip looked very cheap, action was rude,... I have asked to my gun's dealer to give me back all my money. This gun will return to Magnum Research. It was one of the first BFR made.

Now BFR are a little bit better in quality (but it was hard to made a worst gun).

My advices : buy a Ruger and tune it custom at a famouns gunsmith Bowen,Clements,...

By a FA field grade, best gun ever made for the price. You can go wrong with any FA.

IMHO, the best handgun made by Magnum research is the semi auto Desert Eagle but not the BFR. :shock:

Please don't compare anymore the BFR with FA or custom built guns. :eek: You will better served with a Gary Reeder's gun than a BFR for similar costs.
Geary reeder is not the top but great indeed.

MS Hitman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2003, 04:09:55 PM »

They attempted to make it look like a FA. That is as far as any comparison goes. You will be much better off investing in a FA than throwing good money after bad on a BFR.

BER007 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2003, 03:25:34 AM »

Quote from: MS Hitman

They attempted to make it look like a FA. That is as far as any comparison goes. You will be much better off investing in a FA than throwing good money after bad on a BFR.

AMEN!!!

45LC-Man · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2003, 05:06:07 PM »

There was an article in one of the gunzines a while back about the BFR's and in it the author claimed that the BFR frames are made by Ruger under contract just like the #5's were a few years ago. I wondered about the fact that the BFR's looked so much like Ruger's so it all made sense when the article came out.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2003, 11:34:51 PM »

Ruger doesnt make there own stainless bisley grip frames they get them from a vendor bfr probably uses the same vendor.

Quote from: 45LC-Man

There was an article in one of the gunzines a while back about the BFR's and in it the author claimed that the BFR frames are made by Ruger under contract just like the #5's were a few years ago. I wondered about the fact that the BFR's looked so much like Ruger's so it all made sense when the article came out.

45LC-Man · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2003, 02:37:48 AM »

I wasn't referring to the grip frame. I was referring to the main frame. Plus I may be wrong but I don't believe that the BFR uses a Bisley grip frame. Why would Ruger contract out just the Bisley grip frame and manufacture their own standard grip frames when they are the pioneers of investment casting? I'd like to see some proof of that statement.

BER007 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2003, 04:10:01 AM »

Quote from: 45LC-Man

There was an article in one of the gunzines a while back about the BFR's and in it the author claimed that the BFR frames are made by Ruger under contract just like the #5's were a few years ago. I wondered about the fact that the BFR's looked so much like Ruger's so it all made sense when the article came out.

I confirm you that BFR's frame are buy to Ruger.

But you need to know that frames bought by BFR. Have no idea which metal has been used for building the BFR's frames.

I have linked a very interresting article about how Ruger made its SRH .454 Casull. You will see that : The company then asked Humberto Raposo, a regional metallurgist from Carpenter Technology Corp., for assistance in selecting materials.

http://www.manufacturingcenter.com/tooling/archives/0601/0601hic.asp

I haven't the clue may be Carpenter made smth for BFR uder the Ruger name?

Henry Bowman · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2003, 11:50:30 AM »

Ruger has been a leader in developing the latest hitech methods in casting.
Their own company that contracts with many gunmakers (Freedom Arms-BFR-Caspian-etc) is named Pine Tree, they're online.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2003, 01:37:26 PM »

sorry I wasnt reading your post close enough. I was told by eagle grips that they have a problem fitting grips to stainless bisleys because ruger gets the grip frames from a couple of different vendors. I know that there is a bigger variation in grip frames with the stainless bisleys then there are with the blued ones and that when you order grips from any manufacturer they always list seperate grips for stainless and blued guns. As a matter of fact I ordered a set of grips from ajax for my stainless guna and the pin holes were even different. I had to exchange them for the ones for a stainless gun. If they were all made by ruger using ivestment casting they sure wouldnt be different. Im no expert on metal work but is ivestment casting possible with stainless steel?

Quote from: 45LC-Man

I wasn't referring to the grip frame. I was referring to the main frame. Plus I may be wrong but I don't believe that the BFR uses a Bisley grip frame. Why would Ruger contract out just the Bisley grip frame and manufacture their own standard grip frames when they are the pioneers of investment casting? I'd like to see some proof of that statement.

Henry Bowman · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2003, 04:59:24 PM »

Is investment casting even possible with stainless?
See my post above! Caspian has even had Ruger/Pine Cone Castings makeup
titanium castings for 1911 recievers/frames.
Since you're sorta buddies with Mr Linebaugh can you find out bout the ultra-rare aluminium Bisley Ruger gripframes he had made up?
Thanks

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2003, 01:03:36 AM »

PM sent

Quote from: Henry Bowman

Is investment casting even possible with stainless?
See my post above! Caspian has even had Ruger/Pine Cone Castings makeup
titanium castings for 1911 recievers/frames.
Since you're sorta buddies with Mr Linebaugh can you find out bout the ultra-rare aluminium Bisley Ruger gripframes he had made up?
Thanks

John Traveler · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2003, 07:02:50 AM »

Yes, investment casting is possible with stainless steel alloys.

Ruger has made a fine art of it. ALL of their carbon steel and stainless steel gun receivers are investment cast, as are almost all of the major components except barrels and cylinders.

Henry Bowman · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2003, 12:09:56 PM »

The email PM notification came but when I key the PM addy I get the GB board and a General Error message and can't access any PMs??
Re- the alloy Bisleys??
I've seen exactly one picture of a light weight .45 Colt with LW Bisley from HHI-812 Dennis, you probably know him?
Thanks for the "mysterious" note/PM!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2003, 03:13:32 PM »

send me an email at lws43@hotmail.com make a reference to graybeards forum or I may delete it.

Quote from: Henry Bowman

The email PM notification came but when I key the PM addy I get the GB board and a General Error message and can't access any PMs??
Re- the alloy Bisleys??
I've seen exactly one picture of a light weight .45 Colt with LW Bisley from HHI-812 Dennis, you probably know him?
Thanks for the "mysterious" note/PM!

thomas · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2003, 10:20:54 AM »

I just got back from the gun shop. I held a BFR for the first time. This pistol seems very well made. Fit and finish was great. AS far as the sights? the were in black and very well done.
I was made to understand that BFR was a small shop that built pistols out of his Garage, but was sold to Magnum research.
I liked the gun Very well made.
The one I looked at was in 45-70
Tom

SkyDancer · « **Reply #17 on:** March 02, 2003, 05:30:38 AM »

I have owned the the BFR in

45-70
45LC P+
454

And I have found these guns to be of a superior build and hold up well to the hottest loads recommended by the manufacturer.

I don't know what the people on this forum have against MRI BFR but there definitely seems to be a uninformed bias against this particular line of gun.

Get one...and make your own mind up...you will not regret it.

:x

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2003, 11:08:16 AM »

been there done that :cry:

Quote from: SkyDancer

I have owned the the BFR in

45-70
45LC P+
454

And I have found these guns to be of a superior build and hold up well to the hottest loads recommended by the manufacturer.

I don't know what the people on this forum have against MRI BFR but there definitely seems to be a uninformed bias against this particular line of gun.

Get one...and make your own mind up...you will not regret it.

:x

Rich Jimbo · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2003, 06:57:33 PM »

I have a BFR in 444 Marlin, 10" bbl. It may not have the craftmanship of my FA 454,[what gun does?] but it is as good as my Ruger SBH, and much more fun to shoot. My next single action will be another BFR!

SkyDancer · « **Reply #20 on:** March 08, 2003, 10:55:55 AM »

It's great to see other people are open minded about MRI BFR's and that they understand that FA is NOT necessarily the only manufacturer that can provide a quality firearm.

I just wish FA had taken the time to do a quality check of the 454 I received from them through the dealer. Instead I purchaed a $1272.00 piece of SH&^%$T. I will never buy another one of FA's firearms as long as I am kicking.

Zeus · « **Reply #21 on:** March 10, 2003, 08:29:50 AM »

I have to admit that I've never heard of anyone having the problems that you did with your FA. I bought my first one about a year ago and I will be buying another one soon. They are of the best quality that I think you will find. Shot to Shot grouping is unbelievable. Metal fit and finish as well as grip finishing is perfect. I've held the BFR's and I'm not impressed. They are very rough and unrefined in my opinion. I haven't seen one in about 15 months so maybe they are getting better but from what I've seen, I'm not impressed at all. As I mentioned, I would much rather spend the extra couple hundred dollars on the Freedom Arms. They are great people to deal with and don't mind answering your questions if you ever have any.

MS Hitman · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2003, 04:39:39 PM »

For someone who claims to be so open-minded, I find it incredible that an opinion has been made on ONE experience.

I've had Freedom Arms warranty work on the two used .454s I have purchased. This work was not necessary for the safe or even satisfactory functioning of either revolver. It was done strictly because the head gunsmith wasn't happy with a customer having a revolver that was not optimum in his opinion. This company also refinished (free of charge) the loading gate and grip panel on a revolver I scratched when I fell off a four wheeler and hit a rock. Totally my fault, but they were concerned with my enjoyment of their product. Stephanie's first question wasn't even directed toward the revlolver, but rather I was okay.

This level of service can not be beat in my opinion. I will continue to be a loyal customer even if Freedom Arms did not make the finest semi-custom single action revolvers bar none.

SkyDancer · « **Reply #23 on:** March 11, 2003, 04:20:10 PM »

Quote from: MS Hitman

For someone who claims to be so open-minded, I find it incredible that an opinion has been made on ONE experience.

I normally wouldn't jump to such a polarized position after a single experience but that single experience cost my wife and I $1270+ dollars which to me at that time was alot of money.

I would think after all the great PR I heard about FA that any product they hand-make, personally inspect and release into the market would NOT have been designed with an underlug being held on by a single metric thread when fully screwed into the barrel.

That is totally BAD :evil: design no matter how you want to look at it and with a caliber such as a 454 which is known for its extremely high pressures.

BER007 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 11, 2003, 08:59:12 PM »

SkyDancer,

May be you are a great expert in SA? So I can't comment more :roll:

Zeus · « **Reply #25 on:** March 12, 2003, 05:07:48 PM »

Skydancer,
You are definetely on your own on this one it seems. Like the other fellow mentioned, maybe we are all wrong about our experiences and you are the foremost authority in the SA realm. I respect your opinion and you should respect the others. My honest opinion is that the BFR is not even in the ballpark of the FA. When the BFR first made its appearance, I thought it was honestly a joke. They looked ridiculous with their 45-70 cylinders and such. I remember one of the gunwriters writing an article and best I can remember, the gun almost fell apart because screws were falling out after a few shots. That is serious quality for sure. I appreciate the fact that you will never buy another FA. That will mean that there is one more out there that one of the rest of us will buy. I can help you out also.....I promise to never purchase a B ig F lemsy R ipoff. Have a good day and keep your screws tight. GS[/quote]

HawgHunter · « **Reply #26 on:** April 04, 2003, 09:26:28 AM »

Cant affoard a FA but do have a BFR Little Max in .454 that is being set with Leupold base and rings as I type this. My particualr specimen is in very good shape. Nice finish,accurate smoother than any of the Rugers I have owned. Traded up for it and not at all disapointed.
Just about any company has a period of QC, but I agree it shouldnt happen not even on NBH!