Magnum Research BFR S/A revolver

[hotkars]

I own a BFR in 45-70 and find it to be one of the very best handguns I own. I cant think of a better hand gun to hunt dangerous game with. It has by far the most penetration ability of any current available revolver. You have to rember that factory 45-70 ammo is loaded by the lawyers to be safe in old firearms. I recently loaded 500gr hornady bullets that clocked at 1200fps out of the 8" barrel. Thats alot of power. I am not sure why some magazines say that 500 gr bullets wont fit when mine fit with no problem. They are also very accurate at 100 yards. Another point is that alot of people look at velocity and power numbers but they forget about true penetration on heavy dangerous game. A slow heavy bullet will actually penetrate more than one that is much faster. (simplified statement) Do some research on the 45-70 and you will be amazed at the performance it provides. As far as hunting I have taken deer and bear with it and was never dissapointed. I hit a 350lb black bear in the chest as it was facing me at around 30yards and the bullet exited his back (ass cheek) for lack of a better word. Thats penetration.

[Questor]

hotkars:

Cool! I didn't know it came in an 8" barrel. I've always seen it with a longer barrel that made the gun seem too big.  That sure is good penetration.

[sawfish]

I have owned two of the 45/70 BFR Revolvers.  My first was a 7.5" which seemed too short for efficient powder burning.  The second, which I still have, began life as a 10.5".  I sent it to Ken Kelly at Mag-Na-Port, and had it cut to 8.5" with the 5 port porting, bead blasted, action job, and sling swivel studs installed.  Believe it, or not the extra 1" of barrel does make a difference.

It now shoots and handles as well as any other big revolver I have owned.  As a note to those who looked at these guns in the past, but did not like the quality.  Magnum Research (MRI) has these revolvers made under contract.  The pre-2002 guns were made by D-Max, and they left something to be desired (mine is a D-Max).  The new manufacture guns are far and away superior to the old ones.  They are much smoother and have a better out of the box feel.  I do not own one, but have shot and hunted with the .475/480 (.475 Linebaugh and .480 Ruger interchangable).  

For those who denigrate the 45/70 BFR in favor of the .454 Casull, etc..  If you are quite brave you can approach and even exceed the 45/70 Govt. with the Casull (I have one, and have tried it.), but you will do so only with lighter bullets and at a much higher pressure.  In the big BFR, the recoil from the big bullets is more of a push rather than the sharp rap of the Casull.

The barrel cylinder gap on BFRs is very tight.  Even so, there still seems to be an approximate 15% velocity loss with comparable barrel lengths in the single shot handguns.  I have a 16" contender in 45/70 and a 12.5" RPH Hunter, and that is an estimate based on the velocities from the two SS pistols.  The length of the actual barrel (without chamber) is close to the barrel only length of the BFR.  Not apples to apples, but my best guesstimate based on chronograph readings.

In my opinion the ideal load duplicates the old Us Army carbine load-405 gr bullet at 1200-1300 fps, which is very obtainable in the BFR.  I never found a heavier jacketed bullet, which would reliably expand in the 45/70.  So I settled on CPBC 405 grainers.  You do have the ability to shoot 500 grainers in the 45/70 BFR, but one can only stand so much fun.
Faster burning powders and magnum primers work best for me.  I really like AA-2200 with Federals 215 primer under the 405 CPBC.

For the newer shooters, you will generally get higher velocities in a 45/70 handgun with heavier bullets, as the lighter 300 grainers do not offer enough resistance for complete powder burning.  This has been verified by chronograph-not typewriter.  None of this is to say that the 45/70 is better than the Casull, etc., or vice-versa.  It is just different experience in a revolver, and you should give it a try before denouncing the concept.

I am sure many on this post will disagree with what I have written.  Please feel free to rant and rave if your PERSONAL EXPERIENCE differs, as those differences bring a smile to the SAAMI manufacturer's faces.
If you have no personal experience, please get some rather than doing your shooting through the experiences (or stories) of others.  

Good Shooting

[Rich Jimbo]

Sawfish, Thank you for response. Thank you especially for the info on the 45/70. And your last statement spoke volumes!!!

[Redhawk1]

All I can say is I own a BFR in 500MAG. Great gun and very accurate. I know for a fact I would not have a problem with any animal on the North American Content with it. I think it would be just fine in Africa to. As for people calling it a novelty, I think the same was said about the Contenders. I think the Contenders and the BFR's will be around for quit a while. As far as being hard to lug around I say bunk. I can put my BFR in a shoulder holster and have both hand free to climb in my tree stand and not have to hoist up my gun from my stand from the ground. 100 yard shots are no problem, but where I hunt in the woods 60 yards is about the furthest I would have to shoot due to it being so dense. Same as my Encore pistol in 30-06 I can walk all day with it in my shoulder holster and have both hands free to do what ever I need. When I carry a rifle on a sling I am always holding the sling to keep the rifle in the correct position. I could go on all day but I think I made my point. I think everyone has a reason for there choices. The 45-70 would be a great round in a BFR, that will be my next revolver in the BFR.

[Redhawk1]

If you have no personal experience, please get some rather than doing your shooting through the experiences (or stories) of others.  

Good Shooting

sawfish great post, even better last line. I hope you don't mind if I use your statement myself on occasion.

[myronman3]

no one is trying to ban bfr's (at least i aint).
well i have plenty of experience, thank you.  there aint too many production guns i havent shot (in one form or another).  
for the record, one does not need to always have first hand experience with something to know it aint for them; or to have an accurate opinion of something.   case in point: i dont need to eat a turd sandwich to know i dont want to.
the fact is that i would not consider the bfr to be something i would carry around.   like i said before; my 1894 is alot easier to handle  (same goes for my contenders).  
if we dont agree that is o.k., but understand that everyone has a right to their opinion.   and anyone who asks for mine will get it straight up.  some of you seem intent on digging your spurs in on anyone who doesnt share your opinion.    no body likes a flamer.   when you have to put someone down to feel you have won; you have already lost.  
i will say that different folks prefer differnet things; and that is what makes things interesting....

[ConradCA]

At 4 pounds the BFR is way to heavy. You would be much better off with a 454 casul pistol or short barrelled/light rifle.

The following would work nicely:

Short barrelled lever actions

Compact rifles
   Ruger compact rifle
   Remington M7

Ultra lights
   Weatherby ultra light
   Ruger ultra-light
   Remington 700 TI
   Remington 700 Mountain Rifle

The compact and ultra lights in any big game cartridge (excluding .243) shooting the heaviest available quality controlled expansion bullets

[TScottO]

In my opinion it’s a matter of prospective to rather a BFR is handy and packable. If a rifle hunter is beginning to take up pistol hunting I can see where they would feel the BFR is packable and handy being that they are use to carrying around a rifle. But for someone that has been a handgun hunter for a while and primarily hunts with handguns of normal size they wouldn’t feel like the BFR is packable.

I don’t have a BFR nor have I ever shot one. I do however shoot FA model 83s with 6” barrels. For me I don’t want a handgun any larger than those. They are big and heavy when it comes to six-guns. If I were planning on a trip to Africa to hunt dangerous game I would feel much more secure packing a pistol made by one of the premier smiths or handgun manufactures over the BFR according to what I have read and the negative feed back I have heard on BFR. I’m not willing to bet my life on anything lesser than what I consider the best. That again is a matter of perspective. At this point I haven’t heard enough positive feed back on BFRs from the guys whose opinion I have come to respect to risk my money or life on purchasing one. I must admit, here of late, I have heard more positive feed back on BFRs than I had heard and read about in the past. The BFR following is increasing so I would like to assume that BFR is going in the right direction.

Good luck and be safe,
Scott

[Lloyd Smale]

I think this needs to be put into perspective. I own and SHOOT a few custom guns by linebaugh and clemments. They are well made guns that are EXPENSIVE as to are the FA guns. I have owned a bfr and own many rugers. It all depends on what you want to spend. I guess Id rather see someone spend $800 of a bfr and shoot it then see someone spend $2000 on a custom and be afraid to scratch it. MY guns are shot alot. Some of you would cry to see how banged up my .500 is. I am not rich by any means I have to go without to buy my guns. My opinion of the bfr is just this. I think that there big and blocky and the grip frame sucks for heavy recoil.  and for over twice the price of a ruger they could be fit better. They are better put together guns then an out of a box ruger but should be for the price. They in no way compare to a custom or a FA gun.  I presonally carry a handgun in a hip holster and there just to big for that as a matter of fact my two linebaugh guns are borderline in that department. Thats why im haveing a 4 inch .500 built. If you like a shoulder holster the big bfrs are no problem to pack. My biggest problem with the bfrs is the lousy way I was treated by them after I bought my gun. It came with different sights then what were listed and a different barrel length and when I tried to discuss it with them I was treated like crap. I personally wouldnt give them another dime! Theres to many good companys out there that treat people right. I will stick to my opinion I work hard for my money and when I buy a gun I want it right. I would rather go without for an extra year and save another $400 and buy a FA field grade gun or spend less buy a ruger and send it to clemments to have the flaws that all out of the box rugers have and if I spent the money that this would cost I feel I would end up with a gun for about the same price as a bfr that would be supperior to it. No it wouldnt be a 4570 or even a .454 but a good tight .45 colt will take loads that come close enough to both of these that no animal in the world would know the difference as to what hit it. We have done alot of penetration testing in the past and have proven what John Linebaugh says " once you get over 1400fps with a cast bullet you loose more then you gain"  Like I said in a prevoius post everybodys tastes are different and thats good. Everyone uses a gun for a different purpose and I would venture to guess that 90% of them will never be used for anything bigger then a black bear anyway. If you want to turn heads at the shooting range the big 4570s and the huge and ugly smith .50 are great for that and theres nothing wrong with that either. I get a kick out of the reactions shooting my big guns bring at the range as much as the next guy. But in the real world of hunting its hard to beat a good single action or even double action 4-6 inch barrel .44 or .45 colt. thats what I pack 90% of the time.

[Redhawk1]

Lloyd Small, I agree to a point. I have had nothing but good luck with the people from Magnum Research. Also I for one don't go out and pick up a gun to show off for others at the range or to friends. I buy guns for myself and for my shooting pleasure. I got the 500 MAG so when I go out on a bear hunt, I know I have something that will put it down quickly and if needed to save my life. If I wanted I could have got a Freedom Arms or I could have got a custom gun, but I chose the BFR instead. I have a gun collection from a lot a fine gun makers. But like I said I get what pleases me. I have from a 50 BMG to Sako to a Shiloh Sharps and the list goes on, so spending another $1000 on either a custom gun or Freedom Arms was not a problem. I am not boasting on my gun collection just pointing out as I said before, some of us pick a certain gun to meet our personal needs. Please do not take this as a flame or negative, some times thing written sound that way, but if we talked in person it would not.
   Just my humble opinion.  

[sawfish]

Redhawk1 (and others who wrote), Please feel to use the "experience" line.  I am not sure how, but it seems that some considered that to be "flaming".  If that was the way it was taken, it certainly was not my intent.

My point was that before deriding a product that any manufacturer has invested a considerable sum in bringing to the marketplace, be it handgun, scope, ammunition, etc., we owe it to the shooting community to base our opinion on something more than mere "hearsay" statements from others.  

If you think the thing is just plain ugly, then that is your opinion based on your personal observation.  Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, as long as that is really their opinion, and not mere parroting from others.

[Lloyd Smale]

I take no insult what  so ever from your statement. You hit it on the head. If you are happy thats all that really matters. There are alot of people out there with different tastes and thank God for that as it would be a pretty boring world without it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and your opinion is worth every bit as much as mine. Afterall I dont know everything YET! :-D

Lloyd Small, I agree to a point. I have had nothing but good luck with the people from Magnum Research. Also I for one don't go out and pick up a gun to show off for others at the range or to friends. I buy guns for myself and for my shooting pleasure. I got the 500 MAG so when I go out on a bear hunt, I know I have something that will put it down quickly and if needed to save my life. If I wanted I could have got a Freedom Arms or I could have got a custom gun, but I chose the BFR instead. I have a gun collection from a lot a fine gun makers. But like I said I get what pleases me. I have from a 50 BMG to Sako to a Shiloh Sharps and the list goes on, so spending another $1000 on either a custom gun or Freedom Arms was not a problem. I am not boasting on my gun collection just pointing out as I said before, some of us pick a certain gun to meet our personal needs. Please do not take this as a flame or negative, some times thing written sound that way, but if we talked in person it would not.
   Just my humble opinion.  

[Lloyd Smale]

ps gotta love those shiloh sharps. Now theres a beautiful weapon!!!