Author Topic: TELL ME ABOUT THE BFR (Read 2739 times)

EDELWEISS · « **on:** November 28, 2007, 06:29:13 AM »

Ive only heard a bit about this gun, mostly that its NOT a Freedom Arms. Today I happened by a shop that I havent visited in years and they had both, which is incredibly odd in theses parts. I dont recall which FA they had because $1900 is WAY TOO FAR into the "wife tax" catagory especially this time of year. However they did have a Magnum Reasearch BFR 7.5 inch 454, used for $700.oo. The box was there it was a bit torn but they also had an extra set of wood grips, plus the rubbers on the gun. It was Very tight, and only the slightest spin ring on the cylinder. Im just guessing it had only a box or two fired through it.

Im starting to get really interested in this gun. What can you folks tell me before I jump too fast?

What can you tell me about the the guns?

Are leather and other accessories readily available?

Can I get other cylinders in 45acp like FA offers?

Is that a fair price?

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** November 28, 2007, 11:47:13 PM »

heres my honest opinon a super blackhawk cost about 450 and is worth 450 a bfr cost about 800 and is worth 800 and Fa cost 2000 plus and is worth 2000 plus. You get what you pay for. As you can see using my theroy a bfr in my opinion is alot closer to a ruger in quality then it is a FA gun. I owned one and wouldnt buy another. If i had 700 bucks to spend (which is a tad on the high side for a used bfr) id put it in the bank and save 300 more over then next year or so and find a good used FA field grade gun. They can easily be had for a grand. My other thought goes the other way. If I had 700 dollars to spend id rather take a 44 mag or 45 colt ruger bisley and have a good gun smith tighten it. tune it, free wheel it and cut it to the lenght id want. As you can no doubt sense im not a big fan of the bfrs. I had one in 480 and wasnt that impressed. I guess maybe i was expecting a gun more like a FA isntead of what i got which was basicaly not much better then a ruger and in some ways to me not as good. Then i got in a tiff with there service dept which treated me very rudely and i dumped the gun which had about a dozen rounds through it for 2/3s of what i paid for it. (because it sat in the gun shop till i finally buckeled and took it in the but.

revo · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2007, 06:17:22 AM »

I have a BFR in 475/480 and I love it -- good quality at a good price.

I also have some FA Model 97's and love them more -- excellent quality at a good price (more expensive but quality costs, that has to be factored in).

I bought the BFR because I wanted a 475. However, I didn't want to spend over $850 on a caliber that I have no earthly need for other than "messin' around". If I were buying the 475 primarily for hunting in the first place, I would've probably leaned more to the FA 83...maybe not...the BFR is still a fine piece at a good price, but it aint no FA. It's a little better than a Ruger in my book, but still light years from FA quality.

Lloyd is right -- $700 is high for a used BFR even with the extra wood grips thown in. They just don't hold their value like that. Not sure what to say it's worth though... I think it also depends on whether the serial # prefix begins with "JT" or not. There was some changes over there a few years back. "JT" BFR's are supposedly better. I'm not the foremost authority here though.

As for customer service, I had a different experience. I worked with Jim Tertin over at the Magnum Research Precision Center. He cut me a new shorter barrel, fitted white micarta grips and upgraded my sights. He did real nice work and was a real nice guy to work with.

Accessories are available from Magnum Research, but again I think it has to be a "JT" model for some accessories to fit properly.

EDELWEISS · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2007, 08:56:52 AM »

Thanks guys, I guess I "always wanted" a FA, although I really cant say why. Ive spent LOTS more for other guns, but I could never "justify" the bucks for a FA that would get even less of my limited available "gun time" then other stuff in the vault. The BFR never drew much of my attention since the only ones I ever saw before this one, were the HUGE frame 45-70's, and had no use for them.

When I saw both a FA and BFR together I was shocked, they just arent big sellers here in the "Peoples Republik". Youre both right the BFR wasnt as nice as the FA but I kept thinking it was nice, and nicer than the Rugers that he had. Im really not an SAA guy but they have been calling me. Im gonna see if I can work out a possible extended "Lay-a-way", then the price wont seem as much and the anticipation usually makes me work harder to find the extra money sooner. Before I do anything else I'll check the serial number as you suggested and call Magnum Research to talk about options.

Racer X · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2007, 04:22:45 PM »

I have also heard the JT serial numbered guns are much better than the DM prefixed guns.

I have never owned a BFR, but the ones I have handled are heads and shoulders above a Ruger SBH. In fact, I don't think you can buy a new Ruger and put $500 in it and have as good a gun as a BFR. I tried it and when I got the gun back, I was not satisfied. The barrel was crap, as it was belled at the muzzle end.

Conversely, BFR barrels are precision cut rifled and hand-lapped from the factory. If they made them in 44 magnum, I would buy one. I just don't have a need for the larger calibers.

kennisondan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2007, 05:33:40 PM »

I would save another 300 and get a used FA 454.. which is not much problem to find in that caliber and is a better gun than the others considered.. or I would just get the Ruger and decide what I wanted to do to it... my rugers have been fine out of the box for shooting and hunting.. and have had many.... as to the upgraded ones : the ones I have are exceptional peices; all have target grade barrels on them and the triggers are clean while the fit is tightened up....
I am most surprised that someone states they did not like their customized ruger : but it is unlikely to get a ruger with a belled barrel in my experience, and for it to go to a competent smith and come back in that shape (without at least him noticing and pointing out the cost of fixing that ) is dissapointing about the smith and the quality of the work he turns out, it seems...
I like the bfr just fine, but it is not different enough from the rugers or the FAs to come home with me right now.... unless I wanted a rifle caliber pistol. . like 45 70 etc...
any one of them will be a fine experience for your SA shooting experience.... the 454 FA would get the nod if I was looking for a higher power bargain due to the level of quality and the relatively small difference in price when you cost out a used 454 FA... I see them on the net regularly for 1000 and would bet you can get it for 900 if you look hard enough..
I went through the decision making process as well... considered the same guns.. the thing I will never forget is that the Ruger used even before the upgrades is a fine fine weapon.. it is not a second rate bargain basement gun in my opinion... just the best dollar for dollar shooting and using gun out there bar none.
dk

EDELWEISS · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2007, 01:53:07 AM »

Well, I checked on the gun. Its a DM serial number, but it still "looks and feels" tight to me. The owner wasnt there last night so nobody could authorize a price cut. I was asking $700 out the door, which even I'll admit may be tough (5% tax, $10 Police fee, plus about $20 for an approved lock....). The sales guy was however authorized to offer longer than 60 days for Lay-a-way, which takes some of the bite out of it.

Heres the Pros as I see it: Nice gun in nice condition
Not the regular stuff you see locally (S&W, Ruger, Taurus, Colt clones). The Uniqueness is the draw???
Longer Lay-a-way terms a BIG PLUS
Gunbroker had no FA's for $1000 but that was just a quick look

And the Negatives: Older DM serial number
Front sight loose, (looks like it can be tightened with a allen wrench, but why is it loose)
Used at almost new price (Gunbroker has new ones listed for $750 but add shipping and dealer transfer and
Im over $800)

Im gonna call Magnum Research today, to get a feel for their service, and see if they can offer advice.

doghawg · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2007, 03:38:47 PM »

I have 3 BFR's (all the JT serial #'s) and they are nice guns and well worth the $750 to $800 price tag IMO. The fit, finish and accuracy on mine are very good. I like guns that don't rattle when you shake them. All I know about the DM series guns is hearsay but I'd personally stick with the JT's, especially if you're already prepared to spend $700.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2007, 04:18:40 PM »

One weekend a year I work for the IMI rep here in Southern California. We are shipped a number of the BFR's in Various calibers. I found that the .45-70 is a lot of fun to shoot and that the black powder or equivalent rounds really kick where the 300 grain factory ammo is rather mild ( Still in the .454 range of power but with out the filling loosing kick). This is due to the fact that the 300 grain rounds are designed for a 20 inch rifle and you get a great flame at dusk. The black powder rounds have consumed all powder before they hit the cylinder gap and you get the full power in a trap door load. Also since the same frame is made for .450 marlin you can hot load the .45-70 a little and make it a true magnum's magnum. I think it would make a great hog or bruin gun for either hunting or fishing. The .500 S&W was good to shoot but there is a lot of waisted space in the cylinder. With it coming in many rifle calibers it would be a great companion to any lever action rifle.
The weekend I work is a three day shooting fair in Norco CA where the public can shoot any of the firearms the manufacturers bring. Small ammo fee for each firearm. This shoot is a torture test for the guns. Large crowds that want to shoot the most powerful items. The BFR in 45-70 usually gets shot alot. We have about 5 shooting places in the rifle / handgun firing line and someone is always up with one in their hand. The shoot is held the first weekend of June and it's hot, dusty, and people's hands are sweaty. I have only seen one failure in a BFR in the past 5 years. It was a .500 and the ejector rod housing fell off on the third day. It was shot with full power loads and not cleaned other than wiped down each morning for the day to begin. We started out the shoot with 1,000 .500 rounds and at the time we were down to our last box. There was no maintenance done to the revolver at all. We finished out the box using a pencil as the ejector rod.
The only BFR that scares me is the .450 Marlin but it would be my choice to fish with in Alaska. I defiantly use two hands on this one. All the others I have shot one handed and recoil was similar to .44 mag.
I also like the Idea of the .22 Hornet or the .30-30 as a revolver. I wish the .22 hornet frame was .22 hornet sized, the same as I would like to see the .500 on a shorter frame. I think the .30-30 would be a great over all choice to do everything from varmints to large deer and give you the option of follow up shots that a T/C single shot does not. But unlike a T/C you can not change caliber. I may buy one if I can get one of the sample 45-70's or 30-30's in a 10 inch gun from next years shoot. If it can make it through a three day weekend of abuse it will not fail me in the field.
What caliber are you thinking of getting?

boarmountain · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2007, 04:18:54 AM »

I'll be the odd man out. I don't like FA. I have had FOUR over the last 20 years and I was not impressed w/ the accuracy at all.4-5" groups at 100yds. I now have 2 BFR's,one in 454 and a 475. Both will shoot around 1-2" at 100yds. I have also had 6-8 Ruger's and none were as accurate as my BFR's. Granted ,fit and finish of FA guns is top notch, however that isn't enough for me.Accuracy is my most important criteria.Bfr's are my choice ,hands down.

magman · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2007, 05:20:59 AM »

It's great to hear discussion about the BFR. I too have been wanting to purchase one. I have been not sure of the quality. I know it ain't a Freedom Arms, but it sounds like it is a quality piece. I just can't decide on the 475 Linebaugh or the 500 S&W.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2007, 06:15:12 AM »

Magman get the 500 S&W. On the three day weekend they shot almost 1,000 rounds with the gun before a minor screw backed out and the ejector rod fell off. You will notice anything loose on your gun. Also it was not a major part that stopped the gun from firing. Se my above entry.
500 Ammo is easier to find. And it hits harder.
The only thing I do not like about the 500 BFR is that the frame and cylinder could be shorter and the chamber is really long. The up side is you can load a really long projectile in it. It was also very accurate. We were breaking clay pigeons at 35 yards with it one handed out of the box.
Buffalo Bore loads the 475 and you can use the 480 Ruger in it as a special.
If you reload the 475 is real neat and the cases are made from 45-70 cut down to 1.5 and opened to accept the 475 bullets ( Acording to Cartriges of the World 9th Ed P258) Holly cow my 8th Grade english teacher was right, I did us Parenthetical footnoteing after school!. .475 has the energy of the 45-70 out of a rifle. The 500 has the power of a 30-06. We are talking almost a 1,000 foot pounds between the two.

EDELWEISS · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2007, 07:11:40 AM »

I called Magnum Research and spoke to one of the customer service guys. Well "a wink's as good as nod to a blind man" when he started telling me about how they have to cannibalize parts from old "DM's" to make repairs I was sold on a new one; but then he continued about options that they could do versus the stock used one that the dealer has (and he wont budge on the price). The small price difference between a new one and the used older model is worth waiting for the new one.

magman · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2007, 07:51:16 AM »

The only drawback to the 500 is that long cylinder. Kinda looks outta place. If the BFR 475 Linebaugh was based on the original cutdown 45-70 brass, I'd buy in a heartbeat. But I'm thinking it's probably the newer Linebaugh brass. If I went with the BFR it would be a precision shop gun all the way.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2007, 09:23:22 AM »

Magman.
Either would be a good choice.
Shoot it first you may be surprised at how crisp and clean the action really is. Speaking of. I'm done with all my chores so I'm packing up to go to the range and see if the rain washed it way.

Racer X · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2007, 02:14:32 PM »

Quote from: kennisondan on November 29, 2007, 05:33:40 PM

I am most surprised that someone states they did not like their customized ruger : but it is unlikely to get a ruger with a belled barrel in my experience, and for it to go to a competent smith and come back in that shape (without at least him noticing and pointing out the cost of fixing that ) is dissapointing about the smith and the quality of the work he turns out, it seems...

I never said it was a "custom" Ruger...the gun was at that time a Ruger with a basic accuracy tune-up (trigger job, set barrel/cylinder gap, recrown barrel & recut forcing cone, locking basepin, free-wheeled cylinder and opened the throats). The work was done correctly by one of the reputable smiths we all know. I'm not knocking his work, but even with everything he did to it, it still had a sickly barrel. BFRs are dimensionally correct from the factory and have very good barrels.

As for my Ruger, I eventually sent it back to the smith and had a linebored cylinder and new barrel fitted. Combined with the previously mentioned work, you could now classify my gun as a "custom" Ruger and it is now better than a BFR. However, for the money I put in it, I could have bought a new FA.

hawk78 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 16, 2007, 06:59:13 AM »

I had a BFR in 45-70, the old DM-model. Gun was a couple years old on the shelf, but I was it's first owner. Fired a total of maybe 60 rounds through it when the entire left side of the forcing cone blew out. Every trip out I tried a different load, could get nothing to group right. I was lucky nobody was standing beside me and that I got away with only a few cuts on the hand. Well, it took many many months of dealing with the "gunsmith" and "customer service" to get any satisfaction. First I was getting a new gun, then I wasn't and they were investigating, then finally after harassing them ALL the time I was getting a new gun again. They sent me a JT-model replacement and I got rid of it and haven't shot a revolver bigger than a .22 since.
At no point did I hear a "we're sorry that someone could have died or been seriously injured" or any sort of real apology. Now that's an individual case and I'm sure some people have no problems, but I will never own another Magnum Research gun again, EVER.

Not a single handload fired from this gun, it was all factory loaded.

Now realizing how this is my first post and how post-count means all to some people on the internet here's the deal. If you want the entire story from someone else calll Scheel's Allsports in Eau Claire Wisconsin and you can talk to the gun manager who was kind of the go-between on this issue, and also where I purchased the gun brand new. Kind of feel bad for that guy as he a few times took the brunt of my anger at Magnum Research.

doghawg · « **Reply #17 on:** December 16, 2007, 01:44:09 PM »

My only experience with MR customer service was a good one. In the spring of 2006 I bought a new JT series 7 1/2" BFR chambered for .500 at Gander Mt. The gun had been in stock for a couple of years and had numerous scuffs and handling marks on it and it was made prior to Jan '04 and was not drilled and tapped. (I got a DEAL on this one!) Gander agreed to send it back to MR to be drilled and tapped. I enclosed a note asking if they could possibly buff out the scuff marks. The gun came back a couple of weeks later all polished up with new sights front and rear to replace the banged up ones and was drilled and tapped with a supplied base.....no charge.

With Montana 425 gr. LBT style GC's or with 400 gr. Sierra bullets this gun is super accurate from a bag rest with 2X leupold.

Bill T · « **Reply #18 on:** January 01, 2008, 05:10:30 AM »

Count me in as yet another satisfied Magnum Research BFR customer. I currently have 2. Both 10" models, one in .45-70, and the other in .500 S&W Mag. I also have several Ruger single and double actions in both Stainless and blue in calibers ranging from .22 LR to .454 Casull and none of them are up to the quality level you get in a BFR. Fit, finish, and accuracy of the BFR's are superior to any Ruger. My .500 came drilled and tapped for a nice Weaver style scope mount which was furnished with the gun. A nice touch you don't get with many. I'm personally not a fan of scoped single actions, (To me it's like putting a spoiler on a stagecoach), but for those who are, it makes mounting the scope of your choice an easy, non gunsmith related procedure. Some of the features of the BFR are it's chambers that are polished to an almost mirror finish. The use of Stainless Steel Socket Head Cap Screws attaching the grip frame to the gun. The cylinder free wheels in either direction when the loading gate is opened. And the chambers are all nicely counter bored, something I wish Ruger never got away from. Also, the barrel isn't set back so damn far like you see on so many Rugers and Smith & Wesson models. It makes for a nice, clean appearance. Both of these guns put enough faith in my thinking that I bought a third Magnum Research gun, a "Baby" Desert Eagle in .45 ACP. It, like both of the BFR's, is a very well made, all steel weapon. I would not hesitate to buy another BFR, or any other gun from Magnum Research. Overall their quality for the price is hard to beat. Bill T.

Bill T · « **Reply #19 on:** January 01, 2008, 05:15:28 AM »

All 3 of my Magnum Research weapons. Bill T.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #20 on:** January 01, 2008, 07:22:28 AM »

Bill,
Did you miss the day they went over counting in kinder garden? I only see two (2), Not three (3) in the picture.
But the two look good. I am trying to weasel one out of the IMI rep the next time I work for him at the show.
McDuck.

RU Kidding · « **Reply #21 on:** May 25, 2008, 03:37:23 PM »

I had a DM (Diamond Machine) BFR in 45-70. It was a low number DM00014. The only problem I had was thr cylinder base pin was hard to remove. I sent it to MR and they replaced the base pin with a new one that was smooth as glass. I shot many hot handloads with it. When I sold it the bore was mirror smooth.I loved it.
RU