The scortching demand for .45-70 single actions is what is keeping all the guys at BFR riding in new Porches...NOT!
With that attitude,there would be two kinds of personal defense handguns in the store,Glocks and 1911s. I applaud companies that produce something different. I am actually saving up for a BFR in 45-70,or maybe 450 marlin..... To many guns,not enough money. I did realize what the answer to the question in another thread as to why I dont own a 30-06 is. 30-06 is a great round,but its just kinda common and boring. (I probobally WILL get a Garand some time but that's a different story)
I just read the webpage. It can be fitted with different cylinders so you can have BOTH 45/70 and 450 marlin. I'm defiantly saving my pennies now.
There's a difference in going with something different because it is too common (.30-06) and going with a gimmick such as this revolver in question. There's just cases where a chambering in a certain platform just doesn't make sense in a real world, practical situation. This is one of those cases. Is the cartridge able to achieve it's potential in such a platform (short bbl) ? Still see it as gimmicky and aimed at those with the desire for bragging rights and the "I've got the biggest" desire. 
Perhaps for those that have to compensate for other shortcomings. 
Ill be the first the admit that their website is a marketing tool for them,so certainly you have to take that into account when reading anything on it,however,they (Magnum Research) claim similar or better numbers to the 454 with the 45-70 at lower pressures and less recoil,and they claim some very impressive numbers for the 450 marlin. It seems to me that even if your getting the same numbers and the same recoil with 45-70 as you are with 454 all other things being equal,I would take the 45-70. Especially considering you can have a 450 marlin cylinder that they claim gets you around 2500ft/lbs of energy at around 1800fps ,that compares favorably with the 500S&W. They claim the 45-70 will net you with factory ammo, around 1500fps and around 1500ft/lbs. I fail to see how this is a bad thing. Yes,you can get MUCH more power from a 45-70 in a sturdy rifle,but you can get a lot more from a 500S&W too and I dont see anyone who says the 500S&W is pointless in a revolver becuase you cant ever tap its full capacity in that platform.
Its possible that all that could be lies,and if so, point me to some tests that show it. Im not saying I dont believe they might lie,they just might,marketing people get paid to do just that. Its just the numbers for a 300gr .45 bullet look reasonable to me and if someone who by their own admission is negatively predisposed to the gun,on the internet no less,tells me that everything on MRs website is all lies,Id like to see some tests showing me and I will readily believe it and join you in denouncing the BFR as a gimmick gun that's inferior in weight and power to a SBH in 44 magnum. (yes its true the 44magnum can reach those levels,with the buffalo bore ammo,but thats loaded above saami specs and MR specifically listed factory ammos that were all to saami specs.)
One thing I dont understand is how you can say that the 45-70 cant ever "reach its potential" in a 10" barrel,yet other revolver cartridges can. Perhaps factory loads might be geared toward longer barrels,but I fail to see how you could not select optimal powders to take advantage of the capacity of the 45-70,as well as load to the higher pressures the gun can take. (If I'm not mistaken,those were the "classic" pressures,not the pressures that you can load newer rifles ,and the BFR too) to get some very nice performance from it. After all,look at the kinds of velocities the 450 marlin is getting (assuming they are telling the truth and didn't cook the numbers.)
If I take you at your word,and your point DOES sound reasonable,I think its safe to assume that THOSE numbers are NOT getting the fully potential of the cartridges. Those cartridges loads WERE optimized for rifles. Pistol optimized loads should get EVEN BETTER performance. Sounds great to me. I may be wrong though. Im not a fan boy. I think the guns are cool,and I might buy one anyway,but I will be the first to admit that it does not live up to its claims if you show me how Im wrong. (For instance,I really want a Circuit Judge. I expect it to suck for any practical purposes,but it looks fun. If I ever get one,Ill be the first to admit that for any real application Ill reach right past the CJ and grab the SBH, or my 1911,depending on what I need it for)
