Magnum Research BFR

[Bigger is Better]

Hi guys, I'm new member, I'm an Italian gun-lover and already since now I want to give you my apologies for my bad english.
I'm great big-bore calibers lover (as you can simply understand reading my username!) and would be my intention buy a BFR revolver in .45-70 Gov or 450 Marlin, or perhaps both (unfortunatly in Italy .500 S&W is not legal if it is chambered in a revolver, but only in single-shot handgun).
What you can advice me about? Is it really the great, strong, powerful, and accurate handgun that much people say (an american friend of mine has said to me that it is "stronger than a bank safe and accurate like a sniper rifle")? In your opinion is more powerfull the .45.70 or the .450 Marlin? Then, what's highest energy level I can reach with both calibers, if I reload them at maximum power (shooting them out a 10.5" barrel)? And more, I've watched BFR website and I've seen there's a "Precision Center" who makes a sort of "custom" revolver (like S&W's Performance Center): in what are different PC and standard BFR revolvers? Does it make revolvers with a custom barrel length (12" or 13")?
At the moment that's all. I'm sorry for the great number of questions, bt unfortunatly in my country is not easy to find informations like these.
Thank you all partners

 

[Redhawk1]

I have 2 BFR's, one is the 45-70 and one is the 500 S&W Mag. I love them both and both are very accurate. You can't go wrong with the BFR.

As for what is more powerful the 45-70 or the 450 Marlin, factory ammo for the 450 Marlin is more powerful, but if you reload it is a wash, they are both the same, but with the edge going to the 45-70 because of more case capacity for powder. I personally do not like belted rounds that much, and prefer the 45-70. Also the 45-70 ammo availability is better.

The PC guns are a better quality gun in my opinion and there is more options than the standard BFR. But the standard BFR will work just fine.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Big Boomer]

You might also check out getting one in a 460 Mag, they do chamber for it. This is an excellent caliber and takes advantage of long barrels also. The pressure is waaaay higher than the 45/70 but case length is just slightly shorter. Energy from my 460 out of my BFR is on par with a 30-06. You can go heavier bullets in the 45/70 but faster and flatter in the 460, your choice.

I also have one in 500, and that one just about broke my friggin hand.

 

[Redhawk1]

Big Boomer writes,
You can go heavier bullets in the 45/70 but faster and flatter in the 460

Have you seen the Ranger Rick 535 gr. bullets for the S&W 460 Mag yet, I have some, so the 460 is on par with the 45-70 with big bullets.

 

[Big Boomer]

Have you seen the Ranger Rick 535 gr. bullets for the S&W 460 Mag yet,

Actually no I haven't!

Got any load data for those suckers?

 

[Bigger is Better]

Yes Big Boomer, I've thought about .460 S&W, but I've said myself .460 it's a shorter and higher pressure .45-70 Gov't, so why to put to the hard test the resistence of my handgun (.460 develops about 15% more pressure than a .454 Casull, which level was already high) when I can own a heavier and slower bullet who develops the same (or higher, if I don't maka a mistake) energy with a much lower stress for the gun? Is it not true?

 

[Redhawk1]

Big Boomer, I have one load for the 535 gr. bullet, Ranger Rick has not done any load development and there is no printed data on it. Ranger Rick and I discussed a load for it and we came up with one using H 110.

Big Boomer you are right about the 460 and 45-70. I have been telling people that about the 460 and 454 Casull for years.
The 45-70 will out perform the 454 Casull and do it with less pressure. It will match the 460 Mag again with less pressure. But that did not stop me from owning both the 454 Casull, and 460 Mag, as well as my 45-70 BFR.

 

[Bigger is Better]

Thank you boys for your answers.
Can you suggest me some interesting (and powerful, especially) .45-70 or .450 load which could exceed, out of the 10" BFR barrel, .500 and .460 S&W energy level?

 

[Big Boomer]

You will never hit 2300 fps from any 45/70 load in a 10 inch bbl. But that's kinda the point, its not a light fast screamer.

You should experiment but they do make loads just for short barrels in 45/70. They work best with slower powders.

Also check here: for loads

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

check the pistol section 45/70 is listed

almost 2100fps from a 300 gr though aint bad. You should consider the cost of lead though. .458's are NOT cheap so I just found out. I started reloading for it about 2 days ago. .452's are much cheaper and I primarily shoot 240gr and 300gr in my 460.

Now I am not sure of the test length for the barrel from hodgdon's site. I believe it maybe from a 14" bbl used in an encore.

Loads listed for the 460 are going to be in the standard 8"bbl now if you get a 10" or even a 12"bbl add some serious speed to that thing.