45-70 bfr

thebigslide

thebigslide

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Anyone have one or experience with them?

I've played with a couple at the range and I think they're fun as all get out. Last time I ended up with a really good bruise on my trigger finger from the recoil after about 25 rounds (350 gr doing 1800fps) ;-) I was shooting 1 foot steel plates at 100 yards and getting about 50% hits at the beginning.

I really want one but have a hard time stomaching the $1700 retail (WSS) for what is effectively a toy. At the same time, they're kind of like my holy grail of handguns I've been looking forward to owning "one of these days." Is there a cheaper source out there?

The deal I made with my wife is that I can get one if I reno the kitchen but she doesn't know what they're worth yet :D I have a feeling I'll be making a lot of cabinets once she finds out.
 
just make a 6' long cabinet for yourself, and you'll be ok!

i'd rather hold out until MR makes the BFR in 50BMG. i'm sure they're working on it......... biggest thing i've shot to date is a 44Mag, and i don't think i'd last more than 25 rounds from that.
 
We have sold many of them in the last year. The last one sold a couple weeks ago for $1099, brand new of course.

We'll have more in stock again in a couple months. Exporting takes a lot of time and patience.

They are a really neat gun no doubt. I keep having thoughts of adding one to my personal collection.
 
Unfortunately, as pointed out earlier, we cannot hunt with those cannons which is a pity cuz these babies are very accurate. They are pretty much novelty items but tons of fun to shoot. I have loaded both modern loads as well as BP in it and it performs well with both. Nothing like a 450g slug snortin' along over 1500fps. I dont shoot it much but its not for a newbie without proper instruction. Not that the recoil is so punishing, but I dont want my gun to fly out of their hands and get damaged. Cant hold on target for too long or you'll start to tip over with that 10in steel pipe in front of you:D.
I added HiViz sights and it really makes for a nice sight picture. It lays up a real nice smoke screen if you put BP loads thru it too!;)
dB
 
If you were in the GVRD I'd loan you my CNC machine to make cabinets. You could do the whole kitchen for well under the price of the pistol. Just tell your wife you got a quote for $15,000 from the competition down the road.
 
I've played with a buddies BFR, that's one sweet hand cannon. Fired his hot load 405's he uses in his XLR. now if only we could carry one in the bush. I'd buy one myself.
 
Didn't get a chance to touch it off but I handled one at the range. I'm not a huge SA nor huge huge caliber shooter but that is an amazing work of art. The tolerances looked miniscule and the general fit and finish of the BFR are a tribute to the companies commitment to quality.
 
While at the Phoenix Range in Edmonton for some R&R, I noticed a new addition in the range gun cabinet. A BFR in 45-70 :D

Needless to say I had to try it out. Well it's a good news, bad news, good news kinda thing with me.

First off, it's a beautiful thing. Over 7lbs of finely machined SS. Just wonderful to hold and look at!

Now the bad news, loaded up some factory 405gr loads and let her rip . . . sadness :( She's a big old pussy cat with the factory loadings. I'd say a 357MAG has more kick. In fact it's a little less than my mild 44MAG loads (more than 44SPL but way less than full house 44MAG).

And finally the good news, this thing would be stupid awesome with some hotter loads! ! ! It's on my To Buy List now :D

After all the stuff I heard and read on the net, I was expecting a bucking bronco with factory ammo. It's not any where close to the beast I've heard described (again with factory loads).

With the right load this BFR might just replace the S&W 460V for the big BOOM finishing gun :evil:
 
man I want one of these, I saw a custom one a while ago that had a 4.25" barrel. That would be awesome !

If i lived in the states id pack it for CC.

mclean
 
Mine's sporting a chopped 6" barrel.

Likely wouldn't go shorter than that with the 45-70 cart it's tough enough to get decent velocities from the regular 7.5 barrel.

It is a HOOT! though :D
 
Shooting black powder loads from a 45-70 handgun would be TOTALLY AWESOME ! ! ! ! :D And best of all the slower burn of the black powder would push more than slap at the hands and wrist. And the clouds of SMOKE that you'd get from all that BP would blot out the sun!
 
"...good bruise on my trigger finger..." Change the grips.
"...cannot hunt with those..." We can't hunt with a .44 Mag either. Doesn't mean a guy shouldn't have a big silly toy.
"...anyone done a direct comparison?..." A net search for '.45-70 vs .500 magnum' turns up over 3 million sites. Mostly other forums, but that'll do nicely.
 
Dexter Morgan said:
How does 45-70 compare with 500 Magnum?

Has anyone done a direct comparison?
Click to expand...

Well for BFR to BFR, the 500S&W in the same platform is quite a bit more "energetic". Phoenix still has the 45-70 BFR in range gun rotation but the 500 has been pulled. It was biting too many newbies and is up for sale.

To be honest though, the difference between a 45-70 Government and 500S&W Magnum factory loading is not even night and day. It's a different world.

For example the Hornady 45-70 Government LEVERevolution is the hottest factory stuff I can find locally, not for use in the old trap doors:

The 45-70 Government 325 gr FTX LEVERevolution is rated for 2050/3032 (Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)) out of a 24" barrel.

Also from Hornady, the 500 S&W 300 gr FTX LEVERevolution is rated at 2075/2868 out of a 8.5" barrel.

So you've got comparable energy/speed levels from a barrel almost 1/3 the length with a lighter bullet.

As an aside, the Winchester "trap door loading" is a Super-X JHP 300 gr rated at 1880/2355.

The 500S&W is a really, really stout cartridge meant to push the envelope and push it hard. There are documented kills on the dangerous big five in Africa all with a handgun :eek:

Hope that answers the question cartridge to cartridge.

My personal experience follows:

I fire a 405gr plinking load in the BFR (loaded to trap door specs) and I feel comfortable handing that over to a new shooter after a day of shooting smaller firearms.

My 350gr loadings are meant for modern lever and/or T/C actions. They are a different animal and a handful. Unless the shooter I brought out has shown great competence, they don't shoot these loads.

Additionally there are some really, really stout 45-70 loads out there. Stuff meant for the Ruger #1 and the like. Heard of guys playing around with those in a BFR. More than a few people mentioned shooting gloves are a must and a cylinder or two of these loads is a brutal experience.

I've also got a 500S&W T/C and to be honest it beats me up a lot more than my BFR. The 500gr loadings are very stout and the 350gr just plain hurt with my set-up.

For me, the 45-70 wins out due to cost, availability of components and the huge amount of documented loadings out there.

The 500S&W Magnum is the big boy on the block pistol cartridge wise but for me the 45-70 makes as much sense as a handgun chambered in a rifle round can ;)
 
Anyone have a good recipe for handloads in a 45/70 BFR? I put 3 boxes of factory ammo through it last night and it worked great and is really managable but lots of unburnt powder on the bench.....
 
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