BFR revolvers and your experience?

el Godfather · February 11, 2013, 10:37 PM

Dear THR:
Recently, I have been thinking about picking up a BFR in .500 SW magnum. What is your experience and opinion about BFR's quality compared to other manufacturers that make .500?

Thank you

el Godfather · February 12, 2013, 09:28 AM

----no one here has experience with BFRs?

Hammerdown77 · February 12, 2013, 10:29 AM

I have a BFR in 500 JRH. It is very accurate, and fit and finish are a notch above most factory Rugers. It slots nicely in the spot between Ruger and a used Freedom Arms.

For about $900 new (I paid less, closer to $800) they are an excellent deal in a precision single action.

Personally, I would not get the 500 S&W. It's just too much gun (size, weight, unneeded cartridge). But that's me. I prefer the 500 JRH, as it still uses a normal size 5-shot cylinder on the smaller frame (not the long frame like the 500 Smith).
However, if you don't handload, that's probably not the best option.

CraigC · February 12, 2013, 11:32 AM

No personal experience but they are very well reputed. Stronger and more accurate than a Ruger yet much more affordable than Freedom Arms. IMHO, the .500JRH is all the big bore you'll ever need. No, it doesn't yield the impressive velocities the S&W does but experienced sixgunners know that's not necessary to be effective.

Hammerdown77 · February 12, 2013, 01:12 PM

I'd also like to point out the regular factory offering from BFR in 500 JRH comes with a 5.5" barrel (measured from the front of the frame). Mine is one of the "mistake" guns that still has the 7.5" barrel. I could send it back to MR for free for a barrel swap, but I just haven't decided if I want to or not. Might just have it cut down when I send it to Jack Huntington for his grip frame modification.

The 5.5" gun is much handier in the field, but that extra barrel hanging out front, along with the scope, sure helps tone down the recoil of a 440 grain slug at 1350+ fps....

ArchAngelCD · February 13, 2013, 01:04 AM

I only like one guy who has a BFR and it's in 450 Marlin. That is one big revolver but what can you expect when it fires a 450 Marlin round? The revolver is very well made and the fit-in-finish is very good. He is very happy with that revolver and says it's well worth the money.

22-rimfire · February 13, 2013, 08:51 PM

I have a 6 1/2" 480/475 BFR and I like it (short cylinder). It is still pretty new to me and have only shot 480 Rugers so far in it. It seems to be very well made with close tolerances, sort of a Ruger+. It is pretty much all the BIG bore I want.

Added: Magnum Research measures their BFR barrels from the front of the frame versus at the forcing cone. Hence, the barrel is a little longer than what you might expect from a Ruger or Smith. I had a hard time finding a 6 1/2" as you mostly find 7 1/2" in my caliber choice. I would choose a caliber with the short cylinder versus the long cylinder.

g_one · February 13, 2013, 09:34 PM

I've been seriously considering getting the 30-30, to go with my Marlin lever action. Maybe tax money...

Seriously though, loading that thing up with 30-30 handloads with those leverevolution flex tips would make for one hell of a revolver

22-rimfire · February 14, 2013, 12:23 AM

Max Prasac author of "Big Bore Revolvers" says that Magnum Research's BFR revolvers are "outstanding revolvers delivering reliable performance at a reasonable cost". Taffin doesn't discuss the BFR revolvers much in his book "Bore-Bore Handguns". Prazac says that "today's consumer would be very hard pressed to find a higher quality and more accurate firearm without spending twice what the BFR sells for". He of course is referencing custom revolvers and the Freedom Arms revolvers.

I would seriously think about whether you want the long or short frame BFR and a caliber that is chambered for it.

usurp31 · April 29, 2013, 08:21 PM

g_one; did you look more into the BFR in 30-30? I've been thinking about going that route myself.

bigdaa · April 29, 2013, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerdown77

I have a BFR in 500 JRH. It is very accurate, and fit and finish are a notch above most factory Rugers. It slots nicely in the spot between Ruger and a used Freedom Arms.

For about $900 new (I paid less, closer to $800) they are an excellent deal in a precision single action.

Personally, I would not get the 500 S&W. It's just too much gun (size, weight, unneeded cartridge). But that's me. I prefer the 500 JRH, as it still uses a normal size 5-shot cylinder on the smaller frame (not the long frame like the 500 Smith).
However, if you don't handload, that's probably not the best option.

That's a damn nice looking rig right there!
I own a 500 8 3/8 and what you say is true. It's a big mo fo.
While I have not fired a BFR, I have the Freedom in 454. What a beaut!!!!!!!!
If that BFR is anything like the Freedom, it's got my nod and I look forward to handling one.

February 11, 2013, 10:37 PM	#1
el Godfather Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Posts: 1,064	BFR revolvers and your experience? Dear THR: Recently, I have been thinking about picking up a BFR in .500 SW magnum. What is your experience and opinion about BFR's quality compared to other manufacturers that make .500? Thank you __________________ Never be a tyrant. Never live under a tyrant.

February 12, 2013, 09:28 AM	#2
el Godfather Member Join Date: February 4, 2012 Posts: 1,064	----no one here has experience with BFRs? __________________ Never be a tyrant. Never live under a tyrant.

February 12, 2013, 10:29 AM	#3
Hammerdown77 Member Join Date: April 29, 2010 Location: North Alabama Posts: 601	I have a BFR in 500 JRH. It is very accurate, and fit and finish are a notch above most factory Rugers. It slots nicely in the spot between Ruger and a used Freedom Arms. For about $900 new (I paid less, closer to $800) they are an excellent deal in a precision single action. Personally, I would not get the 500 S&W. It's just too much gun (size, weight, unneeded cartridge). But that's me. I prefer the 500 JRH, as it still uses a normal size 5-shot cylinder on the smaller frame (not the long frame like the 500 Smith). However, if you don't handload, that's probably not the best option. Last edited by Hammerdown77; February 12, 2013 at 10:37 AM.

February 12, 2013, 11:32 AM	#4
CraigC Member Join Date: January 27, 2006 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 8,867	No personal experience but they are very well reputed. Stronger and more accurate than a Ruger yet much more affordable than Freedom Arms. IMHO, the .500JRH is all the big bore you'll ever need. No, it doesn't yield the impressive velocities the S&W does but experienced sixgunners know that's not necessary to be effective. __________________ "Wise men learn by others’ harms; fools by their own." - Benjamin Franklin

February 13, 2013, 01:04 AM	#6
ArchAngelCD Member Join Date: November 25, 2006 Location: PA, USA Posts: 13,822	I only like one guy who has a BFR and it's in 450 Marlin. That is one big revolver but what can you expect when it fires a 450 Marlin round? The revolver is very well made and the fit-in-finish is very good. He is very happy with that revolver and says it's well worth the money. __________________ Remember boys and girls, gun control only prevents law abiding Americans from owning guns because the Bad Guys don’t obey the laws, no matter how restrictive or lenient the laws are!

February 12, 2013, 01:12 PM	#5
Hammerdown77 Member Join Date: April 29, 2010 Location: North Alabama Posts: 601	I'd also like to point out the regular factory offering from BFR in 500 JRH comes with a 5.5" barrel (measured from the front of the frame). Mine is one of the "mistake" guns that still has the 7.5" barrel. I could send it back to MR for free for a barrel swap, but I just haven't decided if I want to or not. Might just have it cut down when I send it to Jack Huntington for his grip frame modification. The 5.5" gun is much handier in the field, but that extra barrel hanging out front, along with the scope, sure helps tone down the recoil of a 440 grain slug at 1350+ fps....

February 13, 2013, 08:51 PM	#7
22-rimfire Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Location: TN Posts: 9,524	I have a 6 1/2" 480/475 BFR and I like it (short cylinder). It is still pretty new to me and have only shot 480 Rugers so far in it. It seems to be very well made with close tolerances, sort of a Ruger+. It is pretty much all the BIG bore I want. Added: Magnum Research measures their BFR barrels from the front of the frame versus at the forcing cone. Hence, the barrel is a little longer than what you might expect from a Ruger or Smith. I had a hard time finding a 6 1/2" as you mostly find 7 1/2" in my caliber choice. I would choose a caliber with the short cylinder versus the long cylinder. Last edited by 22-rimfire; February 13, 2013 at 11:09 PM.

February 13, 2013, 09:34 PM	#8
g_one Member Join Date: October 24, 2011 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 269	I've been seriously considering getting the 30-30, to go with my Marlin lever action. Maybe tax money... Seriously though, loading that thing up with 30-30 handloads with those leverevolution flex tips would make for one hell of a revolver __________________ The Revolution: A Manifesto // techdirt

February 14, 2013, 12:23 AM	#9
22-rimfire Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Location: TN Posts: 9,524	Max Prasac author of "Big Bore Revolvers" says that Magnum Research's BFR revolvers are "outstanding revolvers delivering reliable performance at a reasonable cost". Taffin doesn't discuss the BFR revolvers much in his book "Bore-Bore Handguns". Prazac says that "today's consumer would be very hard pressed to find a higher quality and more accurate firearm without spending twice what the BFR sells for". He of course is referencing custom revolvers and the Freedom Arms revolvers. I would seriously think about whether you want the long or short frame BFR and a caliber that is chambered for it. Last edited by 22-rimfire; February 14, 2013 at 12:28 AM.

April 29, 2013, 08:21 PM	#10
usurp31 Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Location: Dallas Posts: 23	g_one; did you look more into the BFR in 30-30? I've been thinking about going that route myself.