Magnum research BFR, 500 jrh or 500 s&w?

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adcoch1

adcoch1

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Been dreaming about a bigger revolver than my 44 mags, and while there are lots of good options, I am gravitating towards a 50 cal. Since I am not blessed with custom gun kind of money, the BFR has been the object of my attention lately.

I was perusing gunbroker, since none of my local stores ever have big stuff, looking at BFR options. Mostly looking at 500 jrh guns when I stumbled upon this...
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/899130294
It is a lipseys exclusive 500 s&w bisley grip BFR, with black micarta grips. The thing took my breath away. As I'm sure touching off a 500 s&w cartridge would do. This thing is beautiful! So, the question is, which would you want in your collection, the 500 jrh in the standard length frame, or this baby in the long frame?
 
I've only handled a couple BFRs and one was too long ago and too brief an experience to remember. The other was a long frame. I didn't like the balance, and wouldn't choose a long frame for myself. It had an excellent trigger and felt like extremely good quality, but it didn't feel right with that long cylinder.

I would hold out for the standard cylinder in .500JRH. though personally, I'm more interested in a .454 (because I have dies and brass already, and .45 cal projectiles are more plentiful).
 
WrongHanded said:
I've only handled a couple BFRs and one was too long ago and too brief an experience to remember. The other was a long frame. I didn't like the balance, and wouldn't choose a long frame for myself. It had an excellent trigger and felt like extremely good quality, but it didn't feel right with that long cylinder.

I would hold out for the standard cylinder in .500JRH. though personally, I'm more interested in a .454 (because I have dies and brass already, and .45 cal projectiles are more plentiful).
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I'm a regular 454 casull shooter, it's a great cartridge and plenty of zap for anything on this continent . it's an abusive cartridge at full power, just something extra sharp in the recoil impulse. It's manageable but loads in the 30-40k pressure range can do most of what a hotter loading will. I like a 325 grain lfn over 2400 for serious power that doesn't hurt, about the power a full nuclear ruger type load would be. Approximately.

I like trailboss under a 250 grain rnfp bullet for screwing around, it's very pleasant and accurate and still doing 1000 fps, nothing to sneeze at.

But for all that, it can't move the truly heavy lead that a 480/475 or 500 can. Low velocity heavy lead, it has some magic there . pleasant enough to shoot and seriously powerful. I'm not selling either of my 454s anytime soon but I do want a bfr - 5-6" . just for screwing around.
 
Obturation said:
I'm a regular 454 casull shooter, it's a great cartridge and plenty of zap for anything on this continent . it's an abusive cartridge at full power, just something extra sharp in the recoil impulse. It's manageable but loads in the 30-40k pressure range can do most of what a hotter loading will. I like a 325 grain lfn over 2400 for serious power that doesn't hurt, about the power a full nuclear ruger type load would be. Approximately.

I like trailboss under a 250 grain rnfp bullet for screwing around, it's very pleasant and accurate and still doing 1000 fps, nothing to sneeze at.

But for all that, it can't move the truly heavy lead that a 480/475 or 500 can. Low velocity heavy lead, it has some magic there . pleasant enough to shoot and seriously powerful. I'm not selling either of my 454s anytime soon but I do want a bfr - 5-6" . just for screwing around.
Click to expand...

Gotta be honest, when I get one it'll be to get more oomph than a 300gr .44 mag at 1200fps. No light loads for me. ;)
 
Here’s my opinion. It’s worth what you paid for it. You can shoot 500jrh in a S&W chamber. It’s like a 454 in a 460. If you’re buying new, why not go bigger? You don’t HAVE to utilize it. But you can if you want to.
 
adcoch1 said:
Been dreaming about a bigger revolver than my 44 mags, and while there are lots of good options, I am gravitating towards a 50 cal. Since I am not blessed with custom gun kind of money, the BFR has been the object of my attention lately.

I was perusing gunbroker, since none of my local stores ever have big stuff, looking at BFR options. Mostly looking at 500 jrh guns when I stumbled upon this...
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/899130294
It is a lipseys exclusive 500 s&w bisley grip BFR, with black micarta grips. The thing took my breath away. As I'm sure touching off a 500 s&w cartridge would do. This thing is beautiful! So, the question is, which would you want in your collection, the 500 jrh in the standard length frame, or this baby in the long frame?
Click to expand...
If you really want to "go big" then the 500 S&W is the king. But the revolvers are kind of ludicrous, like hellboy's revolver. If you like that, go for it. Me, I'm saving up for a JRH on a "standard" frame. Hopefully sometime next year when I turn *cough* 50.
 
The long cylinder BFR's are ridiculous. Believe me, the standard frame and the JRH is plenty. All the .500S&W is going to gain you is range, at the cost of immense weight and bulk. They are far and away longer and heavier than the custom stretch frame Rugers done in .475 and .500 Linebaugh Longs.
 
On a related topic, for those who have shot both, is the BFR or the Freedom Arms gripframe better for the really heavy stuff?
 
1KPerDay said:
On a related topic, for those who have shot both, is the BFR or the Freedom Arms gripframe better for the really heavy stuff?
Click to expand...

I own both in .454. I definitely like the looks of the FA better. But, all things equal, for me, the BFR Bisley handles recoil better. My FA now has a muzzle brake so it's not a fair comparison anymore but before I had it installed, my opinion is the BFR wins in recoil management. Before I got the BFR, I thought the banana grip hype was just that...hype. It in fact, does mitigate recoil extremely well and I have no plans for porting or braking it. I'm actually considering selling my FA because of how much I like my new BFR, if you can believe that.

Ultimately, as you'd expect, try to handle and shoot both to see what works for you. Everyone is different.
 
Big Bore TX said:
I own both in .454. I definitely like the looks of the FA better. But, all things equal, for me, the BFR Bisley handles recoil better. My FA now has a muzzle brake so it's not a fair comparison anymore but before I had it installed, my opinion is the BFR wins in recoil management. Before I got the BFR, I thought the banana grip hype was just that...hype. It in fact, does mitigate recoil extremely well and I have no plans for porting or braking it. I'm actually considering selling my FA because of how much I like my new BFR, if you can believe that.

Ultimately, as you'd expect, try to handle and shoot both to see what works for you. Everyone is different.
Click to expand...
Great input. Thanks.
 
Just to clarify, I was set on a 5.5" 500 jrh until I saw this specific lipseys 500 s&w BFR. I normally think the long frame is just awkward, but the overall look of this one is cool.
I want a 50 cal just to make a bigger hole than the 44, or even my old 454 I sold years ago, but I don't need the insane horsepower of the 500 s&w. I will probably just continue to hunt for an acceptable 500 jrh. I think I'd use it more...
 
At one time I WAS a critic of monster magnums until a friend of mine brought his by here. We didn't get to shoot
it because he couldn't find ammo for it yet, he was so excited about it I could not down him for that over the top
purchase, especially with his financial income being what it was & such a great person he was. He got to shoot it & show
it off for about 2 years, then he died suddenly, & of all things a heart attack on his way to the gun shop.
But that revolver made him HAPPY & PROUD to own it. Just go for it, if that is what you want.
 
CraigC said:
I like the FA grip frame better. The BFR "Bisley" has too much room behind the triggerguard, pushes the balance too far forward. Still trying to figure out how they call it a Bisley. It's a dead ringer for the Super Blackhawk pattern and shares nothing in common with either the Colt or Ruger Bisley.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Is the Ruger Bisley a good choice for heavy hitters? I figured the space behind the trigger guard on the BFR might be a good thing since the trigger guard is what usually bashes me on big bores.
 
I have just found and bought a bfr in a caliber that I have wanted for quite some time (I will get to shoot it as soon as my molds comes in). For me the extra length in the bfr bisley vs the ruger bisley means my pinky is on the grip and not under it, my knuckle has a bit of breathing room and the extra reach for my trigger finger makes it easier to place the pad of my finger on the trigger. All that said I might think it is the worst thing ever when I get to touch one off, but I don’t think it will be as too many people allow it mitigates the recoil very well.
 
My choice would be the SW 500, I love shooting this gun, mine is the 8" model and the trigger is so smooth. Recoil is there but you don't get that shock into the palm you would think, it just throws your arm and gun into the air. I shoot mostly 350 grain reloads from it and not really too expensive to reload for. I have not shot the JRH so I can't compare but I wouldn't trade the Smith. I would try both if you can before spending that much.

Keith
 
I'll be the guy that says it. Way too much gun for my crippled self. But if you're going big, go BIG. I have shot a bfr in 30-30 and it was a very nice revolver. I've considered a custom one in 300bkk, but can't stop adding options until it's past the 2k mark.
 
Trashyshoots said:
I'll be the guy that says it. Way too much gun for my crippled self. But if you're going big, go BIG. I have shot a bfr in 30-30 and it was a very nice revolver. I've considered a custom one in 300bkk, but can't stop adding options until it's past the 2k mark.
Click to expand...

I’m with you there! Rt shoulder was replaced Wednesday, and the alt will be replaced in September. I can barely hold my Blackhawk out in front of me. But I want a custom-ish revolver, but don’t want to spend $3k on one. Would rather have a BFR, add on some options and get a set of grip panels fitted to it. Just for the milestone of making it to 50!

Besides, the 50JRH has my initials! LOL

Lefty
 
Good luck with your shoulder recovery. I had a right shoulder labrum surgery few years ago, took 14 months to surpass where I was prior to surgery (I'm 55), but the first months were rough man. My left shoulder is worse though- used to dislocated all the time and now bugs me. To get on topic, I shoot a 500 snub and enjoy the thing, I notice most of the hand, wrist, and arm absorbs the recoil but when it comes to shoulders my biggest problem is fatigue holding that thing out in front with my long lanky arms.

So also consider the weight of these monster revolvers, especially when trying to keep front sight stable
 
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