I also have a Magnum Research .45-70 BFR, and I'm very pleased with it. I have shot bullets up to 552 gr,(Lyman # 462560), with 34 gr. of IMR 3031 at around 1,100 FPS. Recoil is stout, but the gun is very accurate. Mine has the 10" barrel. I posted some pictures of it at http://groups.msn.com/wtill Go to the bottom right corner of the page, and click on BFR .45-70. Bill T.

I'm thinking that the 475 BFR would make for a nice gun. My only complaint with the 45-70 is it is too heavy and large to be a packing gun.

Lar, we have to face facts. Any large handgun is the primary hunting tool to take the place of a rifle. A lot easier to carry too. I put a sling stud in the bottom of the grip and use a 6' utility strap, sling swivels and a barrel band. I carry it at my side while hunting with the sling only on the butt and when shooting I push against the strap. When I get a deer I extend the strap so I can hook it to the barrel band for carrying across my back, out of the way when dragging.
A pack gun is a secondary gun while using a rifle as the primary gun, or when hiking or fishing. Hardly the place for a BFR. An excuse to buy more guns isn't it?

Has anyone used the 400 grain speer in the 7.5 bfr? I am interested in velocity and loads. Thank you. WWK



PS: I did not mean this posting just for jaycocreek. I am still getting use to the site. Sorry.



I love hunting with handguns here in Maine. I would like at least 1500 fps, and would like to know whats possible with a 7.5 barrel w/o getting into pressure problems.

27.0 grains of H110/W296 works well with the 400 grain Speer (~1,400 fps).

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com

Lee, do you have any problems with the low charge volume/density with the 296 loads? Or do you use a Magunum primer?

Lar....I load W296/H110 to near-max and do use a magnum pistol primer. Even in cold weather (ie, 30 degrees), misfires are very uncommon. If you're looking for reduced loads however, I do recommend a faster powder (2400, AA9, etc).

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com

bfr shooter,

Can you give me some loads with 4759 powder and 350 to 400 gr. bullets? I haven't had the unburned powder problems you've encountered, but I have used Federal Magnum 215 rifle primers with these 3031 loads. Perhaps this has helped. Bill T.

I agree that a flake powder like 2400 would work well for a reduced load. What I was wondering about was a 1/2 full case of ball powder and haveing problems lighting it off. I don't know how accurate it is, but Quickload shows that you could get a 400gn cast in the 1700fps area and still keep at or under 50ksi. If this is the case, maybe it could work similar to the Rifle Bluedot loads that are being tried. Everything from mild to wild?

Now I have to go cast some more bullets.

billt, I don't have a load for those weights. I made two moulds, one is 317 grs. and the other is 330 grs. These are gas checked and look like LBT's with a large meplat. I use 31 grs. of 4759. This is not maximum. I get 1535 fps. and 1" groups or under at 50 yds. 4759 is good because it fills the case pretty high for the weight. Best is to start a little under this and work to the most accurate load. I never look for max velocity, only the most accurate load. A deer can't tell the difference between 1100 fps and 1700 fps. Dead either way. My boolits are hard cast and nothing will stop them, I have shot through a 10" tree. They will go end to end through deer. The internal damage in a deer is great, but there is minimal meat damage. I see no need at all for more boolit weight except to see how they shoot. Someday I will make a heavier LBT style to play with.
I have never understood why everyone touts how fast their gun shoots and how heavy a load they can get away with. I have never found max loads to be accurate in any handgun.

billt, I forgot to mention that the only way to get slower powders to burn all the way in the shorter handgun barrels is with more boolit weight. The problem with a lot of faster powders is the jump in pressure with just a small amount more. Even 4198 can spike very quickly. It is hard to get a balance between burning all the powder, getting decent velocity, using the huge volume of the 45-70 case, keeping pressures down and getting good accuracy. I tried at least 8 different powders before settling on 4759. I don't like some of the fast powders in this case because you need a flashlight to look in the case to find any sign of powder. This case is too large for the likes of H110. 296 or 2400. 4227 is iffy. Once you get slower then 4198, unburned powder is everywhere. There is a narrow range of powders for the barrel length.
4759 is a fast powder but doesn't seem to have the pressure spikes and it fills a lot of the case.
If I make a heavier boolit, I will go back to some of the slower powders. I was in a hurry getting a mould made and working loads last year because deer season was getting close. I was very happy with the results. Haven't had time to do more because I had to remodel my kitchen and make some honey-do projects. Now she is harping on me to change the oil in her car. I thought I retired so I could play!

Your right, it's just a sickness of mine to push the upper end. I did refrain myself on my 454 loads though and stopped at 1350 with the 340's because that's where the groups got really small.

When I was reloading 330 grain hardcast I bought a box of Cor-Bon 335's and chronoed them for a reference out of my gun.Cor-Bon loads there .454 loads to 60,000 PSI.I also bought some 300 grain jacketed and chronoed them.Good reference despite the little difference in bullets.Without a peter meter,thats the only way I can see how much the velocity shoud be as far as pressure is concerned.

Just my opinion.....Jayco.

bfr shooter,

Thanks a lot. Will give it a try. Bill T.