i am leaning twards getting a b.f.r. in 45-70 but i think it is toooooo big. has anyone shortenrd a bfr before? what length do you suggest as to not affect performance too much. i am thinking 6" maybe 5 1/2". is there an aftermarket stock that can be made removeable for the bfr?

I would never shorten the barrel. The case is so large that you will never find a load that will burn all the powder. You will wind up with some fast powder and a lot of empty space to fill with something. If you want a shorter barrel, get a different caliber.
This is the reason the BFR is only offered in 10".

The BFR is offered in a 7.5" BBL too.

If you want a shorter barrel, go with the 454 Casull. I've never understood the 45-70 revolver, simply not enough barrel to burn that much powder. The 454 will outperform it do to higher opperting pressures, and have less recoil due to burning less powder.

what about adding filler? its about reloading and convenience for me i think, if i didnt care i'd want to go with the 475 linebaugh or the casull after that. but the 45-70 bfr seems to get impressive numbers even if it is not the mose efficient in the 45-70

Fillers don't make up for expansion ratio, ie volume of case vs volume of barrel.

If you're simply looking at something that can chamber the same rounds as your guide gun, then the 45-70 bfr makes sense.

If you're looking on what attributes make a good hunting handgun, which is weight, balance, recoil, and muzzleblast, me thinks you'll find other guns and chamberings are vastly superiour.

The weight difference between a BFR and a revolver I'd prefer to carry will allow you to carry that gun, and ammo for it.

i am still debating the issue in my head. i am going to handle one soon and that will help me decide. so you preffer the casull over the 475 linebaugh?

It seems the 454 Casull or 480 Ruger may do almost what (I think) you want but are a lot cheaper route. With a short barrel I'm not sure if you will notice that much difference with the smaller cases.

Maybe before answering we should ask what the question is? Are you looking for something to shoot the same ammo as your rifle? Or do you just want the biggest thing you can get with a short barrel (why not the 50)?

Your posts almost sound like you want the BFR so you don't need to buy another set of dies and brass. With the price of a BFR I guess that sounds strange. Handling guns is a good idea, what looks good or bad on paper often changes when you pick them up!

I checked my catalog and they do have it 7-1/2". I bought the 10" and absolutly love it. I installed a sling stud in the bottom rear of the grip. The utility sling that Midsouth sells works like a charm. I sling it over my head and the grip is at hand heighth.
I have shot several 1" groups at 75 yd's with it. It has taken many deer.
Between it and my BFR .475, I can't cast enough boolits or buy enough powder.

I have the 10" 45-70 BFR. It shoots around 1.5" at 50yds and will push 405's to 1750fps. But it is no longer fun to shoot at that level of recoil.
It is very heavy and cumbersome. If you are going to be useing it in a stand, then go for it, but I wouldn't consider it for a packing gun.
I just got another BFR in 475 Linebaugh. I'm waiting on the mail, but I should be shooting it next week.
For a huge short barreled gun, you might look at the 4" 500 S&W, they balance fairly well and feel good in the hand. I think I could pack one of those.

If you want to talk recoil, I just got a 500 S&W BFR 7 1/2" That is the upper limit of recoil as far as I'm concerned. Much more than even my 416 GNR Encore.

I carry mine while stalking and tracking deer in the snow. With the sling, it is like carrying a short rifle with all the weight supported by my shoulder. By wrapping a short bungee cord around the barrel and my leg, I have both hands free and the gun doesn't swing around. I removed the front sight so it is easy to lift it out of the bungee. I also have one of those magazine tube sling studs on the barrel. After killing a deer I can adjust the strap, fasten the other end to the barrel swivel and sling the gun across my back out of the way. No problem dragging the deer.
I spent years carrying 10# Hawkin rifles, shotguns and various other rifles for miles and the revolver, no matter how big, is a lot nicer. Since it is my primary hunting gun and I don't pack it as a backup, there is no problem. I would want a shorter, lighter revolver for a backup. This would be in a shoulder holster because a hip holster is made for horseback. Carrying a heavy gun on the hip for miles will make most anyone leave it home the next time.

Lar, what loads do you plan on for your .475?

o.k....went to handle the 45-70 bfr. it is still huge even with the 7 1/2" barrel. if it is the only thing you carry it aint so bad but it is making me think more about the casull or linebaugh route.

I have shot the BFR in 45/70 with the 7.5" barrel with factory ammo and wasn't at all impressed with it. I think the 10" would be a lot better performer, although recoil was almost none. If you are looking for a back-up revolver I'd keep looking as this gun is pretty big to pack and kind of sucks bullistically, but thats just my opinion.

I've been lurking around this site but am a big fan of the BFR (10" .45/70) and this thread convinced me to join. As a handloader, I'm very pleased with the BFR but have had my best results with faster burning powders. 300 gr. bullets and light loads of rifle powders such as H4198 gave too many little nuggets of unburned powder floating around in the guns innards. AA 5744 and H4227 have been the best so far for accuracy. Unique makes an excellent reduced load powder.

I don't think that a barrel any shorter than 7 1/2" would be practical in this caliber. My purpose for the BFR is a treestand deer gun and would feel confident in the gun up to 150 yards under ideal conditions. The accuracy is certainly there with 3" groups at 100 yards with a 2x Leupold and a rest.

Doghawg, exactly what I found. I made a mould for a boolit that weighs 317 gr's, looks like an LBT. I use 31 gr's of 4759 with a tuft of dacron on it for 1535 fps. This powder fills more of the case then most powders. Accuracy is fantastic. I was clanging steel at 500 yd's with it by aiming at a spot on a tree above the target. I figured the drop was 26 feet. Some of the hits were only 3" apart.
The short barrel would really put a crimp in this caliber.
With the 300 gr. Hornady, I got as much as 1800 fps with 4198. 3031 just filled the barrel with powder and velocity was real low. Shot good though.
If you really want recoil and a hard hitter, try some 500 gr. boolits once. All at very low chamber pressure too.

BFR, I have the LEE 400gn mold and I"m ordering the LEE 350gn. They look like a fairly decent profile to me and I"m hopeing will be a good place to start. I really like WC820 in all my handguns so I think I'll start with it in the 475. I'm thinking about starting with the 400 at around 1250 ish and see if I can get some decent accuracy.
I may order up a custom mold for it. Maybe a 385gn Keith style from Mountain molds? I do have a 500gn mold for my 470NE from him, but I think it will be way too long. I'll try some though just because I have to. Maybe a 500 at 850fps if it doesn't bulge the case to seat them. Some one on the Cast boolit site mentioned gettign a cutom light mold around 275 gns for plinking. I may pick up an extra 350gn Lee mold and mill it down for a light bullet. They're only $18.

Lar, some of the guys sent me all kinds of boolits to try. I had every LBT made and some semi-wadcutters. Weights from 350 to 440 gr's.
Out of all the boolits the Lee 400 gr. still shoots the best. It even outshoots my home made moulds.
I use the Fed 150 primer, 26.5 gr's of 296, Felix lube and I crimp in the upper crimp groove.
The lighter boolits don't shoot as good out of the BFR but the Freedom doesn't like heavy boolits at all and the light ones shoot great out of it. The twist is faster on the BFR and even 440 gr boolits shoot great.