Well gentlemen, I've finally decided to make the plunge. I'm going to pony up and order a BFR in 475 with a 6.5" this weekend. I know it's not a Freedom Arms, but all of the ones I've examined appeared to be quality revolvers for reasonble prices (at least $500 less). I figure that down the road I'll be able to send it off to get it perfectly finished by a good smith. Aren't they Ruger frames?

I'm planning to start out with mild loads and lighter bullet weights and work my way up to more powerful stuff. I'm going to carefully dissect PaulH's tome of 480 data.

I'd appreciate any advice y'all have on a good source for lead bullets, holsters and the works.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all.

I have had great luck with Cast Performance bullets. Working on their 410 WFN and that has been very accurate. The 390LNN was great also. I have had more success with heavier bullets than with the light (If you can call 370 and 375 light) in my 480. Leadhead is another good source for lead bullets. Speer has been good for accuracy in the jacket bullets. If you get into casting the RCBS Semi wadcutter has been accurate and I have had good luck with the Lee 400 grainer. H110 had been my staple poweder for barn burner loads, Lil Gun has worked well. I have not had the luck with 2400. In mid level loads Titegroup had worked good. Still playing with 231 but it has promise. Have fun

Hcliff

quickdraw, I have the BFR 45-70 and it is super. I have shot several groups at 200 yds for fun that measure 2" with a flyer opening it to 3", of course I use a red dot sight that covers the whole center of the target. I have even shot it to 510 yds by aiming around 24 feet high and was hitting the steel target. It will outshoot my friends Freedom arms every time. My average group at 75 yds is an inch. I killed 2 deer with it this year and it is devestating (spelling?) I make my own molds and they are the LBT style WLNGC. You will not go wrong with the Cast Performance boolits. Just try different weights until you find what it likes.
Thought I would mention that I have not figured out how to bench this huge revolver and get groups. I have to shoot it Creedmore off the side of my leg. I had to mount a single point sling on the butt for offhand shooting and hunting. I want more of the BFR's but being retired, money is tight.

I have the 45-70 BFR also, but have been looking at the 475. I think it'll be a keeper.

Down there at my notsolocal toy store, I had a chance to shoot a BFR in 475, but I still can't abide by the shitty hard rubber grips that must accompany each one. If the company would only make their guns in a Bisley gripframe, I'd buy a couple. Yes it is well built, yes it is accurate but it don't fit my hand. I'll stick to my FA 83, thank you.

475guy, don't get me wrong, I love freedom arms too and would like to have 1-or 2-or 10. I don't mind my BFR grips though and for the money it shoots too good to put down. Can't keep the lead flowing fast enough.

I agree that they're pretty accurate. How about 420 gr at 1320 F/S loads doing under 1" five shot groups? It's just that the revolver frame won't match up to any aftermarket Bisley gripframe at all. I don't want to spend the cost of the gun to do it.

Lee Martin said he put a Bisley frame on his BFR. I have a Bisley 44mag, I'll see if I can find the time to take the grips off of both to see if they come close.

Dude, it would be an exercise in futility as Hamilton Bowen and several other name smiths have already tried it and found that it was time consuming. Basically, two gripframes had to cut, welded, and fitted to make one gripframe. If a smith were to attempt it now, it would cost in man-hours and materials the cost of the basic revolver.

Lar....I did fit a Bisley gripframe to a BFR, but it took an inordinate amount of work. Like Reeder and Clements, I found that the frame does need to be cut and welded. Originally, I thought the two would be easily mated, but unfortunately the underside of a BFR doesn't have the same contour as a Blackhawk (one major difference is that the Ruger frame tapers from front to back whereas the MRI is pretty much straight). Overall, it's a total pain in the ass and I'll probably never do another.

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com