I've got a Magnum Research BFR chambered in 45-70. It has an 11" barrel. I was wondering if anyone out there had experimented with loads for this (or similar) pistol?

I've been shooting standard factory ammo (Winchester and Remington 300 and 405 grain), and they don't work so well. I've noticed that there is a lot of unburnt powder and also that the power isn't what it should be. Strangely enough, the recoil seems very mild.

Any info would be appreciated...

Shiflan

Putting a big rifle cartridge in a pistol is not a very wise idea but it's sure look good though. If it does not burn efficently with those mild factory loads, then how would you expect it to burn any better with more powder. Another way to test it would be to use a pistol powder and treat it like a pistol cartridge but unfortunately, I got nothing to suggest. Your best bet would be to take the advice from the folks at Magnum Research. Have fun. Cheers! Ming

Shiflan: I shoot a 45/70 in a 12" Contender Hunter Barrel. The load I use is just under maximum as listed in the T/C Reloaders Manual. It is 46 grains of W680 with 300 grain Rem. Hollow Points or 300 grain Barnes Spitzers originals. I am getting 1770 fps with this load and it is an absolute hammer on deer. Since W680 is no longer available you might try AA1680 and work up. If you need more information e-mail me.........Roy

You might also try Alliant 2400. It burns a little quicker, being a heavy pistol powder. I have used it in my rifle with good effect for light loads. ( 350 grain cast bullet, 25 grains of 2400.)

The load that I have used over a dozen years to take a whole lot more than that of deer from 90 to 200 pounds in my 15" Contender is 53.5 gr. of H322 behind a 300 gr. Barnes X bullet. It leaves the barrel at 1890 fps and maintains enough velocity to reliably expand out to 175 yards. Accuracy is 1 to 1.5" at 100 yards for 5 shots depending on the shooters ability any given day. It's a really hard hitting load and I have had complete penetration from every angle you can think of. This same load behind a 300 gr. JHP of Hornady or Sierra gives 1793 fps and a lot steeper trajectory.
Do NOT try and use pistol powder unless you see it published in a manual someplace. Rifle data works just fine and it burns clean enough.

[This message has been edited by Big Bore (edited 04-18-2002).]

Ming, your advice is noted, but I do NOT want to just "add more powder", etc. Like you said, that obviously won't work. The key is using a DIFFERENT powder. E.g. a faster burning powder. That way the powder will fully burn in the barrel--or at least MORE fully. The question, of course, is WHAT powder and how much of it.

I'll try out some loads based on your other suggestions. Thanks!

shiflan

Hi Gambler, how much hunting experience have you had with the Barnes 300 spitzers? What kind of performance are you getting (accuracy, expansion, penetration)?

W.Wilson: The Barnes Spitzer appears to be really soft. They are made for the 45/70 and low velocity. I have not had the opportunity to shoot any game with them yet, but would imagine that they would really do a job on deer sized animals. I have use the Rem. 300 grain H.P. and they were very good. On bullets that I have been able to recover from soft dirt that makes up my target backstop the Remingtons have held together better than the Barnes originals. How ever the Barnes that have been recovered have been about the size of a half dollar which leads me to believe that they would be good for deer. For Elk size animals I believe that I would go to the Barnes X Bullet that is made for the 45/70. I have not yet had the opportunity to try them yet but would go with the previous post....Roy

This is direct from Barnes. Their original spitzer 45-70 bullets need 2000 fps to expand reliably. The .458 X bullet, they told me, needs 1500 fps, which was the bullet Barnes recommended me shoot in my .45-70 Contender quite a few years ago. My test showed that the X needed 1600 fps in the 458 caliber bullets just like the smaller caliber bullets. Below 1600 fps expansion was sometimes good, sometimes not at all. AT 1600 and above it always expands. Unless they changed the hardness of the spitzers you might want to re-check with Barnes and make sure they are going to expand at 45-70 handgun velocities.