Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 45-70 BFR

Not sure why I'm thinking about one of these, but local gunshop has a BFR 45-70. I'd been thinking about a .44 or .454 BFR but the 45-70 looks like it could be entertaining.

Internet searches haven't yielded a lot of information regarding loads, velocities or powders for the shorter barrel.

For those shooting one, what kind of results are you getting? Any powders that work better than others for it?

It will easily handle 1895 Marlin loads, if you can. Probably Ruger loads, I'm not that brave.

I generally use a 340 LBT.

I would have to find my chrono results. Fun gun; the same gun is chambered in 500 S&W and the 45-70 version would be entirely capable of similar ballistics.

Not sure I would want to shoot Ruger loads : )

The Ruger loads sounds like a recipe to wake up with tingling hands at night. I know my sleep improved after I quit shooting full-power loads in a 329. Though with the exception of hot 300-grain LBTs, it never seemed that bad when shooting it.

500 grainer's are fun, but start with Trapdoor loads....

That would be interesting to shoot lol. Love the bfr. Have one that i wouldnt part with in 500 jrh. 45/70 would be fun to play around with

I was at my gunsmith’s shop last month and they had one of those. Magnum Research had shipped them one for Kirsten Weiss, a local shooting celebrity that has her own youtube channel. I’ve been watching for the video of her shooting the .45-70 BFR but haven’t seen it yet.

Kirsten Joy Weiss

I just picked up a new 6.5” BFR Casull and took it to the range for the first time yesterday. I have to say it’s the first new gun I’ve bought in a while that exceeds my expectations. Complete opposite experience from a new Colt Anaconda I got last year. But with a starting load of H110 with 300 grn bullets it’s a hand full. I really don’t think I’ll be wanting anything bigger.

I had a 475 linebaugh in a 7.5" BFR. It was a well made gun and shot great but it was so big and heavy I never took it anywhere. I usually carry a 329dp or one of my mtn guns in 44 or 45 long colt. I found anything much bigger or heavier than those don't get used.

I do regret selling my rossi 92 in 480 ruger after I got rid of the bfr. I didn't realize how rare the 92 was when I sold it. It would have been a great cast bullet gun.

Now that I finally found a Blackhawk stainless convertible flattop 45 with a 4&5/8" barrel I'll probably carry it more in the woods than my 44s. I like the 45 lc with a 255 cast kieth at about 1000 fps now that I'm getting old. I may pic up a stainless 92 in 454 a local shop has and mainly load in with mid power 45lc.

Bb

Dad has an old Trapdoor, and with even light loads, that thing KICKS!!! I can't imagine the same cartridge in a haundgun.

I'm now the proud owner of a 7.5" 45-70. Internet research claims I can go up to .454 levels with less recoil and that the shooter, not the gun or brass is the limiting factor of how far past that a person takes it.

I will find out if the Internet is true, but it will be a couple of weeks.

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44 mag heavy loads in a handgun is my limit. Y'all have fun

Be sure the screws are all tight, especially the ejector rod housing....

My elk hunting partner shot a Contender in 45-70 and I had a Contender in 375JDJ.

With his 45-70 it was a balancing act. Lighter bullets had less recoil but the powder didn't burn completely with the lower pressure developed in a short barrel, even with the heavy crimp.

Heavier bullets gave more consistent velocity and accuracy with no un-burned powder but the recoil was a fair bit more than with the lighter bullets.

Have fun working up loads with your new shooter!

A shooting glove helped us both.

I much prefer shooting an N frame 44 mag to a J frame 357 Mag.

No argument there.

Always a good practice! I haven't picked mine up yet, but my dad has a .44 BFR and told me his gun came from the factory with the ejector rod housing glued on with epoxy (plus the screw). Not sure on the .45-70 but that would be a good thing if so.

Kirsten reminds me of .22 plinker. Both a lot of fun to watch and amazingly skilled.

Magnum Research claims the BFR in 45-70 is their number one selling revolver.
Congrats on joining the club.

I might have been the poster child for the epoxy. I think it flew off the factory inspected version on cylinder full #3.

They weren't happy when I asked them for two....
But some loctite applied and its been good ever since.

I was watching a KentuckyBallistics yesterday (I think those guys are hilarious) and saw one of the strangest looking guns I could imagine.

Scott was doing a penetration test with handguns that he considers suitable for bear defense. His criteria was they had to have short barrels. And he had a 45-70 BFR with a 3” barrel. The cylinder was longer than the barrel. It didn’t have an ejector rod so he was knocking out the spent brass with a little hand tool.

Does anyone with a BFR have one of the Hogue hardwood monogrips that Magnum Research sells for them? My Casull came with the rubber grips and they’re functional but not very attractive.