475 Linebaugh BFR

[Lee Martin]

I put another 100 rounds through my 475 BFR today and hit a milestone.....namely 3,000 shots since I bought the gun new in 2003 for $800.

The only loads I've used are 27.0 grains of H110 under 420 LFNs or 400 grain jacketed Speers. In other words, heavy stuff. And in that time I've never had as much as a screw come loose. These guns are really built to last and their accuracy is jaw-dropping.

Today's session was the 420 LFN and 27.0 of H110.

After 9 years of being shot hard it's still dead on:

10 shots @ 25 yards:

I then re-sighted it at 50 yards and got 5-shot groups like these:

I can't say enough about the out-of-box potential of these guns.

So after 3,000 rounds mine is going to get a facelift: 1) Jack Hunington grip extension with white micarta, 2) Barrel cut back to 6.0", and 3) Alpha Precision front sight kit. I'll keep you all posted.

 

[dougader]

Awesome, Lee. Thanks for posting this.

 

[2 dogs]

Lee, I picked up the second one I ever owned in a trade not too long ago. My first one was a hammer. Very accurate, absolutely no dimensional issues as to barrel restriction or cylinder throat size issues. The new is very much the same. Seems to like every load I try it with. It is a big ole sixgun tho!

 

[Lee Martin]

Thanks Fermin. Actually, I have another thought on the front sight. Are you guys doing yours in stainless?

 

[Lefty SRH]

Impressive! I shoot the same boolit in my .480 Ruger, hahaha but NOT 27.0gr H110!

 

[2 dogs]

I didnt shoot 100 rounds out of mine today, just about 30 or 40 because we were shooting some others as well. I am running a 375 grain keith style SWC out of mine. A bit stubby, it seems to shoot well to 100 yards tho!

 

[MaxP]

Nice work, Lee!

 

[tek4260]

Are you getting the same grip extension as Boxhead?

 

[Lee Martin]

Are you getting the same grip extension as Boxhead?

Yep, but he had his worked over some more by Alan Harton. I'm going to keep the Hunington profile and grip width.

Can't recall who this BFR belongs to (may be a forum member), but this is what I'm trying to reproduce:

The only difference is I plan to use one of 2Dogs custom front sights and the barrel won't be octagonal.

 

[2 dogs]

Lee, how about a pic or description of how you are resting your sixgun? Im curious if you are doing something different than me.....

 

[Lee Martin]

I'm using a Caldwell rest:

For me, the key is sight pattern. I use a 6 o'clock hold on those dots. At 50 yards, that orange circle looks like a pinpoint on top of the front sight. You have to focus, but if you're off by a little you'll know it. Too high and the circles goes away. Too low and you start to see white paper between the two. And it's cheap.....it's just a paper plate with a florescent circle.

 

[americal]

A lotta folks don't realize how hard it is to shoot groups like that with such a boomer :roll: ITS HARD :!: :!: Great shooting rest or no rest :!: :!:

 

[2 dogs]

Thank you Lee. Looking at the shape of your groups I was curious to know if you were supporting the muzzle as well as the butt. I normally either rest my palms on a bag or hold the sixgun between my knees. Here is from the other day, sorry I got a little sweaty, with a very accurate Colt Trooper 357 mag.

 

[Lee Martin]

Now that's shooting. Very impressive group from a real classic. Those old Troopers were something else.

 

[2 dogs]

Only 25 yards. That Trooper practically shoots itself. I am going to have Ray install me a target front sight on it!

 

[Boxhead]

I'm using a Caldwell rest:

For me, the key is sight pattern. I use a 6 o'clock hold on those dots. At 50 yards, that orange circle looks like a pinpoint on top of the front sight. You have to focus, but if you're off by a little you'll know it. Too high and the circles goes away. Too low and you start to see white paper between the two. And it's cheap.....it's just a paper plate with a florescent circle.

I'll have to try the smaller dot at 50 yards. One inch right? I always go larger when I shoot 50. What do you use at 100 yards?

 

[Lee Martin]

Yep, a 1 inch dot at 50 yards. It's small but gives you a very precise sight pattern. At 100 yards open sights I simply use a 10" plate and hold at 6 o'clock (with the gun sighted way high). At that range I'm not a concerned about tight groups. Getting 5 shots on the plate is enough.....and if they cluster tighter than the 10", even better.

 

[2 dogs]

I expect to not miss a 8" plate at 100 yards.

 

[JEFraze]

Love that H110 thats all I load in my .44mag not quite .27grns but over 20 just depends in the bullet.

 

[Boxhead]

I have always used a plain sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper layed horizontally at 100 yards on the black roofing sheets that both ranges I go to use and it has worked well. A horizontally centered six o'clock hold. Agree that a good gun, load, rest and shooter should shoot inside 8" or so. If not, more shooting. Given my hit and miss (no pun intended) time home and therefore time shooting I clearly see my end of it fall off and then come back after a few good shooting sessions each trip home.