big bore question

[Tommy Kelly]

My son and I both own BFR revolvers in 475 linebaugh calibers. He bought his new and I got mine off of gunbroker. Both are great shooters he had his shortened to 5 1/2" and I really like the look. I may go the same route with mine. My question is my gun's cylinder is cut to accept 45-70 rimmed cartridges his is not. The 475 linebaugh's shoot fine in my gun I haven't tryed any 480's but i'm sure they would be fine. I have even played with a few 45-70 cases and loaded up some cut down to 475 length.
I was thinking it would be a good use for the short lever evolution cases made by hornady that aren't reloadable without altering 45-70 dies to crimp them. I have a couple of rifles that use 45-70's in the marlin lever guns. so 45-70 ammo is no problem. I was just wondering why the gun was altered? Is there a advantage to using 45-70 cases?

The 475 cases are available as a component for reloading so I don't see the need to alter the gun to use the different cases. When I recieved the gun it looked unfired and came with a leupold m8 2x scope mounted on it. I don't like scoped handguns so I removed it and sold the scope and rings and got rid of them. I ordered new sights for the gun and went back to them. I now have gotten a 45-70 bfr revolver also. It has the long cylinder to accomodate the 45-70 ammo and is a streched frame looking gun that is a great shooter kind of ugly with the long cylinder but a smooth shooting gun. The recoil is well below the 44 mag level

 

[captainkirk]

My son and I both own BFR revolvers in 475 linebaugh calibers. He bought his new and I got mine off of gunbroker. Both are great shooters he had his shortened to 5 1/2" and I really like the look. I may go the same route with mine. My question is my gun's cylinder is cut to accept 45-70 rimmed cartridges his is not. The 475 linebaugh's shoot fine in my gun I haven't tryed any 480's but i'm sure they would be fine. I have even played with a few 45-70 cases and loaded up some cut down to 475 length.
I was thinking it would be a good use for the short lever evolution cases made by hornady that aren't reloadable without altering 45-70 dies to crimp them. I have a couple of rifles that use 45-70's in the marlin lever guns. so 45-70 ammo is no problem. I was just wondering why the gun was altered? Is there a advantage to using 45-70 cases?

The 475 cases are available as a component for reloading so I don't see the need to alter the gun to use the different cases. When I recieved the gun it looked unfired and came with a leupold m8 2x scope mounted on it. I don't like scoped handguns so I removed it and sold the scope and rings and got rid of them. I ordered new sights for the gun and went back to them. I now have gotten a 45-70 bfr revolver also. It has the long cylinder to accomodate the 45-70 ammo and is a streched frame looking gun that is a great shooter kind of ugly with the long cylinder but a smooth shooting gun. The recoil is well below the 44 mag level

Just a guess on your first question as I think the BFR came out after the 475 was standardized, BUT, the first 475s were made to handle 45-70 cut off and blown out brass because that was the parent cartridge. I assume yours might have been an early one or altered(if that is possible) to accept the 45-70 case head to allow the user to make their own brass from 45-70 stock. Just a guess, as I have never owned one of these monsters.

captainkirk

 

[Lee Martin]

I don't know the absolute answer but my 2003 built BFR will handle 45-70 rims.

 

[Tommy Kelly]

That sounds right that it was a earlier gun and made that way because it looks perfect like it was factory done not a gunshop job with a blemish here or there. I still haven't made up my mind on the barrel cutting. But have already gotten 2 holsters for the BFR's custom made in cross draw to help with the long barrels and make them easier to draw from a holster. I have quite a few shorter barreled guns if I choose to go that way.

 

[tek4260]

Here are pictures of the cylinder.

 

[AkRay]

I don't own a BFR, but my practical side says if I were to buy one in 475 Linebaugh I'd want the cylinder that was capable of handling the cut down 45-70 cases.