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Post by Quick Draw McGraw on Jul 10, 2016 0:20:22 GMT -5
What caliber would you fellas recommend. I have some previous purchases to remove from my credit card first. Including my .500 JRH BFR. There are the two S&W calibers, but I'm contemplating more along the lines of a rifle caliber. The main candidates are the .444 Marlin, .45-70, and .450 Marlin. I can imagine doing special calibers via precision center work or a custom Gunsmith. Like a .458 Winchester or .50-90 Sharps. Although after talking to Jack Huntington I am ruling out the .50 Alaskan as it sounds da like it would be the recoil equivalent of being kicked in the hand (and possibly the head too) by a horse. So what do you guys think?
My purpose for this would be long distance target shooting and possibly hunting someday, so a 10" or 10.5" barrel is what I'd really want.
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Post by whiterabbit on Jul 10, 2016 0:44:07 GMT -5
Can't really go wrong with your choices. I might add 30-30. IMO only reason to go custom would be to put a .510 cal on it of some kind. Wouldn't have to be the alaskan. Shouldn't have any issue reaching out with a 45 cal or a 30-30. I picked 460S&W, but I could see doing it over and running a 45/70. Ditto a .510 cal on a large BP case. Frankly I could see doing it in 500 Linebaugh. You could load and shoot M33 ball bullets, since COAL would be right at about 3" Fair warning, I only shoot to 100 yards, not long distance. I did try shooting 700 yards, but it did not go well. Could not even lob the bullets in there.
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Post by toroflow on Jul 10, 2016 2:04:32 GMT -5
If I were you, I'd do what I did, a 45-70 BFR. Brass is easy to come by compared to 444 or 450, and I would imagine the 45-70 will give you more versatility due to bullet selection over the 444. Good luck in your choice!
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Post by grizzly on Jul 10, 2016 11:58:42 GMT -5
I'd probably say 45-70. I had a 45-70 BFR and was a blast to shoot and accurate. You have the option of mild to wild and reloading supplies as well as factory ammo is easy to find. I still have the BFR but I have since sent it to Jack Huntington to be converted to 50-110 WCF, it has about a 9" barrel including muzzle break and has his grip modification. So far I've only fired Grizzly factory 435 and 525 grain ammo and it does recoil a fair bit with those loads. There's a 50-90 on gunbroker still I think for around $2k. I'd like to get another in 45-70 and one in .500 JRH as well.
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Post by Encore64 on Jul 10, 2016 12:08:59 GMT -5
For factory guns I probably would (and did) choose a 45-70. As a side note mine wears a 2x Weaver and shoots 4" groups at 100 yards.
The 30-30 is interesting, but is extremely heavy. Something like 83 ounces.
I've too considered one in 50 Alaskan. Case capacity is slightly more than the old 50-70. So lots of good data out there that would be comfortable and effective.
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f3
.30 Stingray
Posts: 412
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Post by f3 on Jul 10, 2016 19:29:09 GMT -5
I have contemplated two BFR's. Both would start out as 30-30. One rechambered and barreled to 32 special and the other rechambered and barreled to 414 supermag. The 414 would get a bullet mould made by Veral Smith to take advantage of the extra long cylinder. The 414 would get a 10 inch barrel to keep it legal for Montana's weapon restriction areas and tags. The 32 would get a similar length barrel. Why 32 special and 414? I like things that are different.
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Post by whitworth on Jul 11, 2016 7:22:59 GMT -5
For this reason I would opt for the .45/70. Every one I have shot has been very accurate. The one I have is extremely accurate. I shot this group at 50 yards with it.
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don44
.30 Stingray
Posts: 153
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Post by don44 on Jul 11, 2016 8:35:08 GMT -5
My personal preference would be the 444 Marlin. The one I have is very accurate!
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Post by whiterabbit on Jul 11, 2016 13:00:12 GMT -5
I'd probably say 45-70. I had a 45-70 BFR and was a blast to shoot and accurate. You have the option of mild to wild and reloading supplies as well as factory ammo is easy to find. I still have the BFR but I have since sent it to Jack Huntington to be converted to 50-110 WCF, it has about a 9" barrel including muzzle break and has his grip modification. So far I've only fired Grizzly factory 435 and 525 grain ammo and it does recoil a fair bit with those loads. There's a 50-90 on gunbroker still I think for around $2k. I'd like to get another in 45-70 and one in .500 JRH as well. OK, my brain is working (too much) over this post. 50-110, that's a .510 caliber, yes? what powder do you intend using, given excessive case capacity? What bullet weight range do you plan on using? Is he just rebarreling and punching out your existing cylinder? And does he have the ability to replace the cylinder? Now I'm thinking about something like a 50-xxx and a 500 linebaugh in the same long frame BFR. That sounds fabulous, but is tricky based on the need for dual cylinders if I don't currently have a dual....
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Post by whitworth on Jul 11, 2016 13:20:55 GMT -5
I'd probably say 45-70. I had a 45-70 BFR and was a blast to shoot and accurate. You have the option of mild to wild and reloading supplies as well as factory ammo is easy to find. I still have the BFR but I have since sent it to Jack Huntington to be converted to 50-110 WCF, it has about a 9" barrel including muzzle break and has his grip modification. So far I've only fired Grizzly factory 435 and 525 grain ammo and it does recoil a fair bit with those loads. There's a 50-90 on gunbroker still I think for around $2k. I'd like to get another in 45-70 and one in .500 JRH as well. OK, my brain is working (too much) over this post. 50-110, that's a .510 caliber, yes? what powder do you intend using, given excessive case capacity? What bullet weight range do you plan on using? Is he just rebarreling and punching out your existing cylinder? And does he have the ability to replace the cylinder? Now I'm thinking about something like a 50-xxx and a 500 linebaugh in the same long frame BFR. That sounds fabulous, but is tricky based on the need for dual cylinders if I don't currently have a dual.... Magnum Research will not build a .510 of any sort. That said, it will be a custom proposition only. I would not recommend doing a .500 Linebaugh on a long cylinder gun -- the short cylindered BFR yes, but not the long one. I used to have a D-Max (the predecessor of the current BFR) in .50 Alaskan and it was WAY TOO MUCH of a good thing. The current BFR is considerably heavier and a better platform for such big cartridges.
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Post by grizzly on Jul 11, 2016 14:55:06 GMT -5
I'd probably say 45-70. I had a 45-70 BFR and was a blast to shoot and accurate. You have the option of mild to wild and reloading supplies as well as factory ammo is easy to find. I still have the BFR but I have since sent it to Jack Huntington to be converted to 50-110 WCF, it has about a 9" barrel including muzzle break and has his grip modification. So far I've only fired Grizzly factory 435 and 525 grain ammo and it does recoil a fair bit with those loads. There's a 50-90 on gunbroker still I think for around $2k. I'd like to get another in 45-70 and one in .500 JRH as well. OK, my brain is working (too much) over this post. 50-110, that's a .510 caliber, yes? what powder do you intend using, given excessive case capacity? What bullet weight range do you plan on using? Is he just rebarreling and punching out your existing cylinder? And does he have the ability to replace the cylinder? Now I'm thinking about something like a 50-xxx and a 500 linebaugh in the same long frame BFR. That sounds fabulous, but is tricky based on the need for dual cylinders if I don't currently have a dual.... Yes as whitworth said it's .510 caliber. I haven't loaded ammo for it as I don't have dies yet. Personally I was going to try IMR 4198 and would like to use a bullet close to 600 grains to take advantage of the case capacity. I could be wrong but I believe he re-bored my cylinder. Lee has an excellent write up on 50 Alaskan BFR's on his website you might check it out if you haven't already.
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Post by Encore64 on Jul 11, 2016 16:04:57 GMT -5
I have been curious about the 50 B&M Alaskan. Its simply the 50 Alaskan necked slightly to accept .500" bullets.
You could simply rechamber a factory production 500 S&W and go from there. Would cut cost considerably.
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Post by 2 Dogs on Jul 12, 2016 8:57:01 GMT -5
Every BFR I have shot has been a tack driver. Too bad they don't do a Bisley...
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Post by whitworth on Jul 12, 2016 9:04:09 GMT -5
Every BFR I have shot has been a tack driver. Too bad they don't do a Bisley... Fermin, they do a version of a Bisley -- or what they call a Bisley, that is similar to the Huntington modified BFR grip. It is available as an option from the Precision Center, but I have been told that it will be part of the regular lineup soon.
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Post by 2 Dogs on Jul 12, 2016 9:08:19 GMT -5
I saw those. Was just wishing thier guns could be retro fitted with Ruger grip frame parts.
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