Finally Got The BFR 475/480 Back, A Couple First's!

[wildcatter]

I bought a BFR in 475/480 right after Thanksgiving, it was not the barrel length I wanted or the grip frame, but it was an old enough model it had the Badger Barrel. So the last week of November I sent it off to the Magnum Research Custom Shop. I had a few things I wanted changed to have it the way I wanted.


1) A trigger job
2) the Badger Barrel shortened to 6" from the cylinder face, w/the 11* target crown
3) the new Bislet grip frame, but with the Black Micarta grip's, and the new hammer instead of the spurred hammer.
4) Finally I wanted the forcing cone checked and optimized for Cast, if needed.

Well I must say over the holidays it got tied up fer about 3 months, what was supposed to be 8 weeks. In all fairness we had Christmas, New Years, and if you remember they got bombed with snow, and a week or so of as much as 27 below zero, and 3 days of that was wind chills below -40* below zero! So I never got to exited. I have had it 2 weeks now, and must say I was kinda disappointing in the feel of this Bisley grip. I expected a little more hand filling results. 

But today I took my favorite 480 Ruger load that I worked up in my Ruger, and my first 475 reload's. The 475's were loaded with the 385 grn WFN I always used in the Ruger, and 14 and 15 grains of HS-6 and my 400 grain LHP bullet and put the first rounds thru it. I guess if 1" 5 shot groups is the best it can do I'll take it, but I think for the first effort this beast may just have a little more to offer? But as of now fer the first outing,, oh ya and listening to whitworth and taking his recommendation on the Ultra dot optics, another first fer me, and I will say I am having a little trouble wiping the shagrin off my old mug!

The results of MRI Custom shops efforts with the new changes, and my first outing, the five shot group with the dime is the 385 NOE WFN bullet, a plain base over 15 grains HS-6 in Starline 475L Brass, and the 3 shot group was the same bullet in 480 Ruger Starline Brass over 14.5 grains HS-6.


I know the picture sucks, I'll post some better pics later after another range session, I just might send off the Dragoon frame and have JRH work his magic on it. I will say this Bisley frame really is comfortable but I would like a little more filling feel, but it is obvious this frame is made to take the heaviest loads and be easy on the shooter! Much better than the factory Dragoon grip frame. But for a first BFR, a first Ultra Dot and on the first trip to see what I had, I am pretty happy, and wont I don't think I will be sorry I parted with the 480 Super Blackhawk.

[majorKAP]

Did you intend to write that you had them swap the hammer (instead of trigger)? If so, did they return the original to you?

[magnumwheelman]

I like that a lot... but also without shooting it... I do like the look of the original hammer

I want to do similar with a long cylinder in 375 Winchester

[wildcatter]

Mar 12, 2019 4:17:05 GMT -5 majorKAP said:

Did you intend to write that you had them swap the hammer (instead of trigger)? If so, did they return the original to you?

Yes I did have the hammer changed to the new smaller hammer spur, and yes all parts that came off the original gun were returned, so I could have the gun in the Dragoon stile with the grip and trigger if I didn't like this. I mainly had it changed in hopes it would be less likely to take meat of my fat hands when loaded with the heavier bullets to top pressures. The BFR Bisley grip is excellent as far being able to tame the recoil, and I am sure it will be more evident with full house 475 loads using the 420 grain and 440 grain bullets.

magnumwheelman you will be very pleased with the wok from MRI's custom shop, they went above and beyond with quality of work in which I had done, go for it, the sooner they get the order, the shorter your wait will be. I personally am taking a break and spending a little more on my 2 wheel priorities fer a while, more big boys toys,,,, if you know what I mean, 

[majorKAP]

And all these years I have mistakenly been calling the spur located on top of the hammer the "hammer spur". Live and learn I guess.

[wildcatter]

This old age crap is getting worse, sorry majorKAP, I finally seen what you were taking about, I fixed it,,,,,,,,,,, I think!

[majorKAP]

No problem. I actually was a bit confused. And, you are correct, sir. As the axiom goes, old age ain't for sissies. 😕

[wildcatter]

Mar 12, 2019 19:57:04 GMT -5 majorKAP said:

No problem. I actually was a bit confused. And, you are correct, sir. As the axiom goes, old age ain't for sissies. 😕

There is always a bright side though, the longer you make it the more you get used to it, and the less you let the little things bother you, some call it being like fine wine, mellowing,

Kinda why I replaced the 480 with a 475L, I'm just mellowing,,,,