How bad is this going to hurt?

[Odin]

Not that such a bunch of enablers needs any more encouragement, but I've got a gun and it needs some work. Not a full custom or anything like that - oh no, don't get any crazy ideas now! Easy boy! Just a little massaging here and there. Just a little something to make it right... for me.

The truth is, I've got no idea how much all the crazy stuff I've got floating around in my head would actually cost. So I thought I'd ask here. I don't need exact prices, just ballpark. Really, how many pairs of shoes is my wife going to get to buy?

I've got a BFR in 475L with the 7.5-inch barrel. I ran it last season with a 2x Leupold and enjoyed it immensely, but really feel I want to head toward something more practical/packable. I can tell you without hesitation that this will be my main hunting iron for a long, long time and I want it set up right.

So, a couple things absolutely need to happen right off the bat. It needs to go to Huntington for grip work. The barrel needs to get chopped and it also needs an action/trigger job.

In my dreams the barrel gets shortened to 5.5-inches and gets a banded front sight/Bowen target rear. If not that, then at least it needs a barrel chop and a new front sight. I don't love the finish on the gun as is, but I don't hate it either. I've had thoughts of Metalife, but maybe there's something more practical over the long haul. Dunno.

Out of all that, I do know how much the grip extension from Huntington is going to cost. And the cost of a Bowen rear sight. But the rest is up in the air. I really have no idea...

As an aside, maybe it's not polite to ask such things in open conversation. If so, I apologize. If someone would just go ahead an post as such, that would be fine. I'm just a quiet kid with a lot to learn (one of the reasons my post count is so low).

best,
Rod

[subsonic]

You can buy the Bowen rear sight right off of Hamilton's web page. Last I remember they are around $70(?) and worth every penny.

The best way to know current pricing on the rest is to simply call and talk to Jack Huntington. He will talk to you and quote your requests and by the time you get off the phone with him you will be trying to find a BFR sized shipping box.

[zeus]

I'd just buy me a new BFR with a shorter barrel and have the best of both worlds....A scoped 475 definitely has its uses

[CraigC]

A matched set, one long and scoped, the other short and holster ready sounds like the proper solution.

[bud]

I'm not so sure you could ever make a BFR 'packable' !!!

[Paden]

I agree with Bud in that if you want 'packable/practical' you should have JL or Dustin build a nice 4 3/4" on a Ruger frame. But it looks like what you propose having done to your BFR should cost you well less than 10 pairs of shoes.

[whitworth]

Apr 8, 2013 16:53:31 GMT -5 bud said:

I'm not so sure you could ever make a BFR 'packable' !!!

Sure you can. They're not much bigger than a Blackhawk. My 5 1/2-inch .500 JRH fits nicely in a belt holster.



Still cheaper to buy a BFR and do the grip extension and a rear sight than commissioning someone to build you a custom not only for cost, but time (particularly JL or DL as they have a 2 or 3 year waiting list now).

[bigbores]

I agree with max,
not only are the short framed BFRs packable, they make great guns to customize.
Here's one with a simple rechamber, new grips some welding on the trigger guard, a channeled frame,scalloped loading gate/frame and refinished, a freedom arms front sight, etc...

[whitworth]

That's a really nice piece you've got there!

[arokcrwlr]

odin, what you describe is what I did with mine. I had the barrel cut to 5.5", an action job, internal trigger stop, and a new front sight - I just packed it up and sent it to JH for his grip frame extension and grips.

Jim Stroh did the above work and out of all of my revos, this BFR has the best trigger that I have ever felt - to include that of any of my customs and Smiths.

[whitworth]

You can also buy BFRs with 5 1/2-inch barrels. My .500 JRH is a factory piece with the 5 1/2-inch barrel. Find one like that and you can save even more expense.

[Seasons44]

Apr 9, 2013 10:01:11 GMT -5 bigbores said:

I agree with max,
not only are the short framed BFRs packable, they make great guns to customize.
Here's one with a simple rechamber, new grips some welding on the trigger guard, a channeled frame,scalloped loading gate/frame and refinished, a freedom arms front sight, etc...

I have never seen the any other trigger guard re -works that looks great, I don't own a BFR but I got to drop a pig a month or so back with Whit's BFR, best bang for your buck IMHO

[CraigC]

How much does a 5.5" .475 or .500 BFR weigh? I know it ain't a Colt SAA but it can't be more than a couple ounces more than an all-steel Blackhawk.

[Odin]

Working my way through another 14-hour day. Got a little break so I thought I'd touch base.

First, thank you for all your responses.

I'm not sure buying a second gun is the answer to the imperfections in the first and to me the BFR certainly has the build and accuracy traits that make it a worthy model to receive further refinement.

As to the lack of packability, it seems the examples shown prove otherwise.


This seems to be a good starting point to me.

With the addition of Huntington's grip extension and removal of the barrel billboard, I'd be content.



But then I run across something like boxhead's BFR that got the Huntington-Stroh double-whammy and my eyes get all criss-crossy

I love the Weigand barrel band front sight. Heck, I love the whole thing. This is the one that really got me dreaming.



And bigbores' just makes me sick

I just keep staring at the scalloped loading gate and the leading edge of the top strap, which seems to have been rounded off. Add to the that reworked trigger guard and I can just feel my wallet shrinking.

So many choices. And such a nice platform to start with. My personal BFR hasn't given me a single problem and is far more accurate than I can shoot. All I'm looking to do is improve on what already is a great revolver.

Looks like I need to give Jack a call, eh.

Thanks again, gents.


-Rod