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Post by rjm52 on Nov 15, 2021 9:24:08 GMT -5
Thanks guys, I'm mighty proud of it! You should be...that is one of the top five most stunning SA revolvers I have ever seen...and definitely the biggest caliber... |
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Post by bigbore5 on Nov 17, 2021 7:14:45 GMT -5
The best way to go is get a bfr in 500 Linebaugh. Loaded to potential it will out perform the JRH due to it's ability to load over the 440gr bullets the JRH is limited to and will equal or surpass it in the lighter weights. Then get the Hager BB5 grip frame I worked up with Ronnie Wells. Nothing out there controls big recoil like it and it's Keith's #5 styling fixes the goofy looks of the banana grip. Add one of Fermin's excellent front sights (mine is brass). Then Chigs grips can do you some sweet wood or Ivory grips. Zane does beautiful horn grips too. All for a grand less than a Freedom Arms that wouldn't shoot any better.
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Post by Lee Martin on Nov 17, 2021 8:24:31 GMT -5
No reason to debate the .500 JRH vs. .500 Linebaugh. They're both outstanding and components are available for each. There are a ton of bullet makers who offer 0.510" casts. Jacketed 0.510"s, not so much. For the money, BFRs are hard to beat. They'll withstand a ton of what Bradshaw calls "Rocks and Dynamite". And I've never shot one that wasn't really accurate (I own 6 BFRs and have fired countless others). The only things I upgrade on the BFR are: 1) The front sight - get the 2Dogs steel version 2) The gripframe - the banana backstrap works but looks odd. Thanks to Ronnie Wells, BFR gripframes are no longer an issue Aside from that, it comes down to size. Thought the BFR isn't significantly bigger than a Blackhawk when measured, it sure feels larger in your hand. It's hard to explain but if you hold a MRI and a Blackhawk side-by-side, you'll know what I mean. I've posted these before, but here are a couple of shots that show the size difference: Left - BFR, Right - Ruger Bisley  Inside the frame of a BFR (475 caliber)  Inside the frame of a Ruger (41 caliber)  You now see why they feel so much bigger in the hand. Some like the added girth. Personally, I prefer the slimmer Bisley/Blackhawk. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time" |
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Post by Encore64 on Nov 17, 2021 8:53:58 GMT -5
The 45s are my breaking points on the Ruger vs BFR. For anything 45 Caliber and smaller, I prefer a nice Ruger Blackhawk.
For 45 Caliber and (especially) above, I lean towards the BFR. All of my standard length BFRs are 475 Caliber and above. My only long cylinder BFR is a 45-70.
All of my BFRs are older models with the flared hammer. They just seem to have a better fit and finish than the newer guns. Maybe that's just my perception, but seems the case.
It irks me to change hammers to a far less desirable shape, but offer to charge me extra for the previous style.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Nov 17, 2021 9:06:24 GMT -5
The Super Blackhawk hammers are definitely my favorite on the BFR's & I actually like my 475 Ruger... seems tiny compared to my 500 JRH BFR Quite a difference in size, between my 480 Ruger Bisley Super Blackhawk ( middle ) & my 500 JRH Bisley BFR ( lower )  |
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Post by pacecars on Nov 17, 2021 18:39:59 GMT -5
I am having bad thoughts thanks to Craig. The more I look at his JRH the more I want something similar. Might have to reach out to one of our talented smiths for a discussion. Start with a Ruger, one of Ronnie’s Bradshaw Bisley grips in brass, 5 inch octagon barrel, case colored receiver and some tasteful engraving. Dang this place makes me spend lots of money
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Post by cas on Nov 17, 2021 20:51:17 GMT -5
All my .50 cal bullets come out of my basement, where ..510 - 512''s are more readily available than .500"  |
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rhino
.30 Stingray
Posts: 213
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Post by rhino on Nov 17, 2021 22:49:20 GMT -5
As for the cartridge, the .500JRH was an easy choice for me strictly due to bullet selection. The popularity of the .500S&W has really expanded the bullet selection in that diameter. The Linebaugh is the classic but commercial bullets are much less prevalent for those that do not cast. As for the sixgun, the BFR is a very well made sixgun and really a bargain for what is received. That said, there are things I don't like about them that are insurmountable. First and foremost is their grip frame. It is basically a reshaped Super Blackhawk grip with even more room behind the triggerguard and that is awkward for me. I've handled them and shot them and I don't like it. Plus it looks like a banana. Secondly, I'm over stainless steel. If the BFR was easily converted to a Ruger Bisley, I would have one just to have a .500Linebaugh. Getting picky, I don't like the ejector housing, the front sight or the general shape of the frame. To me it looks strictly like a product of engineering, with no artistic flair whatsoever. So my .500JRH is a blued custom Ruger Bisley, with ivory.  That is a beautiful firearm, I've never shot a .500 JRH but I'd give it a try. |
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Post by bigbore5 on Nov 18, 2021 20:50:47 GMT -5
No reason to debate the .500 JRH vs. .500 Linebaugh. They're both outstanding and components are available for each. There are a ton of bullet makers who offer 0.510" casts. Jacketed 0.510"s, not so much. For the money, BFRs are hard to beat. They'll withstand a ton of what Bradshaw calls "Rocks and Dynamite". And I've never shot one that wasn't really accurate (I own 6 BFRs and have fired countless others). The only things I upgrade on the BFR are: 1) The front sight - get the 2Dogs steel version 2) The gripframe - the banana backstrap works but looks odd. Thanks to Ronnie Wells, BFR gripframes are no longer an issue Aside from that, it comes down to size. Thought the BFR isn't significantly bigger than a Blackhawk when measured, it sure feels larger in your hand. It's hard to explain but if you hold a MRI and a Blackhawk side-by-side, you'll know what I mean. I've posted these before, but here are a couple of shots that show the size difference: Left - BFR, Right - Ruger Bisley Inside the frame of a BFR (475 caliber) Inside the frame of a Ruger (41 caliber) You now see why they feel so much bigger in the hand. Some like the added girth. Personally, I prefer the slimmer Bisley/Blackhawk. -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time" The added size and strength is why I prefer the bfr in 475 and 500. But my kicking around the woods gun is a 4-5/8" blackhawk 45 Colt with the aluminum BB5 grip frame from Ronnie. Lightweight and easy to carry, all the recoil abatement of the biznana, but the more traditional look of a conventional Bisley. If I'm refilling bait or actively hunting bear, I put up with the slightly heavier bfr for the extra power. |
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Post by DiamondD on Nov 23, 2021 10:06:51 GMT -5
As for the cartridge, the .500JRH was an easy choice for me strictly due to bullet selection. The popularity of the .500S&W has really expanded the bullet selection in that diameter. The Linebaugh is the classic but commercial bullets are much less prevalent for those that do not cast. As for the sixgun, the BFR is a very well made sixgun and really a bargain for what is received. That said, there are things I don't like about them that are insurmountable. First and foremost is their grip frame. It is basically a reshaped Super Blackhawk grip with even more room behind the triggerguard and that is awkward for me. I've handled them and shot them and I don't like it. Plus it looks like a banana. Secondly, I'm over stainless steel. If the BFR was easily converted to a Ruger Bisley, I would have one just to have a .500Linebaugh. Getting picky, I don't like the ejector housing, the front sight or the general shape of the frame. To me it looks strictly like a product of engineering, with no artistic flair whatsoever. So my .500JRH is a blued custom Ruger Bisley, with ivory. I believe that is the best looking Ruger I’ve ever seen! |
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Post by 98redline on Nov 24, 2021 7:22:21 GMT -5
There is literally nothing about that revolver that I do not like. |
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Post by CraigC on Nov 24, 2021 12:59:31 GMT -5
Thanks gents!
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Post by pacecars on Nov 24, 2021 13:09:45 GMT -5
Craig, your gun has inspired me to build something similar for a .500 JRH. I think a Ruger with one of Ronnie’s brass grip frames, case colored frame, an octagon barrel cut to the length of a long ejector housing and some light engraving. I have always wanted a JRH built gun and who better to build one in his caliber?
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Post by CraigC on Nov 24, 2021 14:18:16 GMT -5
Sounds good to me! Jack does fine work and IMHO, he's underrated.
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diddle
.30 Stingray
Posts: 476 
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Post by diddle on Nov 26, 2021 2:50:31 GMT -5
Sounds good to me! Jack does fine work and IMHO, he's underrated. I fully agree regarding Mr. Huntington’s work. I stumbled into one of his banded barrel, 6-shot, 45 Colt, Bisley conversions a while back. It’s pretty amazing. |
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