The Elusive BFR 6-Shot 454 Casull...

[Encore64]

They've certainly gone up in price, but everything has too.

I still consider them a good value. Ruger through Freedom Arms has had huge price increases.

[shorty500]

Jul 30, 2024 19:49:00 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

YEAH, I'm a big FA Fan too. This (and all) BFRs are big guns with a purpose.

It'll never replace my FA97 45 Colt or 44 Special because they're so easy to carry.

It's interesting to ponder just how strong the BFR 44 Magnum would be?

Stupidly strong in my questimation. Ain’t got the reputation of some cause I never advertised it but there’s some 17-4 Ruger cylinders in my safe that this old machinist/toolmaker made over the years. Spent over 40 years in shops, when I finally gave it up I was alternate shop manager/ quality manger and the shop expert in manual machining. We were doing both medical device parts and the commercial side was devoted to replacement parts and custom machinery design for multiple industries including brewery, printing, diesel parts/engine salvage/remanufacture, aftermarket automotive (which I’d already had a long career in), food processing & packaging, well known electrical tool manufacturer etc etc etc.
I never went all Linebaugh or Casull in the explosive destruction tests, but I know what the capabilities of the most common alloys are too. It’d take insane stupidity to do any damage to a correctly heat treated 17-4 cylinder with the wall diameters of a BFR in either 5 or 6 shot configuration

[bigbore5]

The weakest cylinder wall thickness in the 5-shot bfr is of course the 500L version. I've pushed two to failure in testing. This is one seriously tough gun capable of amazing performance.

[Encore64]

Yes it is!!!

I'm giving serious thoughts to ordering a couple more in 357 Magnum and rechambering/rebarreling to 38-40 and 44-40.

How simple and strong would those be?

[Encore64]

Jul 31, 2024 17:52:23 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

The weakest cylinder wall thickness in the 5-shot bfr is of course the 500L version. I've pushed two to failure in testing. This is one seriously tough gun capable of amazing performance.

So, a few questions about this.

I've read about blowing up revolvers before and wondered about a few things.

Are loads pressure tested as you work up beyond published data?

Are the loads that cause the gun to fail pressure tested?

If so, what is the data's value after determining the failure causing load's pressure?

If not, what is the value of loading a gun to failure?

Thanks in advance for the testing and sharing...

[bigbore5]

I picked up two bfr 500L for a real deal. Being a fan of Linebaugh's big boomer, and the fact I was irritated by S&W pretty much copying the 500 max with higher pressure and a smaller diameter, yet never giving Linebaugh any credit for his contributions to big bores, I wanted to see what the BFR was capable of. John said he was curious himself, so I blew them up in the name of science.

My cousin is a partner in a ballistic and explosive development company. A call to her from her bestest cousin and they agreed to use their advanced systems to determine the pressures involved.

I will not publish the failure pressures due to the fact some dummy will crash trying overloaded ammo outside of the ballistic lab. Their lab is especially safe since it's set up for explosive ordnance and munitions in addition to light infantry arms. Just say I was extremely impressed at where the cylinder distorted prior to failure.

In most custom guns, the limited cylinder diameter and variable heat treatment led to the 35,000psi rating of the 500L. I feel perfectly safe stretching that to 45,000 in the BFR. I don't recommend it to others and definitely not in anything other than the BFR'S as tested. Beyond the 45,000 psi range it just gets too brutal to handle.

Does anyone need that much pressure? No. The Linebaugh cartridges loaded with heavy bullets between 1000-1300fps offer ample penetration for even elephants, yet remain controlled enough for quick follow up shots if needed and don't challenge bullet integrity.

I would really like to get a BFR 357 to send to Ross for the perfected BFR package and rechambering to 41mag. I don't know why MRI doesn't offer it in six-shot but does in a 5.

[Encore64]

So, if I understand correctly, it was done to satisfy curiosity. Something I understand all too well.

Agree that the data gathered could never be published. Someone could and most definitely would think staying just below pressures involved in failure would be safe.

The BFR will never be a lightweight revolver. But, it's a beast and strong to the extreme.

[Ramar]

Bigbore5, very interesting account of your BFR pressure testing. Without giving too much info, did cylinders bulge or completely fail?
I've also wondered why Magnum Research doesn't offer the 41 Mag in a six shot (and the 30 Carbine and 45 ACP). Please start a thread on Ross' perfected BFR when it becomes reality.

Thanks for starting this one, Encore64. Just curious, did you find this 454 BFR for sale, or did you initiate a custom build that took 21 months?

[Encore64]

Aug 1, 2024 8:22:03 GMT -5 Ramar said:

Bigbore5, very interesting account of your BFR pressure testing. Without giving too much info, did cylinders bulge or completely fail?
I've also wondered why Magnum Research doesn't offer the 41 Mag in a six shot (and the 30 Carbine and 45 ACP). Please start a thread on Ross' perfected BFR when it becomes reality.

Thanks for starting this one, Encore64. Just curious, did you find this 454 BFR for sale, or did you initiate a custom build that took 21 months?

I ordered it from the previously posted link. From order to hand was a four day wait...

[jensonev]

bigbore5, I am curious as to what you thought of Ruger's 454 testing and the people who just had their 45 Colt Redhawks reamed to 454.
The way I understood it was during proofing(93kpsi) Ruger's 416 cylinder never popped, but did experience plastic deformation meaning it was beyond its .2% yield. This precipitated the change to 465 Carpenter.

[45MAN]

I AM LOOKING FOR A BISLEY 454 BFR, AT LEAST WITH A 7.5" BARREL, PREFERRABLY A 10", IF YOU HAVE ANY LEADS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

[Ramar]

Aug 1, 2024 10:21:57 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

Aug 1, 2024 8:22:03 GMT -5 Ramar said:

Bigbore5, very interesting account of your BFR pressure testing. Without giving too much info, did cylinders bulge or completely fail?
I've also wondered why Magnum Research doesn't offer the 41 Mag in a six shot (and the 30 Carbine and 45 ACP). Please start a thread on Ross' perfected BFR when it becomes reality.

Thanks for starting this one, Encore64. Just curious, did you find this 454 BFR for sale, or did you initiate a custom build that took 21 months?

I ordered it from the previously posted link. From order to hand was a four day wait...

Thanks, Encore!

[Encore64]

Aug 1, 2024 13:59:27 GMT -5 45MAN said:

I AM LOOKING FOR A BISLEY 454 BFR, AT LEAST WITH A 7.5" BARREL, PREFERRABLY A 10", IF YOU HAVE ANY LEADS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Well, the 6.5" is actually 7.125", the 7.5" is 8.125".

I'm always looking. A Bisley 500 Linebaugh is mighty tempting.

[seminolewind]

My 7.125” BFR .454 is over 100 fps slower with any given load compared to my 7 1/2” and 10” FA .454s, which are usually about neck and neck. I use the BFR for heavier cast bullet loads at reduced velocity because of this. If I could do it over again, I’d get a longer barrel BFR.

[Encore64]

Mine is running about 25-40 fps faster than my FA83 6". That seems about right for 1 1/8" more barrel.

I have FA in 7 1/2" and 4 3/4", but haven't compared them.

I do think the 1-16" twist of the BFR will stabilize heavy bullets at 45 Colt Velocities...