Magnum Research offers several many variants and calibers in the BFR line from the short cylinder .44 magnum and .454 Casull to the long cylinders .30/30 WIN,.460 S&W , .500 S&W ,.45LC/.410. not to metion a full custom shop to make your revolver yours and the one I find most versatile the .45/70 Gov’t.(that can also have a 450 Marlin cylinder made and installed)
The .45/70 Gov’t was once that a .45 caliber projectile( weighing 405grains) getting pushed by 70 grains of black powder. With the return popularity of the 45/70 Gov’t due to states like Ohio allowing straight wall cartridge’s to be used in deer hunting and the return popularity of traditional style guns such as the sharps, 1886, 1895 and Henry lever actions. with the popularity for the round comes so does the revisit on different loads which in turn has made the Magnum Research .45/70 Gov’t BFR much more than a novelty gun but a practical revolver.
At first glance this American made piece of stainless steel revolver will grab the attention of anyone at the range. Opening the loading gate unlocking that long cylinder and giving it a spin, watching it go like a Swiss time piece. Loading this 4.3lb hand cannon with 5 rounds of 45/70Gov’t ranging from 300 grains to 430 grains looking to see what it can do. All rounds fired from a 7.5 inch barrel are as expected some better than others but none unbearable. Finding that our wrist where going to make it we set out to see what this pistol could do. Sighting in at bout 50 yards and finding out that 405grains was doing us the best we took aim at 100 yards and found it not that hard to achieve. Noting that the BFR line frames come tapped and with a MRI scope rail (weaver style) to mount any optics one may want we choose in the spirit of the single action way to leave ours iron sights.
So an overview of the Magnum Research Big Frame Revolver in 45/70 Gov’t 7.5 inch barrel 4.3 lbs stainless construction. The five shot cylinder is released with the opening of the loading gate with a transfer bar transferring that single action hammer to primer. Two upgrades done to this revolver one a must in my book and one a cosmetic upgrade that just gives it that single action look. The over molded black grip works just fine but in my opinion is a little harder on the wrist than the white polymer grips. the white polymer tend to slip a little when the revolver is shot taking a little shock of the wrist. the other is upgrade is the fluted cylinder that gives it a few more lines and saves on weight. the third upgrade that would be nice but was not on this revolver would be a larger trigger guard. The larger trigger guard would be nice for gloves and other winter gear but out all the rounds fire the wrist wasn’t hurting but where the trigger guard contacted the finger. but over all with a shoulder holster I believe this revolver could be carried on and hikes or hunting trips for protection with no worries on the game that may be a threat.
by Jimmy Foecking
Jimmy is a pilot and aircraft mechanic who has worked all around the United States from aerial firefighting in Wyoming and Alaska to private and military and small business jets currently in North Carolina. Just a man seeking the simple things in life, hunting the outdoors and simple firearms. He is the Director at @singleactionfanatics on Instagram and Facebook.
