The Magnum Research BFR is a

single-action A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a t ...

revolver A revolver is a repeating handgun with at least one barrel and a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold six cartridges before needing to be reloaded, ...

manufactured by

Magnum Research Magnum Research, Inc. (MRI) was an American privately held corporation based in Fridley, Minnesota which manufactured and distributed firearms. The majority owners, Jim Skildum (President and CEO) and John Risdall (Chairman, COO), had been wit ...

. Modeled after the

Ruger Blackhawk The Ruger Blackhawk is a six-shot, single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It is produced in a variety of finishes, calibers, and barrel lengths. History In the early 1950s, Western (genre), Westerns were popular in movies and te ...

, it is constructed of

stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...

and chambered for a number of powerful handgun cartridges, such as .460 S&W Magnum and .500 S&W Magnum; popular rifle chamberings, including .30–30 WCF, .444 Marlin, and .45-70 Government; and even .410 bore shotshells. Notably, the BFR platform has also served as the basis for custom caliber conversions to 19th century big game cartridges such as the .50–110 WCF and .50-90 Sharps, as well as the .500 Bushwhacker, which is currently considered to be the most powerful handgun cartridge in the world in terms of muzzle energy. The name "BFR" originally stood for "Brainerd’s First Revolver", in reference to

Brainerd, Minnesota Brainerd ( ) is a city and the county seat of Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 14,395 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Brainerd straddles the Mississippi River several miles upstream from its confluen ...

, where the early BFRs were manufactured. Officially the

acronym An acronym is a type of abbreviation consisting of a phrase whose only pronounced elements are the initial letters or initial sounds of words inside that phrase. Acronyms are often spelled with the initial Letter (alphabet), letter of each wor ...

now stands for "Biggest, Finest Revolver", though it was rebranded for a time as the "Big Frame Revolver" after Magnum Research's 2010 acquisition by Kahr Arms.

Available cartridges

The BFR comes in two basic models, one with a long cylinder for larger rifle cartridges, and one with a more traditional revolver cylinder length (called "short" by Magnum Research). Some models that use identical bores, such as the .45-70 Government and .450 Marlin, can be made with two cylinders for the same gun. The BFR revolvers were originally made by D-MAX in Springfield, South Dakota, until Magnum Research bought them out.

Long cylinder

* .30-30 Winchester * .350 LegendMagnum Research, Inc. – BFR – Big Frame Revolver
Accessed: April 3, 2023. * .360 Buckhammer * .444 Marlin * .45 Colt/ .410 (Not available in California due to legal restrictions) * .45-70 Government * .450 Marlin * .460 S&W Magnum * .500 S&W Magnum * .50 Beowulf * .500 Bushwhacker

Short cylinder

* .22 Hornet (discontinued) * .357 Magnum * .44 Remington Magnum * .454 Casull * .480 Ruger/ .475 Linebaugh * .50 Action Express * .500 JRH * .500 Linebaugh

Gallery

File:Magnum Research BFR, .44 Magnum, Bisely.jpg, A BFR chambered in .44 Magnum with Bisley grips File:BFR, .50, Revolver.jpg, A BFR chambered in .50 AE File:BFR 30-30, Revolver for Article.jpg, A BFR chambered in .30-30 WCF File:Wikipedia BFR 30-30.jpg, A .30-30 WCF cartridge being loaded into a BFR

References

External links

* {{official, https://www.magnumresearch.com/bfr-biggest-finest-revolver/
Owner's Manual

BFR Handbook
.44 Magnum firearms .50 caliber handguns Magnum Research revolvers Revolvers of the United States