I procured 2 BFR revolvers over the last 6 years, one in 30-30/10in and one in 44/5in.
I have finally gotten around to “planning” shooting them!
Checked dimensions on both, 30-30 has a .306/307 groove and a 310 throat (bore slug and pin gaged) Great.
The 44- .431 groove, nasty construction at muzzle and frame, .429- (pin gages are minus not plus) throat.
Now for me that is not a good recipe for a cast bullet or even a jacketed bullet.
The spec groove from MRI is .430. I called and was offered a conversation with THE Gunsmith who assembles but I decided to shoot before I cry wolf.
I pushed .4292 240 gr Keith’s through the throats and they slide through with moderate to heavy force but a pencil will slide one through. You are putting significant force on pencil but there is no sizing so the throats really are .429
Additionally my go to bullet is the 310 Lee fpgc. Having them sized to .430, I have to set max oal to 1.625, at 1.630 that is the end of the road. Bullet can’t extend further forward. That is the highest crimp groove plus .025 (groove is set my LEE to give 1.600 at last groove).
So I can’t seat the bullet long to decrease pressure nor can I likely load a longer 335 or heavier bullet with a RNFP or WFN.
Reaching out as I’m looking for any other owners who have experience with the BFR dimensions.
Not crying wolf, like support said, never gotten that complaint for the 44 mag yet. I actually tend to believe him. But I have seen some reports of barrels too large to small and questionable throat sizing.
Caveat: I did some reading and if I understand correct, Elmer Keith set S&W dimensions initially to bullet .0005 under throat, and throat .001 under groove. That goes against all contemporary wisdom of progressive reduction to groove diameter. He was using soft alloy and stout loads. Maybe there is a pearl of wisdom to take from his designs that may apply to BFR. My alloy is about 14.5 bhn and checked (used for my 445 SM Encore) lubed with Carnuba Red 2700.
Any feedback would be appreciated. Hoping to shoot by Saturday and capture some live data.
Running Alliant 2400 ladder at loads listed in Lee #2 from IIRC 14-15.8 grains (and .3 gr over max)