My First Freedom Arms

[sixgunning]

I love my 83 Premier Grade in .475 Linebaugh, with its extra cylinder in .480 Ruger. The only thing I'd change are the dang sharp edges. They can HURT when shooting hotter loads. The grip design is great for handling recoil, it's just those sharp edges that ruin it for me. Mine came with the express sights as well and I quickly sent away for the premier sights. I like to practice shooting steet at 100-300 yards (hopefully I can reach out farther as I improve) and the express sights were, well, "hit or miss" for me. How do you like the round butt? Were you able to compare it to the standard grip? I've thought about getting mine done too, along with an action job.

[sixgunning]

I should clarify....How do you like the round butt on your REVOLVER?

[Alaskan454]

The round butt is excellent on the M83, I converted my Redhawk to a round butt for the same reason you mentioned about the sharp corners. I've also modified two sets of Bisley grips to alleviate that in a less aggressive manner.

Back to the 83. Weather was not cooperating when I planned to do some 100yd stuff so hopefully it will pan out tomorrow. I won't have time to do all three cylinders so I figure 100 rounds of 454 should be plenty to try and post a decent group.

[lange1]

Your first FA! Let the addiction begin! Yours is so gorgeous with the green fiber optic sight and the Evergreen grips.

One of my 6 inch 454s [with the 45 cylinder] has the orange fiber optic front sight that is visible anywhere, and I have so much confidence with it. I feel like I can hit anything with it. And the recoil mellows the more I shoot it. Shifting baseline.

A couple weeks ago I shot a hundred moderately heavy 250 grain loads at a 3' boulder about 350 yards away. SO gratifying! And full Walmart cheapo cans of pop are not safe at 100 yards!

[Alaskan454]

After today's range trip I am a firm believer in Freedom Arms.  I still see a use for my Rugers but this gun is in a class by itself, now I just need to practice and tighten up those groups.  I was running 300gr bullets at probably 1,200 fps if I had to guess.  These were originally loaded up for a different gun with a different purpose but I figured why not shoot first and worry about load development later.  Recoil was very light compared to my 454 Alaskan with the same load, I shot 80 rounds today and could have kept going if I had time.  

I started with an 8" steel plate at 10 yards and took a few paces back after each shot until they weren't hitting the plate anymore.  I got pretty comfortable at 25 yd on the plate and moved to paper targets.  My sights were regulated for a much stouter load so after playing around with the elevation we got closer to the center ring at 50.  I forgot to bring the partridge style sight for 100 yd shooting and let's just say 1 in 5 bullets made their way onto the 18" target at 100 yds when I tried with the fiber optic, not much worth looking at so I didn't bother taking a picture.  At 50 yards things were looking a lot better, here are some typical 50 yard targets shot standing.  I was very pleased with the gun and initial range trip.  I have a ton of 45 Colt loaded up so I'm going to swap the partridge sight in and practice a few times at 25 and 50 yards before taking my next shots at 100.  With the right load this gun is going to be a real shooter.  The fiber optic front is excellent for casual shooting, I like that it's a dot on a post type sight picture.  I was drilling the steel plate pretty quickly at 25yd with it.  I'll likely use that front sight most of the time unless I'm trying to see what it can do accuracy wise.  The only issue I had was keeping elevation steady with the dot.  

[cherokeetracker]

This is not bad for your first time with the gun and that particular sight. You can give it a few more times, or trips to the range and I am sure you will do better. That little bit of barrel is much better than the Alaskan, and I think with a little time, you will be saying that this is your favorite, "Packin" gun too. Standing free hand at 100 yards, is not easy, to create small groups. I do hope that you sat down and used a rest.

The 365 grain Hammerhead in 45 caliber from Garrett would be a good cartridge for you in this.

I believe the next photos from your next range trip, will be better. Sometimes we rush things not deliberately, but from shear excitement of a new gun.

[Alaskan454]

I tried standing and shooting off of the bullet box in the picture at 100, didn't actually make much of a difference. At least I was hitting the cardboard target. I'm sure after a bit of familiarization with the new gun it will produce some excellent groups. There's always an adjustment period so I expect it will take a few hundred rounds to get where I want to be.

[rjm52]

"Post by Alaskan454 on 22 hours ago
After today's range trip I am a firm believer in Freedom Arms. I still see a use for my Rugers but this gun is in a class by itself,...."

Funny about that...when I bought my first FA I had about 10 Ruger SAs. Over the years the tide has turned and now have three Rugers and four FAs... I can see no more Ruger SAs in my future but can see 1-2 more FA....

NICE shooting for your first try at 100...a lot of people think the 4.75" guns won't shoot but I had three .41 Blackhawks that shot right along with longer barrels...

Bob

[buckelliott]

You got the perfect revolver from FA, and you want to send it off to have it made into "something special..."??

[Alaskan454]

Oct 9, 2015 12:50:55 GMT -5 buckelliott said:

You got the perfect revolver from FA, and you want to send it off to have it made into "something special..."??

That would be the Ruger sixgun this FA has replaced, the new gun is as perfect as I can imagine. I have no intentions of letting this one get away!