James
.30 Stingray
Posts: 411
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Post by James on Apr 30, 2016 16:25:04 GMT -5
If this is to be the only Freedom Arms you buy I would suggest a 10 inch 454 which has taken everything. However, as I get older I have been shooting my FA`s 41mag more and more because its the most accurate of my FA`s single actions and the kick, with the heaviest load, is very easy on my wrist. Just made a 60 or so yard head shot on a boar the other day. Good luck...
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alamogunr
.30 Stingray
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Posts: 294
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Post by alamogunr on Apr 30, 2016 16:58:48 GMT -5
I voted for .44 Mag. I have a FA in .454. I barely missed a very good buy on a FA in .44 Mag several years ago and would get one now if the same opportunity presented itself.
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Post by Alaskan454 on Apr 30, 2016 17:04:22 GMT -5
I'm a sucker for the .45 caliber, but a model 83 in .44 can handle some really hot loads all the way down to plinkers. With the magnum pistol powders you can stuff as much powder as will fit in the case. Primers will probably flow before you stress a 5 shot .44 cylinder.
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Post by lscg on Apr 30, 2016 21:19:14 GMT -5
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cmh
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,745
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Post by cmh on Apr 30, 2016 21:30:08 GMT -5
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Post by vonfatman on Apr 30, 2016 22:10:19 GMT -5
For my use, I'd go 44 Magnum.
I prefer the 97 but that's just me.
That 475 Linebaugh has "dangerous critters" written all over it. It's hard to beat this caliber if Zombies are keepin' you up (or you value extreme penetration).
Bob
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Post by Quick Draw McGraw on May 1, 2016 9:43:28 GMT -5
I went .475 Linebaugh. I would normally say .500 WE as it's proprietary, but the cartridge is a little too esoteric for me. The .475 ID a cartridge I think I'd like to shoot, and on days when it's too much, o can always go with .480 Ruger.
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cmh
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,745
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Post by cmh on May 1, 2016 10:06:49 GMT -5
Sitting here reading this through again... I've enjoyed the thread. I spent quite a bit of time perusing ads and dealers laat night. Some calibers I can find in the barrel length I would want.... 475L- 6"-7 1/2" barrel 454 Casull 7 1/2"(?)- 10" barrel as Id want to stretch that round out. 44 Magnum the same as the 454... prefer a long barrel. 41 Magnum looking online they must be the winged pegasus and most old ads are short barrels..... like the 454 and 44 Id rather have a long barrel. I guess im a bit odd for a shooter as my EDC PPP is a Glock 40 in 10mm. Happy as can be with it and feel well armed and comfortable. Have found examples of the 475, 454, and 44 mag for sale both new and used and the 454 and 44 with 10" barrels... just a hard decision which FA to get first
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Post by singleaction on May 1, 2016 12:14:00 GMT -5
I went .475 Linebaugh. I would normally say .500 WE as it's proprietary, but the cartridge is a little too esoteric for me. The .475 ID a cartridge I think I'd like to shoot, and on days when it's too much, o can always go with .480 Ruger. I second Quicks' comment, but I'd download 475 brass for cleaner chambers. For me, most days the full house 475 would be too much, so mild loads would be my norm, with heavy stuff being reserved for those special occasions when I feel like having my hands run over by a semi-truck.
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Post by savit260 on May 1, 2016 17:22:42 GMT -5
I went .475 Linebaugh. I would normally say .500 WE as it's proprietary, but the cartridge is a little too esoteric for me. The .475 ID a cartridge I think I'd like to shoot, and on days when it's too much, o can always go with .480 Ruger. I second Quicks' comment, but I'd download 475 brass for cleaner chambers. For me, most days the full house 475 would be too much, so mild loads would be my norm, with heavy stuff being reserved for those special occasions when I feel like having my hands run over by a semi-truck. Just curious how these lighter 475 loads perform accuracy wise. I'm not much into wrist busters, and I've not had the opportunity to shoot any load in this caliber. If they perform well at velocities that aren't going to beat me to a pulp, I might want to investigate the caliber more.
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Post by Encore64 on May 1, 2016 17:25:41 GMT -5
My BFR 475 is a tack driver with cast bullets pushed by Unique. Ditto on the 500 JRH. I don't think accuracy would be an issue.
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Post by contender on May 1, 2016 20:41:12 GMT -5
I currently own a 454 in a model 83,, so that one was "out" so to speak. But,,, if you added a 45 Colt cylinder to that one as an option, I may have gone that way. So, of your offerings,,, I chose the 41 mag. Why? well, others have stated the very same reasons I feel. An easy gun to handle in recoil, capable of handling big game, (and hunting is my primary reason for owning one,) components for reloaders abound, and casting can give you a slug to do anything you desire.
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snappy
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421
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Post by snappy on May 1, 2016 23:11:59 GMT -5
I bought a perfect packing pistol in .475L last year from forum member gunsbam69, my first true big bore revolver. It is a lovely little beast but the reality is I didn't get very far north of the mild .480 loads before that gun started to show me what's what! Holy cow!! In retrospect the .41 would have been a more logical choice for this lowlander, so that got my vote here. Long live Freedom Arms-
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Post by paul105 on May 2, 2016 11:02:21 GMT -5
I second Quicks' comment, but I'd download 475 brass for cleaner chambers. For me, most days the full house 475 would be too much, so mild loads would be my norm, with heavy stuff being reserved for those special occasions when I feel like having my hands run over by a semi-truck. Just curious how these lighter 475 loads perform accuracy wise. I'm not much into wrist busters, and I've not had the opportunity to shoot any load in this caliber. If they perform well at velocities that aren't going to beat me to a pulp, I might want to investigate the caliber more. Hoover started a thread with lots of info on moderate .475 LB and .480 Ruger loads. I posted this target in that thread. No development involved with this load. I used 8.5gr of HP38 in .475 LB cases under a Western Bullet 400gr Lee. IIRC it is close to a load JT listed in one of his articles on the .475. I'm sure you could use a similar load with lighter bullets. I shot that .475 a lot with mostly .480 Ruger level loads (400s at 1,150 fps) and really enjoyed the journey. As I've gotten older, I tend to gravitate towards more moderate rounds like the .45 Colt and .44 Mag/Special. FWIW, Paul
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Post by rjm52 on May 2, 2016 18:35:16 GMT -5
For some reason I can't vote but my choice is the .41 Magnum. I've had 83s in .41, .454/.45 Colt and .475 all with 6" barrels....now only the .41 remains. Bought the .454/.45 Colt first. While exceeding accurate, "moderate" .454 rounds were starting to do damage to both my wrist and elbow. That and 240s at 1650 fps were just no "fun" to shoot...20 rounds in a whole afternoon was about as much fun as I could take... The .475 came a few years ago...again using .480 velocity loads on 330, 400 and 420 grain bullets all in the 1050 fps range, they were very accurate but even at that modest velocity shooting was less than "fun". And while accurate at normal pistol ranges out at 200 yards things just fell apart. The 6" .41 Magnum was purchased just before I sold the .454 back about 2002. It was exactly the same as the .454 except it was Mag-Na-Ported. The gun will accurately run bullets from 165 to 305 grains with as much H110 as you care to put behind them...and can be shot all day long with the heaviest loads... And as indicated by some of the gentleman above....41 is just beyond accurate... 100 Yard open sight Challenge... 5.5" with a 300 grain bullet... 780 yards out in Idaho with Mackay Sagebrush... If it can't be done with a .41 then I need a rifle....Bob
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