|
Post by potatojudge on Nov 28, 2019 10:03:57 GMT -5
This is an excellent thread, which anyone trying to select a packing revolver should read. Contributions from members of the forum indicate a diversity of personal experience to underline the importance of----when possible----SHOOTING a revolver before prior to purchase. The Freedom Arms Model 97 has a fan base who probably wear it in the bathtub. Others, this shooter included, cannot make it behave. Nothing to do with the mechanism. It is the grip frame. My hand cannot abide the M-97 grip frame, especially in .45 Colt. When Dick Casull told me the Model 83 has the perfect grip frame, I asked, for whose hand? “My hand,” smiled the brilliant machinist. It took this shooter a while to learn the Casull handle. There is room for another handle on the M-97. Perhaps a savvy smith, Jack Huntington comes to mind, has worked on it. It may be that the M-97 starts to roll in my hand a microsecond before the bullet departs the crown. FOLLOW THROUGH be damned, the gun gets away from me. There is no other explanation. Years ago, sharpshooter Edna Huff fairly ripped up IHMSA firing lines with her S&W M-29 8-3/8-inch. She told me she just could not do the same shooting with the Super Blackhawk, she could not ride the roll. When a revolver gets light, with big bullets invited to play, recoil gets out-of-hand. This is a huge deal when shooting long strings. It separates a gun which is shot one or a few rounds at a time from a revolver ready to play a concert. Human anatomy becomes the limiting factor, not the gun. Might illuminate the challenge to compare hands which get along fine with the M-97, with hands that do poorly with that grip. David Bradshaw The 97 grip frame didn't agree with me initially, so I modified one of mine. It doesn't shoot any better, but it sits in the hand more comfortably. After some practice, I shoot the original and modified grip frames equally well. It sits and rides like a skinny Bisley. David, if you're interested I'd be happy to send you the modified grip frame or the entire gun for evaluation. This will do until we have new grip frame designs available to us. ![](https://i.ibb.co/g9JqNtD/IMG-3539.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 28, 2019 10:14:09 GMT -5
David, having not shot this gun yet, I am curious if the 41mag will have the same affliction that others speak of with the 45 colt. I may beadblast the micarta grips to give them some slight texture to help with grip. This little modification did wonders for my little beast Bear Spray, the modification was suggested by a coworker knife builder that uses micarta on his tactical blades. The extra surface tension provided by the roughening really does help.
I noticed FA made a reflex mount for the 97, after I posted my question. Seeing it on the gun above, it is definitely sleek. I will try an get a picture posted of the little gun.
Trapr
|
|
KRal
.375 Atomic
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Posts: 1,042
|
Post by KRal on Nov 28, 2019 10:56:21 GMT -5
|
|
diddle
.30 Stingray
Posts: 473
|
Post by diddle on Nov 28, 2019 15:45:36 GMT -5
These FA’s will really shoot. I have shot a number of 5-shot, 50 yard groups with my M97 in 44 Special that measure under an inch c-t-c. All three of mine will routinely shoot one ragged hole at 25-yards.
|
|
|
Post by crazycarl on Nov 28, 2019 17:47:52 GMT -5
David, having not shot this gun yet, I am curious if the 41mag will have the same affliction that others speak of with the 45 colt. I don't have any experience with the FA97 & don't necessarily run my .41s at redline, but 240gr that run 1200 & 1300fps from my 5 1/2" & 7 1/2" Ruger Bisleys are vicious from my 6.5" stainless Blackhawk. The 6.5"er lives happily on a diet of 215gr LSWC over 8gr of Unique & I save the spicier fare for my Bisleys. In the event the 97's grip frame doesn't agree with your hand, regarding magnum loads, might be you could get some .41 Special brass & just load/carry that beauty as a .41 Special? A 230-240gr boolit at 900-1000fps is still big medicine & won't beat up your hand.
|
|
|
Post by savit260 on Nov 28, 2019 18:35:12 GMT -5
I have a 5 and 1/2 inch model 97 in 41 mag, that is without a doubt my most accurate revolver. It *did* take a little trial and error to figure out the grip situation. When I first got it my accuracy with it was not particularly good and I figured out quickly that I was simply gripping it too tight.
A more relaxed grip, squeeze the trigger, and let the gun do what it does provided much much better groups.
|
|