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Post by jfs on Jun 18, 2020 15:21:02 GMT -5
My Freedom 10" 475 is no slouch in the accuracy department either.... Just before a Florida water buff hunt I checked my scope at 100 shooting Buffalo Bore 420gr LBT-LFN ammo with a listed MV of 1350fps (probably a bit more with the 10" barrel) and made this three shot group. PS- I have 425 on the target but the true weight was 420 grains.. That`s a pretty heavy cast lead bullet... I also wrote WFNGC that I mistakenly wrote instead of LFN... I guess it was the excitment of hunting "dangerous" game...
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Post by CraigC on Jun 18, 2020 16:50:06 GMT -5
The original OP asked which was most accurate. Thru all these posts, everyone agrees both are accurate, great guns. If there's an advantage one way or another, it would probably go to Freedom Arms but I really don't think it would be enough to matter. Which is why I think it boils down to the nuances between them, rather than any significant difference in accuracy potential.
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 18, 2020 16:58:33 GMT -5
The original OP asked which was most accurate. Thru all these posts, everyone agrees both are accurate, great guns. If there's an advantage one way or another, it would probably go to Freedom Arms but I really don't think it would be enough to matter. Which is why I think it boils down to the nuances between them, rather than any significant difference in accuracy potential. Which one "fits" the shooter matters. Different grip shapes, sizes, angles, etc matters more than many realize. I own more FAs than BFRs, but love them all.
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Post by remingtonman on Jun 24, 2020 6:49:51 GMT -5
The original OP asked which was most accurate. Thru all these posts, everyone agrees both are accurate, great guns. If there's an advantage one way or another, it would probably go to Freedom Arms but I really don't think it would be enough to matter. Which is why I think it boils down to the nuances between them, rather than any significant difference in accuracy potential. Very nice group. What powder& primer where you using over the 420gr hardcast bullet?
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Post by elgriego on Jun 25, 2020 0:04:11 GMT -5
I would bet if you tested 10 FAs and 10 BFRs in a ransom rest the differences between both models would not be enough to worry about. The shooters ability would be a more important factor. AMEN TO THIS! THE MOST ACCURATE SINGLE ACTION I HAVE EVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH IS THE FA 83 .41 MAGNUM. MINE IS CAPABLE (I USED TO BE) OF GROUPS WELL UNDER ONE-INCH AT 100 YARDS.[/quote] Just about every 41 mag that I've owned has been very accurate. My 83 in 41 mag is lights out but my 454 83 is my most accurate. I've had a few Ruger Blackhawks in 41 mag and they've all been exceptional. I wish all blackhawks shot as well as the 41 blackhawks
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Post by elgriego on Jun 25, 2020 0:21:44 GMT -5
BFR's are excellent guns and a great value. If you're wanting to get into a heavy duty sixgun on a budget, they're tough to beat. For a stretch frame, they beat the hell out of an X-frame. That said, there are things I don't like about the BFR and they are insurmountable. I don't like the design of the ejector housing. It's round and looks like an afterthought. A minor gripe but I think most of us are all about details. I don't care for the blocky shape of the frame or triggerguard. The FA and Ruger are much more refined in that regard. I also don't care for the screwed-on front sight. My biggest gripe and the one hardest to do anything about is the grip frame. What they call a "Bisley", ain't. When I heard they were going to do a Bisley I got excited. Then I saw it. It's a modified Super Blackhawk profile. I get along fine with the SBH if it has thicker and rounded custom grips and is no more potent than the .44Mag or .45Colt. No issues shooting mine with the Buffalo Bore 340gr load. However, it's not as comfortable as the Bisley (my #1) or the FA (my #2) for that matter and is more likely to roll in my hand during recoil. I will go on record right now by saying that if MRI introduces a BFR with the Ruger Bisley grip frame and in carbon steel, I'll be first in line. I could live with or fix the other complaints if that happened. They cost three times as much new but used FA's can be had for only slightly more than a new BFR. That's where I shop. It took me a long time to come around to FA's but when I did, I explicitly looked for used Field Grades. I ended up with a dual cylinder .45Colt/.454 for $1500 and had Rob Rowen fit it with bighorn sheep grips. They still cost a good bit more but between the two, I'll take the FA every time. Exactly right. If you're patient and vigilant, you can score a deal on a used freedom arms. I've bought several over the years at great prices. I've scored a few NIB 83 premier grades over the years for under $1600 including one this week.
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Post by whitworth on Jun 25, 2020 6:56:45 GMT -5
Or you can get a new BFR for less that will be no less accurate for sure. :-)
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Post by oddshooter on Jun 25, 2020 10:43:10 GMT -5
Elgriego
Welcome to the forum. You sound like you're an experienced bloodhound on the FA trail hunt.
Prescut
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Post by sixshot on Jun 25, 2020 10:48:03 GMT -5
Both guns shoot fantastic & are very well built, they usually shoot better than most of us can shoot them. For almost everyone of us it comes down to accuracy & handling. So really the accuracy is a wash with perhaps a slight edge to the FA. For me at least the handling is very similar until it comes to appearance & for some reason that BFR grip doesn't appeal to me, can't explain it more than it's kind of a banana shape that I can't get used to. When I first started shooting the BFR 44 magnum it wouldn't group because the ivory micarta grips were very slick, after getting some deer skin gloves the gun shot terrific. So, no fault of the gun, shooter error. When it comes to looks I like a Ruger plow handle as well as any gun out there but when the recoil goes up I'll take a bisley style Ruger every time over the plow handle, so I guess you have to pick your poison. One thing's for sure, if you're armed with a good FA, BFR or a well tuned Ruger & any game animal is within 50-60 yds & you miss, DON'T blame the gun!! You flinched!
Dick
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Post by bula on Jun 25, 2020 11:25:55 GMT -5
I've yet to own or even shoot either of the fine guns mentioned. I am pretty sure though, that the one you are holding will be more accurate than the one I'm holding.
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Big Bore
.327 Meteor
Posts: 521
Member is Online
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Post by Big Bore on Jun 25, 2020 12:01:59 GMT -5
I currently own an FA83 in .454 and previously owned a BFR in .460. My experience hands down, goes to the FA. I spent a plethora of coin trying to work up a load in the BFR and never got the accuracy I could be pleased with. The FA...literally doesn't matter what I feed it. Everything shoots lights out, out of it.
And while yes, the BFR new vs. the FA new is more than half the cost less, there are good reasons for the up-charge. That being said, my FA was $1050 used, $1100 after shipping. Hard to beat that deal, especially considering it's in excellent condition. The deals are out there, if you're willing to put in the keyboard time.
The biggest advantage I see in the FA accuracy is their standard 'line-bore' technique. I researched this immensely and am sold on it. To get that level of detail in a BFR, you have to go through their customer shop, which adds cost.
My biggest beef with the BFR however, is their two standardized cylinder lengths. Long or short...doesn't matter what caliber you want, it falls into one of these two. I also think this has a lot to do with the lack of accuracy I was getting out of my BFR .460. That cylinder was based off the 45-70, which is considerably longer than the .460. That amount of jump from brass to forcing cone most definitely affects accuracy. This is no different than why everyone says you'll never get optimum accuracy shooting .454 out of a .460, etc. I really wish I understood the science behind this, but alas I'm not that smart. My best guess is that the longer-than-needed cylinder affects powder burn rates, which in turn produces inconsistent fps. Regardless of not understanding, I've definitely experienced it.
And I'm not here to argue - just sharing my experience. I know many are more than pleased with the accuracy out of their BFRs. Could be I just got a lemon (BFR), could be I'm just not a great shot and need all the help I can get.
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Post by whitworth on Jun 25, 2020 17:39:50 GMT -5
Should they make more frame sizes? As I can recall, they are the only revolver manufacturer that offers two frame sizes (I haven’t forgotten Ruger’s smaller offering, as it is limited). The .460 lands in between zone. The Ruger Maximum length frame was needed to encompass the 1.6-inch Maximum, whereas the .460 with its 1.8-inch case doesn’t fit...I don’t expect any manufacturer who wants to make any money to make a unique revolver just because of the odd case length. That said, my .500 S&W BFR is a tack-driver and it has even farther to jump than my .460.
Randy, both mine and tradmark’s experiences with the BFR don’t match yours. You might have simply gotten a lemon. Also, some guns are simply finicky whereas others aren’t and will digest everything happily.
Lee isn’t sold on line-boring (hope he weighs in here) and uses a technique similar to Magnum Research when making a cylinder.
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Post by ermont0825 on Jun 25, 2020 19:29:57 GMT -5
Either one will shoot better than you can. Just depends which you like better. Ford or Chevy.
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Post by bradshaw on Jun 25, 2020 21:13:28 GMT -5
Revolver accuracy is an orchestra of its dimensions. Some details of revolver fit-up matter more than others. Cylinder length hasn't demonstrated to my satisfaction a direct correlation to accuracy.
Nor is line boring a cylinder blank the only way to achieve dead nuts CHAMBER-to-BORE ALIGNMENT. If it was, Smith & Wesson wouldn’t have achieved near-zero runout of many thousands of swing-out cylinder revolvers, nor Dan Wesson Arms----of which prime examples rival the very best single actions.
To decide on whether to buy a Freedom Arms or a Magnum Research BFR, at the very least I’d want to handle both. David Bradshaw
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Post by samb1611 on Aug 18, 2020 20:23:11 GMT -5
Just an update on this discussion. Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on a new FA m-83 premier in 454 casull with an additional cylinder in 45LC, black micarta grips and trigger job. I should receive it in a couple of days. THANKS to all for your advice.
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