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Post by kevshell on Nov 19, 2022 10:59:30 GMT -5
I have a few 97's and oddly (given that they are so consistent) they all don't feel/handle the same. I should measure them sometime. My favorite is my square butt 327 and the round butt 44 special. The round butt it like shaking your best friends hand. There's no thinking, repositioning, etc. It's just there. I really like it but doubt I'd want it on every 97 I own. I run Skeeter loads in it and I've never rapped a knuckle. It may be worth getting your hands on one.
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Post by Encore64 on Nov 19, 2022 13:22:28 GMT -5
I have a few 97's and oddly (given that they are so consistent) they all don't feel/handle the same. I should measure them sometime. My favorite is my square butt 327 and the round butt 44 special. The round butt it like shaking your best friends hand. There's no thinking, repositioning, etc. It's just there. I really like it but doubt I'd want it on every 97 I own. I run Skeeter loads in it and I've never rapped a knuckle. It may be worth getting your hands on one. I agree with this 100%. The square butt is best (for me) for precision work. The round butt is very user friendly and gets on target fast. Bob Baker told me they recommend it only on barrels under 6". Possibly shorter with smaller calibers due to the extra barrel weight. I find it ideal on my 5.5" 45 Convertible. The 45 Barrel is the lightest caliber available on the FA97...
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Post by kevshell on Nov 19, 2022 15:42:48 GMT -5
I have a few 97's and oddly (given that they are so consistent) they all don't feel/handle the same. I should measure them sometime. My favorite is my square butt 327 and the round butt 44 special. The round butt it like shaking your best friends hand. There's no thinking, repositioning, etc. It's just there. I really like it but doubt I'd want it on every 97 I own. I run Skeeter loads in it and I've never rapped a knuckle. It may be worth getting your hands on one. I agree with this 100%. The square butt is best (for me) for precision work. The round butt is very user friendly and gets on target fast. Bob Baker told me they recommend it only on barrels under 6". Possibly shorter with smaller calibers due to the extra barrel weight. I find it ideal on my 5.5" 45 Convertible. The 45 Barrel is the lightest caliber available on the FA97... These are the best pictures however if you look at the revolvers you can see the difference in the grip frame. The area behind the trigger guard is somewhat thin while the bottom of the grip frame is belled to an extent. The round butt positions your hand differently. And to Huey's point, there's a significant difference in weight between the .22 and .45 (the square butt revolvers). The difference is clearly visible in the amount of metal present on the .22 or not present on the .45. The .22 is definitely heavy for what it is. The .45 feels like a toy at times. The .44 Special just feels right in every way.
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Post by rjm52 on Nov 19, 2022 16:36:24 GMT -5
...guess I am the opposite...best fitting SAs for me are the 97 and 83....next down the line would be the Super Blackhawk and XR3-RED. The XR3 and Colt SAA are down aways... I shoot the Ruger Bisley accurately but it transmits too much recoil directly to my wrist and elbow. Gary Reeders Gunfighter Bisley doesn't for some reason.
I have large hand but it is not "big" as in I have long fingers but they are not real big around. My knuckles just clear the back of the triggerguard on most SAs so they don't take a beating...
As to grip, have found that a consistent 90%+- gives me the best groups because I can gauge the 90%+- shot to shot...as in consistency. If I try any kind of a relaxed grip it isn't consistent shot to shot and results in vertical stringing... Probably comes from the decades of fast DA shooting with magnum calibers... So I just keep everything the same from semis to DAs to SAs...same hand/finger position and grip pressure...
Hope it works out for you...97s are great guns..
Bob
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Post by Encore64 on Nov 19, 2022 18:40:35 GMT -5
I have Four FA97s with 5.5" Barrels. Just weighed them on my postage scale. Not as much difference as you'd think.
45 Colt Round Butt Winewood 36.3 oz.
45 Colt Square Butt Black Micarta 37.2 oz.
44 Special Square Butt Black Micarta 38.0 oz.
41 Magnum Square Butt Emerald Laminate 38.3 oz.
For Reference, Ruger lists the Stainless S6 5.5" at 39 oz...
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Post by kevshell on Nov 19, 2022 21:36:07 GMT -5
I don't have a scale for it but they list the 97 .22 with a 5.5" barrel at 44 ounces.
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Post by mike454 on Nov 20, 2022 1:01:50 GMT -5
Here's another Bowen chop job, this one with Fishpaw ivory. Definitely changes the feel to more like a Colt SAA. Only problem is I'm not sure if anyones doing the work anymore. When Bowen was doing it, it was awfully expensive.
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