Experience with 7.5 inch Barrel Single Actions

[gsokk]

Just when I thought I was settled in with my likes and dislikes, I held a Freedom Arms 97 in 357 magnum at the range this week. Guy said I can shoot it but both of us was ammo dry and heading home. 

Felt really nice, ok very nice in my hand and now I’m thinking about a 357 or 44 special in 7.5 inch barrel to shoot some steel at longer handgun ranges. Maybe someday try to take a deer with one. For the immediate future it would serve as range toy but I think it would be a very fun to shoot gun.

with two FA 83s in production and another nine FAs at my disposal would buying a longer barrel make my experience even more enjoyable? We all know the answer but I’ll throw out to the forum to hear your thoughts and experiences.

[Encore64]

I'm a huge FA97 Fan with 8 in the safe. I've always thought a 7.5" 41 Magnum or 44 Special (Scoped) would be an excellent hunting gun...

[bushog]

Not FAs but these OM Blackhawks built by David Clements are great shooters.

.41 Magnum and .44 Special:

[gnappi]

Another FA fan boy here :-) For most purposes, barrels of 7 1/2" may be more practical than shorter or longer.

[Jamey Worrell]

Huge fan of 7 1/2" barrel...got several Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks, Ubertis and a Redhawk in 7.5..they just balance right in my hands and the extra eye relief seems to aid accuracy for me.

[brant]

I really like the longer barrel. I once thought that the shorter barrels on a 44 special Blackhawk was all k would ever need. Then I gave my Uberti flattop target Proper attention. I now have a nice 7 1/2” colt barrel set aside to go on one of my Ruger flattop 44 spl.

[kevshell]

My first SA revolver was a Ruger Bisley 45. I loved it. Still do. Not as packable a length but still great.

[drycreek]

For hunting, the 7.5” fills the bill, but for carrying in a belt holster I like the 5.5” better. The 6.5” on a .41 should be a nice compromise but doesn’t quite work out that way for me. It’s too long for a nice belt gun and offers no advantage over a 7.5” that I can see. I think the only 4 5/8” I ever owned was the first one long ago, a .357 mag. I quickly fell out of love with it.

[bigbore5]

The 7.5" is a great length. I have several in it and prefer it on a hunting gun. Carrying is a different story, but you said a range shooter. I also really like the 9-11" guns if I am really after velocity.

[drycreek]

Feb 17, 2024 13:14:50 GMT -5 bushog said:

Not FAs but these OM Blackhawks built by David Clements are great shooters.

.41 Magnum and .44 Special:

Bushog, those are some fine looking specimens !

[bobwright]

I'm a mite courious why you'd consider an FA in .357 Magnum. I'm not fmailiar with the FA revolvers, but I'm of the opinion a New Model Blackhawk is ovebuilt for the .357 catridge. Its my opinion, opinion only, that the Colt New Frontier and mid-Frame Ruger are optimum frames for the .357 and .44 Special.

As for the 7 1/2" bbl. length, I'm fond of that length for hunting. I've walked many pastures hunting ground hog carrying a Super Blackhawk. And had great success with my .44s all with the 7 1/2" barrel.


And as long as the 7 1/2" barrel is the subjuct, I've long thought a flat top, Ruger of Colt, in .32-20 fitted with a 7 1/2" barrel would be a great, if not ideal, varmint revolver.


Bob Wright

[bigbore5]

Feb 17, 2024 22:42:38 GMT -5 bobwright said:

I'm a mite courious why you'd consider an FA in .357 Magnum. I'm not fmailiar with the FA revolvers, but I'm of the opinion a New Model Blackhawk is ovebuilt for the .357 catridge. Its my opinion, opinion only, that the Colt New Frontier and mid-Frame Ruger are optimum frames for the .357 and .44 Special.

As for the 7 1/2" bbl. length, I'm fond of that length for hunting. I've walked many pastures hunting ground hog carrying a Super Blackhawk. And had great success with my .44s all with the 7 1/2" barrel.


And as long as the 7 1/2" barrel is the subjuct, I've long thought a flat top, Ruger of Colt, in .32-20 fitted with a 7 1/2" barrel would be a great, if not ideal, varmint revolver.


Bob Wright

The FA97 is actually smaller than the Blackhawk. More Colt SAA sized, but much stronger. It's borderline with some max 357 loads and will not take some Blackhawk safe loads. It's best kept to modern load data. My 353 is a different story.

[gustaf]

For shooting I like the 7 1/2" barrel. I have two, an old model Super Blackhawk 1972 and a new model 1977. I think that the sight picture is much better than a shorter barrel. I also like the dragoon style grip frame of the Super.

[contender]

My El Dorado .45 Colt wears a 7-1/2" barrel. And several of my Ruger "Hunter" guns wear a 7-1/2" barrel. My FA in 454 has a 7-1/2" barrel. Good ones to me too! Now,, my Contenders wear 10" or 14" barrels. My .357 Maxi that I hunt with,, a 10" barrel. All good!!!!!!!!!

[gsokk]

Feb 17, 2024 22:42:38 GMT -5 bobwright said:

I'm a mite courious why you'd consider an FA in .357 Magnum. I'm not fmailiar with the FA revolvers, but I'm of the opinion a New Model Blackhawk is ovebuilt for the .357 catridge. Its my opinion, opinion only, that the Colt New Frontier and mid-Frame Ruger are optimum frames for the .357 and .44 Special.

As for the 7 1/2" bbl. length, I'm fond of that length for hunting. I've walked many pastures hunting ground hog carrying a Super Blackhawk. And had great success with my .44s all with the 7 1/2" barrel.


And as long as the 7 1/2" barrel is the subjuct, I've long thought a flat top, Ruger of Colt, in .32-20 fitted with a 7 1/2" barrel would be a great, if not ideal, varmint revolver.


Bob Wright

Hi Bob,

to answer your question about why 357 magnum? I’m not fully set up for reloading, still acquiring what’s needed so commercial available ammo is my source, I figure I have more options / versatility, 38s for practice, match ammo for targets and I was told hunting rounds in 357 for Pennsylvania White Tail Deer are readily available. The older, seen everything kind of guys a chat with swear by 357 in 180 grain hard cast, so I figure they cant be to far off, if at all.

I became a Freedom Arms customer, loyalist if you will, largely from reading this forum. The guns appeal to my eye, feel good in my hands, and shoot better than I can. I’m sure BFR and Ruger customers say the same thing but since my two boys started shooting they asked for their own Freedom Arms 97s, and I thought travel baseball made me broke (lol)