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Post by kings6 on Apr 19, 2012 11:51:38 GMT -5
I am with Lee on this one. When I ordered my first FA I went with a 83 Premiere in 41 Mag with a 5 1/2" barrel.
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Post by AxeHandle on Apr 19, 2012 12:02:09 GMT -5
Comes back to you and your needs/wants. Did I tell that I do have a 41 Mag FA 97? Little 4.25 inch barrel FA. If I was buying it new it would be round butted like my 4 inch 500WE. Then the 4 inch round butted 500WE would be hard to leave at home if I thought something might want to bite me up close. Let's not interpret this as me being a short barreled FA man either. I do have 22, 32, 357, and 44 FAs in silhouette configuration. Even with the long and short of it all, I'll stick to my original recommendation of a 6 inch 454..
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Post by spillway on Apr 19, 2012 12:14:25 GMT -5
What is your favorite cartridge in the guns you have now? As in which one do you find yourself enjoying shooting the most. Do you reload? What do you see being its primary function? How much do you think you will pack it for prolonged periods afield? Read John Taffin's article on the FA 97 in 44 special he has had a lot of real world experience with a lot of single actions in every cartridge. Your on the right track by coming to the decision that you have. Now take your time to select the right ONE for you.
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Post by bigbores on Apr 19, 2012 13:17:18 GMT -5
6" 475L with octagon barrel, If I could only have one or was ordering my first.
My 4.75" 500WE/50AE would be a close second.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2012 15:56:20 GMT -5
My only Freedom Arms is a 454 7 1/2" barrel. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.
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Post by Thunderjet on Apr 19, 2012 16:18:32 GMT -5
6" 475L with octagon barrel, If I could only have one or was ordering my first. After owning a FA in 454 with the 7.5 inch barrel I have to agree with you. Ordered the 475 L with octagon 6 inch barrel awhile back and waiting for it to come in (soon I hope)!
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Post by hammerdown77 on Apr 19, 2012 16:40:47 GMT -5
5.5" or 6" model 83 in 454 Casull (first choice) or 44 magnum (second choice). Actually, second choice would be the 454 with an extra cylinder in 45 Colt :-)
If you wanted something lighter and more packable, a model 97, same length barrel, in 44 Special or 45 Colt.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Apr 19, 2012 18:10:55 GMT -5
They're all good. One really does need to know why you want one, and what you intend to do with it, in order to do a good job of answering your question. In any event, the Premier Grade is worth the extra cost, if only to be able to CAREFULLY buff out any scratches or dings that occur over time. Without question, the .454 is and has always been the most popular, but that doesn't make it the right first choice for everyone. So ... what do you think you'll do with it?
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Post by 2 Dogs on Apr 19, 2012 18:31:39 GMT -5
A 32 with 3 cylinders would be a dandy in a 97!!
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,567
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Post by Fowler on Apr 19, 2012 19:22:55 GMT -5
A 32 with 3 cylinders would be a dandy in a 97!! What would you know about that? I only have the one and I love the gun, I have designs on a 97 one of these days but I have a project or two to take care of first... .475 Linebaugh with a extra .480 Ruger cylinder (the .480 sees 95% of the work load), 4 3/4" octagon barrel, factory action job, custom front sight. I have over 5000 rounds through the gun and it is still bank vault tight...
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Aggie01
.375 Atomic
max
Posts: 1,774
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Post by Aggie01 on Apr 19, 2012 19:23:51 GMT -5
I have only owned one an 83 in 454/45 colt. Born with 10" barrel, had it changed to a 7.5" and the hammer lowered by Harton.
If I was going to have my pick of another, it would have to be a model 97. The choice between a 41 mag, 44 SPL, or 45 Colt would have me near to sweating blood. I'd likely settle on the 44 spl, since the shorter case makes the bullet selection (case ejection) a little easier in the 97. And it would have fixed sights, with an aftermarket drift adjustable front in blue steel.
For me, the FA is the epitome of grace & beauty in a production handgun. Form meets function. If I want bigger, I will go to the Custom Ruger. (And I have voted this way with my checkbook)
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RABULL
.30 Stingray
Posts: 124
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Post by RABULL on Apr 19, 2012 19:25:34 GMT -5
I ordered my first Freedom Arms Revolver at the 2012 Shot Show and I am waiting for it to show up at my local Gun Shop. I ordered a Model 83 Premier Grade with a 6" barrel in .454 Casull with an extra .45 ACP Cylinder for it. I did order the action job and a couple other nice options. I am hoping it will show up soon.
If I was going to order a second one (hopefully next year) it will probably be the Freedom Arms Model 97 Premier Grade with 5 1/2" barrel in .327 Federal Magnum with an extra Cylinder in .32/20 and maybe even a Third Cylinder in the .32 H & R Magnum caliber. I think maybe that is what 2 Dogs was talking about above?
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Post by magman on Apr 19, 2012 20:09:05 GMT -5
I had to choose only 1 FA it would be my Model 83 in 44Mag.
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Cucuy
.30 Stingray
Herpetologist/Bowenian Idler and Piddler
Posts: 316
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Post by Cucuy on Apr 19, 2012 20:33:34 GMT -5
A .44 spl model 97. Mine's a 5.5 incher, but I should've gone with the 7.5.
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Post by kings6 on Apr 19, 2012 23:59:04 GMT -5
Like I mentioned in the 32 thread, I snagged a dual cylinder 32 mag/327 model 97 with 5 1/2" barrel last year and I can't wait for it to come home. I had FA flute the 32 cylinder and Bowen is BP chamfering it along with doing his gripframe reduction and conversion to a two piece style along with a few other refinements. By going to the 2 piece configuration it gets to wear 1 piece ivories as soon as Hamilton gets his part wrapped up and sends it to Persinger. It ought to be a hoot to shot and carry. I think it will become my packing gun when I am ariding in the hills rather than one of the 41's.
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