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Post by drycreek on Aug 19, 2021 16:04:57 GMT -5
Today I picked up a slightly used FA model 83 in .44 mag. It’s actually the first time I’ve ever seen or held one. I can’t say whether they are worth the price new, but this one was considerably less than a new one. Absolutely nothing came with it (what’s wrong with people who don’t keep the box and papers ?) so I called FA and ordered a couple firing pins and a spanner wrench. I asked the guy if he ever dry fired it and he said “a little”. Since I don’t know when or if it will break I want to be ready. The nice lady I talked to is going to put an owner’s manual in also. You guys that own and use these revolvers have anything to say that I might need to know ? Any insight welcome. Thanks !
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Post by jeffer on Aug 19, 2021 17:17:08 GMT -5
Yep! Get used to hitting what your aiming at!
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Post by x101airborne on Aug 19, 2021 17:32:51 GMT -5
Dont be miffed by it only being a 5 shot carried with 4 rounds. That is 4 dead (whatever)s. Load development kinda sucks; everything works. Do be ready to get to EXACT cast bullet sizes and jacketed bullets that stand up to a lot of velocity.
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Post by rjm52 on Aug 20, 2021 9:05:14 GMT -5
That's great...what length barrel...
I have two 83s in .41 Magnum..a 4.75" and a 6"...just great shooters.
Have owned 12 FAs, all but two were used...only one came without the original box. Most shooters who cam afford the gun don't throw out the box..
You will enjoy it...and will probably lead to another...
Bob
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Post by x101airborne on Aug 20, 2021 15:22:28 GMT -5
That's great...what length barrel... I have two 83s in .41 Magnum..a 4.75" and a 6"...just great shooters. Have owned 12 FAs, all but two were used...only one came without the original box. Most shooters who cam afford the gun don't throw out the box.. You will enjoy it...and will probably lead to another... Bob Although mine is in 454 Casull, I would DIG on a 41 magnum or a 44 Magnum!
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Post by drycreek on Aug 20, 2021 18:42:49 GMT -5
That's great...what length barrel... I have two 83s in .41 Magnum..a 4.75" and a 6"...just great shooters. Have owned 12 FAs, all but two were used...only one came without the original box. Most shooters who cam afford the gun don't throw out the box.. You will enjoy it...and will probably lead to another... Bob It’s a six inch and fits my Diamond D Outdoors chest holster almost as well as my Ruger Blackhawk .41 mag. I’m going to shoot it a little tomorrow morning……I hope.
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Post by drycreek on Aug 23, 2021 12:20:37 GMT -5
I shot my new to me Model 83 this morning. I can’t say I was impressed with the trigger. A gun that costs that much should come from the factory with an excellent trigger pull IMO. This one definitely does not have anything close to a good trigger. But, I had heard before that they were not that good, so I was somewhat prepared for it. I know where I can get that fixed !
I was impressed with the accuracy though, at about 30 yards five shots in a 3”/4” group shooting some gun show reloads braced on a pair of shooting sticks. I’m sure with a good trigger that group would have been half that size with a rest. I’m impressed with the rest of the revolver though, the tolerances, the fit and finish are great. While I wouldn’t give what a new one costs, I think I got my money’s worth on this one, even having to do a trigger job.
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Post by crazyhorse on Aug 23, 2021 22:10:15 GMT -5
Life is too short not to have a Freedom Arms.
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Post by gunsbam45 on Aug 24, 2021 21:04:59 GMT -5
I shot my new to me Model 83 this morning. I can’t say I was impressed with the trigger. A gun that costs that much should come from the factory with an excellent trigger pull IMO. This one definitely does not have anything close to a good trigger. But, I had heard before that they were not that good, so I was somewhat prepared for it. I know where I can get that fixed ! I was impressed with the accuracy though, at about 30 yards five shots in a 3”/4” group shooting some gun show reloads braced on a pair of shooting sticks. I’m sure with a good trigger that group would have been half that size with a rest. I’m impressed with the rest of the revolver though, the tolerances, the fit and finish are great. While I wouldn’t give what a new one costs, I think I got my money’s worth on this one, even having to do a trigger job. drycreek, Send it back to FA for their 3# honed action. There is no better single action revolver trigger than that. They are not good without it. I've owned piles of the best custom revolvers to mediocre, and my model 83s with the 3# honed action job are by far superior to all I've owned hands down the best period. David Bradshaw or one of the older guys with more knowledge and experience than I might know of something else on that level, but if it's out there I've never seen it.
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Post by drycreek on Aug 24, 2021 21:13:36 GMT -5
I shot my new to me Model 83 this morning. I can’t say I was impressed with the trigger. A gun that costs that much should come from the factory with an excellent trigger pull IMO. This one definitely does not have anything close to a good trigger. But, I had heard before that they were not that good, so I was somewhat prepared for it. I know where I can get that fixed ! I was impressed with the accuracy though, at about 30 yards five shots in a 3”/4” group shooting some gun show reloads braced on a pair of shooting sticks. I’m sure with a good trigger that group would have been half that size with a rest. I’m impressed with the rest of the revolver though, the tolerances, the fit and finish are great. While I wouldn’t give what a new one costs, I think I got my money’s worth on this one, even having to do a trigger job. drycreek, Send it back to FA for their 3# honed action. There is no better single action revolver trigger than that. They are not good without it. I've owned piles of the best custom revolvers to mediocre, and my model 83s with the 3# honed action job are by far superior to all I've owned hands down the best period. David Bradshaw or one of the older guys with more knowledge and experience than I might know of something else on that level, but if it's out there I've never seen it. I emailed them today and asked a couple questions which were answered fairly quickly. The .44 will be on the way to Freedom, WY in a day or so because I can’t live with that trigger. Alan Harton has done action jobs on most all my Rugers so I’m spoiled to good triggers. :-) I still think it’s a shame that a revolver that nice (and expensive) has that poor a trigger.
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Post by bradshaw on Aug 24, 2021 21:16:30 GMT -5
Send it back to FA for their 3# honed action. There is no better single action revolver trigger than that. They are not good without it. I've owned piles of the best custom revolvers to mediocre, and my model 83s with the 3# honed action job are by far superior to all I've owned hands down the best period. ----drycreek
*****
I am forced to confess the Ruger New Model hammer & trigger hold a clean break longer than any other single action I’ve shot. I’ve put a few rounds downrange under the Freedom Arms Model 83. I’ve done trigger jobs on Ruger 416 stainless and Freedom Arms 17-4 ph stainless. I surmise heat treatment is superb on each. Further, in my experience, a fine break on Ruger’s variant of chrome-moly 4140 holds keen break somewhat longer than 416 stainless.
And, without howling at the moon, I agree with our forum members who think a beautifully made revolver should arrive with a beautiful trigger.
As for "honing the action,” every Model 83 I’ve shot shows perfect alignment of lockwork to frame, with an absence of tool marks. I am for doing nothing where nothing is needed. LETOFF----the quality of engagement of the TRIGGER SEAR against the HAMMER DOG, that’s where it’s at. David Bradshaw
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Post by gunsbam45 on Aug 24, 2021 22:59:24 GMT -5
As for "honing the action,” every Model 83 I’ve shot shows perfect alignment of clockwork to frame, with an absence of tool marks. I am for doing nothing where nothing is needed. LETOFF----the quality of engagement of the TRIGGER SEAR against the HAMMER DOG, that’s where it’s at. David Bradshaw
David, when I say get their 3# honed action, I'm simply referring to what FA calls it. It's their best trigger/action work and 3# is the minimum setting. It's about a $100 option that's worth it's weight in gold. I've never had that good of a trigger on any custom Ruger revolver single or double action from any maker.
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diddle
.30 Stingray
Posts: 464
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Post by diddle on Aug 25, 2021 1:42:59 GMT -5
I’d rather take a couple of weeks and spend a couple hundred bucks fixing a FA trigger than I would taking a couple of years and a couple thousand dollars fixing a Ruger. I do think the factory trigger job should be the standard for FA and folks that need the heavy trigger should pay extra, tho.
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