FA 83 - Something Old, Something New...

[lockhart]

They are beautiful revolvers, but way over my pay grade! When I start shooting in the
high 30's, score wise, in IHMSA silhouette, I could probably use one, but I'm 77 now, and
don't see that happening!  In fact, I just looked a couple of hours ago, on Freedom's web-site,
and they are in the high 2000 dollar bracket!  Yeah, WAY over my pay grade!  This was the main
reason Elgin Gates wouldn't allow them in IHMSA competition in the mid 80's!  Now, if you look
at the silhouette match results in the IHMSA news, most of the revolver winners are shooting
Freedom Arms revolvers!  That might account for the lack of entries in that sport, now!  When I
started back in 1981, and it required that kind of revolver to be competitive, I would never have
started shooting silhouette!  Elgin Gates wanted PEOPLE shooting silhouette with guns the AVERAGE
man could afford, NOT 2700 dollar revolvers!

[jeffer]

Well done! I have those grips on the 4 in with round butt and they look and feel awesome!

[Encore64]

I won't ever weigh in on anybody's finances or comfort level on buying guns. But, age doesn't matter. None of us knows our expiration date (unless a judge tells us), so enjoy every day...

[lockhart]

Oh, I still shoot IHMSA silhouette, just have to use a Ruger Super Blackhawk for my
revolver class! I have seen a LOT of silhouette ranges fall by the way-side in my
42 years of competition, and I'm proud to say I've shot at quite a few matches with
our own David Bradshaw! He was quite a force in silhouette back in those days!

[Encore64]

It's fairly well known that FA Revolvers are chambered tight.

I wanted to compare just how tight compared to others.

Chambers on the FA83 454 Casull Pin Gauged a very snug .479". Ditto on my Semi-Custom Reeder. The Reeder gun actually was a little tighter, but under .001" difference.

My Ruger SBH and SRH were both a snug .481". So, .002" doesn't seem bad for a mass produced gun.

My FA97 45 Colt also measured .481". I'd read FA 45 Colts weren't chambered as tight as their 454 Casulls.

I'm not sure any of this information is useful. But, it's definitely interesting...

[harold89]

Beautiful gun, love the tan grips. I picked up the extra Colt cylinder, really wish I would have added the 45 ACP.

[Encore64]

Thanks for that...

I seriously considered a 45 Colt Cylinder. But, figured it'd end up in a box and never used.

This gun will likely wear the 45 ACP/Auto Rim Cylinder 99% of the time.

But, in reality, the 45 Colt is the most universally useful of the bunch.

I quickly learned that multiple front sights would be required. Fermin will get me fixed up shortly.

[Encore64]

This one went on the back burner while I waited on a taller front sight from Fermin.

The reduced loads increase barrel dwell time and allow the muzzle to rise more before the bullet exits the barrel.

Short version on the sight is its perfect. Thanks Fermin!!!

So, I gathered up some components to load and shoot today.

Typical of me, I started with Unique Powder. Bullets were 255 grn Gardners Coated SWCs.

11.0 grn produced 1085 fps, 12.0 grn produced 1165 fps.

Neither of these are maximum, but both produced extremely small groups. I decided to just stop there since the 12.0 grn Load will do all I ever need.

Just waiting on the machinist to get the ACP Cylinder cut for Auto Rim to work up loads for it...

[pleadthe2nd]

Looking forward to your load development in the acp cylinder, I'm sure it will come back from the machinist perfect

[Encore64]

Thanks Trent...there's no downside to this alteration.

The cylinder remains able to fire 45 ACP, +P and Super just as before the recesses are cut.

The advantages are the ability to shoot 45 Auto Rim and 45 Cowboy Special as long as the later is not roll crimped.

This kind of versatility is hard to get away from...