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Post by paul105 on Mar 13, 2024 8:33:36 GMT -5
[/quote] That’s a beaut. What’s at the top of your avatar?[/quote] Freedom Arms M97 4 1/4" .45 Colt (the single gun I've shot the most - over 25,000 rnds) . . . Not a very good picture, but here they are together. . Paul
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Post by Encore64 on Mar 13, 2024 8:38:51 GMT -5
That’s a beaut. What’s at the top of your avatar?[/quote] Freedom Arms M97 4 1/4" .45 Colt (the single gun I've shot the most - over 25,000 rnds) . . Paul[/quote] Also, my favorite revolver....PERIOD. In recent years, I bought a second one that included a 45 ACP Cylinder. My intent was to sell my original purchase gun. But, I couldn't do it.
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Post by rjm52 on Mar 13, 2024 9:44:30 GMT -5
Think I've had just about every caliber FA offers except a .44 Special 97 or .44 Magnum 83... Have shot a friends .44 Special however... To me there is a big difference between a 4.75" and 6" barrel in terms of balance and to me it is balance what gets you on target quicker... Have .41 Magnums in both 83 and 97...in 4.75", 6", 4.25" and 5.5"...each one is different... Also had a 6" .475 that was only run at 1100 fps more like a .480...a mild .480 at that...and finally a 4.75" round butt 83/.500 WE/.500 JRH...probably your dream gun... The .500 WE brass is run with 385-400 grain bullets from a MP mold at 950+- fps. The .500 JRH the same bullet at 1050+-...that's about all I care to tolerate in a big kicker... These are the four .41s....each has it own balance... www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/14543804/freedom-arms-41-magnumsKnowing what you are looking for the gun to do, would go for a 4.75" 83 round butt in .454 shooting a 300 grain at 1100 or a .475 running a 400 at no more than a 1000... Followup shots are important..wrist busters that miss are not helpful... I'm also of the DA for bear defense...a .41 4" S&W or Redhawk running a 210-250 at 1100 fps would be at the top of my heap...controlled hits, not uncontrolled misses win fights... Bob
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Post by wyomingnimrod on Mar 13, 2024 10:55:05 GMT -5
Paul, those 97’s in .45 Colt have a Goldilocks feel, imho. And the 4.25” version looks especially perfect. Couple questions: with 25,000 rounds (that is dang impressive) is it still the original barrel? And also do you use the express rear or square notch? Cheers
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Post by wyomingnimrod on Mar 13, 2024 10:59:00 GMT -5
Bob, that is quite a line up you have, wow. Sir, you mentioned that the balance is different of course with different barrel lengths; what is your take on the balance of the 4.75”?
Also, what is your take on the round butt? I can see you like them at times, what are the benefits?
Thank you.
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Post by paul105 on Mar 13, 2024 11:49:27 GMT -5
Paul, those 97’s in .45 Colt have a Goldilocks feel, imho. And the 4.25” version looks especially perfect. Couple questions: with 25,000 rounds (that is dang impressive) is it still the original barrel? And also do you use the express rear or square notch? Cheers Yes, it's the original barrel. Square notch. I've used a v notch but it's on a S&W 329. Also have a 3 1/2" round butt m97 .45 colt (it currently sports the 45 acp cyl that came with the 4 1/4" when I bought it second hand). . . . I'm sort of ambivalent about the round butt on the short gun. Have shot 320gr at 1,150 fps and at the time didn't notice much diff between the RB and the standard grip frame (4 1/4" gun) with the same load. The short gun with 45 acps is much more pleasant to shoot. FWIW, Paul
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Post by wyomingnimrod on Mar 13, 2024 12:08:21 GMT -5
Good looking gun and great picture, Paul. Thanks for sharing
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Post by potatojudge on Mar 13, 2024 13:20:55 GMT -5
To me it seems the round butt doesn’t change how they shoot, just how comfortable they are to carry. I like the round butt on my FA97s.
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callshot
.327 Meteor
Living another day in the worlds largest playground
Posts: 780
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Post by callshot on Mar 13, 2024 13:53:46 GMT -5
I say buy whatever you want and shoot it every chance you get. I have two FA’s now. Most likely won’t get any more. I have a 83 in 41 Mag. I like the longer sight picture but didn’t get the 10 inch barrel. Just the middle length one. If it won’t handle anything in North America, then I don’t want to shoot it anyway. My other FA is the belt buckle 22. It is a novelty and hard to get a good handle on while shooting. It was gifted to me by my brother. I’m not certain that I could tell the difference in a different barrel length big bore handgun now anyway. Good luck with your decision.
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Post by jeffer on Mar 14, 2024 0:01:17 GMT -5
I did the same thing you were contemplating. Started off with the freedom arms. 454 casull 7 and 1/2-in barrel then had to have the same gun in a 4 and 1/4-in barrel with round butt and love them both. Had to add another freedom arms, 475 linebaugh in four and a quarter in round butt. Love it. Had to scratch the 500 itch and went with the 5 and 1/2-in barreled bfr and 500 jrh. Pretty fond of that one too. Funny how they all feel different and shoot different.
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Post by callmaker on Mar 14, 2024 3:38:35 GMT -5
I’d say go .475 with the shorter barrel. I agree with a few of the others that bullets do their work with weight/mass, diameter, and velocity. The increase in diameter and grains makes sense to me with the shorter barrel.
And you might want to go ahead and get that 97 in 44 Special. I put it off for a long time because I “just wasn’t there” on wanting a 44 Spc. It’s one of my favorites now.
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Post by rjm52 on Mar 14, 2024 7:06:20 GMT -5
On the 83, prefer the round butt and have even thought about having the 6" done but with the longer barrel the square feels fine...
The 97s...like the looks of the round butt on the short guns but square on the longer ones... A friend and I have identical 97s in .327 with the 4.25" barrels. Mine is a round butt his is a square. I've shot them side by side and didn't notice any real difference.
He also just sold a square butt 4.25" .44 Special. Shooting it against my .41, I would say the square butt had a slight advantage with recoil when using heavier loads. Have a 97 5.5" .41 and .357 as well as a 7.5" .224-.32 and would not change the to round butt...
If ordering a "heavy" carry gun today it would be an 83 in most any caliber with the round butt and 4.75" barrel...
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Post by wyomingnimrod on Mar 14, 2024 8:44:05 GMT -5
I greatly appreciate everyone’s responses and details regarding their preferences and experiences. And I really really appreciate that no one has ever said anything at all to the effect of “you don’t need another gun.” You guys are the best!
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Post by hunter01 on Mar 14, 2024 8:52:53 GMT -5
Id implore you to seriously consider the 97 in a 44spl. I dont care for the feel of a 97 myself but the 44spl with the keith load is a real sweetheart of performance vs recoil. I would not be afraid of man nor beast on this continent if i were so armed.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Mar 14, 2024 16:07:59 GMT -5
Brass for a lifetime could be 250-500. Bullets for a big bore would be 5000 for me. But I’d still pick up more and continue to look and buy any that good deals showed up.
Trapr
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