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Post by Encore64 on Jun 1, 2024 20:20:11 GMT -5
I bought my first from Wayne Baker in 2014. I'm quite proud to have one from him in my collection.
Since then, I've noticed that they are either loved or hated. But, there is no one in the middle. I'm in the first group and it gets my nod for the finest revolver available...period.
Anyone who has built customs on the Single Six (I have nine) quickly realizes real estate becomes valuable.
The largest successful calibers have been the 40 S&W and 10mm without getting into the transfer bar channel.
Freedom Arms solved this issue by building the transfer bar into the hammer. This allows the diminutive gun's loading gate window to be opened for much larger cartridges.
The grip profile is another source of contention. It most definitely takes some getting used to. But, even with my large hands and long (Cryptkeeper) fingers, it proved easy to master.
I did find that the overtravel screw was beneficial on the small guns.
Since my original purchase in 2014, I've added seven more. Likely I'll add more in the future.
Funny the FA97 44 Special is rarely mentioned and amongst the very best choices for an easy packing trail gun...
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Post by bigbrowndog on Jun 1, 2024 20:25:47 GMT -5
My 41,..4.2” is a favorite. A great field gun for most of my needs. The gun that convinced me of the usefulness of the 41mag.
Trapr
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Post by kevshell on Jun 1, 2024 21:01:07 GMT -5
I have 2 97's I've not got dialed in with yet. However my 4.5" 44 special which wears a round butt and octagon barrel, and the 6" 327 are absolute favorites.
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,210
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Post by aciera on Jun 1, 2024 21:05:04 GMT -5
I have 2 97's I've not got dialed in with yet. However my 4.5" 44 special which wears a round butt and octagon barrel, and the 6" 327 are absolute favorites. Never had one…..never held one.,,,, But you have me curious. Ive held a few customs in all stages of build. Shot a lot of them. We are gonna have a long range session…… |
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Post by kevshell on Jun 1, 2024 21:20:09 GMT -5
I have 2 97's I've not got dialed in with yet. However my 4.5" 44 special which wears a round butt and octagon barrel, and the 6" 327 are absolute favorites. Never had one…..never held one.,,,, But you have me curious. Ive held a few customs in all stages of build. Shot a lot of them. We are gonna have a long range session…… You will. Lots of toys for show and tell. |
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Post by bradshaw on Jun 1, 2024 21:21:15 GMT -5
”.... I've noticed that they are either loved or hated. But, there is no one in the middle.... Funny the FA97 44 Special is rarely mentioned and amongst the very best choices for an easy packing trail gun... ***** I neither love nor hate a Freedom Arms Model 97. “Hate” is not an emotion of mine. It takes energy to hate, and in its presence there is no beauty. The gun doesn’t suit my mitt. A different grip frame could change all that. The anvil-type transfer bar (may have originated with Sig Himmelmann) has more moving parts than Bill Ruger’s New Model passive safety system, and Rugers can be dry fired to death and still breathe fire & smoke. Ruger’s New Model patents were still in effect when the FA Model 83 reached production, replete with non-passive (manual) safety lockwork. M-83 lockwork is more complicated than New Model lockwork. As it is, I get along well with the M-83. Were I to use an M-97, the .357 Mag with its 1:14” twist sounds fine, especially with plenty .38 Special thrown in. With the “rarely mentioned” .44 Special, with a twist of 1:16 or 1:20”, should also be a hummer. David Bradshaw |
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Post by potatojudge on Jun 1, 2024 21:27:33 GMT -5
I have a couple of 5.5 inch 44s and a 4.25 inch 45, but a surprisingly nice configuration is a 10 inch 357.
You get top velocity between the barrel length and tight BC gap. You get a full 6 shots. The cylinder is plenty strong and does just fine with 180 grain loads. Recoil is entirely manageable.
Mine wears a 2x Leupold, balances great, and is as accurate as you'd expect.
I think the 357 is an overlooked chambering in the 97.
Edit: seems David and I were typing our thoughts on the 357 simultaneously
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,162
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Post by edk on Jun 1, 2024 21:34:33 GMT -5
The grip frame is just too small for me. I don’t hate the 97 but do love the 83.
Frankly the Ruger XR3 is too small for me as well. I prefer a SBH with some profiling and an extension.
I don’t hate size nine shoes either - just let someone else wear them and give me a pair of 12s. Now the Colt 1873 grip frame was designed 150 years ago for a human population smaller in stature than today. Unsurprising that a similarity sized grip frame (97?) would generate complaints today.
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Post by bigmuddy on Jun 1, 2024 21:36:50 GMT -5
Just have one, a 5 1/2” 44 Special. It was a gift from my wife for my 50th birthday. It did take some getting used to the grip but it sits naturally in my hand now. An amazingly accurate revolver it’s a “Special” gun from a “SPECIAL” lady.
Dan
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,210
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Post by aciera on Jun 1, 2024 22:16:44 GMT -5
Never had one…..never held one.,,,, But you have me curious. Ive held a few customs in all stages of build. Shot a lot of them. We are gonna have a long range session…… You will. Lots of toys for show and tell. Sure will We’ll do rifle/scope set up also |
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Post by ridgeline on Jun 1, 2024 23:03:07 GMT -5
I recently got my first two 97's, a 357 Magnum w/ separate 38 Special cylinder and a 44 Special, both 5.5" barrels. The 357/38sp is easily my favorite so far. It's as smooth as silk, and I shoot it very well. The 44 is much more stiff for some reason, both rotating the cylinder and working the hammer. Not sure if that's due to super tight tolerances on the one I got or something else. I thought some use would smooth it out a bit, but that hasn't happened, so I may be contacting FA to see what they say about it. They are both identical except for the chambering and grip color, and both have the action job, so it was odd that the actions feel so different. Other than that one issue, I'm very happy with them. As for the 97 grip, it works very well for my hands, which are a bit smaller than the average guy. These and my Single Sixes fit me very well, and both fit my hand better than my Blackhawk. So, I would give the 97 a solid thumbs up so far, but they're still pretty new to me.
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Post by jeffer on Jun 1, 2024 23:33:30 GMT -5
I truly miss mine. We simply did not get along as well as we should have. Irreconcilable differences I guess...
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Post by Big Bore on Jun 2, 2024 4:06:30 GMT -5
My 97 in 41 magnum is my favorite gun…period. For 95% of what I do, it’s more than enough gun. I’m having some work done to it at the moment by Alex Hamilton in San Antonio and as soon as it gets back, it’s going to Zane for a set of custom grips to match a Ralston knife I just acquired. When this all comes together, it will be tough for me to pull anything else out of my safe. I also have small hands for a dude, so the 97 fits me perfectly.
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Post by Encore64 on Jun 2, 2024 5:31:33 GMT -5
My favorite is the 45 Colt/45 ACP which has been altered to accept 45 Auto Rim. I've shot bullets ranging from 200-260 grain with amazing accuracy.
I found the 41 Magnum and 44 Special both needed the throats opened to suit my wants. Dave Clements opened them to .411" and .430". Now they shoot Cast and Coated Cast in spectacular fashion.
Interestingly enough, chambers and forcing cones were already cut perfectly for the properly sized Cast Bullets.
I'm lacking 97s in 357 Magnum and .224-32 FA. But, I do believe a 5 1/2" 357 Magnum wearing a 38 Special Cylinder and 38-44 Loads would be an excellent choice...
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sharps4590
.30 Stingray
I'm a Christian first, husband and father next then a patriotic, veteran, firearms aficionado.
Posts: 361
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Post by sharps4590 on Jun 2, 2024 7:10:15 GMT -5
I bought my one and only in 2001 when I was living in Wyoming and could see the roof of Freedom Arms from my front porch. It is a 5 1/2 in. in 45 Colt, S/N # 20. i remain convinced of the sign in front of their facility, "The World's Finest Revolver." I never had any difficulties with the grip.
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