Freedom Arms Round or Standard grip?

[farm24]

This is my first post so I hope I am doing if correctly. I am getting a FA 97 in 45 colt and either 4.25" or 3.5" barrel. I have medium size hands and am trying to decide on which grips to get. I have shot the 83 in 454 but it had 7.5" plus scope and mag-na-port so an entirely different gun. All input is appreciated.

[Fowler]

For my 2 cents round butts are the cats meow on short barreled FA guns, 4 3/4” is as long as I personally would go with one. Longer barrels need the regular grip frame to sit in your hand right.

But I would certainly do a round butt on the gun you describe.

YMMV

[potatojudge]

Agree, round on this gun

I've got 97s in both and neither is a handicap, but the round carries better without giving anything up in shootability

[kevshell]

I will second the round butt on a short barrel 97. I like all of my Freedom Arms. They're all great in their own right but that 97 44 special with the round butt just makes me smile every time.

[jfo4]

I like the additional palm support the standard grip offers even on the 4 1/4" models.

Totally agree with Fowler on barrel length. The 4 3/4" barrel just looks and feels right. Almost like Colt knew what they were doing.

~J.O.

[Encore64]

Most definitely the round butt on barrels up to 5.5". If longer, go square butt to support the cantilever effect of the barrel.

[kevshell]

Nov 6, 2024 16:20:49 GMT -5 jfo4 said:

I like the additional palm support the standard grip offers even on the 4 1/4" models.

Totally agree with Fowler on barrel length. The 4 3/4" barrel just looks and feels right. Almost like Colt knew what they were doing.

~J.O.

I have that round butt 44 special and I have a square butt 45 Colt. I've seriously considered dropping it off and having them either cut the barrel down from 5 1/2 to 4 3/4 and round butt it, or do the round but but fit a octagon 4 3/4 barrel instead. It's funny It just doesn't feel right at 5 and 1/2 on that gun for me. I think it's due to the fact that the 45 barrel is so light in a round barrel and I would prefer a little more heft with the octagon.

[jfo4]

Kevshell,

Agreed. I've wasted a small fortune trying to figure out the best 97-barrel length for me.

I ended up with both round and octagon 4 3/4" revolvers .

[paul105]

I have both a 4 1/4" standard grip and a 3 1/2" round butt (both in 45 colt with aux 45 acp cyl). I shoot and enjoy both but If I could only keep one it would be (drum roll - just kidding) it would be the 4 1/4". Boils down to personal preference.
.

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FWIW,

Paul

[contender]

I'd figure out which style fits YOUR hands,, for YOUR purposes. Each person has a different "feel" in how they grip a handgun, AND what they do when it recoils.

[silcott]

I have both on my 83's haven't pulled the trigger on a 97 yet



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Do I prefer one over the other? No. They are both comfortable to me. The round butt is a 475 and the square butt is a 454. But I have been known to round butt a few of my Bisley frames.

[pacecars]

I like the 4 1/4” in the 97. I have not tried a round but yet but might need to one day. I have large hands and the standard grip works well for me

[Ken O'Neill]

Sixshot, Mike Barranti and I tested my square butt 4-3/4" 454 vs. Bob Baker's round butt .454 about 8-10 years ago. I much prefer the standard square butt for its extra support.

[zeus]

Standard square grip for me. I’m not a fan of the round grip at all.

[kevshell]

I really like the round butt on the '97. I have never handled or shot a round butt 83. Don't know what that would be like. I could imagine that would be a bit more lively with the 454, 475 or 500.