ff1063
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 28
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Post by ff1063 on Oct 31, 2011 8:49:02 GMT -5
I've been very happy with my model 97 .357. I've had mine for about ten years. Super accurate of course, great trigger, great feel. I broke a trigger return spring recently, they sent me a replacement, tried to do it myself and managed to mangle another spring. Sent it back to F/A and they repaired my mistake for free and had it back to me in about ten days. Great gun, great company, highly recommended.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2011 9:15:36 GMT -5
Mr Taffin solidified my .357 choice a while back when he stated that 90+percent of handgunning needs can be met with a .357 Magnum. I forget the exact exchange, but I realized he was right (duh) and I was in the .357 camp. I have Rugers in .44mag and a .45Colt that more than meet my needs and give me my big bore fix. This is to be my "taking it to the next level" handgun so I'm going with my favorite all around chambering. Great pictures Axe. That sounds like a great addition to the family, but when one already has a 44 mag and ups it 45 Colt, I would call going to the 454Casull, 475L, or 500L going to the next "LEVEL", but think the 357 is a great addition. Now about Reeder doing your grip's. Gary can do a great job, but to think he can possible fit them finer than the craftsman at Freedom Arms, think again. I had a 45 Colt cylinder made for one of my 454's and had John, "great guy" have a set of black Micarta made for it while they had it, trust me they are seamless!!! you can't tell where the grip frame start's and where the grip panels end!! One word "PERFECT"! If I were you I'd have no one work on it but FA, they work on FA's everyday, they are "World Class Craftsman", and there products survival depends on perfection, besides, the same quality from others would cost more!! I guess that's why there is such a pride in ownership, that comes with the Freedom Arms
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Post by 461tim on Nov 6, 2011 10:12:27 GMT -5
My comment on "The Next Level" was concerning the handgun, not the cartridge. I'm getting closer, just a few hundred dollars away and I'll place the order.
I'm buying this one brand new and fully built as it will stay.
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Post by 461tim on Nov 14, 2011 20:36:50 GMT -5
Here we are a week later and my "Made Up" mind has changed a dozen times. I don't know if you all are like me or not but when I make what I consider to be a major decision, the next step is to approach it from every angle and try to tear it down.
I'm thinking that the iconic Freedom Arms is the model 83 in .454 Casull. Since I'll likely only ever have one then it should be this one. The good news is that there are lots of them on the used market at pretty reasonable prices. So that's how my mind is "Made Up" this week.
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Post by magman on Nov 14, 2011 21:23:02 GMT -5
You can't go wrong with an FA in 454. I discovered medium range loads a coupple of years ago and I appreciate the 454 again.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2011 23:03:04 GMT -5
Here we are a week later and my "Made Up" mind has changed a dozen times. I don't know if you all are like me or not but when I make what I consider to be a major decision, the next step is to approach it from every angle and try to tear it down. I'm thinking that the iconic Freedom Arms is the model 83 in .454 Casull. Since I'll likely only ever have one then it should be this one. The good news is that there are lots of them on the used market at pretty reasonable prices. So that's how my mind is "Made Up" this week. Mite as well go with the 475 Linebaugh Chamber then, the big dog with few on the market used, and the ones that are, go high!! Just tryin to help!! ;D
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Post by Duct Tape on Nov 14, 2011 23:28:31 GMT -5
Here we are a week later and my "Made Up" mind has changed a dozen times. I don't know if you all are like me or not but when I make what I consider to be a major decision, the next step is to approach it from every angle and try to tear it down. I'm thinking that the iconic Freedom Arms is the model 83 in .454 Casull. Since I'll likely only ever have one then it should be this one. The good news is that there are lots of them on the used market at pretty reasonable prices. So that's how my mind is "Made Up" this week. Mite as well go with the 475 Linebaugh Chamber then, the big dog with few on the market used, and the ones that are, go high!! Just tryin to help!! ;D Then there's the .500 WE. Hard to pass that one by as well.... ;D
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,107
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Post by edk on Nov 15, 2011 7:43:45 GMT -5
Of course they are all good - they're FAs! With that out of the way you are correct in thinking "that the iconic Freedom Arms is the model 83 in .454 Casull". That fact alone does not mean you have to buy one but let's use it as the beginning of our line of reasoning. I don't know if you are of modest means but I am: plagued with a palate oriented toward the champagne budget customs and FAs but in reality saddled with a beer budget.
I owned one of the first run Ruger Accusport SS Bisleys in 45 Colt and while I liked it alright for the dollars spent, I wasn't thrilled with it "as is". This was when I was only beginning to have my eyes opened as to the possibilities of the full customs. I had some limited custom work done to DAs by a reputable gunsmith locally so I had a taste for that (both an appreciation of the improvements themselves as well as price). So I looked at what I had spent on this new to me Ruger adding what I though my smith would charge me for an action job, knew it needed work to get the throats right, considered what it would cost me for a Bowen sight, thought of adding a Belt Mountain Pin and lastly what I might spend on a nice set of grips (the Ruger grips were a real washed out, pale rosewood that were poorly fitted). Now I had a figure in mind as to what kind of dough I would need to raise and of course what I would be into the Ruger for.
Then, before I got started in earnest, I was at a gun shop in my area and spied a 6" FA model 83 in 454 in the case. It was "used" - used in the fact that someone had transferred it, put it in their safe and then traded it in 2-3 years later. It was unfired. The first thing I noticed upon handling was the grip frame fit my hand perfectly. I'll admit I may have gotten emotional at this point as I was enamored by this example of a handgun that was fitted like a Swiss watch. I had heard of them before and even looked at them through the display case but never handled one.
As the salesman left me with it for a couple of minutes I calmed down and my thoughts went to the Ruger. It was almost the exact size/silhouette of the FA. I now know it to be within an ounce or so in weight. As I quickly ran the laundry list of improvements I had planned for the Ruger through my head a light bulb went off that I would be spending as almost much as the purchase price of this FA by the time I had finished. I proceeded to put the FA on hold, returned a week later with my Ruger, the cash needed to make the planned improvements plus just a little more and walked out with my first and only FA.
I've since thoroughly enjoyed it. I soon learned that there is no need to fire "tear your shoulder off" loads with it. I probably shoot more Ruger-level loads with HS-6 than anything else. To this day I still find it odd that as enlightened as many handgunners and bullet casters may be, they somehow always come back to the idea the 454 is only for "fast" and the recoil must always be sharp. Not that one cannot fire trail boss type loads with it but when folks try that argument I think to myself "isn't that what my SAA and N-frames are for"? I've never fired Colt brass in it and likely will never buy a Colt cylinder.
So this situation as I see it really only exists with the 454. I have not sworn off Rugers. I will likely never own another New Model 45 Colt Bisley though. The bottom line is that in this market you cannot improve a New Model Ruger more cost effectively than buying a FA 454. I do not see this relationship in any other cartridge. You cannot trade in your Ruger 3-screw and a few hundred for a model 97 in 357. You cannot trade in any Ruger for a model 83 in 44, 475 or 500WE. The close second "bargain" is the 50AE if you can be satisfied with it but of course there is no corresponding budget 50AE revolver.
You say you've already sold a couple. If the FA is to be a 83 in 454 maybe you're already there!
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Nov 15, 2011 8:00:07 GMT -5
FA has made more .454's than all the others combined. There are also more .454's available on the used market as a result. I don't believe you can make a truly wrong decision regarding caliber selection. All can have their place. My "favorite", if I have such a thing, has also changed from time to time. Today, it's probably the .500WE. That has nothing to do with what you should select, of course. If a "standard" smaller caliber will suit your needs, I will make the point that the 97's do have a transfer bar action.
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Post by AxeHandle on Nov 15, 2011 8:13:08 GMT -5
+1 on there being no wrong selection with a FA... My 83s and 97s are some of my favorite revolvers. FWIW if you order new by all means have FA fit the grip material that you want. if you buy a second hand FA and need new grips... Check out Gary Reeder's prices.
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Post by 461tim on Nov 15, 2011 10:11:41 GMT -5
edk has summed up much better than I can my thought process on this little adventure. I have some wonderful Blackhawks and Alan Harton has done a few small jobs for me and I was very close to having a full custom done. In researching things I came to the conclusion that while I love the Blackhawks, there's a "Next Level" out there and I need to experience it.
I've never shot a Freedom Arms and have had one in my hand once. I'm not a wealthy man by financial measure but my families needs are more than met so I'm in a good place to do this now. While it'd be nice to order up a brand new revolver to my specs, I'm just thinking that maybe I can get my FA fix and save some money if a few things were somebody elses idea of perfect.
The chambering is really not a huge thing with me, my power needs are more than met with my .44mag and .45 Colt, and as I've stated, the .357 could handle it all. Hell, I have a 30-30 Contender barrel too. The .454 idea crossed my mind simply because it's so versatile and so tied in with Freedom Arms. It's also so prevalent on the used market which saves me a lot of green over new and a "Field Grade" gun is just fine with me.
Thanks to all for such great advice, I truly appreciate it. I'm real close to going forward and if the right opportunity pops up I'm ready for it.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Nov 15, 2011 11:46:55 GMT -5
461tim, There's nothing wrong with Field Grade guns. About half of my FA's are FG's. However, I'll make these 2 points: 1. The PG grips (of whatever type) are well worth the money. The standard Pachmayrs on FG's are, well ... Pachmayrs. Find your FG with PG grips, or have some fitted later by the factory or someone like Reeder.
2. A used FG may have some blemishes or scratches. Some of these can be hard to "blend in", although a Lead Away cloth can sometimes help. On the other hand, a used PG with scratches can be CAREFULLY cleaned up to pristine condition using a Scotchbrite Maroon" pad. I've restored some awful looking ones.
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,424
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Post by JM on Nov 15, 2011 12:10:02 GMT -5
Which one feels better in your Hand? The 97 has a fairly small grip that you may not like if you have large hands.
~JM~
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