Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns What Have I Done?

You already know my answer.

Thanks to everybody for the replies. I was out on the golf course all day.

I have been kicking around a custom like EdM or Whitworth often post. But I had not yet pulled the trigger. After handling RJM's gun (WTF?) I got to thinking that in a .44 Special may be perfection, and also hold resale value if I decided I wanted something different.

I will shoot it a bit before making the final decision but if I like it as much as I predict I will, I'll just sell some other stuff and make this my official go to.

So I don't consider it spending a lot of coin, just shuffling coin that has already been spent anyway. Or somethin'...


Travis

Now we're like family!



Travis

The 97 is considerably smaller than the 83.




Travis

I do and I doubt I can bring myself to sell it. I'm thinking I will keep all three of my .44 Specials and likely move most everything else.

I have a Delta and a 29-2 that I don't see getting used much any more...



Travis

Yeah. I PM'd you, Whitworth and jwp as I was considering this.

RJM sent me the link to this one when it came available. I'd not have done anything different other than added the trigger tune.

Should work out well.


Travis

That's how I described them to my dad. Like a tank fugged a Swiss Watch and the FA is the spawn.



Travis

I use this guy's shoulder rig and I'm going to ask him to make a holster for it.

http://www.montanaholster.com/

Then I'm going to ask Milt Sparks if he'll make an IWB for it. I'm sure he will.



Travis

Travis, that is sweet looking iron there.

Is it a coincidence, Bob passed through our camps and new revolvers start following us home.


Nope, I can not really blame my latest acquisition on Bob. My newest is a Ruger in 327. And Bob did not set that example.

You guys need to learn how to ignore the enabling bastid. In my case it's easy.......

There is a certain mystique inherent to the 44 Special that the Bourgeois can't comprehend.

Guess since you went all red cloth you don't need that cheapo mould I was going to send you....

And if you don't send me the 29-2 I at least deserve a reach around....

It's all I need.



Travis

Yours if you want it. I gotta shoot up what I got loaded first though.



Travis

Yes I do....shoot up the rest, will give me time to save up. Don't gouge...

I assume you'd like some lead?

Poured 250 more today....gonna ship out a big, heavy ass box when I get them gizzed up....

Tough to top that one, Travis - I'll look forward to hearing more on it. I have the stainless 4-5/8 version of the Ruger flat top 44 spl and it's a keeper, but that FA 97 could easily replace most of the handguns I have. I have a FA 83 and love it, but feel they really nailed it with the 97...

Get the Milt's. I've been wearing them for years, with a couple different calibers. You have to carry and wear them in a bit, but them you just don't even feel them after a while. It's like you have another wallet on you.

That's a good looking iron.

Congratulations!

.44 Special is probably the perfect big bore revolver cartridge. Back in the early 60's when Keith/Jordan/Skeeter were pushing for a .40-41 Police round if the ammo companies had just done as Keith recommended and put a 250 grain SWC in place of the 246 LRN and bumped the velocity up to 950-1000 from a 4" gun it would have been a done deal...and no need for the .41 Magnum.

The guns were already there...the 1950 Outdoorsman and the .38/44 HD Model of 1950.

The FA 97 is the perfect size for the .44 Special but was the last centerfire round chambered for it. First ones were .357 and .45 Colt, then .41 Magnum and .32 H&R Magnum....the .44 Special seemed to be an afterthought. Yet of the larger caliber rounds it is the only one that can take all bullets made as with the .357/.41/.45 Colt the cylinder is too short even for a Keith bullet or long nosed LBT if crimped in the standard crimping groove just like the S&W Model 27 is in .357 Magnum...

The only "problem" (if you want to consider it a problem) with the FAs guns is that the chambers are so tight and leads into the forcing cones so short that some cast bullets (like a wide front driving band Keith and some LBTs) can't be seated in the chambers. In my two .41s a real Keith 220 grain will not seat but the Lyman version that has a front driving band just a little narrower will. So it is something to consider before buying a bullet in bulk...

Glad to help you find what you were dreaming about Travis....hopefully on my next trip out west we can shoot again...

Bob