Just got my model 83 back from freedom. Sent her in for some work. Had the new screw in firing pin installed, action/trigger job set to 3 lbs, complete checkover and the black micarta grips. Will be scoping very soon. What do you guys think?

Niiiice!

Absolute beauty...now if you could just get the scope junk off the top of it!

Very nice...and what caliber... .454?

Bob

I know, just does'nt seem right. My eyes kinda suck for open sights though.

Yes, 454.

Looks like a winner. I'm sure it will be lots of fun to hunt with.

Yeah, I'm with you...can't live (or shoot a handgun) without my bifocals!

I like that! What was the turnaround time? I have one that needs to be chopped to 4-3/4".

Less than 2 weeks.

Cool. Wayne Baker started Freedom Arms. He was in the fourth of July parade here in Cody this year. He is a WWII vet who flew on 32 missions in the B24. I can't quite remember how old he is but his brother was with him in the parade.

His brother Lloyd is a land surveyor like me. I have spoken with him at state land surveying functions several times. He is almost always there and is usually asking questions of the presentors. Lloyd drives himself from Star Valley in western WY to the state seminar which is usually in Casper. Lloyd still works surveying and is proud to say he still works out in the field.

Lloyd is 101 this year.

101? No way! That's like...a Kansas temperature, not a guy who still works out in the field's age!

Nice pistola.

Thats pretty amazing. I cant imagine working at 101.

nice squirrel gun , there.

Nothin' not to like there.

Thanks guys, cant wait to shoot it. Excited to see how accurate. This is my first freedom and I'm sure I wont be disappointed from what I've been told.

Piling on the porn....



44 special on the left, 357 mag on the right.

Got to like FA....

All I can say to that is WOW. Beautiful guns sir!

Here's mine in .327 Federal.. A sweeter revolver has never graced my palm..

That is a work of art my friend.

This slid down too far and I almost couldn't find it. Bringing it back to the top so I can post pics tonight.

Coltfan

A friend bought a 97 .32 H&R Magnum from an acquaintance that was also fitted with a .32-20 cylinder. He then sent it back to FA for a .327 Federal Magnum cylinder...a smokin' little gun....







My 97 is much like his but has a round butt... in .41 Magnum.



Gun came with a barely used Simply Rugger holster...







Had a .454/.45 Colt but sold it after about 300 rounds as it was starting to cause some damage to my right wrist and elbow...and it was just too big to shoot .45 Colt from... Ended up with an identical gun in .41 Magnum that the previous owner Mag-Na-Ported...a sweetheart of a shooter..



[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/Single%20Action/FreedomArms061910015.jpg[/img]

Clements made a Keith Long Range front sight and did a superb job...

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/Single%20Action/FreedomArms061910014.jpg[/img]



The 97 is a very small gun..smaller than a Blackhawk....

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/Single%20Action/FreedomArms061910017.jpg[/img]



Saturday I should be taking delivery of #3.....


Bob

M97, 3 1/2" round butt, .45 Colt.
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Paul

That's a nice one there. I'd clone it but in 44 special. Hmmm, maybe I will....

Thanks for the back story Partagas, and to everyone else for sharing photos of their babies. It's threads like this that maintain the Campfire's greatness amidst the BS.

Replaced my scope with a Burris FastFire II. Looks good, works great & is far less bulky.

That's the point, right?

Great pictures guys thanks for sharing!

Guys, beautiful guns! Thanks so much for sharing.

41 mag, 44 mag, 475 linebaugh, I can't decide. Maybe a 44 Special, or 45 colt. Does the round butt help with recoil? Paul's 45 but with a 4.5" barrel looks perfect to me.

The 97 was built around the .44 Special. Although I love mine in .41, one is limited to what cast bullets can be used in the gun due to the shorter than average Magnum cylinder.

Paul's gun is a 3.5" which is a non standard length. Mine is a 4.25" which is one of the stock factory lengths.

The round butt doesn't help with recoil. I spoke with Mr. Barker at the SHOT Show about it and he stated he doesn't recommend round buts on 83 size guns in the calibers above .44 Magnum.

Bob

You guys just suck. FA makes some lovely guns for sure.

Extreme suckage by all. Man those are noice!

Maybe, but round butts like Cheryl Burke's is mighty fetching..

I brought one of mine to work today. It's a Model 97 in 22 lr with a spare 22 WMR cylinder. It shoots lights out, better than me anyway, and has come out more than the Colts lately. May have to change my name.

Coltfan

...a .22 97 is on the wish list but I have a Ruger stainless 4 5/8" that is smaller, lighter and shoots really well compared to a lot of Single-Sixes I've seen...but boy those .22 97s are NICE....

Bob

Sweet baby!! A FA in .22.... You have excellent tastes my friend..

Very nice. Been dreaming about one of those in 22lr. Its definetly on my list!

Forgot about this post till tonight so I figured I'd post a pic of mine. Had to put the early Bowen in 475 Linebaugh in there as well, just so it didn't feel neglected. A 97 is what I would like my next one to be, preferably in a 41 magnum, but that short barreled, round butted 45 sure is sexy. Maybe a 41 1st and a 45 second.

Here is mine in 454

You are one lucky SOB. Beautiful guns my friend. Thanks for sharing!

How is that gun to shoot with those grips? I've got the micarta's and the rubbers. I have not tried the rubber grips yet. Do you prefer them? Thanks.

It feels like shooting a 44 magnum , recoil is nothing in my opinion with the rubber grips, wish it had the micarta's

Thanks gunchamp. I love those FA's.

...just took delivery Friday....

























...sold two of my .41s to get this.....


[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/Single%20Action/DSCF4583.jpg[/img]






Bob

Drooling, 475 475 475! Thats the stuff deams are made of. Have you got to shoot her yet? Is the magna porting from the factory?

...I have thought about one of these a long time also.

Have 330-400-420 grain LBT WFN bullets coming. Not going to hot rod this as I already know it will hurt....1000-1200 fps will be it.

Yes, I have the original paperwork from the original owner as I am owner #3. The original purchaser bought the gun in November of 2000 and with the Mag-Na-Port and 3# trigger it was $2000.00. Gun was sold to the gentleman I bought it from in 2006. Except for a little burnishing on the end of the side of the ejector rod housing the gun is like new...

Bob

Just got her scoped up.



Ready to cook up some handloads and get to shootin.

Thanks again Paul for the mount and rings. Worked perfectly.

4 1/4" model 97. .45 Colt. Grips by Grashorn.

Very nice gun. Hard to find one that is not a work of art.

OMG!! That's THE ONE!!

WHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Me want it!!

How much does it weigh brother? What's the heaviest loads that she will take?

...wanna sell her?

Every one of these are stunning! Thanks for sharing!!

That is pretty yummy, although I'd rather deal with recoil than a muzzle brake. I think a Ruger #1 in .475 and a M83 to match would be an awful nice companion set Now finding a load that shot to the rifle's potential, and also worked in the revo, that may be challenging.

It is fairly easy to find used FA .454's. One of the local dealers has about a dozen used ones for sale. Think I'd rather have one of the other calibers

"I think a Ruger #1 in .475 and a M83 to match would be an awful nice companion set.".......tex...DON'T START!!!!!

Weighs 35.5 oz empty, it's a pleasure to carry. The heaviest load I've tried in it so far is a 250 grn cast lead bullet with 14.5 grns Blue Dot. That gives close to 1100 fps. As light as the revolver is, that load gives a pretty good jump.

Awesome

That's got to be the lightest and handiest factory 45 Colt revolver available that can still take decently stout loads. The grips just put it over the top and balances out the hard edges of the Freedom Arms revolvers... CLASSY!

Gunchamp

Glad to see the base and rings put to good use.

Bob (RJM),

You are really going to enjoy that .475. About 5 years ago, I bought its twin, right down to the magnaports. I shot over 12,000 rounds thru it in the first couple of years -- mostly 400gr at 1,100 fps. I've never noticed the ports except for the time I forgot to don my earmuffs and lit one off under a corregated roof at the range -- thought I'd blown the gun up, but after a thorough exam and the ringing in my ears, I realized what I had done. My 4" S&W 329 with .44 Mag loads is louder than the ported .475 (verified by others). There is a noticible recoil difference in a 400gr at 1,100 fps vs. a 420gr at 1,300 fps. FWIW, I find the FA83 .475 more comfortable to shoot than the Ruger Super Blackhawk

I have a second FA .475 LB. It also has a 6" barrel, but is not ported. There is a slight difference in muzzle flip with the ported gun, but not real noticeable and I can't tell any difference noise wise (but being half deaf might not be a good comparison).

McInnis,

I have a 4 1/4" FA97 in .45 Colt with an octagon barrel -- it would look a lot better with your grips on it. I've basically standardized on two loads -- a 320gr (RCBS SWCGC or LEE FNGCDC) at a little over 1,100 fps and a 270gr (actually 280+) RCBS SAA at 900 fps. These two loads shoot within an inch of each other at 25yds (with the 320 1" higher) in the 4 1/4" bbl. Mostly use the 270gr.

Here are some pictures of the above and a 5 1/2" FA97 w/octagon barrel in .22LR/WMR.
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.475 Linebaugh
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FA97 4 1/4" .45 Colt
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FA97 .22LR/WRM:
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Paul

Nice, very nice.

I need one of Evil Twin's evil grinning smileys

...gotta love those 97s in .22....!

The first shots with the .475....

12.0 grains of Unique. They are running between 1140-1170 fps.

330s...





400s...





420s...