You can look on Gunbroker and pick up a used custom Ruger by Stroh, Clements, Gallagher, Bowen, Linebaugh and others sometimes at very good prices. Sometimes they go for the price of a new one but it does cut out the 1 to 2 year wait time
While excellent they do not equal an FA-83
I have an FA 83 and it is a fantastic gun but it is not up to my Linebaugh built .500 Linebaugh or the Clements .500 Linebaugh I had. I do like the 84 better than the Reeder I had but not by much. I haven’t had a Bowen, Stroh or Gallagher gun yet but by all accounts they too are better than a Freedom Arms. I left one out that builds fantastic guns and that is Jack Huntington. Of course your opinion may be different from mine and this is just my opinion
I bought my first Custom in 1985 it was a Bisley converted to 475 Linebaugh by Hamilton Bowen. I own many by Jack Huntington who is first rate.
But they are still Rugers and often the cuts in the frame aren't as precisely located as they should be and adjustments have to be made for them to function. Not the case with FA revolvers they are precise. This informatipn has came from Jack as Well as John Linebaugh. The customs can be wonderfully accurate but the frames aren't as strong.
The BFRs are very well built and are super strong
