Having never owned or shot a Freedom Arms revolver I think k it is high time that I cure that. I am looking at a couple of used ones. The first gun is a 7 1/2” Magnaported barrel with a Leupold 2x EER scope attached in the quintessential.454 Casull. The second revolver is a Model 757 in .475 Linebaugh with a 7 1/2” Magnaported barrel and iron sights. My dilemma is which one to get. Suggestions?

I've had a few F/A revolver model 83's. Personally I wouldn't have another one. They don't have a transfer bar. They suggest you put the hammer down on an empty chamber. So you take a 5 shot down to a 4 shot. I bought most of mine from Great Northern Guns back in the day. They quit carrying them because of the liability. When I was doing rotation up on the slope, I left my freedom arms gun (the first one I ever bought) in my dry bag. I hadn't paid that much attention to keeping an empty chamber under the hammer. The wife didn't like where I left the dry bag and went to move it but it was heavy, so she swung the bag and when it touched the floor the gun went off. To say she was pissed was an understatement. I went with a few more over time and from time to time, because I like the grip angle. But it just isn't worth it to me.

If I was going to get one of those caliber I'd go with a BFR. Much better gun IMHO and just as accurate. I'm not speaking from theory I've had 3 BFR's over the years. Nice guns.

What do you want to do with it?

fwiw, they do have a hammer block (one has to intentionally set it), whether that makes it safe with 5 or not is up to the individual.

They are well made and accurate revolvers that should last a lifetime or two of shooting. I say get one. I'd pick the 454 unless you plan on hunting game larger than elk and/or are often in gbear territory.

I agree with dvnv. Depends on what you are looking to do with them. I like both cartridges, and have both in Freedom Arms’ revolvers. But mine are shorter barrel packing revolvers. The 454 / 45 Colt covers a lot of circumstances, and the 475 / 480 Ruger cover a bunch also. Both are a lot of fun and have a lot of killing power on tap. My first was a 454, the 475’s were not being produced at that time.

As mentioned the BFR’s are Very good revolvers also. I have a 6” in 475. But for a packing / companion revolver, I prefer the 4-3/4” Freedom Arms.
Between the 454 and 475, that is a tough choice.

I've had several Model 83's in 454 over the years - mostly 7.5" barrels. I used to load them to full velocity but got that out of my system years ago. I probably wouldn't own one now except I stumbled on a used premiere grade priced way lower than it should have been. It came with a 7.5" barrel and 2x Leupold scope. I had FA shorten it to 6" and replaced the scope with a RMR red dot. I don't shoot them as much as I used to and load milder loads now. One of these days I'll hunt with it...

The 7 1/2” 454

I am leaning toward the .454 Casull since I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley in .480 Ruger with a 4 5/8” barrel that is my perfect packing pistol. It is probably close enough to the Linebaugh to make it superfluous. This will be a hunting gun for deer and pigs. I also have a Reeder Ruger in .410 GNR which is a .454 Casull necked down to .41 so it would use common brass, which I have a bunch of.

The hammer block can and does break. AD are well documented from broken hammer blocks when dropped.

For hunting or even animal defense.....4 should be more than enough! If hunting requires more than four....you need more practice. If in defense against animal attack....it’s very unlikely that you’ll get off more than one or two! JMO

So, go with which ever cartridge you prefer. If you’re regulated to factory stuff, the .454 is more versatile. If you’re a hand loader, you can make the .475 pretty darn versatile! memtb

I've had a premier/premium grade 454 7.5" for over 20 years. It is a fine piece of craftsmanship, but in reality the BFR is a better value at less than half the price. It will be difficult to recoup your money if you ever decide to sell your FA...I'm thinkin about a 50% hit. That said, an effectively 4-shot revolver versus a full 6 shots in the BFR (safely) kind of sums it up nicely IMHO. But, to each his own!

With that additional info, I'd go with the 454. I have the Bisley 480 in both barrel lengths but prefer the 4 5/8. An optic on the longer barrel 454 for hunting and open sights on the shorter barrel 480 makes a lot of sense to me.

Ive owned many, many freedom arm guns over the years. Some had issues. After shooting 10 rounds, the cylinder would bind. That happened on 2. The fit was mostly good. They were nice to look at. I also think the no transfer bar is dumb. They are already a 5 shot and to be safe, you really need to carry on an empty chamber. So now you have a 4 shot.

Do yourself a favor and buy a magnum research bfr. This is the best way i can put it. Ive owned numerous freedom arms trying to find one that worked for me. Always seemed to have an issue i didnt like. I bought a bfr in 500 JRH 5.5" barrel and i still own it. I dont think id ever let that gun go. My favorite single action ive ever owned and ive owned countless including customs

Oh and as far as caliber goes, i didnt particularly care for the 475 linebaugh. I know im on an island with that comment, but i find that caliber brutal to shoot with full house loads. Now mind you, full loads arent needed to anchor most any thing walking in the states. I always shot the 454 well and was never put off by it with somewhat hot loads. Now you can also make it fairly unpleasant. The 500 JRH is my favorite caliber. Can be loaded to take care of anything that walks our earth and recoil isnt terrible imo

I guess to add to the above, I've had the current FA 454 since long before the 480 Bisley's came out. If starting over today, the pair of Bisley 480's I currently have in 6 1/2" (with a red dot) and 4 5/8" would negate any need or desire for a 454.

I like versatility of being able to shoot the shorter rounds in the 454 and 475, as in 45 Colt and 480 Ruger cartridges.

I also have the Ruger Bisley 4-5/8” in 454 and 480. Shooting Buffalo Bore 360 grain in the 454 and 410 grain in the 480, I would say the 480 is a little less violent in the hand.
That particular 480 is definitely a favorite companion revolver.
I do not worry that it is not a full power 475.
Though I am at peace with a Bisley 3-3/4” in 45 Colt with 320-335 grain loads.

Were I specifically going to hunt with a revolver, the Ruger Bisley 480, 6.5” would be high on my list. I have one, still unfired. After changing the grips, I really like the feel of this revolver.

I Definitely understand the allure of the Freedom Arms revolvers. I hope to keep mine until I am Done.
The BFR it is a fine revolver also. I would like to send mine back for Micarta grips.
The Rugers Bisley’s I like them lots.

I think the 480 Ruger is my favorite bigger-bore revolver cartridge. The 475 Linebaugh loaded to 480 Ruger level is certainly no whimp either. Nor is a 454 loaded to heavy 45 Colt levels.

I've owned both & hunting accuracy isn't a problem, both brands shoot better than anyone can shoot them in the field. Go with what feels best for you. As far as caliber, again we're rolling the dice. The 454 is a big time rocket, amazing power with flat trajectory & with the correct bullets can take anything on the planet, it's already done it many times over. Good bullets are the key to stand up to the high velocity.
With the 475/480 you are getting a bigger hammer, amazing knock down power with big heavy bullets that penetrate like crazy. I've owned both FA & BFR's & it's just like arguing Ford or Chevy, you choose what suits you best.
I've had a 10" 454, a 6" 475 & a 10" 41 FA, the last 2 I used in Africa with great success. The BFR was a custom shop 44 that shot better than expected & was a beautiful gun but I could not get use to the looks of that grip frame, a small complaint I guess but something that just bothered me to no end even though the gun shot great. I killed my moose with the 480 caliber, it will handle anything out there, if you need more than that, I'm not sure a 475 is enough difference really, just my opinion. Oops, took my Cape Buffalo with a heavy loaded Ruger 45 bisley & 325 gr hard cast, one good shot that went clear through & one finisher. Shoot what you shoot best.

Dick

I bought a FA 454 back in the late 80's and poured a pile of full tilt rounds through it. I ended up sending it back to Freedom Arms three times for repairs in the first two years that I owned it.
I don't think most guys that own them, actually fire thousands of full power rounds through them like I did......or they wouldn't have a very good reputation for durability. I finally gave up on it and sold it in about 1999.

Fast forward to 2019 or so and I bought another in 475 Linebaugh and one in 500 Wyoming Express. They are both really nice guns and since I don't shoot either one very much, they haven't broken yet.

Tony

I was originally looking for a .500 WE but I couldn’t find a source for brass anywhere

Figured I'd throw a little gun porn in. 500 JRH it is!! Fantastic caliber and revolver

That is sweet!!!

Thank you sir!

I'm not a Freedom Arms fan (just can't do the grip frame shape, very uncomfortable for me), but I do like the .475 cartridge...and there's some really great bullet molds for .475's. Nothing is more pleasing to the eye than that huge case topped with a massive home cast WFN!

If you're going to go big, why not just GO BIG!! I vote for the .475

Well I went with the .454 Freedom Arms with 7 1/2” Magnaported barrel and a 2x Leupold scope

Just picked it up. Quick pic in the truck in the parking lot

Very nice - that's the exact configuration (less Magnaporting) that I've shot the most over the years. The current one just as I bought it used:

Congrats pacecars, nice revolvers JGray and pacecars.

Congrats. Beautiful gun!

Good deal.

Theres a new BFR .454 at a nearby shop w a price of 1k.
7.5"

I could proly snag it for 9 out the door.

Suppose i could just run .45 colt through it