What to do with 3 FA 83's?

My wife always accuses me of being "obsessive compulsive" and I guess I am. I have ended up with 3 freedom arms 83's in 454 and I'm not exactly sure how I will set them up. Two of them are 7 1/2" guns and I intended to leave the one with fully adjustable sights alone for full house hunting loads. The other I was going to set up with an ultradot for when I'm still hunting or horseback and shots could be over 100yds. Lastly, I have a 6" ported gun that I think I will shorten to minimum and use with mild 45LC loads for something to carry on my hip when assing around the farm. What do you guys think?

Sounds like you have it figured out.
It is the way YOU want to set it up is the correct way!

So what's the problem? You seem pretty well focused to me!

Just looking for other opinions ,rationals, and thoughts....

A 4 3/4-inch (cut down to the end of the ejector rod housing) 83 would make a great belt gun for back-up...

Thanks for the input. Have any good loads for universal with a 250-275gr and 45lc brass?

I BLEW UP A COLT AND CRACKED A RUGER CYLINDER WITH UNIVERSAL. THEY WERE NOT HOT LOADS EITHER, NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED, NOR WHY, BUT I HAVE NOT USED UNIVERSAL CLAYS SINCE THEN. LATELY I HAVE REDISCOVERED UNIQUE IN THE 45 COLT. 9 - 1O grs OF UNIQUE IN 45 COLT BRASS UNDER 250 - 275gr BULLETS, USING NON MAG PRIMERS SHOULD EASILY GET YOU IN THE 900fps - 1,050fps RANGE. I HAVE A 6 INCH FA MODEL 83, IF I WERE YOU I WOULD KEEP IT A 6 INCHER.

I appreciate the input. I'm not opposed to the 6" length as much as the ported barrel. If I cut it down I will get rid of 2 of the 4 ports on the barrel. I can do the work myself so there won't be any expense.

Willi...Used a 260gr Partition over 21.5 grs IMR-4227 in a 45 Colt Ruger with great effect. Never clocked the velocity... I have a FA`s 500 with a 6" barrel that I feel is much better length when in the field
then a shorter barrel. However, if you looking to get rid of the ports then cut her to the 4 5/8" and go with the Colt loads. Good luck....

Thanks. The short gun will probably get more action around the farm than anything else. I want it to be handy enough that I don't mind carrying it all the time. I know after the 357 hunting fiasco last year, I'm ready for the larger bore...

ON THE 2 7 1/2 INCHERS, SINCE YOU WILL HAVE AN OPEN SIGHT SHORTER BARREL CARRY GUN, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN SCOPE ONE AND RED DOT THE OTHER, AND USE 300gr BULLETS IN ONE AND PREMIUM LIGHTER BULLETS IN THE OTHER????

That's a thought

I will use the 300 aframe in one for sure and was thinking about a 335-350 in the other. My BFR had no issues with a 335gr either with accuracy or cylinder length. Is the FA hamstrung by the shorter cylinder or the barrel twist when shooting over 300gr bullets?

you need to get one more in 6".problem solved!

The twist rate is the same as the one in the BFR (1:24). All .454s have this twist so there should be no issue. I have shot heavy (360 grainers) bullets at relatively low velocities (1,200 fps give or take) through a stock Bisley .454 with great accuracy, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Willied76 What a nice choice you have.
On the 2 - 7 1/2" you could shoot the 300gr swift in one and the Barnes 250gr in the other. Just a thought....

Now on the shorter barreled gun you could cut it back to the ERH length, and shoot a handload out of it. Stay with the 454 brass and use IMR-4227 with it, for the lighter loads,,,, and go to H110 with some hotter ones if you feel you need it. Barnes would still make a nice choice on the bullet.
Staying with the 454 brass you can also use a 335gr Cast bullet for practice or whatever.

I'm going to start with the 6" by cutting it back to 4 3/4" for packability and get a load worked up for the 7 1/2" that doesn't have fully adjustable sights with a red dot for longer range with the 300 aframe. I would like to shoot a 250-275 gr in the short gun at 1200fps. For those of you who cast your own bullets, what is your favorite mold?

Did you ask the wife how come she has so many pairs of shoes and purses that set on the shelf in the closet for the right moment or occasion?

I will PM you later with some info.
I DO NOT cast... The 335gr I mentioned earlier are a fave in the 45Colt (Ruger Only)
I run them in my 4 3/4 Bisley and get 1200FPS
I have shot them in my FA since I have a 45 cyl but why ?
I have had several good results with the Barnes.

Hi

The 335 grain that is shot in my BFR at 1700fps would be extremely uncomfortable in a 4 3/4" gun and totally unnecessary for 50yd hogs and deer. I don't really want to spend the money on a cylinder when I can just dedicate the short gun to either 45colt brass or 45 Colt loads in casull brass. I have 1k piec s of starline brass coming so I will probably just use light casull loads.

I never suggested a 1700FPS load, in my PM or here on the board.
Just because you already have a load for a 335 at 1700 doesn't mean you can't load it with a different powder and get it down to 1200FPS. But I would certainly go along with a 250gr bullet if I was trying to load something with lighter recoil.
Rimrock and Leadhead have some good offerings in cast and of course there is jacketed bullets and all copper too.
A good accurate 250 gr will do a lot.

Rey

The only "blow up" I've ever had was a Ruger New Vaquero with a moderate load of Universal. Always figured it was loader error. Maybe not? I've never used it again.

Dan

DAN: ALTHOUGH NOT KNOWING FOR SURE WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT THERE IS A "DETONATION" DANGER WITH UNIVERSAL CLAYS AND I WILL NOT EVER USE IT AGAIN.

DAN: TO BE CLEAR, MY BAD EXPERIENCES WITH UNIVERSAL WERE IN 45 COLT LOADS, WHAT CALIBER WAS YOUR BLOW UP WITH?

Also 45 Colt.