I am getting married this fall and as a wedding present my wife to be agreed that after the wedding is all paid off I could buy a freedom arms revolver any way I want it. Right now I am shooting two 50 caliber handguns and two 45 caliber ones so I have bullets for both. I am also debating the 475 but that means a new set of components on top of the dies. I like the evergreen grips but would probably buy a set of the pachmayrs as well. I really like the 500 Wyoming I just worry about getting brass in 20 years. I shoot a RBB 45 colt 7 1/2" barrel now and like the barrel length. I have never even held a Freedom Arms let alone shot one so I would really like some advice for deciding what to get especially since the year wait to get the gun is going to kill me.

Can't really make a suggestion...'cause I would like to have one in almost any caliber.

Hope you enjoy your marriage and new gun.

Coyote50,

WELCOME TO HHM!

When I ordered mine from Bob Baker I had not researched ALL of the Freedom Arms options.

If I did it again, I would go this way:

Caliber: .475 Linebaugh.
Barrel: six or 7.5 inch Octagon (do you plan to scope it?) If yes, then have FA install the T'Sob scope base.
Grade: Premier, that way you get the good grips and sights.
Trigger job - yes; trigger stop screw - no.
Rounded butt - yes.

You say you already shoot some 50 caliber handguns; my other choice besides the .475 would be the .500 Wyoming Express, which is what I did order.

This is what I would order, MHO; your choice may be totally different.

I would likely go with a Premier 7.5 inch 454 myself. I used to own one and liked it a lot.
I would surely get the trigger job and the TSOB mount.

Where are you located? If anywhere close to me, you are welcome to try a few and see what you like. I bet others if in your area would do the same. They are like nothing else. Once you operate the loading gate and action, you will be hooked! There are ALOT of FA owners on this site, I bet you get all sorts of answers

Personally, I have a soft spot for the Casull. I would opt for an octagon with inverted crown, ivory micartas, and trigger job. I'm not big on the round butting of the grip because I don't like the feel of nothing being at the base of my grip. But that's a personal thing, some folks love it. If scoping, let them do TSOB, with the octagon, they will machine bottom flat to make it work with non radiused barrel. No trigger stop as mentioned. I'm a fan of the 10" freedom arms. Started with the 7.5" 454 and found it to be an exceptional all-around sixgun. Just liked the balance of the 10" better and I have plenty other guns in the 7.5" length. Will most likely buy another though down the road just to have it.

Good luck with wedding but just know, you will never own JUST ONE FA. Might as well let her know that up front.

This man speaks the truth...

Coyote - based on my experience, your post should be titled, "Help me build the "first" FA 83"

My experience with their revolvers has led me to a small personal inventory of their workmanship, from 22 to 500WE. From 4 3/4 to 10", round barrel and octagon (my 1st), irons, red dots and scoped...Unbelievable repeatable accuracy.

With it being a wedding present of sorts, I would say maybe go with a tricked out smaller caliber, one that you could shoot until the day the good Lord comes a callin'...

Love them all

Best of luck with your upcoming nuptials and your addiction to Freedoms

I agree with the rest; this will just be your first. Unless your just wanting to stay with the "Really" big bores, I'd suggest starting with a mid-ranged caliber. Although all FA's are superbly accurate, with my limited experience with the 41 mag, it seems to shine above the rest. I also love my 44's. If I was ordering one how I wanted, I'd go with: 7 1/2" octagnal barrel w/inverted crown, ivory micarta panels, jeweled hammer and trigger and three pound trigger job. If your planning on iron sights and hunting, get the fiber optic front.

Now, if you think this will be you only one...LOL...I'd suggest going with the 454 casull. It's prolly the most versitile cartridge available. IMO

I think I'd get a 45 Colt and then have them make a 454 cylinder just in case.

They won't build an 83 in 45 Colt. You can order a 454 and then an extra cylinder in 45 Colt but not the other way around. In the old days, one could be ordered in 45 but they stopped that years ago.

GS

Anyone have experience with the Lovell scope mount? It looks cleaner than the TSOB although with so many suggesting the TSOB I am thinking maybe it is not sufficient for the larger stuff? Anyone shoot the 97 in 224-32FA? that is a neat little gun too.

The 224-32 is AWESOME and fun! It is very accurate and shoots like a laser with no recoil..

The Lovell is very clean and is a little wider in the ring portion which gives you about the same contact surface area as three standard rings on the TSOB. I had one on a 10" 44 and it worked great. They are made in house at FA as well. They are so tightly fit to the receiver recess that you pretty much have to tap them into place before screwing them to the main frame.

Here is the LOVELL on a 10"


And the TSOB on a 10" octagon


The TSOB is only connected in the rear sight recess like the LOVELL. There are no screws in your barrel on the front so there aren't any new screw holes that you would have to worry about. The TSOB has just been around longer and may offer a little more options on scope placement than the LOVELL.....Either one will work for you...

Coyote50, Both the T'SOB and Lovell are capable of handling severe recoil. Some prefer the aesthetics of a T'SOB. I have both and never experienced any problems.

Same difference ;-)

The 45 Colt would get the majority of use from me.

A scoped ten inch field grade 454 with micarta or wood grips...

My 2 sense:) I own 4 FA 83's. Two in .454 and Two in .475.
I really love the .475 caliber but the .454 is a favorite because I can shoot .45 Colt thru it as well. I have 'em in barrel length 4 3/4" to 71/2" and some custom cut in between.
I would go with a 6" barrel in either caliber, a trigger job, grips, and I'd leave out the octagon barrel cause of the added expense and spend that $$ on something else. I have the Lovell scope mount and like it but the T-SOB gives you more room in spacing the rings.
May your marriage be blessed.

I agree on the octagon barrel. I would prefer the little extra weight anyway. I like the look of the Lovell mount better and it sounds solid. Keep the ideas coming guys. I do hand load so to that end there is no problem with expensive ammo. Once I have brass I'm good to go for a while. I also plan on getting casting stuff set up eventually too so I can cast up some plinking bullets as well as some harder gas checked bullets with large meplats for hunting.

GlennS,

Doesn't look like Kansas ( you're no longer in Kansas, Dorothy! )in the background of the FA '97, 224-32.

Doc

Ha! No, that 44 is on a mountain in Idaho while on a trip with Sixshot doing an Elk culling trip. I think that's the Tetons in the background there, I can't remember. BEAUTIFUL country up there. Would love to move there someday. I'm slowly but surely making it there from S. Mississippi. I seemed to have had a lay-over here in KS for the time being

Here's W KS...not quite as hilly! (the dark line was a storm front that was on us in a matter of minutes, dropped temps almost 20 degrees and the winds stayed 35-40 mph for the next 3 days)

No doubt the octagon barrel adds some weight FORWARD where it is needed, imo. Good choice. A little pricey but I think it worthwhile, and I like the looks of it.

If I could only own one FA setup it would be a 10 inch 454 however there is only about 30 fps diff in bullet velocity between the 7.5 and the ten when using 296.

Trigger job
Micarta grips
Oct barrel
No round but

Gary, that's the same thing I've found on velocity across about 6 different sets of 7.5 and 10" guns. The velocity is very similar, I just prefer the balance of the 10" for a purely hunting handgun.

I was talking to a guy that built big bore rifles one time and he said that as bore diameter increases, barrel length has less and less effect on velocity since just as a longer barrel increases the combustion chamber, so too does making the bore bigger.

No doubt about it, its all about gas expansion ratios as far as I'm concerned

How much would an octagon barrel effect the balance of a 7.5" barrel? Would there be any real noticeable difference one way or another other than cosmetic?

To me, the weight is negligible. I can't tell the difference really between the 10" oct and the 10" round. I'm sure there is a slight weight difference but being spread out, you really don't notice it much.

If it were me, I'd opt for an FA that both you and your wife would enjoy shooting. That way you will always have something you can get away and do together.

Actually for "us" she wants to get consecutive stainless blackhawks or vaqueros with false ivory grips and have them engraved "his" and "hers". With the Freedom Arms she knows I have wanted one since I was in high school.

Hi Coyote! You're in a great predicament to be in!!

I have 3 FA's and another on the way. Here is what I recommend.

For supreme versatility: Get a 454 Casull with the aux cylinder in 45 Colt. That feature is one of the reasons why that variation is so popular. I think a 7.5 inch barrel (octagon or round)is most popular in this configuration. I think very few truly "need" the power of the 454 Casull for whatever they are doing, but it admittedly has that "cool" factor and the Dick Casull history factor.

With the comment I made above in mind, if you don't feel you will need the extra power of the 454 Casull, you could get by quite well with a standard 44 magnum. I just picked up a SIX inch and it is now my favorite. I know that my shooting will be at deer or paper, so although I like the 454 Casull just on the cool factor alone-not to mention the extra performance capability, I most often download it for paper.

As a handloader the 44 Magnum case is also supremely versatile. you can load it all the way UP (and I mean ALL the WAY since the M83 can handle the hottest 44 magnum) or you can load mid-power or low power loads. The other thing is that you would not be buying an aux cylinder as with the previous option. You can walk away for around $2,200 and have a gun that shoots one of the most commonly available ammo, commonly available components, etc. The slightly lighter bullet/smaller case capacity makes it a lot more "shootable" as I have noticed this caliber in the massive M83 frame is a joy to shoot. Very easy on the hand. So "for me", my choice would be a 6" 44 magnum Premier Grade.

*Plus when you carry it, you can say you walk with the spirit of Elmer Keith AND Dick Casull!*.....and that's not a bad thing!

Here's the 454 and 44 mag


Here's a Field 454

How do you guys feel about brakes and porting?

I avoid them unless absolutely necessary.

But, a good brake is generally more effective than porting as far as recoil reduction is concerned.

What about premium v.s. field grade? Is the price difference worth it?

Only your wallet will be able to decide that but if you are going to buy a brand new one for a special occasion, the Premier Grade is worth the price for me due to the premium fitted grips, brushed finish, the warranty and better rear sight. The biggest contributor to the premium price tag is the grips. You will never find better fitted grips anywhere. If you were not a fan of those grips and like the rubber ones, then I might opt for the field grade.

The Field grade I own was purchased used and it was a fantastic deal that I could not pass up. If I were purchasing new, there is no question that I would choose the Premier.

Does the FG still come with packys? For some reason, I thought everything came with wood standard now. I'm probably wrong but for some reason I was thinking that had changed at some point.

Glenn,

It seems you are correct. I was not aware they changed their FG specs. You learn something new every day! Somewhat surprises me since I would think the grips are something that takes much more time to fit.

In that case that would make my decision a bit more difficult, but I'd still opt for the PG personally.

Best wishes from my side,too!
I would go for .454 with 7 1/2" (open sights and/or red dot) or 6" (red dot). I have JP Enterprise 4 MOA red dot and I am more than happy with it. It increased my accuracy big time. In few words - what was my best group with iron sights now become every day stuff!
I also developed great "plinking load" (.45 acp performance) with extraordinary accuracy (3 rounds, 8cm group at 150yds) - gladly will share data with you

Well, after shooting mine earlier this week, I will say, don't turn your nose up at the 357 magnum in the Model 83. I recently picked up one from a buddy and it is truly an amazing little sixgun. Recoil with 180 grain slugs at 1600 fps is almost non-existent and the accuracy of this gun is PHENOMENAL. I shot my first one of these in June and we were shooting silhouette at 400 yards and it was dinging them everytime we held it still. At that point, I knew I had to have one. You can shoot standard 357 in it plinking and have basically no recoil. These were the loads we used in June. There are several guys here on the forum that use these for deer and have been very happy with them. I'm looking forward to using this one this Fall and putting a few whitetails in the freezer with it. Don't know what you plan to hunt but this is one neat Model 83.....