I am going to sell the Ruger Super BlackHawk Hunter in 45 Colt that I got last summer. I want to get a Freedom Arms in 45 Colt. I know the Model 83 can be had with a 454 and a 45 Colt cylinder. Is this worth doing? I already have a 460 and a 500JRH, so another thumper isn't what I'm after. I want a dedicated 45 Colt, and will most likely have the 454 cylinder sitting on the shelf most / all of the time. If I understand correctly, ya can't get the 83 in 45 Colt only, can ya?

No, but you can get the M97 in 45Colt. If you're not going to shoot the man sized 45Colt loads, the M97 is sweet!!!

You can always down load the 454 to Colt levels too.

If you would ever want the 454, get he 83 and download in 454 brass

"Download".... I hate that word....

I plan on running full house loads out of the 45 Colt, using the 335gr WFNGC from Cast Performance. And I already have a ton of 45 Colt brass, but none in 454.

That being said, I am in the process of dow... downlo.... downlooooading (man that's hard to say! HA!) the 500JRH at the moment and trying to find a good load with Titegroup.

Anyway, I digress--

I want the 45 Colt and the ability to run hot loads. Might even have a 5 shot cylinder done just to help with that. Which brings up my second idea. I might find another ruger blackhawk that is already beat up, send it to Jack, and just have him make me one with all the options I'm wanting.

Sure would be nice to have a FA at least ONE time in my life though!

[quote=raptortrapper
.......................................
.................................

Sure would be nice to have a FA at least ONE time in my life though! [/quote]

I think you just answered your own question.

KRal and GlennS got it covered, either way.

I have some bad news for you - there is no such thing as one Freedom Arms in your life.

I only have one.......but I have a few customs!

-- a much worse affliction IMHO!

Yeah that's the thing. I like my custom from Jack so much that I may just stick with that idea. I couldn't imagine anything being better than anything I get from Jack.

I'm thinking a 5.5" octagon barrel, 5 shot cylinder, deep dish crown, belt mountain base pin, trigger work, open sights of some sort, and some matching grips to my 500JRH. Not sure on engraving. Probably leave this one blank.

Gary is right! I just had this conversation with my adult son's " I started with one and now I have four, I think they breed and have babies".
How much you want for the Blackhawk Hunter? I may be interested.

Shouldn't have any trouble selling the hunter for a nice price

I would keep the Ruger and get an 83 if you can swing it

Its already listed on gunbroker and has a bid on it, so I can't stop it and sell it elsewhere now. The current bid was $800 when I looked this morning. I shot for the moon and put a $1300 "buy it now" price on it, but certainly don't expect it to go for that.

Shoot, I can't remember exactly what I paid for it, but after taxes and shipping, it was only a bit over $700. Junebug actually found this one and posted info about it. I liked it at the time, but I can't put the full house heavy loads through it without fighting with the base pin. It has finally bugged me enough that I'd rather get rid of it than fight it. Normal loads are fine, and it will shoot them all day long. Accurate as all get out with light loads too. But I need to be able to shoot hopped up loads also. Besides, for what some people are willing to buy this gun for, I just might be able to get my hands on an FA, or another rebuild.

We'll see what it sells for, then decide on the details.

Holy cow........I bought my Hunter .45 for $400!!! Guess I got a deal. It's been about 10yrs ago.

Yeah, and there is already a bid for $800, so I know it will go for at least that.

I've seen the 45's sell for over a grand - crazy!

I just checked my auction. It is at $905 now, and there is still 6 days left. Never would have expected this.

I thought about doing that. I thought about keeping it and just getting a new base pin. But if I did that, it would lead to a trigger job, grips, Jack's grip extension, and by then, it isn't a stock ruger bisley by any means. I'd rather have an FA or another one from Jack rather than a "hopped up" Bisley Hunter. I wish the stock ruger was better built for hot loads, but it just isn't what I hoped for. And I'd rather get something else rather than redo this one.

I don't believe in keeping guns I'm not gonna use, so off it goes!!!

The FA addiction is STRONG. Terrible awful, snapping-turtle-won't let-go strong.

Welcome.

HA!

Ya Think??

I'd bet you get above $1200

Your right badubet! It sold last night or early this morning for the buy it now price of $1300. Never in a million years would have expected that!

wow.....

Glad that it did well for you. Make sure you share pictures of your new FA when you get it

HAHA!! Will do. One way or the other, Jack or FA. Still not decided. Actually leaning towards Jack though...

...at the moment.

Rap,

How long is the wait time for Jack and is there one for FA?

I called Jack the other day. His wait time is only 4 to 5 months at the moment. FA, I don't know.

Are the Bisley's going for more than the standard grip? Mine is a standard style.

Yea, there are less than 300 in existence.

Yeah, and the thought actually crossed my mind to start hacking this one up and make it in to something that will actually shoot heavy loads. Glad I decided just to sell it, and get a donor gun somewhere else, or a FA.

...That was a close one!

Raptor,

Just curious; why would the bisley hunter not shoot heavy loads?

Base pin kept jumping out after every single shot. Light loads did just fine, but I got absolutely sick and tired of resetting the base pin after every shot.

In addition, the trigger was the worst trigger I've ever had on any gun. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I have a pellet gun with a better trigger.

It is accurate with light loads. It will shoot them all day long, and does very well with them. Get used to the trigger, don't shoot heavy loads, and it does just fine. But that isn't what I want in a 45 Colt. Start modifying it to correct the issues, and I don't think it would have sold for $1300 since it would no longer be a "stock" bisley.

Glad I looked into it with another member on here before making drastic changes.

Mine shoots heavies fine. Running 340's at over 1300fps with great performance and accuracy. How heavy were your loads?

335g WFNGC at an average of 1262fps on the chrony.

I don't think that is the TOP load by any means. Case extraction is still pretty easy, and it is the most accurate load as far as upper end loads went. As I got farther north of this load, accuracy rapidly deteriorated.

I think FA is about a year.

and worth it, ya can get one sooner going thru tincup sports but is a touch pricier. I have extra cylinders for all my freedom arms 454's except one. I've honestly shot about 40 rounds of 45 colt through one of them. the cylinders just sit there. I have nice heavy 45 colt level loads with hs6 that are pussycats outta the FA platform.

Decided I'm going to get another one built by Jack. Just gotta find a frame now.

I applaud your decision!

So true i had (only) 1 for about 6 months, now lets just say i am losing count.

Good thing. Youd end up with several freedom arms, like gary said, ya cant have just one

I think the same goes for Jack's guns too. This will be my second. I highly doubt it will be my last.