This is not a bad one but I will put it before you just to see what comes up.I have always wanted a custom gun.My lovely,extremely better half has told me to pick one.Now it doesn't have to be exactly custom but here are the choices I have narrowed down to and in no particular order.1.Freedom Arms model 83 field grade 2.John Linebaugh custom 3.Clements custom guns 4.BFR. Now 1,2,and 3 will be in the same park price range.I have never handled any guns from any of these places but am going on info I have read in magazines,internet,and word of mouth.Got a gun shop close by that has handled all of these pluss some Bowen stuff and he says for the money #3.ANY ADVICE?

WOW, sure wish I had that delima.....LOL<LOL<LOL

I would opt for #1 in 475.

What caliber are you looking to get?

There are some great choices on the table. I say #1 too. My Model 83 in .454 Casull has changed my expectations on guns. What used to seem like tight cylinder lock-up on my factory guns seems sloppy now. What caliber are you thinking about? No matter which one you choose, you will have a great gun. Let us know which one you go with!

Cotton,

First and foremost, congratulations! I am assuming this is taking the place of the .480 as primary Bambi-buster? Not knowing the other options firsthand, my vote is for #1...although my web research of #2 and #3 look very nice as well!

That having been said, I'll PM you with another idea to muddy the waters further...custom conversion option.

Dur

Get the FA

I'll second that!

I would have to agree with the majority so far and say get the Freedom Arms. The 454 is a very versatile gun. If you don't need or haven't gotten accustomed to 454 recoil you can always load them down a bit. The right load will shoot very well at 44 Magnum velocities and is a pussy cat in the 83. You can also get a 45 ACP cylinder (really cheap to shoot) or 45 Colt cylinder built at some point in the future if you so desire.

I'm a 475 fanatic and a custom gun fanatic so I'd say the 475 from John Linebaugh. He created the 475 and I think having one of his guns would be cool and it won't set you back anymore than a premier grade FA.

Agreed, and the fact it can be had with the Bisley grip frame makes it a done deal for me ;-)

I just got my FA 475 a couple weeks ago and coudn't be happier. I pondered the same question for about 5 years and finally made the move. I always wanted a Freedom Arms and was wanting to get a 475 Linebaugh so I killed two birds with one stone. I ordered this gun for me and every option was worth every dollar. So I would say go with the FA.

I vote for the .475 Linebaugh, you just can't do any better in my opinion. I have loved that gun sense the first time I saw one in a mag. Just can't justify the cost.

Thanks guys for the input.My caliber of choice is 480.I know but just wait a minute.It is ALL the recoil I desire,and all I feel I can honestly control.I have shot just about every factory offering in this caliber,and shoot handloads of my own,a first.A 400gr Speer JSP over 20gr of H110 shoots amazingly well.I know I haven't even unleashed it for all it can be and I know I don't want anymore gun than this.I am strictly a white-tail hunter with an occasional bear or hog.Can you order a 475 from Freedom Arms and let them keep the Linebaugh cylinder and just send me the 480 one?Can Johns guns shoot 480?Accurately?Do I really want a BFR?They don't have a 5 1/2" barrel model.Clemments will convert a bisley to a 480 but how good is it?And I thought this was going to be easy,I never knew it be so mind boggling.
Mellonhead how long from the time you ordered you FA to taking possession?

It was about 10 weeks from the time I ordered it untill it arrived. My favorite load in the 475 so far is a 400 grain lead ball over some HS-6 for about 1050 FPS. Very managable, and will kill anything in North America.

I say option #1. thats the route I went and Im not displeased one bit. Besides after handling one youll be sold all the way, and probably like most of us you wont be able to look at your other guns the way you did before you liad your fingers on a true masterpiece.