MO--l have a SW Model 25-3 in 45Colt....lt is THE most accurate handgun l have ever owned...Period...l cant say why.. l got is used off the net ap years ago..0ver the last 40yrs l have owned maybe 30 odd big caliber handguns in 41 44 45.. Mostly Smiths except for a couple Ruger BH an Colt Model Ps...l have just found nothing that can come close..l shoot IHMSA in revolver...A new PC Hunter wont shoot as well either.. l did fire a buddies FA Silh Model in 41 Mag that was nearly as good... FA is too $$$ for me...The 25-3 was a 125th Ann Comm gun made in the late 70s..They are quite easy to find.. lf you can..Find a used one as l did..Leave the NIB ones to the collectors..


ps
The 25-3 does not have the big throat issues of the 25-5

I have finally saved enough money to purchase a premier grade Freedom Arms! I have decided to try and find a pistol in .454, with an extra cylinder in .45 colt or .45 acp....But if I find a FA97 in .45 colt with a .45 acp cylinder that would be great too!...I was going to purchase the new Ruger 5.5" Bisley convertible, but on the two guns I was able to put in my hands, the fit and finish of the grips on the grip frame at the top of the back strap was so bad that I would have cut my hand during recoil! I then decided I didn't want a diamond in the rough, I want a diamond!....So now that I know I want a FA, are there any preferable years of manufacture? Any thing to look for or avoid?...For example, I have read about different firing pins? Was one better than the other?..Thanks everyone for your input, it is very much appreciated!

As far as the firing pin I had an older model and they upgraded it. It is now field replaceable as long as you have the pin. This is as I hear it.

Yup new models are much nicer in that the firing pin is replaceable in 2 minutes if need be. Simple simple simple. Go w the model 83. Itll let ya ring out the 45 colt for everything its worth and then some. Then ya still got 454. Easy choice imho. Congrats!!!

I agree. If you search enough I think you can find an 83 and send it in for a 45 Colt cylinder, trigger job and still come under the wire than for a new one. Good hunting

MOhunter,
there's currently two FA M97's in 45colt and a FG M83 in 454 w/45colt cylinder on GunBroker.

If you want 44 magnum level of power or more then you'll probably be happier with the 83. I enjoy a 97 up to about 250 @ 1100 fps. The 83 is comfortable with 250 @ 1350.
Honestly, the 45 Colt is all you need. I wouldn't bother with the 45 auto cylinder unless you just keep a ton of that ammo for plinking. You can load a lot of 45 Colt loads for the price of that cylinder. The 454 is all you need if your load interests start at maximum "Ruger only" 45 Colt level and go up. I get excellent 454 accuracy starting at about 300 @ 1200 and going up.
If you don't want to hand load all of your ammo then just get a 44 magnum in Ruger or FA and start smacking down deer right now. I did just that for a lot of years.

After 5 pages of advice, what is the path forward?

I want to get a Freedom Arms 83 (non ported barrel) in .454 hopefully with a second cylinder in .45 colt or .45 acp. I have been looking, and finding that I can probably find a pistol with an extra cylinder for darn near the same price as one with only the original cylinder. I have yet to find out what serial number range have the newer firing pin? At some point I will get another Ruger....

There is a 4 or 5 in Redhawk at my local shop right now in stainless .45 colt.

Awesome thread string and one I needed! You guys know some stuff about some stuff.
Time to set the money makers(beaver traps)for a new Ruger Bisley. Or BFR. Or FA....

Wait, is there a wrong answer?

If I was going to go with a 2nd cyl. it would definitely be the 45 Colt over the ACP but honestly I don't think you need to go with another cyl. Just load the 454 a bit lighter... Super accurate guns though - there isn't anything that a 454 can't kill.

I agree on the Ruger Bisley. My personal preference is 44 Magnum but the 45 Colt will be great for deer.

One other consideration that I think might be worth noting. I love my 454 FA and I love to download it to 45 colt spec's for plinking. It is very easy to do. But with the twist rate of 1:24, I have not been able to get 335 and 360 grain bullets to work very well at lower velocity. Up to about 270 grains, it's a one holer with reduced charges. If it is the barrel twist that is giving me issues, I might guess that it would be the same with the Colt cylinder.

Once I figured out that my FA would work well with more traditional weight bullets and reduced loads, I scratched buying an auxilliary cylinder off my list. If I were to do one, I would probably lean to the 45 acp, as I have lots of those, that I shoot in other guns. And not having to worry about trimming cases would be nice ;^)

Craig

What .45 Colt barrel length do you guys like the best? For a hunting application I had assumed a 7.5" barrel would be best but it seems like a 5.5" is more popular, at least in this thread.

(still trying to decide between the Casull or Colt as well)

Hello all! This is an old thread, but I started it, so I would like to give an update. I would like to first thank each and every one of you that gave advice! I purchased a 7.5" FA83 field grade .454 with a spare .45 colt cylinder yesterday from a local gun store. This gun was sold as used, but didn't look to be fired much at all, the .45 colt cylinder didn't appear to be fired at all! All in all for $1500, I felt it was a good deal. I still have not shot it yet, but I will this weekend.
I went to the store to check out the new 5 shot .454 Ruger Blackhawk...again, terrible fit and finish! Metal shavings and burrs every where and you could see day light thru the top of the grips/ grip frame!...Then I saw the FA next to it and purchased it! ....Thanks again folks!

Good deal for a "convertable" model.

MOHunter, You won't be disappointed, but your mindset on revolvers will never be the same again.

JB, I only have the lowly Blackhawk .45 colt six shot. It's a 5.5" and light as a feather compaired to my Dirty Harry S&W and a 7.5" Super Blackhawk. Anyway, don't see where I would need a 7.5" to make 50, 75 or even 100 yard shot. I'm sure there are more experienced views here on this.

This one!

Keep in mind the Ruger costs roughly half that of your used FA price and for a nominal fee it can be cleaned with custom grips and a trigger job. Expecting the same fit and finish is unreasonable, but the Ruger can be carried safely with a round under the hammer.

Whitworth-Yeah, I know, I have had a number of Rugers over the years. I still own some Rugers. I will probably purchase more in the future for another project (after my single six project). I never expected the Rugers to be as well made as the FA's, it just seems that the fit and finish of EVERY one of the Rugers with the bisley grip frame that I have handled in the last year has been terrible. I have been a machinist for over 25 yrs and know what is to be expected at different price points. I am not sure what is going on at Ruger with the bisley grip frames, none of the other Ruger revolvers I have had have been that sloppy? I am a Ruger fan, just disappointed in the quality of the current bisley grip framed guns...Plus, I always wanted a Freedom Arms!

Want is the best justification I can think of! Congratulations on the score! We do expect photos!

I know that out of the box Rugers can be a bit rough, but my .454 SBH is one of the most accurate revolvers I currently own, so I can forgive some of the rough edges!

[img][/img] Cost $720 with both 45 Colt and 45 ACP cylinders, couldn't be happier. Adjustable sights allow me to tune in loads not to mention difference between 255 Colt and 230 ACP.

For those that may not be aware,
Buffalo Bore makes a 255grn 45ACP that would do fine in a revolver or rifle.