Converting Freedom Arms Model 83s?

[Naphtali]

This is not an off-the-wall query. But it is a strange one. Freedom Arms offers fitted cylinders and barrels to privately owned Model 83 revolvers.

Will Freedom Arms convert, for example, a Model 83 .454 Casull to .475 Linebaugh? Will FA convert any Model 83 frame, regardless of caliber, to any other so long as it is routinely available? This has zero to do with cost of conversion or whether the conversion is a reasonable idea -- merely, will they do it?

[targetshootr]

Call em and see but be sure to ask the owner or someone in the shop, 800-833-4432. If they don't do it I think Jack Huntington will.

[44man]

For the cost, I would keep the .454 and buy a BFR .475 and have a pile of cash left.

[Naphtali]

For the cost, I would keep the .454 and buy a BFR .475 and have a pile of cash left.

This has zero to do with cost of conversion or whether the conversion is a reasonable idea -- merely, will they do it?

The .454 to .475 was only an example for clarity. Sorry it made things less clear.

[jwp475]

Call em and see but be sure to ask the owner or someone in the shop, 800-833-4432. If they don't do it I think Jack Huntington will.



Jack certainly will convert a Freedom 83. Jack was converting Model 83's to 475 Huntington Lite 5 Years before Freedom began produceing them. Freedom did not produce a 475 until Buffalo Bore came out with the Ammo and the Buffalo Bore Ammo is the same spec as the Huntington 475 Lite. The Original 475 utillized a 1.4 inch 45-70 CASE with the large 45-70 rim. The Huntington Lite used a slightly shorter case 1.385 (if memory serves) with the rim diameter turned down enough to fit in the model 83.
I know this to be true, because I saw them years before Buffalo Bore Ammo or the Freedom Chambered revolvers. Also John Taffin has also writen about this in a few article as well as in one of his books..

Jack Huntington can be reached at 530-268-6877

[Lloyd Smale]

but then youd have to own a bfr!! ;)
For the cost, I would keep the .454 and buy a BFR .475 and have a pile of cash left.

[Whitworth]

And that would be a good thing!:mrgreen:

[targetshootr]

to any other so long as it is routinely available?

What's that part mean.... and let us know what FA says.

[Naphtali]

What's that part mean.... and let us know what FA says.I'll attempt to get an answer within the next couple of weeks.

What I mean by the phrase to which you refer is "standard production" rather than anything non-standard or custom -- for example, I would not discuss conversion that involved the .500 JRH because it is not a standard production offering.

[Naphtali]

I spoke with Cory in Freedom Arms shop Friday afternoon. Freedom Arms identifies the basis caliber of every revolver with a letter prefix -- K prefix revolvers are .475 Linebaugh, for example. BATF regulations prohibit Freedom Arms from converting/altering frames built for basis caliber XYZ to basis caliber ABC. This has zero to do with a custom gunsmith -- Jack Huntington, for example -- legally converting. So if you have a Freedom Arms Model 83 in .454 Casull, you cannot return it to the factory for conversion to .500 Wyoming Express.

Obviously, you can return it to the factory for a cylinder that fires a different cartridge or for different barrel within the basis caliber family.

[500bfrman]

I would never own one of them.:grin:


but then youd have to own a bfr!! ;)