Freedom Arms - Barrel Length, Grip, and Trigger, Sights

[calshipbuilder]

Hi,

I've been doing a bit or research on the model 83. Based on photos alone, I have my heart set on a 4.75" premier with Adjustable Sights and round butt grip. I'd have cylinders for 454 and 45acp.

I'm interested in experience others have with barrel length, sights, and grips so that I don't end up with something that looks pretty, but is not fun to shoot.

Also, is the trigger job worth it?

[Hickory]

You might be happier with a longer barrel.
I shot a Freedom Arms 454 with a short barrel, the sensation was like having a hand grenade going off at the end of my arm and getting hit with a wet blanket at the same time.
Reminded me of a guy I saw who made his living blowing himself up with dynamite.

[dubber123]

Although I only have experience with a short barreled F/A, my 4.75" .475 Linebaugh, another fellow I know has quite a few. He shoots them a lot, and claims the longer barrels are more punishing. I dunno. Mine has the standard grip frame, and the hardwood grips. It kicks quite hard, and the sharp edges like to cut and bite. I would expect the .454 to be a bit less punishing.

I would not spend the money on the trigger job. Unless they have changed their policy, they will not go below 3 pounds, and want $100 to do that. I sent mine to a good smith, and had it set to 2 pounds. He says the sears are cut perfectly, and all he has to do is tweak the trigger return spring. He says it's a 5 minute job, and tried to get me to do it over the phone versus paying him. I will do the next one myself.

[ejcrist]

I have the 83 in 454 with the 45 Colt cylinder in a 7 1/2" barrel. I got it primarily to shoot 45 Colts in it with hunting loads and got the 83 instead of the 97 in the Colt because I needed the extra cylinder length for the heavier boolits I like to shoot. The shorter barrel may produce a little more felt recoil than a longer barrel but when you're shooting full house 454 Casull's I don't think the difference is material - it's gonna be mean no matter what length barrel you have. Regarding the trigger job, I was told by the rep at the LGS that it's not worth the $100, and like dubber123 said, it's better and cheaper to have a smith do it. I like the stock trigger that came with mine so I've left it alone. It came in the box at a little over 3 lbs and is nice and crisp so I'm happy with it.

[calshipbuilder]

Thanks for the great responses.

I think I will stick with the 4.75 - I plan on shooting mostly ACP and 454 just a few times a year.

Anyone order the express sights?

[dubber123]

Thanks for the great responses.

I think I will stick with the 4.75 - I plan on shooting mostly ACP and 454 just a few times a year.

Anyone order the express sights?

Tried them on another F/A I have. I hate them. Not any faster, and very hard to hold windage consistently in the super shallow notch.

[Tyler Anderson]

I agree. I hate express sights on a handgun. I have a 7.5 inch barrel, and I think it's too long, I keep thinking about sending it back to get chopped to 5.5".

[Whiterabbit]

I suggest that, no matter what grip size and shape you pick, that the sides are smooth. If you are in the "let it roll" camp, then the smooth sides will slide on the ball of your hand easier. If you are in the "don't ever let it roll" camp, then you are using your middle and ring fingers to hold it fast as your arms rise, and have no need for any checkering to grind up your hands.

[MT Chambers]

I have an '83 with all the bells and whistles, Premier model, extra .45 Colt's cyl., trigger job, express sights, forcing cone bushing, micarta grips, 4.75' barrel. Heavy .454 loads are kickers and bother my arthritic wrist somewhat. The gun is the finest handgun that I have ever handled, express sights included, tolerances are precise, before I bought one I compared it with a BFR and there was no comparison.

[Golfswithwolves]

I owned a Model 83 with the rubber grips, and do not recommend this type of grip for anybody with medium-size (or smaller) hands. I was not able to effectively hang on to this revolver with its snappy .454 recoil because the grips were too big for my hands. I have a feeling that the Premium factory grips would let the average sized shooter do better. I thought this revolver was a fine gun, but traded it for a Model 97 instead of trying to find more suitable grips.

[MGD]

I have a Model 83 4.75" w/express sights. I have to work harder with the sights but they made for hunting and fast acquisition. It does get exciting with full house loads. The nice thing is how easy it is to carry the 4.75.

[dubber123]

50 yards. I have a very hard time doing this with express sights. I don't find them a bit faster either.

[Groo]

Groo here
I have a 4 3/4 in and a 7 1/2 in 83 in 454 [ both old enough that there was only one grade.]
The shorter has the two port magnaport system and the 4 port on the longer.
The longer is the only long barrel gun that I though needed porting , the shorter , porting works good.
I should say , I got these guns to hunt with [ not for fun] and my loads reflect that.
The number of "light" loads [ ruger only ] you could count on your hands and feet.
My first loading was a 200gr j-word bullet at 2000fps from the longer.
Every one is different .

[44man]

I found the same about the trigger, sears were perfect, just the spring is strong. My friend has the .454 freedom in 7-1/2" and it is not much worse then my .44 to shoot.
Another friend had the .475 and THAT was something else. neither of us liked the smooth grips so he sent for the rubber ones and it made it easier to handle. That trigger guard knew where my knuckle was for sure.
I am so far from a "roll" thinker then anyone.
My Vaquero .45 with hunting loads was far worse then the .454, I don't remember anyone running a cylinder full without quitting. I put Pachmeyer grips on it to tame it.

[bobthenailer]

On my 454 83's i just bent the trigger spring !
As far as barrel length I have a 6" with 2 port MP , 7.5 " with 4 port MP and a 9" a 7.5 with a SSK muzzel break bought it that way very reasonable.
Of the three if i could have only one it would be the 6" I use Aimpoint Micros red dot sights on them and a scope on the 9"

IMO a aux cyl is a waste of money that can be better spent elseware !
I regulary shoot 260 to 300 gr cast bullets in the 1,000 to 1,100 fps with excellent accuracy using 454 brass.

[NLS1]

I owned a FA in 475 for a few years before I got into casting.

That gun was gorgeous, perfectly made. Express sights, 6" octagon barrel, micarta grips, and had had maybe a cylinder of ammo through it when I got it used. It was my dream gun I stumbled on in the LGO.

It was so sharp that every time I shot it I got cut up. Being a lefty, the loading gate would cut up my left hand really bad in the web. My left middle finger knuckle sure took a pounding.

I remember being at the range with 4 or 5 friends back then, and after a couple cylinders, they all asked to shoot it, one shot was all it took and they all quit. One of them said "looks like you are loading tubes of chap stick into that thing". And then I proceeded to shoot a couple cylinders full one handed!

Good times. Sure hope you enjoy yours. Wish tough times hadn't forced me to sell it a decade ago.

Dan

[Doggonekid]

I shoot a FA mod 83 .475 Linebaugh with a 7.5" octagon bbl and I have thought about sending it back to FA and having 1.5" cut off. It is just a personal preference I think it would look better. I would not go below 6" my self. There use to be a dumb law on the books around here that you could not hunt big game with a handgun with a bbl shorter than 6". The DWR said you could hunt with a .357 mag with a 6" bbl and not with a .454 Casul with a 5.5" bbl. I think the longer bbl is easer for me to control for accuracy. I think it is better for the longer range shots too.

One more thing. I would not spend the money on a trigger job. My buddy did and I can not feel $100 diffenence.

Two more things. NICE SHOOTING DUBBER123! THATS AWESOM!

[Bigslug]

Trigger job - no. There isn't much at all on those guns that requires any kind of further work.

Barrel length - The cool thing about a .454 is that you don't have to load it like a .454, and a Freedom revolver is one of those things you want to own regardless of the power factor. If you DO want to load it like a .454, however, a shorter barrel castrates the potential.

Full power loads - the gun rotates so forcefully that the Pachmayrs try to take the meat of your hand with them. Smooth, solid grips feel more like a glancing blow from a baseball bat. It's not nearly as bad as a Wildey semi-auto (which has a samurai sword on each rear corner of the grip frame), but the Marquis de Sade probably had a hand in the development.

[snowwolfe]

Express sights? NO, Had them on a previously owned FA and ended up taking them off.
Trigger job? Flip a coin.

But get your order in as soon as possible as current delivery times are running 15-18 months.

Barrel length? Highly subjective personal choice so no wrong answers but I prefer around 5.5 inches. If you are ordering consider an octagon barrel. They add a classy look that will never go away.

[dubber123]

Mine did need a trigger job, at least in my opinion. It was 4.0 pounds as delivered, and it is much more shootable at 2.0 pounds. It was very crisp as delivered, and many would not have a problem with that. My other F/A is set at about a pound, but it's pretty much just a group shooting toy, thats a bit too light for field use to me.