Hello

I am looking for opinions. The statement in the owners manual:

NEVER HANDLE YOUR FREEDOM ARMS® REVOLVER WITH A LIVE CARTRIDGE IN THE CYLINDER CHAMBER WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE BARREL AND FIRING PIN, UNTIL YOU ARE FULLY PREPARED TO SHOOT AT YOUR TARGET. IN THE FIELD NEVER CARRY THE REVOLVER WITH A LIVE CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE BARREL AND FIRING PIN.

Is Freedom Arms using this as a disclaimer for any future liability or is it a real possibility. To take the Rolls Royce of handguns and make it a four shot is nuts!

Then there is this statement:

HAMMER SAFETY POSITION - In this position, the hammer is slightly back and away from the receiver, and you will see a slight gap between the hammer and receiver. (See Figure 5)
When the hammer is in this position, the safety bar is physically positioned between the hammer and receiver to prevent the hammer from hitting the firing pin. When the hammer is in the Hammer Safety Position, pulling the trigger has no effect.



Regards


Mark

There most likely is some CYA involved in this statement. I carry five rounds in my Model 83s and have done so for years, with no ill effects. This is a decision each person must make on their own though.

I agree with "MS Hitman." The Model has an unusual safety. Set your hammer in the safe position PROPERLY and wear it in a holster with a strap or device that prevents the hammer from being raised accidentally off the safety notch (sufficient to release the hammer from safe notch). This method of carry is absolutely as safe as resting hammer-firing pin on an empty chamber, for the safety of a Model 83 is a hammer block more robust than those of S&W and out of production Colt double actions.

Hope this helps.

Sure does help! Thanks Guys!

X3

Ok, one ,more question. What would be the velocity loss from a 7.5" barrel to a 5.5" barrel in top loads?

Thanks again!
Mark

Freedom Arms lost a law suit over an accidental discharge from an 83. Carrying a Model 83 with 5 is not 100% safe, but it's probably not as unsafe as driving to the range. As said, everyone should make their own call. The real question is, what are you hunting that you need that last deadly 5th shot, when the first 4 didn't work?

Carrying a Model 83 empty is not 100% safe as one could drop it on their foot if they are predisposed to being so clumsy. I may not need that fifth shot, but it makes me feel better just having it ready.

quote:

Originally posted by Coloradoyaler:
Ok, one ,more question. What would be the velocity loss from a 7.5" barrel to a 5.5" barrel in top loads?

Thanks again!
Mark

There is no way of determining this as every revolver has a different barrel to cylinder gap. FAs are typically pretty tight and I wouldn't expect drastic losses especially with the .454.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
The real question is, what are you hunting that you need that last deadly 5th shot, when the first 4 didn't work?

This isn't really a valid argument. People miss at an alarming rate with scoped rifles. The ratio of hits to misses goes up exponentially with heavy recoiling handguns. Personally, I would want all five in the cylinder, but that's just me. You know that if you need it, you probably don't have it.

The only good safety is the one between your ears. I been carrying 5 rounds in my FA's for about 20 years without any issues.

quote:

The ratio of hits to misses goes up exponentially with heavy recoiling handguns.

People miss, that's a fact. However, if you can't hit your target with the first shot from a pistol a very high percentage of the time, you need to get closer, learn how to shoot better, or quit using a pistol to hunt with, probably the latter, and that's a fact.

To all, I carry my FAs with 5 in the cylinder as well, but anyone who thinks that a FA 83 can't have an AD in such a carry is just plain denying reality. After all, getting hit by lightning is a very rare event, but it does happen, and most people don't voluntarily stand around in a lightning storm. Carrying 5 is not as safe as carrying 4 with an empty cylinder and anyone who says "Well, it hasn't happened to me" is simply saying the same as "Well, I haven't been hit by lightning, YET", which is not the same as "It's impossible". Obviously a very rare event but it can and has happened. A similar example, is the Remington 700 old triggers. How many millions, even billions of times has one been shot with nothing bad happening, however, a few times out of those billions of times, some of the guns have acc. discharged doing the same thing. Remington has and is spending millions of dollars to replace these triggers. FA went broke once already for an AD, and it apparently can't afford to fix all the triggers in existing 83s, therefore the warnings. I ignore them, but realize that while getting hit by lightning is a rare event and somewhat avoidable, an AD of this nature in a FA is 100% avoidable if you carry 4 with an empty chamber under the hammer. For example, in bear country, I might want the 5th shot readily available, for emergencies, while hunting deer, I doubt I'm going to be charged by a whitetail. Again, everyone can make their own choices as their mind and the situation dictates.

Random Thoughts.
One plan would be while "moving around" ie walking, riding a horse or in or on some sort of vehicle, ATV, snowmobile, etc. Carry only 4 rounds. Once you get in your hunting position or begin a stalk with the FA in your hand you load the 5th round, if possible.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Random Thoughts.
One plan would be while "moving around" ie walking, riding a horse or in or on some sort of vehicle, ATV, snowmobile, etc. Carry only 4 rounds. Once you get in your hunting position or begin a stalk with the FA in your hand you load the 5th round, if possible.

A valid point, and I'm sure there are people who do this very thing.

I figure after a couple misses it's time to sit down, reload, and evaluate the situation anyhow.

I do like 450's plan though, even if it's just for fun.

It's not the misses that I concern myself with, but the actual need of a fifth round. One never knows.....