Many moons ago used to own a FA 454 Field grade revolver in 454 casull. It was long ago traded off and replaced with a couple of S&W 500's and various 629's but I am really close to pulling the trigger again on a Premier grade in most likely 475 Linebaugh. I really loved the feel of the FA as you cycled it and it felt like a fantastic piece of machinery and shot better than me.

I've never had the opportunity to handle any Bowen built customs and am wondering if they have the same type of "feel" as the FA revolvers? Hoping to keep this thread on track and hear comments comparing the FA and Bowens.

The Freedom .475 is good but I don't like the .500 WE or the AE.
I went with BFR in .500 JRH, so much easier to work with and deadly accurate, 1" capable at 100 yards.
I know what you feel like and everyone I know expects me to drop dead so they have dibs on my guns.

The Bowen and FA revolvers are two different firearms. I have handled both. I own several FAs and have several of the Linebaugh Custom revolvers.

You may want to make some arrangements for handling your estate.

Why are we estate planning?

Because I am having a heart attack... not one ill word from our WV brother about FAs, Whitworth!

Snowwolfe, The Bowen in 475 will usually be built on a Ruger Bisley frame. How does the Bisley grip fit your hand? I find the fit better than the Freedom arms for me. Also the Freedom arms is stainless steel only. For reference I own a 475 by Linebaugh and a Freedom arms in 454. Both are my favorites.

Never handled a Bowen but I just love the quality feel of my FA in 475L.
Peter.

After giving this some thought for about a month think I convinced myself to order another Freedom Arms. Never fired a Bisley before so can't comment. Used to own a Super RH in 454 Casull and that thing was absolutely vicious to shoot!

My previous FA in 454 Casull had a sharp bite to it and about 20-25 rounds with full power loads was about my limit. Even remember having to wrap a band aid around one of my fingers on my shooting hand to keep it from bleeding. But it was such a beautiful piece of machinery, it was like cocking a well oiled swiss watch and that had me wondering if the Bowens might be as nice. That is what I miss.

Anyhow, placing an order for a FA tomorrow.
Premier Grade 83
475 Linebaugh
6 inch barrel
Honed action - trigger at 3 pounds
Express sights
New red dot sight mount

Any idea of current delivery times?

Shot plenty of deer with handguns and a nice 52 inch moose with the Casull so hoping this 475 Linebaugh accounts for a brownie at some point.

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
Because I am having a heart attack... not one ill word from our WV brother about FAs, Whitworth!

There's time.....

Snowwolfe I would also look into getting different grips for the FA. They may provide them if you are ordering a new gun. The standard ones are too "slim" IMHO. I had to go to someone else (Jack Huntington) to get custom ones made.
Peter

quote:

Anyhow, placing an order for a FA tomorrow.
Premier Grade 83
475 Linebaugh
6 inch barrel
Honed action - trigger at 3 pounds
Express sights
New red dot sight mount

That will do it.
Yes we got beat some until my friend sent to Freedom for the rubber grips. He changes them out for show or shooting.
I am not anti Freedom, only GC issues with some of them. The .475 was a wonderful shooter.
I don't like the WE because of the brass and he AE because of the tapered case and taper crimping. It belongs in an auto. No rim to head space on.
I have one here in a DE and the bullets enter the taper and get loose. The size die had to be sent back because bullets could be seated with a finger. No good for recoil in a revolver.
A shorter JRH case would be the ticket for a Freedom. They should make one and just call it a .500 Freedom.
I would never buy a revolver for auto cases, we had enough problems with a .45 ACP in several.

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:A shorter JRH case would be the ticket for a Freedom. They should make one and just call it a .500 Freedom.

Why shorter? You do of course realize that the .500 JRH was designed originally to be used in the FA 83, don't you? The WE has the same case length and roughly the same OAL. It fits fine. Also, the commercial spec for the .475 Linebaugh (a little shorter than the original cut-down .45/70) was designed around the FA 83, as well as the .454 Casull. So, why is it that you keep implying that the FA has too short a cylinder?

I have always wondered how the "rubber" grips performed on the larger calibers but never had the opportunity to try them.

Where can you order the Pachmayrs? They are not listed on FA's nor Pachmayr's web sites.

There are no Pachmayers that fit the FA (as far as I know). I was unaware that FA had rubber grips for the FA either!
Peter.

Rubber grips on the FAs are fantastic. I have them on my .454 and .475. The micartas look good, but slide around in your hand like greased glass. You get a good firm grip with the Pachmars and they don't move while you're shooting. I guess FA has a deal with Pachmayr where they are the only supplier. Buy from FA or don't get. I shot a set on my .454 so much that all the stippling on the grip wore off. Had to get a new pair. You won't regret them.

FA discontinued the "rubber" grips. They don't even offer them on the Field Grade anymore. Was told the grips were made by Pachmayr but they are not on their web site.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
FA discontinued the "rubber" grips. They don't even offer them on the Field Grade anymore. Was told the grips were made by Pachmayr but they are not on their web site.

Personaly I prefer the wood or Micarta grips on my FA's, I find the grip angle excellent for controlling recil as is. Everyone is different, but there is a reason FA no longer iffers the rubber grips. If you realy want a set when I get home I'll send you a set of mine

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
FA discontinued the "rubber" grips. They don't even offer them on the Field Grade anymore. Was told the grips were made by Pachmayr but they are not on their web site.

Personaly I prefer the wood or Micarta grips on my FA's, I find the grip angle excellent for controlling recil as is. Everyone is different, but there is a reason FA no longer iffers the rubber grips. If you realy want a set when I get home I'll send you a set of mine

I will take you up on your offer! I can see some smoked Alaskan red salmon in your future

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
FA discontinued the "rubber" grips. They don't even offer them on the Field Grade anymore. Was told the grips were made by Pachmayr but they are not on their web site.

Personaly I prefer the wood or Micarta grips on my FA's, I find the grip angle excellent for controlling recil as is. Everyone is different, but there is a reason FA no longer iffers the rubber grips. If you realy want a set when I get home I'll send you a set of mine

I will take you up on your offer! I can see some smoked Alaskan red salmon in your future

I am away from home at the moment working but as soon as I get back I will get a set to send you

Been second guessing myself ever since I placed the order this morning and just emailed my dealer to tell him to change the barrel to 7.5 inches and make it octagon.
Simply can't help myself about the octagon barrels, they make those revolvers look so damn cool! I can always cut it down, but can't make it longer.
Dealer quoted me about 8 weeks. BTY, the dealer I am using is Mark at First Stop Guns. His word is gold and his prices are very good.

I own both. I prefer the FA for shooting accuracy. However the Bowen is very cool and I carry it often. Kind of a 51-49% thing.

I too own both Bowens and FA's...and quite a few Reeder customs. If it were I and I was concerned that the micarta grips would slide around too much....I would get the rounded butt gripframe from Freedom and then send it to Reeder to have a set of his mongolian stag handles custom fitted to it. Not only do they look fantastic, they have just enough texture to prevent the slippery feeling under recoil. Check them out on his site. I have a few gripframes done this way including the round butted bisley version. No freaking way would I ever place rubber grips on a revolver....takes the beauty right away from the revolver and places undue stress on the elbow and shoulder joints on heavy recoiling cartridges like the Linebaughs ( I have 500 Linebaughs and several of the 500 S&W's on custom scratch built stretch frame SA revolvers).

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Been second guessing myself ever since I placed the order this morning and just emailed my dealer to tell him to change the barrel to 7.5 inches and make it octagon.
Simply can't help myself about the octagon barrels, they make those revolvers look so damn cool! I can always cut it down, but can't make it longer.
Dealer quoted me about 8 weeks. BTY, the dealer I am using is Mark at First Stop Guns. His word is gold and his prices are very good.

Do yourself a favor and get a 5 1/2 or 6 inch barrel

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Been second guessing myself ever since I placed the order this morning and just emailed my dealer to tell him to change the barrel to 7.5 inches and make it octagon.
Simply can't help myself about the octagon barrels, they make those revolvers look so damn cool! I can always cut it down, but can't make it longer.
Dealer quoted me about 8 weeks. BTY, the dealer I am using is Mark at First Stop Guns. His word is gold and his prices are very good.

Do yourself a favor and get a 5 1/2 or 6 inch barrel

+1

Agreed! Packs much easier, and, if you are going to use an optical sight, the longer barrel buys you nothing. Can't comment on the octagonal barrel.
Peter.

Another vote for the shorter barrel.

Never shot a FA , but have a custom.I have handled both(fondled). Me personally I'd rather have the Bowen. Nothing againsy the FAs just hard to beat the feel of a good custom. JMO

OK, you guys convinced me to go back to a 6 inch and emailed my dealer. By now he most likely thinks I am nuts but since it is a weekend he can read all the emails and only has to contact FA once. But I'm keeping the octagon barrel

Just found out I drew a moose tag for the Koyukuk area in Alaska this Sept and if everything goes right the 475 will be my first choice. Last moose taken with a handgun was shot with a FA 454 casull using Barnes custom monolithic brass solids (they made me a run of 500) that weighed only 260 grains each. Final shot hit the moose as he was quartering away and the bullet still had approximately 40-48 inches of penetration.

Still curious about a Bowen, anyone know his delivery time frame?

The FA is a very fine revolver and so is a Bowen, Huntington, Horton, Stoh, Clements, Linebaugh, etc

My first 475L was a Bowen, I have 2 Huntington 475's and one FA 475. I also have a FA 500 JRH. I like the FA's I also have 6 or 7 of them in 454

The lyrics of the Soggybottom Boys tune "In Heaven There is No Beer" comes to mind and pretty much addresses the estate issue.

Good call on switching back to the 6". Look around and you should be able to find a pair of the FA (by pachmayr) rubber grips. Had a set on my field grade FA 454 and they were great. Not much to look at but comfy for my hands! P.S. The octo barrel is very cool, GOOD LUCK.

I agree with the 6" barrel as well.

Any idea the delivery times from FA?

I was told 8 weeks.

PM sent to you

Gunbrokers has a few FA's listed in 475L and one custom Ruger in 475 also...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Firea...ywords=475+linebaugh

Just a heads up for any of you considering ordering a FA.
The 8 week wait has come and gone and today my dealer called to tell me to expect it in 4 weeks. So I expect 6 more weeks which will put it towards the middle of July. This translates to a 5 month wait. Dealer also told me FA increased their prices effective 1 June.

Yikes. Not liking the sound of that 5 month wait. I ordered my 83 in the end of April. Was originally told sometime in July. Really hoping that's not now pushed back to September! Going to have my dealer make a phone call Monday to check on that.

Are these prices for FA's for real? I notice that there are no bids at those prices!!! What does a new one cost if ordered?
Peter.

If you are referring to gunbrokers yes those prices are real and they are at "full retail".
Expensive revolvers for sure but with a little work checking around think you could expect to have a authorized dealer order you one for about 15% off, maybe more if you lucky.

If you want a high quality big bore take a look at the BFR line. I recently purchased one in 500 JRH and the trigger pull is as good as any FA I've owned. Can see a BFR in 44 mag in my future.

Snowwolfe, I have a FA 83 in 475 Linebaugh. I bought it used through Gunbroker a few years ago. I was just looking at those prices in the link posted above.
Peter.