quote:

BTY, the dealer I am using is Mark at First Stop Guns. His word is gold and his prices are very good.

Wolfy, yes...Mark is the best! I've also been toying around with getting another FA. Let me know how you like the 475 when you get it....that's what I was thinking. The Premier I had in 454 had a 7 1/2" barrel, and would shoot 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards...great Whitetail gun. My next one will be 4-6" barrel, as a sidearm in Alaska.

I have a .475 with the 6" barrel. Couldn't be any happier with it!

Stopped at my dealer today and had him call FA to check on my order. Was originally quoted early/mid July. FA is now saying about 5 weeks more. They're just finishing late February's orders and shipping them this week. My order date was 3/29

Man, I hate waiting games!

Be patient, Brandon! You won't be disappointed!

Being fortunate enough to have both a few Freedom arms and several guns by Hamilton and a few other artist-'smiths I would have to say it all depends on your taste. If you want the finest "production" revolver in America, even if it does look pretty much like the next FA, then go with it. It is the best buy for the money as far as quality, durability and accuracy goes. If you feel a revolver is more than a swiss watch like tool, a custom from Hamilton, Alan Harton, David Clements, Jim Stroh, John Gallagher, Andy Horvath or Ben Forkin will take longer to get and cost more but it will be made just the way you want it. 5 1/2" octagon barrel - no problem. A long frame Ruger remade to match a FA topstrap so it accepts a FA scoope mount - no problem. Elephant ivory grips with a bisley hammer spur, color case frame, #5 style locking base pin - no problem. It is all just a matter of taste, likes and how a guy wants to spend his lawn mowing and can pickin' up money.

I have a 6" FA in 475L. It is a a great handgun.

My only thoughts are, with a Ruger made into a Custom handgun, it is still always a Ruger.

I have a Ruger 44 Mag Super Blackhawk I bought in 1970. It is a good handgun, but it "ain't" no Freedom Arms...

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I have a 6" FA in 475L. It is a a great handgun.

My only thoughts are, with a Ruger made into a Custom handgun, it is still always a Ruger.

I have a Ruger 44 Mag Super Blackhawk I bought in 1970. It is a good handgun, but it "ain't" no Freedom Arms...

No a proper Custom built on a Ruger is a different animal. I have both FA-83 FA's as well as customs built on Ruger Bisley frames. I would take one of my Huntington built customs over a FA-83 all day and twice on Sunday

YMMV

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I have a 6" FA in 475L. It is a a great handgun.

My only thoughts are, with a Ruger made into a Custom handgun, it is still always a Ruger.

I have a Ruger 44 Mag Super Blackhawk I bought in 1970. It is a good handgun, but it "ain't" no Freedom Arms...

You are aware of who it is that casts FA's frames aren't you? Just a Ruger? Hardly. My custom Rugers are head and shoulders above a stock FA in fit and finish and everything else. And I can safely carry them with 5-shots in the cylinder. I love FAs, but a high-end custom Ruger is another animal altogether.

Here is one of jwp's custom Rugers:

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
You are aware of who it is that casts FA's frames aren't you? Just a Ruger? Hardly. My custom Rugers are head and shoulders above a stock FA in fit and finish and everything else. And I can safely carry them with 5-shots in the cylinder. I love FAs, but a high-end custom Ruger is another animal altogether.

Here is one of jwp's custom Rugers:

I would certaintly expect a custom Bowen to be a better handgun example than a production FA otherwise wouldnt see the sense in spending the extra money for all the details. But only the buyer can decide if these extra details are worth the extra $cash.
In 3 days I'll be at 5 month wait for the FA. Certaintly a little beyond the 8 week wait originally quoted when I ordered it.

Snowwolfe -- don't get either of us wrong. Jwp has 8 FAs, I only have one ( ), but when someone says that "it ain't a Freedom," I take issue with that.

...don't know why, probably NE450's doing, but I have wanted a .475 FA for some time. Last week there was one posted on GunBroker with a lot of extras for 60% of replacement cost...so I bought it. 6" Premier, Mag-Na-Ported barrel, scope mount, B&L 3200 2X scope, 100 new cases and dies.... Except for the standard laminated grips it is identical to the .41 Magnum I have had for about 7 years.

I know a lot of people here like the Bisley grip over either ther FA or a Ruger Super Blackhawk but have had and shot a lot of all three give me the FA any time. Currently have two Super Blackhawk Hunters one SBH grip frame and the other is a Bisley. In shooting 300 cast loads that are going in the 1300+- area the Bisley griped gun transmits the recoil to my right palm and down the underside of my shooting arm. The SBH style grip just rotates and lifts my arms up in recoil. A friend who has a Bisley Flat Top 4 5/8" .44 Special found the same thing with his gun...and bought the same gun with the BH gripframe and much prefers shooting that one with heavy loads.

Have ordered some LBT style WFN GC bullets from Montana Bullet Works in 330/400/420 grain weights. This gun will not be hotrodded or maxed out....1000-1200 fps should be just fine for my 60 year old wrists and elbows and the deer I will be hunting with it. Anyone have any suggestions on any bullets/moulds/loads that seem to work well in the FA .475.

FF..hope your gun comes in soon....with the octagon barrel it should be a beauty...

Bob

Mine came in last week and the bullets arrived yesterday...



The gun was made in 2000 and came with all the paperwork and a trail of receipts. Looks like I am the third owner. First owner ordered the gun with Mag-Na-Port and 3# trigger in 2000 at a cost of $2000.00. Gun was sold to the gentleman I bought it from in 2006... Looks like new...





Received the 330, 400 and 420 grain LBT WFN-GC bullets and loaded all of them behind 12.0 granis of Unique. Load is supposed to be very accurate and about 1100+- fps... Just hope the load shoots like the test target...



Anyone have a preferred cast bullet for the FAs?

Thanks...

Bob

ps..heard that the waiting time for FAs is 25 weeks...

I use Montana Bullet Works a lot and Beartooth some as well in my 475 and 500 Linebaugh's. Don't own a FA, did once though. I would be cautious buying, making sure you understand the throat dimensions as I have read of folks having some issues (loaded round not fitting chamber) with some cast bullets in the FA 475's.

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
I use Montana Bullet Works a lot and Beartooth some as well in my 475 and 500 Linebaugh's. Don't own a FA, did once though. I would be cautious buying, making sure you understand the throat dimensions as I have read of folks having some issues (loaded round not fitting chamber) with some cast bullets in the FA 475's.

It is good practice to make sure the bullets fit you want to use fit the particular revolver you want to use. Good advice for any brand of revolver.

Thanks for the replies... I emailed with the owner of Montana Gold before buying the bullets and all three fit just fine.

Shot 10 rounds of each weight yesterday at 20 yards and all were very accurate. I really like the 400 grain as the SD is the same as a 300 grain .41 of 330 grain .44..should penetrate like no tomorrow...

Bob

Well this sucks. Dealer called to tell me the revolver was ready to ship. Asked him to confirm the options and they didnt build it with an octagon barrel.
Looks like they are going to have to redo it but if they tell me another six months they can refund the deposit as far as I am concerned.

Sorry to hear that, Snowwolfe.

Interesting, now it has the octagon barrel, lol. Guess I'll find out for sure when it hits my dealers door.

Fingers crossed, snowwolfe. Looking forward to some pictures!

I love my FA's but it is tough for me to not favor this Bwen Nimrod 5 shot 45 Colt with Fishpaw Dall sheep grips I was able to snag a few weeks ago.

Almost 6 months to the day from order to delivery. But all I can say is WOW. It has been awhile since owning a FA but the fit, finish, and tolerances are even better than I remember.
Worth every penny of the price of admission.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Almost 6 months to the day from order to delivery. But all I can say is WOW. It has been awhile since owning a FA but the fit, finish, and tolerances are even better than I remember.
Worth every penny of the price of admission.

Congratulations! Post up some pictures!

I'm surprised it took someone so long to ask for pictures! I was biting my tongue on it, myself, figuring he'd put them up soon!

Yea, I knew you guys would ask. was just being to lazy
http://s26.photobucket.com/alb...view¤t=FA1.jpg

For some weird reason I can not upload the right side. Can share it with anyone via email or if anyone can post them here I can email them to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Yea, I knew you guys would ask. was just being to lazy
http://s26.photobucket.com/alb...view¤t=FA1.jpg

For some weird reason I can not upload the right side. Can share it with anyone via email or if anyone can post them here I can email them to you.

photobucket's asking for a password to the album

Maybe this will work:
http://i26.photobucket.com/alb.../snowwolfe/FA1-1.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/alb...48/snowwolfe/FA3.jpg

Wow....that octagonal barrel is stunning! Still waiting for mine to be delivered. I'm suspecting another month since you ordered yours a month ahead of me...

Agree. I've had the revolver out of the box several times examining it and contiune to be amazed at how well all the surfaces are mated together. Virtually seamless construction.

I was beginning to regret ordering it after recently purchasing a BFR as the BFR cost a great deal less but the regret was gone the minute the FA was picked up and the action cycled. A BFR and FA might be similar in accuracy but not in how they are built. The trigger on this FA is the best I've ever felt on a single action revolver.

That is stunning, Snowwolfe!! Wow! Congratulations!

Very Nice!

Thanks guys. Pretty happy with the overall combination of the shape, barrel, etc. Every thing seems to flow together rather nicely. Very glad I allowed some of you to talk me back into the 6 inch barrel.

That is simply stunning! Excellent!

Very nice, Snowwolfe. I've seen one that looks a lot like that one somewhere:

Very nice. IMO, the FA cylinder frame is the only one that looks right with an octagon barrel, all sharp cornered. I had a 5 1/2" M97 45 Colt so equipped and it was a beauty but has long since been sent down the road.