Awhile back I was forced to sell a 1/4" at 50 yard, Freedom Arms 252. However, I did make about 500 bucks selling it, so I can't complain.

That said, I'm looking for a short barreled .45 Colt or bigger, for a Thomas Perfectionist holster.

Here are the possible guns so far:

option 1

FA 83, 757 with about a 7.5" barrel. I could maybe pick it up for 1100, and, then Jack would have to cut the barrel(200-300) and custom grips another 2-300.

Advantage is I have about 500 .475 bullets...Need about 400 more .475 Linebaugh cases.

option 2

Buy a S&W .500, either with a short barrel, or have one cut down, and shoot .500 JRH out of it, with the option for .500 S&W.
This gun won't fit in the perfectionist.

Option 3

Buy a Freedom Arms 454, for around 1200 bucks, have the barrel chopped down, and, I have about 150 rounds of 45 Colt buffalobore.

Option 4

Buy a .475 BFR, If I can find one, for around 830, custom grips, trigger etc. another 500 probably.



Option 5

Custom shop .500 JRH BFR. Not a chance, really 1800 bucks, and great gun, but, it's still a BFR, not an FA. Course it does have a transfer bar, and is a 5 shot, not a 4 shot...


OPTION 6

KEEP SHOPPING, AND wait for a really great deal...


Also considering a short barreled .500 Linebaugh, and use the .510 GNR in it. Like the 350's at 1350 fps.


Option 7

Take my 7.5" custom Jack Huntington .475 Linebaugh and have the barrel cut down to 5" or less.
Problem with that idea is the gun drives tacks already, and, I generally never screw with a one hole gun, or, sell it if I can help it...


Ideas? Suggestions?

Or save the money and go on a trip...

Sell the holster and keep the long barrel!

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:
Sell the holster and keep the long barrel!

+1

I pack a 6" FA Mod83 in 454, it is significantly snappier than the 7.5", but much easier to pack. You may be ahead to order a 6" from FA direct if you are going to be doing all the work on a used gun. Just my $.02

John

Looks like I may just shop for a cheap 45 Colt with a short barrel, and not worry if it's stainless...

Option #7.. Shorting the barrel will not affect accuracy

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
Option #7.. Shorting the barrel will not affect accuracy

I know that, but, Jack seems rather reluctant to mess with such a nice gun. On the otherhand, for a longer barrel, I've got the .500 Maximum with a 7.5" barrel.

One of our local gunstore owners got screwed over by his soon to be ex-wife and the DOJ seized all his stuff, and closed the shop.
Glad I got my gun out of the shop...

So, the guy with the 757 wants 1300 now, not 1100, or a gun in trade, since he doesn't have any competition.
No cheap, or even reasonable old rugers around.

I like option #5. No, the BFR is not an FA and that is what I find so appealing about it. BFR makes a working/field gun that I wouldn't worry about taking out in all conditions. Plus, every one I have shot is accurate, and they are tough as nails. The BFR is a very viable option in my opinion.

just have him install a brand new shorter barrel...

Rich

+1 BFR option.

I say go with the BFR in 475 Linebaugh.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
I say go with the BFR in 475 Linebaugh.

I think he has a .475, but .500 JRH would be sexy as hell!

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
I say go with the BFR in 475 Linebaugh.

I think he has a .475, but .500 JRH would be sexy as hell!

So would a 510 GNR...

Yeah, but he can get it straight from BFR without the wait!

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
Yeah, but he can get it straight from BFR without the wait!

Yea you go a point there..

i'd go with the 6" 454. to me it's a classic big bore round/gun combo and you have all the others. otherwise, a 454 bfr cut down to 5-5.5" inches could be had done for under a grand and have the transfer bar and a gun that'd be just a plain accurate workhorse.

tradmark, a .475 is a big-bore and a .454 is a, well, glorified .45......

haha, nice one. really i think you don't get to big bore until you hit the .500's and the smith don't qualify. it's less than .500

quote:

Originally posted by tradmark:
haha, nice one. really i think you don't get to big bore until you hit the .500's and the smith don't qualify. it's less than .500

LOL!

.510 GNR would be nice, if I could find one cheap enough. Problem is for what they run, I can pick up a .475 FA 83.

Now, this sets me off.

I don't get why shortened gunsmith cartridges create so much ire. Jack Huntington came up with the .500 JRH. Like the 45 colt vs. 454 battle, and, the .480 Ruger vs. .475 Linebaugh, depending on bullet
design and seating length they can get the same bullet weights going with less powder then the original case, or they have the EXACT same capacity as the longer cartridge,
again determined by seating length.

Gary Reeder comes up with the .510 GNR, a shortened Linebaugh.

I think the basic point of all of these is the recoil of the larger cartridge, due to case capacity, and bullet weight, is wasted on game. At some point, heavier bullets are going to go slower then
350 grain or so bullets, and, that reduces the wound channel. Sure, heavier bullets can be pushed nearly as fast, giving penetration most never need, over the 300-350 grain bullets, however, the price
is shoot ability, and, eventually we are going to end up with serious wrist, tendon, and nerve damage. It's not if, it's when.

There is a point where bigger is NOT better, and really has no functional point. If a .480 Ruger will, with a 370 grain cast bullet go end to end in a 2500 pound bison, at 1170 fps, what more do we need?


If one wants to shoot heavy bullets, and is young, nothing wrong with it, other then beating up your body and your gun.

I went on this little rant because I'm short on patience for people that think they have the "ONLY" solution.

I do see a reason for heavy for caliber bullets: using expanding, soft point bullets you need the bullet weight to maintain penetration and velocity through the target.

However, no one seems to use expanding bullets, since the cast bullets are cheap, accurate, and work, except in Kali where they are now illegal...

quote:

option 1

FA 83, 757 with about a 7.5" barrel. I could maybe pick it up for 1100, and, then Jack would have to cut the barrel(200-300) and custom grips another 2-300.

GOT IT! CAN'T WAIT FOR JAN 2...

That's right, you are saddled with a 10-day waiting period.......sucks!

Congratulations on the acquisition! Post up some pictures when you take delivery.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
That's right, you are saddled with a 10-day waiting period.......sucks!

Congratulations on the acquisition! Post up some pictures when you take delivery.

Nothing much to write home about. 7.5" FA 83 with Micarta grips, in near perfect condition.

I'll have the barrel cut down, and, might keep the stock grips, since they are small for my hands,
and shoot the light loads out of it, like the 420's at 950, or some of the 325 or 265 grain loads
I need to work up.