Thanx guys for all your help. I have taken all of your advice and ordered the gun not ported. I have never been a fan of porting but my dealer was suggesting that I do get it done. I understand what you guys are saying about it not really helping or rather changing the way the gun recoils. The 45-70 just rolls in my hand. I once shot my friends ported 35 Herrett and thought that the porting was not what it was cracked up to be. the muzzle did stay down but the recoil was still there.
At any rate I have bit the bullet as they say and diverged from my usual Ruger and BFR loyalty to get the Freedom arms gun. I ordered a premium 7 1/2" barrel with black grips. I hope to see it in a month or so. I am buying a couple of boxes of the 900 fps Buffalo bore loads as well as some of the hot 420 and 440gr. loads. ( I may replace my morning coffee with a cylinder full of the 440's at my backyard range, I am guessing the end result will be the same as if I have had the coffee. neighbor may not feel the same though at 5am) I will let you know after I get it how I like it.
Thanx
Dave

Good choice on a gun, I'm sure you'll really like it. One of these days hopefully I'll have the spare change to comission my dream revolver. Premier grade Mdl 83 w/ 6" octagon barrel and black micarta grips in 480. If that doesn't pan out, I'm hoping rumers of Ruger using their super alloys for a Bisley and chambering it in 480 are true, as that will be easier finance.

Another option to porting is the SSK Arrestor Muzzle Brake. My buddy and I have nearly identical FA model 83's in .454---his has the muzzle brake and mine has the rifle porting (4 ports). Both are loud (what .454 is quiet?) but the recoil is different in character. The one with the brake seems to come back more and the ported one swings upward more. I have not fired an unported version, so can't make that comparison. pg

That would be a nice thought to have Ruger make a SA 480.
For what its worth I know of a 480 BFR for $600.00.
Dave

I picked up my .475 today. My dealer called at 1:00pm and by 3:00pm I had driven 70 miles to my county courthouse and had it added to my permit. Drove back to my dealers, picked it up and after some warm up rounds with the kids and the Bearcat I emptied my first cylinder full. 400gr's and WOW what a nice gun. Shot the box (probably should have stopped at 15 but could not put it down) I love the gun and can't thank you guys enough for you advice and not porting the gun. I didn't mess with the sites much but the gun shoots a tad low as I see it. 25yrd's for three shots was little more than one hole.
I have no complaints about this fine gun but did notice one quirk. The tip of my trigger finger is getting "cut" from the trigger guard where it hits during recoil. never had this problem before with any other gun but I did notice after the fact that the trigger guard is not as contoured as some I have shot. All in all not a real big deal.
I just ordered both a full house load and a reduced load from Buffalo Bore to see how they do.
I still love my Ruger's but my hat is off to Freedom Arms.
The cylinder is like a bank vault. Trigger was about 3.5lb's without the trigger job they offered so I left it alone. Our nuisance season for deer opens soon cant wait to put it to the test.


Thanx again
Dave

Glad to see another 475 Linebaugh user that likes the FA83. Be aware, that the BB light loads do not shoot to POA and will go about 10" above POA. Since the practice loads are so damn expensive, going to lighter bullets will bring the lighter loads to POA. I've had good results with a cast 350 gr with 2400, it just takes a little patience to get it to the same POI as the 440 gr load.