Hi
I now have two 7.5" FA 83's, and, one 7.5" Ruger .500 Maximum. The Maximum is going to stay at 7.5".

Now, the question becomes what to do with the FA's?
I'm after packing pistols, so they aren't getting longer. I was thinking 5.5" for one, and maybe shroud length for the other.

Most of the loads are going to be around 1200 fps with a 325 grain flat point, using 4227, most likely. I do have a bunch of 400 grain XTP's
@1350 out of the Huntington custom.

Briefly, the .475 Jack Huntington built will shoot pretty much one hole:



I'm kind of reluctant to cut the barrel down on the JRH gun, but, as jwp475 has pointed out, it won't effect accuracy, and,
I'd like to be able to put the gun in a reasonable holster.

In my experience, you don't seem to loose much velocity when the bullets are 350 grains and over, and, the powder is 4227.

I really liked Jack's BFR, shown next to my gun below:


Full velocity with factory loads, admittedly with 430-440 grain bullets, and using 297, but it was great fun to shoot.

Comments suggestions?

I don't like real long barrels but I found that going from 4&3/4" to 6" on my M83 .454 made a huge deferance in recoil and muzzel control.

I like my 5&1/2" revolvers also that is what I consider the perfect length for a bigbore revolver.

AKshooter:

I'm leaning to 5.5" myself. Otto Candies used that length and it worked on about 3 elephant, so
that sort of says something....

In general I like 5 1/2 and 6 inch barrels. I also like the 4 3/4 in 454 in a FA 83

I like my 6" 454 M83 in a FA cross holster.

Send one of these 475 to me and I will get back with you after a little T/E.

i like the 4 3/4 both my 454 and my 475 fa are that length. Even at that barrel lenght there boderline heavy for easy holster carry.

Here's mine:



The red dot makes the barrel length pretty much immaterial from the accuracy perspective.
Peter.

I spent 45 or more years thinking 7 1/2" was perfect on any single action, and I still like that length on some guns.
But 6" on an FA 83, including a .475, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy now...and has for several years. It's an imperceptible difference in velocity, and the sight radius is still adequate for my needs.

I like 6 inch barrels, they balance the best for me.

When I get one it'll be the 6" octagon.

As much as I like the look of SA's with the barrel flush or nearly flush with the extractor, the 5 1/2 and 6 inch barrelled guns balance much better, and I can shoot them noticeably better.

6-inches would be my choice.

I would leave the Freedom alone and just buy a shorter gun. It is just to darn pretty the way it is!

A 5 1/2" is the best looking for sure and certain