Finally got a chance to get out and go shooting today. After a long morning of raking leaves, my to-be brother in law invited me to go shooting with him at the town's police shooting range (he's a K9 officer). He got a new AR 15 for his birthday a few weeks ago and has his annual pistol competency test coming up next week. I decided to put a few mags through my daily carry Dan Wesson PM7 10mm, as well as confirm zero on my Rem 700 .223 for the upcoming coyote season.

The real reason for this post is to discuss my first thoughts on my new FA model 83 .475 Linebaugh that I took delivery of a few weeks ago. I was honestly a bit intimidated by it at first. I have a 5" .460 x frame S&W which is stoutly manageable, but I anticipated the recoil from this .475 to be worse. Boy was I mistaken. The recoil of the .475 (Hornady 400gr @ 1300fps factory loads) was surprisingly manageable. The biggest issue I had today was overcoming the new feel of a SA grip frame and the absolute pounding my support hand index finger took from the trigger guard! I'll have to revisit and revamp my grip before my next range session. Only fired 10 rounds from it today. First group was all over the place at 12 yards. Second group was a vertical string about 6" tall from the same 12 yards. I've clearly more work to do before deeming this fieldable, but I'm a very happy person thusfar with a single action. I'm thinking a .22 or .32 SA might go a long way for acclimating me to the grip. Just finished ordering a Simply Rugged Pancake/chesty puller rig for the FA, should be here in 3-4 weeks.

Ahh, the sweet sweet smell of burnt gun powder from a spankin new gun!!...

Yes, especially a big bore single action, nice!

I suggest picking up some Titegroup powder and go to Hodgdon's website and load lighter slugs to 900 - 1000 fps or so until you can tighten the groups up. I do not know how experienced of a big bore shooter you are but given the groups and the quality of the firearm I suggest you back down on loads. If not a handloader there are specialty loads out there that are milder to include factory 480 loads. That gun will typically deliver <1" groups at 25 yards and proportunately similar out to as far as you are able to hold the gun. My free 2 bits.

Boxhead, I'm planning on starting reloading as soon as my basement is somewhat finished, probably spring. I ordered some of Buffalo Bore's 900 fps loads to try. I agree with the assessment that I need to play with some downloaded rounds for a while. There isn't a question in my mind the 6" group is me as opposed to the gun. Appreciate your insight.

Try to keep your grip and sight picture as consistant as possible. This goes a long way to shooting the revolver with accurracy.

I've been working with my grip and dry firing every morning when I get home from work for 10 or so minutes. Hoping to get out to the range end of next week when I get back from a bit of whitetail hunting in upstate NY.

quote:

Originally posted by FFemt5287:
I've been working with my grip and dry firing every morning when I get home from work for 10 or so minutes. Hoping to get out to the range end of next week when I get back from a bit of whitetail hunting in upstate NY.

Keep us posted, Brandon!

FFemt5287

I know what you mean about recoil. I have 3 Ruger old Vaqueros, 1 44Mag and 2 45Colt and when loaded for "bear" they produce a recoil that gets my attention quick. In my case it is the second finger of my right hand that gets whacked big time. I have large hands and that knuckle area takes a pounding.

The 44Mag is a Bisley style with a 5.5" barrel and one of the 45Colts is a Bisley with a 4.75' barrel and the Bisley grip design will manage the recoil so much better that a regular Vaquero grip. Your shooter has the Bisley type grip design I think, and that makes the whole deal easier to handle.

I'm loading 300g. bullets in both of the Bisleys and getting 1390 fps out of the 44mag and 1265fps out of the 45Colt. The 44 Mag is very accurate and I love to shoot it with those rounds of 240g at 1000 fps all day long and especially at long distance. 200-350 yards. A jerk on the trigger at that distance will cause an embarrassing miss of 20-40 feet.

I think I could handle the recoil on those 300g loads but not for more than 18 shots before I start to anticipate the recoil and the groups really start to open up. What I found that works for me is an old motorcross racing padded glove. I used to race motorcross and still have some of the gear and stumbled upon these gloves and using just the right one I can now shot 45-50 rounds of the 300g loads and tolerate it better.

When hunting with either one of these boomers I don't use the glove and just get whacked but for practice sessions it makes the knuckles feel better on the ride home.