Have you shot your new Freedom Arms 454 yet? If so, what are your thoughts?

That's pretty funny, considering how he trashed them in the bankruptcy thread...

Doubless -I did not trash them...wrote the truth/facts and I never said they were junk...just overpriced. Come on now, can anyone really justify $2200 - $2500 for a FA...really? Get with the program dude. I have a lot of handguns, factory and full customs by Reeder, Bowen, Linebaugh and others so I am pretty sure I know what guns are truely worth...and I think I know what overpriced is. They are!

That being said, I paid exactly what I felt a Premium Grade 454 was worth....$1150 slighly used. A new one is worth in real dollars about $1400. $2200+ and the joke is on FA...and that's why they are in the position they are. Fact.

Tom, no I have not shot it yet. Today is the 1st day off I had in a good while and shooting is not on the agenda. I plan of doing so this coming weekend, along with a Reeder BMF in 500 S&W. Now, that is a revolver WORTH the $2500 I paid for it. I will let you know what I think of the FA and will kinda be comparing it to my Reeder 455GNR revolver( 475L necked down to .45 caliber ) built on a Ruger Bisley Hunter. I just love the scope mounting aspect of this set-up. It is VERY accurate. More to follow.

I know you have not posted on Gary's site but there is another trip to Africa in the makings for March 2013 with Madubula Safaris and I signed up. I was there with them in 2006 and it was quite the trip. Longest shot was 260yds with the 378GNR on a Kudu bull. One is all it took. I love that cartridge in the Encore handgun platform.

Woody, Keep us posted Re: the Freedom Arms. I ahve been interested in Reeder's 455 for a while. Sounds like a winner.
I wish I could get back to Africa, but with the housing/construction industry in the crapper, it will have to be a wish for a while longer.
I agree with you about the 378 GNR. I have had 2 and loved them. I sold one and still have a 12"er that I shoot all the time. Nice and portable hammer.

You explain to me how a cylinder and trigger job from Hamilton Bowen, okay, plus a little barrel re-machining and re-bluing, is worth $1600. Explain how you justify that, and can't justify what FA does out of the chute... What do you think it costs to EDM a barrel, guy? What do you think shop time should run?

In short, FA is a custom revolver, they just do it over and over. Sorry, guy; you and I just see things differently.

And you shoot a freaking Encore? Yeah, you really know revolvers, don't you?

What does shooting an Encore have to do with knowing revolvers?????

Is an Encore a revolver? I don't THINK SO!

And answer the question. Both of you... justify Hamilton Bowen gouging the revolver world when FA offers the same quality for the same nickel, time after time...

I have a Bowen Redhawk, and it won't stay in the same county with my two FAs.

You two guys go hold hands and have a beer. You deserve one another...

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
Is an Encore a revolver? I don't THINK SO!

And answer the question. Both of you... justify Hamilton Bowen gouging the revolver world when FA offers the same quality for the same nickel, time after time...

I have a Bowen Redhawk, and it won't stay in the same county with my two FAs.

You two guys go hold hands and have a beer. You deserve one another...

What is your friggin problem????? You sound like a jealous little high school girl. I guess nobody can shoot any other type of gun other than a Freedom Arms? I LOVE my Freedom Arms and consider it worth every penny I spent on it. If you read my earlier post on the other thread, I quoted Mr. Linebaugh when he said there is no way he can take a Ruger and make it into a Freedom Arms.

quote:

Originally posted by Tembo:

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
Is an Encore a revolver? I don't THINK SO!

And answer the question. Both of you... justify Hamilton Bowen gouging the revolver world when FA offers the same quality for the same nickel, time after time...

I have a Bowen Redhawk, and it won't stay in the same county with my two FAs.

You two guys go hold hands and have a beer. You deserve one another...

What is your friggin problem????? You sound like a jealous little high school girl. I guess nobody can shoot any other type of gun other than a Freedom Arms? I LOVE my Freedom Arms and consider it worth every penny I spent on it. If you read my earlier post on the other thread, I quoted Mr. Linebaugh when he said there is no way he can take a Ruger and make it into a Freedom Arms.

I am talking to Woodrow; not you... and what is your fixation with high school girls?

Hey Doubless...I have and shoot Encore handguns, but I also have and shoot revolvers. Lots of them. Like at least FIFTY. I have 50 grand in rifles and 60 grand in revolvers and another 10 grand in 1911's so I think I know what the hell I am talking about. I just recently got a FA just to play around with so that should tell you what I think of them. I can afford to buy any damned kind of revolver known to man and plenty of em' if I wanted. So I state FA's are overpriced and the market AGREE'S, otherwise they would not be in a pickle. Bowen and Linebaugh have a Niche' market and people are willing to pay a premium for it, FA had it at ONE TIME but it is lost now and their overpricing themselves out of business. In other words to put it simple... they lost their "cool" factor. Is a revolver that shoots a 1" group at 50 yds really worth 5x one that shoots 1.5" groups when in the real hunting world it just don't matter. I don't get high on 1 hole groups like many people do..it is just not necessary for hunting. The FA is a hunting revolver...right? I also doubt I will ever shoot any of my non-FA revolvers loose either. Nuff said...I wasted more time than your worth.

Woody, what makes you think having a lot of firearms makes you an authority? I have 40 grand in revolvers and probably 30 grand in long guns, and I will gladly tell you I don't know squat, comparatively speaking. But I know what machining costs, and I know what materials cost.

FA relied a lot on selling to the IHMSA bunch. Now that sport has dwindled significantly, and their income has fallen. The negative press from at least one lawsuit didn't help, either.

Tell me something else: if they are such a bad buy, what happened to all the "ready to go" guns they had on their website a few months back? SOMEBODY bought them, didn't they?

And neither you or your friend has answered my question about why you think Bowen's work is worth what he charges and FA isn't. I am waiting...

The fact is one can buy a near mint FA for 50% of retail plain and simple. That is the point, I believe, Woody is making. Nothing more. The same can generally be said for a custom if one searches. My used but as new 500 L Bowen Nimrod was purchased for about 50% of what a new one will cost.

Boxhead, I beg to differ. He proclaimed himself to be the final authority on what an FA is worth. See the quote below:

quote:

A new one is worth in real dollars about $1400. $2200+ and the joke is on FA...and that's why they are in the position they are. Fact.

THAT is what I am challenging. And their pricing is NOT why they are in the position they are in. Were that the case, all the other high end pistol and revolver smiths would be suffering the same fate.

Ok, you admitted you don't know squat about revolvers. Conversation over.

How many times did you fail comprehensive reading, Woodrow? Obviously at least once...

Admit it: you made an off the cuff statement you cannot defend. And when challenged to do so, you take a cheap, insulting way out.
And oh, by the way, check out this brilliant post on the Ruger revolver thread also on this forum:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
I had a 45LC Blackhawk Hunter and did a conversion to 455GNR, which is the 454 Casull necked down to .45 caliber. Speedy without the whack on the hand like the Casull. Yes, they are hard to find...but not impossible. Around 200 were made, if I have to guess around 2007. Go custom and get what you want. Check out reedercustomguns.com


Oh, really? The 454 necked down to 45 caliber...? Yeah, you really know revolvers, don't you? Whatever credibility I gave you in the beginning (and it admittedly wasn't much) is gone. One more pompous ass identified.

guys this sounds like a slap fight between two 12 yr old girls. Jeez. "I have x amount of handguns" so on and so forth. Come on. You maybe wanna talk like grownups or what. Not my figth, but please.

well, FA was/is not indebted to their creditors, which means they are selling plenty of guns. what a top flight pistol is worth is different to everyone but they are certainly selling pistols, hell, i've bought 3 in the last year alone. they are the finest. they sell, and the only issue they've had is idiots that can't read a safety instruction or choose to ignore them and then try and get rich of a lawsuit. their pricing, sales rate is not the issue and this truly is a fact.

gun owners putting gun manufacturers out of business should not be tolerated at all and these people should be ashamed of themselves among other things that should happen to them.

Yes, but you have to count on the idiots purchasing your products -- very unfortunate, but if there is a possibility that someone will get hurt, some moron will figure out how.

quote:

Originally posted by kingd:
guys this sounds like a slap fight between two 12 yr old girls. Jeez. "I have x amount of handguns" so on and so forth. Come on. You maybe wanna talk like grownups or what. Not my figth, but please.

You post reminds me of this photo:

I have been looking for an excuse to post this!

Yep, and everyone posting here has had their turn wearing the rabbit suit. Bar none.

Everyone but you, Woodrow........



Dang, and I thought it was time to inject a little humor into the thread......serves me right. Were's my damn rabbit suit? It was here a second ago......

Woodrow stole it. For a fight with Doubless. Honestly Whitworth if you place them on ignore you will only hear a sound like a kid trying to talk with his friend's hand over his mouth. It's entertaining at times. Packy

wow and I never said a word!

packy, you could put me on your ignore list if you want to...but it would be your loss for sure.

BFR...I took the hit for you this time.

To all: I shot the FA .454 yesterday with my handloads w/ CP 335gr WFNGC and 25, 25.5 and 26gr of W296 and an OAL of 1.760 and it did OK....I was not overly impressed but it did handle better than I thought and I think the 4 port Magnaport worked to help with the recoil and muzzle jump. Was it accurate? I shot 1" groups with it at 15yds w/ open sights and was trying to get used to the revolver somewhat. I am going to get the express sights for it since that is what many of my other revolvers already have and I shoot better with them vs the Patridge type...but that is just my preference. I intend to get a scope put on it for the next shooting session so I can really see what the potential is. Overall, nice fit/finish and it handled well, is built very well w/ a super tight lock-up......but all of that considered I just cannot justify $2000+ for them, and some are higher priced yet when you factor in an action job ( which it should already have )and a few other things that should cost a lot less on a new revolver. At the end of the day however, it is a keeper when I factor in I paid just $1150 for it. I guess I did OK. Can't wait to get the scope on it though...then I will compare it to my 455GNR, which is a lot easier on the hands due to less pressure for the same performance. Maybe round-butt the gripframe too like many of my other revolvers....the large square butt bit me a few times in the flesh of my palm when I wasn't paying attention.

I have been following this thread with some amazement. Some guy buys a quality used gun for a very good price and all he does is complain about the price of a new one! I bought a used FA in 475 Linebaugh and I certainly don't go to bed every night thinking about the price of a new one! I just enjoy my gun! Before I die I plan on buying a Jaguar XK or XKR. I have NO plans to buy a new one, but I have always wanted one and used is the way I plan on going. No, I don't plan on complaining about how much a new one costs! I will just enjoy it. Why is this so hard?
Peter.

Gee Whizz...all I ever said was the new FA'a were overpriced for what they are...is that a crime or something? Yes, I did get a good deal on a nice revolver...I never disputed that. No, I never said they were junk or a piece of shit....just overpriced.....and even at that I was relating that "overpriced" concept to their financial difficulties causing them to go into bankruptcy and searching for a buyer. Yea, the shitty economy ain't helping but that is the smaller part of their problems. When you get to $2000 plus for a revolver...any revolver...the buying crowd starts getting thinner and thinner, and when that happens your overhead begins eating your lunch......real fast. A FA will sell a lot quicker at a more reasonable $$ and when you get to 5X the cost of a Ruger eyebrows start being raised...no matter how much quality you build into the thing. There is no longer any VALUE to the purchase. Even rich people want value for the $$ spent. You think if a new Caddy was 5X the cost of a Malibu it would sell? Thats pretty much a very comparable example as the FA vs Ruger example. Yes, I have owned them all so I can say they are a comparable. GM ain't the smartest...but right now they might be smarter that the honcho's at FA. GM came out of theirs, the jury is out on FA. Hey, for the record I don't wish FA any bad will...but I hope someone there is paying attention to Economics 101. Maybe they should be calling Rugers CFO for advice. I did ok with the one I got, it was worth what I paid for it ($1150) and I will leave it at that.

Peter...this one is for you. Why are YOU complaining about my statements. Better yet...why didn't YOU purchase a "new" FA revolver. Your ACTIONS speak volumes my friend.

Woodrwo, you might be interested in this thread from 2004!:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=956101441#956101441

FWIW I think you got a pretty good deal on your gun, I paid not much less for my Field Grade in 475L, but there is a difference in used prices between the two calibers.
Peter.
Peter.

Woody got a smokin' deal on that revolver IMO! I don't think I would pay more than that for one. But that's just me........

Well fellas, I was reading a gag, OOPS, rag, the other day in the only place they belong, yeah, you guessed right!
A new scope, just a little tiny thing. A good writeup and all.
I got to the end with interest until I seen the price--- $4000 -$4000- YEAH, $4000.
Our military will get them because the sucker tax payers will kick in the billions in pocket change.

That pict says it all Whitworth!

I was hoping y'all would appreciate it! LOL!