I'm looking for comments from people who own a Freedom Arms single shot. I have a very high opinion of FA but would like to hear from some personal experiences.

I have two: a 654 Silhouette, and a 7-1/2" Model 83 in 454. Here is what I will say about both:

The 654 is the most incredible handgun I have ever had the pleasure to shoot. It is chambered in 41 Magnum, and is spookily accurate. Also, for what it is worth, the revolver handles heavy bullets like nothing you ever saw. I have seen chronographed 1800fps using the SSK 290-grain flat nose, with 2" accuracy at 100 yards. The 1 in 14" twist really does this revolver well.

My Casull is a handful, especially with the micarta grips. I haven't shot it enough to really wring it out, but there is no reason to believe it won't shoot with the 654. Just understand that the 454 is not a "starter round", even in a 7-1/2" FA.

I own a Premier Model 83 in 454 with a custom serial number. The barrel/cylinder gap is scary tight. I have never been able to get a 0.0015" shim in the gap. 10"bbl, 3lb trigger, hardened replaceable forcing cone bushing. I have loaded NASTY high pressure loads with no problems. I have pushed 260gr jacketed past 2000fps with no adverse signs. I hurt long before the gun does. I opted for no holes drilled or EDM burned near the muzzle. When my body no longer handles the heavier loads, I know the lesser ones kill just as well. It shoots great with cast bullets as light as 160gr@900fps and with 380gr@1500. Jacketed is also fantastic-Punch bullets and the "hot" loads from Corbon. There are some heavier bullets on the market I believe 395gr-400gr. They don't stabilise well in mine. My favorite combination-which require neck tension-hovers around a 352gr cast at about 1400fps+/-10. This is very manageable, shoots way better(Ransom Rest)than I can hold and exits all critters I have pointed it at and made contact with out to 100yds. The 240gr loaded by Hornady is smokin' around 1900+, but shoots better than I could ask for. There are also some "reduced" loads on the market I believe 240gr around 1200. I forget the mfg, Corbon I think. Very accurate, very easy to shoot.

A shorter barrel might be nice.
A good reason to buy another. Maybe a bigger caliber this time.....475L.

I purchased mine when I was 23yrs old. I am 41 now and wish I had purchased more when they were less expensive.

A word of caution. Unless you want to sustain permanent hearing loss do not shoot without hearing protection! Top loads in the 454 are LOUD! I fired mine ONE time without hearing protection. I was in an open field and never heard the shot. My ears started to ring the moment I squeezed the trigger. I had the distinct displeasure of ringing for 3 days. Never made that mistake again.

I didn't have much large caliber handgun experience when I bought mine. I had stretched the frames of two Ruger Blackhawks with steamy loads in 45Colt-which by the way shoot supperb in the 454. I expected it to leap off the bench and smote me in the head after firing the first shot. Maybe even a little disappointed it didn't.

17-4 is a fantastic material. Second in corrosion resistance only to 15-5. Never the less, they should still be wiped dry and cleaned when done shooting.

Buy one and enjoy it half as much as I have and you'll have a friend for life.

Andy

Guys I really enjoyed reading your posts, being a fan myself, but I think the original poster is after feedback on the Freedom Arms SINGLE SHOT pistol and not the single action M83 or 97.

I wasn't aware they made anything other than revolvers!

The OP did say single shot, not single action.

Hmmmmm............

If it says "Freedom Arms," it's gotta' be good!

But it sure isn't as pretty as an '83 or '97...

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
If it says "Freedom Arms," it's gotta' be good!

But it sure isn't as pretty as an '83 or '97...

That makes a Contender look sexy.

I'm sure it is accurate, but that is one dog butt ugly gun.

It's supposed to punch pretty little groups of holes if that helps.

I am also interested in the accuracy of the FA single shot. I want something I can carry in the saddle bags of my Harley to go 'chuck hunting.

I also want to know about the accuracy of the single shot FA. I already know my model 83 is the most accurate big bore revolver I've ever owned, now I'm thinking the single shot would be just right to carry in the saddle bags of the Harley to take 'chuck hunting.

I can't say I'm remotely qualified to even post in this thread. But I will anyway!

I've always been enamored by the looks of the FA revo's but none of the local shops carry them. At the recent SCI show I had a chance to play with them. There was some old guy at the booth, he looked at, I looked at him, he pulled a revolver off the rack and shoved it in my hand...

I'm no stranger to handguns - I rather enjoy them much more than my rifles. I do have a Ruger Blackhawk .45 LC in the safe.

The FA made the Ruger look and feel like pig iron. I mean it. The Ruger was...embarassing compared to the FA. The fit, the finish, the trigger...just the way the FA felt in the hand. Just lovely.

One day I'll put one in the safe. They are flat out superb - cannot be faulted. I'd love to find a 5 shot .45 colt...at a price that's actually reasonable! Or maybe a 4" .44 mag...or a .475... ahh heck with it. 5-shot .480 ruger on a small frame...

It's my dream, right?

Robert-keep checking GunBroker and the other auction sites. I got my 83 for a song a couple years ago. Good deals can be had if you are patient.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
The FA made the Ruger look and feel like pig iron. I mean it. The Ruger was...embarassing compared to the FA. The fit, the finish, the trigger...just the way the FA felt in the hand. Just lovely.

In all fairness, the Ruger and FA are in completely different price ranges... and both are good values for their prices.

Having said that, if you think the differences on the outside are stark, you should look inside.

"The FA made the Ruger look and feel like pig iron. I mean it. The Ruger was...embarassing compared to the FA. The fit, the finish, the trigger...just the way the FA felt in the hand. Just lovely."


I can't speak on the single shots,besides there not quite my cup of tea, but I have handled some worked over Rugers which made the FA feel clunky, Don't get me wrong FA's are fantastic machines but a ruger gone through by a quality smith, there's nothing not to like.

quote:

Originally posted by Seasons44:
"The FA made the Ruger look and feel like pig iron. I mean it. The Ruger was...embarassing compared to the FA. The fit, the finish, the trigger...just the way the FA felt in the hand. Just lovely."


I can't speak on the single shots,besides there not quite my cup of tea, but I have handled some worked over Rugers which made the FA feel clunky, Don't get me wrong FA's are fantastic machines but a ruger gone through by a quality smith, there's nothing not to like.

Of course you are right,but a Ruger only cost 1/3 or less than a FA.You get what you pay for.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

The FA made the Ruger look and feel like pig iron. I mean it. The Ruger was...embarassing compared to the FA. The fit, the finish, the trigger...just the way the FA felt in the hand. Just lovely.

It's my dream, right?

In all fairness, it should feel and look better at nearly four times the price. That said, I have custom Rugers that make my FA 83 feel like a chunky monkey in the hand.

Here's my little .480 Ruger Bisley -- nothing clunky or "pig ironish" about it......

Thats a fine looking Ruger Whitworth. Is that the stock cylinder or a custom? To what extent has that gun been customized?

quote:

Originally posted by cobrad:
Thats a fine looking Ruger Whitworth. Is that the stock cylinder or a custom? To what extent has that gun been customized?

Brad, it's a 5-shot cylinder of the stock dimensions, so no machining of the window was required. The barrel is a PacNor and is 4-inches long. The pin has been modified so that it can be removed despite the short barrel. The action is smooth and crisp, and it was equipped with a Bisley grip frame. Thank you, sir!

Max, That is indeed a beautiful revolver!

Yupper, very nice.

Nimrod,
I handled one at SCI in Reno in 2011. I have 4 Contenders, and while it can probably handle hotter rounds, I wasn't all that impressed. By looks alone, I can't imagine they'd be hot sellers. To me it looked like a highly qualified machinist made himself a single shot pistol.
I too would like to hear from someone that actually has one. Maybe there is just, one!
Lou M

Here's a FA .475 Linebaugh. They work sorta O.K.

Yeah, sorta Doc! LOL! I will never tire of seeing that picture!