Freedom arms or BFR, which one is the most accurate?

My Tacoma says both of you are wrong.

As for the topic at hand, I really wish that there was a place where I could handle a BFR and a FA both and see which fits.
Maybe I'll go to one of the big gunshows and see if I can't locate one of each to handle.

Like has been said, so much of a handgun is personal preference.
There is no doubt that both are incredibly made revolvers.
I want to fondle both darn it.
I would love to have a nice .44 magnum in either, but I don't now which I prefer because you don't just walk in a shop and see them on the shelf.

Cost for a custom and a Premier Grade FA is about the same.....BTW.

MaxP said:

Haha! In a past life! No time to play anymore, so I sold the Barracuda.

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So close!!

black mamba said:

My BFR in 454 has a 5" barrel, and with an UltraDot 30 on it will shoot a cylinder full of 340s at 1175 fps into a nice 1½" group at 25 yards.

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I have this same BFR setup very easy to shoot off hand but mostly it Is easy to carry which is something to consider in a hunting revolver

Don't even think twice
Get the freedom Arms model 83 24/7 365.
Buy a nice used one for around 1,200

I agree you will not be able to shoot accurately past 200 yards with either of those revolvers if you want to be able to do that and insist on a revolver you need a 460.
but if you really want one of those revolvers first of all you should get a 7.5 inch barrel and the freedom Arms fit and finish is bar none the finest handgun on the planet

Huntolive said:

I agree you will not be able to shoot accurately past 200 yards with either of those revolvers if you want to be able to do that and insist on a revolver you need a 460.
but if you really want one of those revolvers first of all you should get a 7.5 inch barrel and the freedom Arms fit and finish is bar none the finest handgun on the planet

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But it’s not a better revolver than a BFR. It looks better, but that’s about it.

It is better, period. They don't cost nearly $3000 for no good reason. The BFR is a great gun, especially for their modest price tag but they're not 'that' good. They're basically a Ruger clone with some improvements. They still lie somewhere between Ruger and FA. They are not linebored. They are not as precisely machined. They are not as well fitted or finished. Their grips are made of cheap materials and obviously prone to cracking, unless you opt for the black micarta. The only revolvers in the same league as FA are USFA or Korth. The Freedom Arms reputation has been well earned over the course of nearly 40yrs. IMHO, the whole appeal of the BFR is that they are obviously better than an off the rack Ruger and only slightly more expensive. One advantage I'll give them over FA is that you can order them from the custom shop blackened and/or case colored but then you're approaching FA money and still have a goofy screwed on front sight. Of course, I have no personal bias in play either.

Ditto what Craig C said
FA is Much nicer made
If you buy a used one smartly you can get one for no more turn the much less nice bfr

But if accuracy and 200 yards is your goal I wouldn't get either one I'd get a 460

I have both revolvers and have shot both many times at 100 yds with reloads. The 454Casull in my avatar wears a JP enterprise red dot and my BFR has an Ultra dot 30MM. [both have 7 1/2" barrels] My point being I am pretty much comparing apples to apples. I can't imagine how much shooting you would have to do to prove that one outshoots the other. I will venture a guess if you ran every type of ammo available commercially made the FA might have the edge. I would buy either one over and over again. Put them both in your hand and get the one that feels best.

Huntolive said:

Ditto what Craig C said
FA is Much nicer made
If you buy a used one smartly you can get one for no more turn the much less nice bfr

But if accuracy and 200 yards is your goal I wouldn't get either one I'd get a 460

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BFR makes .460s....

I’ll assume you’ve never shot a BFR...

The entire point of this thread is about the accuracy of the two revolvers - nothing more, nothing less.

Not gonna find an accuracy difference based on the ones i have of both types. The freedom arms is “tighter”. The bfr has many many functional advantages over the fa. Bfr waaaaay more affordable.

Samb1611 said:

Just an update on this discussion. Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on a new FA m-83 premier in 454 casull with an additional cylinder in 45LC, black micarta grips and trigger job. I should receive it in a couple of days. THANKS to all for your advice.

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You've done well, friend. You can't go wrong with a FA revolver, they're the best of the best, no one argues that!
Barrel length?
You know we're going to need pictures , range report, more pictures .
I've got a 10" , at first I thought it was too long (bought it used in pristine condition for a very good price) but the long barrel has grown on me, if I want it shorter the factory will do it for a few hundred bucks so no real loss if I get tired of its length.

Samb1611 said:

Just an update on this discussion. Yesterday, I pulled the trigger on a new FA m-83 premier in 454 casull with an additional cylinder in 45LC, black micarta grips and trigger job. I should receive it in a couple of days. THANKS to all for your advice.

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Outstanding! Congrats on the purchase - you won't be disappointed! FA's rock!

@Samb1611 So, was it your sense of typical accuracy of the FA83 or something else that swayed your opinion toward Freedom Arms?

Few really can make an adequate comparison between the two revolvers. Most are simply.... I like one better because that's what I have and I like it.

I personally never really wanted a big bore to shoot at ranges like 200 yds other than for fun. I hunted mostly in the woods and have never shot a deer at 200 yds. Varmints yes.

22-rimfire said:

@Samb1611 So, was it your sense of typical accuracy of the FA83 or something else that swayed your opinion toward Freedom Arms?

Few really can make an adequate comparison between the two revolvers. Most are simply.... I like one better because that's what I have and I like it.

I personally never really wanted a big bore to shoot at ranges like 200 yds other than for fun. I hunted mostly in the woods and have never shot a deer at 200 yds. Varmints yes.

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If it's any consolation, I have both...

Samb1611 said:

All the targets that were put up on all the forums I posted the question reference to these two revolver s. The FA had the tights groups. FA also sends a test target with their revolvers of a 5 shot group shot from 25 yards.

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I suspect that both brands, BFR and FA, are more accurate than I am shooting them. So to me it comes down to a money issue and personal preference. Both would get shot mostly from a rest and both would be carried in a chest rig in the field. Glad you're happy with your choice. Hope the sights work out for ya.

If it means anything to you, I would have chosen the FA also (if I could afford it) if I couldn't shoot either and had little experience with big bore single actions. I only have the BFR in 480/475 and have no plans to change that.