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

The fa are clearly nice, but the safety bar on the bfr is very nice. I've shot a few bfrs, my dad has had 3. All very accurate and we'll made gun. There the one revolver I think they could be 50% more money and I would not complain.

I wish they would make a 35 rem.

Ohen Cepel said:

Small point as I know we're talking FA83s for the .454, but the FA97's do have a transfer bar safety.

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We were talking .454s, therefore FA83s. An FA 83 is ostensibly a four-shot revolver.

TEKoken813 said:

Didn’t the late great Bob Munden shoot a Freedom Arms revolver? I’m sure he doctored his a little but I’d still love one.

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His preferred sixguns were a set of highly modified Colt SAA's. His guns are on display at the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody, WY.

DWFan said:

His preferred sixguns were a set of highly modified Colt SAA's. His guns are on display at the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody, WY.

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I read this & assumed I guess. “Without question, Freedom Arms revolvers are the most accurate single-action revolvers money can buy.” — Bob Munden

Again, I’ll put the BFRs against them any day of the week in an accuracy test.

MaxP said:

Again, I’ll put the BFRs against them any day of the week in an accuracy test.

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So it it's not strength or accuracy, what's the extra cost of the FA buy you, in your opinion?

IMHO, in terms of quality and accuracy the BFR lies somewhere between Ruger and Freedom Arms. Definitely better made than a Ruger and only slightly more expensive. I do think you're getting a better gun with the FA but you're paying a lot more for it. Comparing new to new, about three times the cost for a Premier Grade. If you shop around used guns, Field Grades FA's can be picked up for only slightly more than a new BFR. I paid $1500 for mine with both .454 and .45Colt cylinders.

The FA is also probably going to be more accurate on average but also probably not enough to matter.

For me, I just don't care for the BFR. It's beefier but also less refined. I don't care at all for their grip frames, especially what they call a "Bisley". It's ugly and they put too much room behind the triggerguard, which throws off the balance and makes them nose-heavy. I also don't care for the blocky frame, the ejector housing, the shape of the triggerguard or the screwed on front sight. The FA is more refined and lighter to boot. All that said, if you like them and want to get into a .475 or .500 as economically as possible, they can't be beat. You can get a BFR a whole lot quicker and cheaper than a custom Ruger or even a new FA.

My choice is clear.

CraigC said:

IMHO, in terms of quality and accuracy the BFR lies somewhere between Ruger and Freedom Arms. Definitely better made than a Ruger and only slightly more expensive. I do think you're getting a better gun with the FA but you're paying a lot more for it. Comparing new to new, about three times the cost for a Premier Grade. If you shop around used guns, Field Grades FA's can be picked up for only slightly more than a new BFR. I paid $1500 for mine with both .454 and .45Colt cylinders.

The FA is also probably going to be more accurate on average but also probably not enough to matter.

For me, I just don't care for the BFR. It's beefier but also less refined. I don't care at all for their grip frames, especially what they call a "Bisley". It's ugly and they put too much room behind the triggerguard, which throws off the balance and makes them nose-heavy. I also don't care for the blocky frame, the ejector housing, the shape of the triggerguard or the screwed on front sight. The FA is more refined and lighter to boot. All that said, if you like them and want to get into a .475 or .500 as economically as possible, they can't be beat. You can get a BFR a whole lot quicker and cheaper than a custom Ruger or even a new FA.

My choice is clear.

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Yep, I agree with all of that.

The BFR is an excellent value, but it’s just not for me.

They balance fine. I have put a lot of time behind the trigger of a lot of BFRs and I stand by my assessment of their accuracy compared to FA. If you’re looking for a pretty gun, by all means get the FA. If you want her slightly less pretty sister who can do more, get the BFR. Keep in mind I have both. That Bisley grip frame may not be aesthetically pleasing, but when you start loading heavy, it’s the best grip frame IMHO. I suspect those who are critical of the BFR haven’t really spent much time on the range or the field with them. They are all that.

Ya I think the bfr balance fine, the longer barrel 10" if I remember not as much. I started shooting the 45-70 and 500 s&w when I was 10 or so and the 7.5 were very manageable for me.

I would be happy if I could afford either one.

troy fairweather said:

Ya I think the bfr balance fine, the longer barrel 10" if I remember not as much. I started shooting the 45-70 and 500 s&w when I was 10 or so and the 7.5 were very manageable for me.

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I agree, however with the 7 1/2-inch barrel the long frame balances well.

AustinTX said:

The BFR is an excellent value, but it’s just not for me.

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That's where I'm at. They're excellent guns and a great value but just not for me. Going against my better judgement and buying one isn't going to change that. Although I'm sure a free one might.

The balance point on a revolver is at the middle finger. It's basic physics, if you add weight or leverage, you alter the balance. The added weight and leverage of the BFR shifts the balance forward. I don't like it. Some do or don't care and that is fine. We don't all have to like the same thing.

CraigC said:

That's where I'm at. They're excellent guns and a great value but just not for me. Going against my better judgement and buying one isn't going to change that. Although I'm sure a free one might.

The balance point on a revolver is at the middle finger. It's basic physics, if you add weight or leverage, you alter the balance. The added weight and leverage of the BFR shifts the balance forward. I don't like it. Some do or don't care and that is fine. We don't all have to like the same thing.

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Have you shot them?

MaxP said:

I agree, however with the 7 1/2-inch barrel the long frame balances well.

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Ya I much prefer the 7.5" dad had a 10" may have been a 450 marlin but can't remember. The ones dad had shot extremely good, like touching holes at 100yards good. I do think one has to shot a bfr before they say they don't like them.

I don't have to shoot one or own one to know that I prefer something else. I've handled a bunch of them and come close to ordering one but decided otherwise. If it's less comfortable handling it, it's not going to magically improve when the primer pops. The BFR and their "Bisley" leans heavily on the Super Blackhawk pattern. Which has the same design feature I don't care for with the XR3-RED and that is too much room behind the triggerguard and that banana shape. It totally loses the more vertical shape of the Ruger Bisley, which is a lot of the appeal. I'll take the Ruger Bisley and everything else is competing for 2nd place. Between the two in question, I prefer the FA's 1860 style of grip over the SBH or BFR. I've kinda been doing this for a while and arrived at my position through a lot of trial and error. I am comfortable in trusting my own judgment. Others are free to choose however they see fit.

In my opinion, if I am free to have one, the FA83 is overall a much more refined, svelte design.

But had you actually touched off some heavy rounds you would see how good that grip frame is. All that space behind the trigger guard prevents what Ruger Bisley do and that’s Bash your middle knuckle on the trigger guard.

Ohen Cepel said:

Small point as I know we're talking FA83s for the .454, but the FA97's do have a transfer bar safety.

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MaxP said:

We were talking .454s, therefore FA83s. An FA 83 is ostensibly a four-shot revolver.

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I was trying to politely point out that your statement of FA's not having a transfer bar was not entirely accurate. I acknowledged that the 83s do not have one but some FAs do.

Ohen Cepel said:

I was trying to politely point out that your statement of FA's not having a transfer bar was not entirely accurate. I acknowledged that the 83s do not have one but some FAs do.

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I got that, it’s all good.

MaxP said:

But had you actually touched off some heavy rounds you would see how good that grip frame is. All that space behind the trigger guard prevents what Ruger Bisley do and that’s Bash your middle knuckle on the trigger guard.

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Might be relevant if I had that problem but some cannot see beyond their own proclivities.

CraigC said:

Might be relevant if I had that problem but some cannot see beyond their own proclivities.

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I have I guess falsely been under the impression that the weight of one’s opinion is directly related to one’s experience. Oh well, it’s not the first time I’ve gotten it wrong.

It's just a difference of opinion on a matter that is highly subjective. Nothing to get in an uproar about.

CraigC said:

It's just a difference of opinion on a matter that is highly subjective. Nothing to get in an uproar about.

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No uproar here. Can’t compare without actually comparing.

So, features on one gun may cause that gun to feel a little less at home in the hand, that make
Said gun sooooo much more comfortable when under fire and this the magic of the bfr. I can say ever fa is accurate that ive had. Nooooo regrets in purchasing them. That said theres some real functional advantages to the bfr. Thus far
To me both guns have been more accurate than i am and its been a wash in that regard.


To have the opinion it does help
To have fired both. Holding a gun only tells you so much. Then again, i think we all knew that.