FA 97 vs 83

[AussieMike]

I just received a Freedom Arms 97 (possiibly one of the first two in Oz, certainly the first I've seen for sale). The 97 is a Premier Grade (they all are) however the finish is much closer to the finish on my Field Grade 83's. Is this usual.

Secondly, the 97 appears to be a very strong revolver, stronger than Smith 629 and I am surprised that it does not come chambered for the larger magnums. How hot do you guys load the 45 Colt and 44 Special versions? Also, do you consider the 44 Special stronger than the 45 Colt?

Regards,

mike

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I just received a Freedom Arms 97 (possiibly one of the first two in Oz, certainly the first I've seen for sale). The 97 is a Premier Grade (they all are) however the finish is much closer to the finish on my Field Grade 83's. Is this usual.

Secondly, the 97 appears to be a very strong revolver, stronger than Smith 629 and I am surprised that it does not come chambered for the larger magnums. How hot do you guys load the 45 Colt and 44 Special versions? Also, do you consider the 44 Special stronger than the 45 Colt?

Regards,

mike

Mike,
I'm not sure what you mean by, "do you consider the 44 Special stronger than the 45 Colt?"

The .44 Special has a SAAMI pressure limit of 15,500 psi.
The .45 Colt has a SAAMI pressure limit of 14,000 psi.

Usually the .44 Special shoots a .430" 240gr bullet while the .45 Colt usually shoots a .452" 250gr bullet. The velocity usually seen in a "normal .44 Special is between 750 fps and 900 fps. The same holds true for the .45 Colt.

The only possible advantage of the .45 Colt over the .44 Special is bullet weight. The .45 Colt can shoot bullets up to 300gr or more whereas the .44 Special is usually limited to the 240gr bullet.

IMO both rounds are fairly equal and will both do a good job for what needs to be done...

 

[AussieMike]

Sorry, I meant stroger revolver. What I was getting at was the reduction in strength due to the thinner cylinder wall in 45 Colt more than compensated for by the pressure reducing effect of larger calibre. Same rational as Elmer Keith changing from hot rodding the 45 Colt to hot rodding the 44 Special in a 6 shot SAA.

Thanks for trying to work out what I really meant.

mike

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sorry, I'm not much on that discussion. IMO it really depends upon who made the revolvers and how well the manufacturer heat treated the cylinder.

I will tell you one thing, IMO FA revolvers are probably one of the finest or the finest revolvers made today. They are very high quality, very accurate and probably built more solid than most.

 

[huntershooter]

I have a 97 FA in .45 Colt I use for hog/whitetail hunting and as a packing gun.
I'm shooting 265 gr. WFNGC that chrono 1200 fps+-. It is a handfull from a light gun the size of a "P" model Colt.
I have never read anything definitive on "Maximum loads" for this revolver, although Brian Pearce had an article on the FA 97 in .45 Colt years ago.
The cylinder length prevents the use of most heavy (300 gr.+) bullets in this firearm.
Realistically, a 250 gr bullet @ 1100 fps from this revolver should be up to anything you need IMO. If you "need" more horsepower than that from a handgun, I would get a different revolver.

 

[bluetopper]

Strength of the 2 caliber guns in a Freedom Arms really doesn't matter. They will both hold up well being loaded to 100% load density with magnum powders. Far exceeding the chamber pressures for factory ammo for their respective calibers.
However loading the 45 Colt to 100% density will be a far more powerful round than doing the same with 44 Special brass due of course to more powder volume.

Also congratulations on your aquisition of your new FA revolver.

 

[.44 Associate]

"Conventional" knowledge holds that the 97 in .45 Colt should not be loaded much past factory levels. The alloy is very strong, but the cylinder walls are still thin, relative to the 83.

The 97 in .44 Special is probably the strongest revolver in that chambering ever made and can be used with the full Keith load without any concern whatsoever. I have no doubt that the Keith load could even be safely exceeded, but at that point I start wondering why not switch to a .44 Magnum.