Well I finally got around to shooting the new cannon today, and I can report that it is one of the most accurate handguns I have ever shot. My lighter loads were fairly decent accuracy wise, and recoil was a non issue. I used these to more or less get on target with and did some "fun shooting", busting rocks and killing paper. I then decided to try the Winchester Super X 250gr hollow points that are advertised to be running 1300 feet per second, which is about .44 Magnum level power. These not only shot very very well, but recoil was completely tolerable, I could shoot these all day. I will be trying to duplicate this as a utility load. Once I got elevation and windage adjustments made I was able to take a seated position with my back against my rental car, my butt on the ground, and my forearms resting on my knees. This is an excellent field position that allows for pretty consistent shooting, and I was able to put 5 rounds into a 3.5"-4" blaze orange bulls eye sticker about 30-35 yards away with no problems. In fact three rounds were cutting the same hole directly in the center, and the other two were slightly to the left. I am a right handed shooter so I tend to push shots to the left if my trigger control is not perfect, plus it is an unfamiliar weapon and I frankly flubbed the shots. Total group size was still no more than 2" center to center, I just know that the 3 stacked on top of each other are more indicative of what the gun and ammo can do. I need to practice more to shoot up to this revolver!
Next up will be a session where I will shoot some full power loads. I am hopeful that they will be tolerable since the grip frame really seems to soak up recoil and just let the grip roll up in my hand instead of beating the **** out the web of my hand. I had heard that the grip shape of a Freedom Arms is specifically designed to manage heavy recoil and now I believe it, I have shot quite a few .44 Magnums that felt like they kicked a hell of a lot harder than this thing at the same power level.
Other observations:
The sights provide a nice crisp sight picture, but the front sight ramp does wash out a bit in some lighting conditions. A little better contrast would be good, and I may have to look into a brass bead, or fiber optic front sight (front sight blades are user removable/installable). The rear sight is extremely solid, but the windage adjustment is kind of a pain in the ass since you have to loosen a set screw then make your adjustment, and then re-tighten the screw.... and they don't use the same size screw driver blade.
Ejecting spent brass is also pretty easy, just pull the hammer back to half cock, open the loading gate, and rotate the cylinder until each chamber lines up with the gate. The chambers are really really tight and the cylinder is really really strong, so brass can't expand much so 90% of the time empty cases simply fall out of the chambers if the muzzle is up. I at no time experienced any sticky cases. Also nice is that I don't have to chase spent brass with a revolver, and as a reloader that is really nice.
The only thing I can seriously criticize is that the trigger could be a bit lighter. I have gotten used to triggers in the 2.2-3.5lb range, and this one is closer to 4.5-5.0lbs. Freedom Arms does offer a trigger job package, and I will be having one done at the same time I get my accessory .45ACP cylinder made and installed.
I might also like a slightly longer barrel than the 6" that is on the gun right now, but that will have to wait for awhile. Maybe if I manage to shoot this one out, I'll have a 7.5" installed. Then again as well as it balances and shoots right now, maybe not.