Need advice/info on a Freedom Arms revolver, Please.

[Kestrel]

I found a Freedom Arms SA revolver in a shop today. Used, but unfired, with box. It is a 4-3/4", .44 mag., 5-shot with the box, manual. It was a "Premier Grade". They wanted $1625 for it. Is this high? Are they worth that? (It is about 3 or 4 years old and the guy just had it in storage.)

I noticed the action was very tight. It seemed like if you shot it several times, the crud buildup around the cylinder might make it hard to turn. There was VERY little clearance for and aft. Anyone have any experience with these? The gun was absolutely beautiful. The wood grips were fit extremely well on the grip frame. It had adjustable sights, with a tall black front sight that looked as strong as a vault, as did the rest of the gun.

How can I tell if it's a model 83 or model 97? The gun nor the box had the model on it. The Freedom Arms web site says the Model 83 has a manual sliding bar safety. I didn't see any safety on this gun. I don't know what that means or if the manual safety is a recent change?

Thanks for any input.

Steve

 

[RCL]

Steve, this would be a M83. The M97 is not chambered in .44 Mag.
Retail on this gun is $1976.00. Gun shop price should be somewhat less.
They may be a little high at $1625.00, but it is unfired. Are they worth it? Oh yes!
The M83 was designed around the .454 Casull round. It is one of the strongest revolvers made. One reason is because of that tight fit you noticed. A poorly fit gun chambered for such a cartridge would hammer itself apart. This also adds to it's high degree of accuracy.
There are more than a few FA owners on this board, myself included. Mine is a Field Grade model in .454. With the right load it will shoot better than I can. It's around ten years old (my brother bought it new in the early 90's) and just as tight as when new, with a whole lot of shooting through it.
You really can't go wrong with an FA, as long as it's what you really want. In my opinion they are the best production revolver made.

 

[Jeeper]

I have a premier grade in 50 ae. It was made by gary reeder before FA actually started making them factory issued. They are amazing strong and well made. I really want one in 357 now.

 

[Standing Wolf]

...Used, but unfired...

I've heard that too many times still to believe it.

 

[Zeus]

Like someone mentioned, the model you saw is a 83. I have a Premier 454 Casull with 7.5" barrel and black micarta grips that I paid $1200 for last year. The fellow bought the gun and three 50 round boxes of factory ammunition. He fired the gun 15 times. I love this gun. They are probably some of the tightest tolerances that you will find on a revolver. Scoped off of the bench, my gun will routinely put all five rounds in 1"-1.5" at 100 yards. You can find one lower priced than that if you look. Gunbroker.com always has some for sale. I like the 454 personally because you can load down to 45 LC loads or load up to full house 454 velocities. It is devastating to deer here in Mississippi. I'm planning on ordering a 6" Premier this Spring in 475 Linebaugh. I'll warn you now, once you buy your first one, its sort of addictive. Get you one or two or more, you will not regret it......GS

 

[Kestrel]

What about the tight tolerances? Does the gun still function after shooting a number of rounds through it, with crud built up in it, before you clean it?

I'm also wondering what I would use the 4-3/4" barrel for? It's too short ot hunt with in my state. I do like that it's .44mag and not .454, since I'm not a handloader.

Also, is it heavier than a 4-5/8" Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44? (I've not handled one of those.)

The grips were a beautiful brown color and were fit almost like they were one piece with the grip frame.

Thanks for the help,
Steve

 

[RCL]

Steve, no problems with the gun locking up, normal cleaning (every trip or two to the range) will suit just fine.
Only you can decide what you may need a short barrel for. If you wanted to use this gun for hunting, sending it back to FA to have a new, longer barrel fitted is an option, although not a cheap one at around $300.00 with shipping.
Weight is close to what a SuperBlackhawk weighs.
The close fit of wood to metal, and metal to metal, is typical of any Freedom Arms revolver.