Serial numbers on Freedom Arms

[Crazy Horse]

Can anyone tell the year of Mfg. by the serial number? I saw in the FA brochure that they charge $27 for a serial number search. I figure this search tells not on the year of Mgf. but when it was shipped and to what dealer etc. I am just interested in the year but not enough to pay $27...  :>)

[bigmitty]

Hi,
I called F.A. and the nice lady that answered the phone took my serial numbers and called me back in 15 min,with the mon/yr for both of them. No charge
Thanks,
Gary

[Crazy Horse]

Thanks! I will call up there next week.

[tuckerdog1]

I got the same nice treatment from the nice lady a few months back. No charge.

Tuckerdog1

[Crazy Horse]

I got the nice lady last week. My 454 was made in Feb of 1989 and my 475 was made in Sept of 2006. Now I need to get my 50 AE dated.

[WL44]

They e-mailed me details on my guns which I bought second hand here in SA.

I always assumed the search was if you wanted a custom number and they needed to search some or other government database to see that the number BLASTER454 wasn't taken by someone else. I could be wrong of course.

[Ken ONeill]

WL44,
Have you taken any game yet in the RSA with your FA's ?

[WL44]

Ken,

I don't yet have a license for my .475. I've hunted quite a bit with my 353 in .357 Mag. Nothing but smaller/medium antelope so far and warthog earlier this year. Hunted plenty, shot little!

After chatting with Sverre I was comfortable to take on warthog with the .357 as I had been a bit reluctant. I'm shooting 180gr XTP's at around 1350fps from the 6" maganported barrel.

Next week Thursday we go hunting again strictly for the freezer (and biltong racks), or that's the idea anyway. Will let you know how we go.

[Ken ONeill]

I've never taken a .357 to Africa, but that 353 should do a great job on duikers, steenbok, springbok and even impala and bushbuck sized animals. I remember that we're both fans of the 180 XTP. I look forward to hearing about your FA biltong hunting.
After I wrote this, I remembered a tidbit of info about the " moderately powered ".357 Magnum: The late Elgin Gates was treed by a Cape Buffalo...and the buff wouldn't leave. After hanging in the tree for a while, Elgin tired of this, and drew his short barreled Smith .357, which was loaded with the old metal piercing ammo. He drilled the buff through the boss and brain, dropping him dead.
Now...have we hi-jacked this thread or what?