M97 finally back - barrel chop 4 1/4, round butt, flutes

[97shorty]

So happy to get the call from my FFL tonight saying the M97 357 mag had finally returned from its trip to Freedom, Wyoming.

It started life about 3 years ago as a 5 1/2 with standard wood grips. Shot beautifully, but balance and grips always felt a little not quite right in my hands, though it was always such a pleasure to shoot, and nicely accurate.

My goal was to make it as easily carryable - short and light - as possible without sacrificing the accuracy characteristics that the F.A. 97 is known for. Considered a 3 1/2 barrel but decided against it because 1) accuracy in my hands may suffer, 2) proportions looked a little better to me in 4 1/4, 3) case ejection isn't as easy with 3 1/2, and 4) I can always shorten it later if needed.

Thought about keeping it as is and ordering a new gun, but that would take 8 to 9 months compared to only 2-3 weeks for the mods to my existing M97, and it would have cost 3 times as much (of course I'd have two guns, but sometimes fewer choices are better).

Definitely wanted the rounded butt/grip for packability and weight savings, and fluted cylinder(s) to shave a little more weight. Also requested a set of Evergreen grips because I just love the look of that green, wanted this piece to not look like every other.

So off it went for several weeks, and came back with a 4 1/4 barrel, rounded original grips and rounded evergreen grips, and flutes on all three cylinders (357, 38 spl, 9 mm).

Definitely feels lighter. It's noticeable. Seems more balanced in my hands, and grip more comfy, and those green grips are just beautiful. An expensive operation for sure, but so pleased with the result. If I have only one complaint it's that the laser etching on the barrel is ever so slightly blurred on one end, but I chalk it up as "character" due to the fact that these fine pieces are hand crafted by real humans, and I'd take that any day over the alternative; it's what makes these pieces so special. As an added bonus, they removed a small scratch I had managed to put in the barrel.

Can't wait to get out and shoot this again. It's definitely Gun Number One, the best I've ever owned, without a doubt the one I'd keep if I had to have just one. No other gun has ever given - or will ever give - me so much enjoyment. Powerful, plinker, packable, precision - and on top of that, hand-crafted beauty. It can do it all. Thank you F.A.

Couple pics:

[greenrivers]

Really beautiful! It looks like all business and easy to get there.  If you need a hand testing it out, I would gladly help out.

[HGunner]

Your gun came out great!  Really looks nice.  Thanks for posting and please give us a range report.  I'm interested to know how you like shooting the round butt and shorter barrel.

[97shorty]

Will definitely follow up with a range report. Might have to wait a few days but already loaded up some 158 gr 357 magnums, its intended diet, and looking forward to sighting it in and seeing what it can do at the range. Keep an eye on the thread for results. Took the gun out again tonight to just admire it, and can't help thinking it's as close to perfection as I'll ever have.

[sharps4590]

When I first read the title I didn't like the sound of it at all.  After seeing the revolver.....ooooo...that's nice!!!!  And I would think that in .357 it is even handier now.

[97shorty]

When I first read the title I didn't like the sound of it at all.  After seeing the revolver.....ooooo...that's nice!!!!  And I would think that in .357 it is even handier now.

I know what you mean. I was a little hesitant about getting all this done - what was I doing to a perfectly good gun? I brought it to my FFL to ship to Freedom, then went back and retrieved it. Couple days later, brought it back again, and this time let it go.

But it was all driven by function and my specific needs. I knew it was going to be a bit of an oddball, an uncommon set of options, and maybe even a little ugly - but I also wanted something unlike the others, and when I look at it, all I see is beauty, and in 357/38 for my uses (trail, plink, range/target, packable) it's right on.

It deserves a nice holster now. I hear Simply Rugged calling...

[sharps4590]

Well 97, it certainly "came out good"!!  I have one in 45 Colt and while I know I won't do it to mine just because I have other things I want to spend my money on right now, it is food for thought.  I believe the only thing I wouldn't do is round the butt.  Other than that...I think they're all improvements....and that's something unusual for me to say because I am normally loathe to alter an original appearance much.  I can almost imagine your angst at shipping it off.
 
I'm going to have to get mine out of the safe...I think my rear sight is different than yours.

[97shorty]

I am normally loathe to alter an original appearance much.

I think we're all often so tempted to "modify" and "customize" -  every now and then I'll go through that with an item, and find myself wondering if it wasn't just better off leaving it alone. Lots of variable at work there though - the degree of customization is driven by each user's unique combination of needs and wants, and I suppose that's what makes the process (and hopefully the end result, too) so enjoyable. That said, using a product in its stock/original form can be so rewarding too.

Thanks for the comments.

[benny123]

You knew what you wanted and Freedom built it for you. I'm not sure how "loathing" comes into play with a factory retrofit.  Perhaps, if you grabbed what tools you had in the garage and went at it yourself.

Anyway, I really like the evergreen grips and flutes on your '97.  I had planned to have FA craft a similar pair from stock they incorporated on the "Alaska Guide Series"--or similarly named-- but decided against it due to cost. Though it was about a year and a half ago, I still regret it.

The flutes along with the shortened barrel and rounded frame look fantastic--plus, all available aux cylinders ensures your probably gonna have something to shoot. Going short says alot about your abilities. For me, the 4 3/4" 454C was the limit. I sold it to a board member partly because i struggled with it more than my 7.5". Not really a preference matter, shorter radius just required more patience and skill.

This was a nice read, thanks for the post.

[sharps4590]

benny, that's just my opinion, applicable only to me.  Originality is just important to me.  It obviously doesn't have the same importance to you and that's fine.  I didn't say I loathed shorty's changes and indeed called them improvements.  Still, it is not how the piece originally came from the factory I used to live across the highway from.