FA 83 with 4.75" barrel?

[HGunner]

Is anyone here shooting an FA 83 in 454 or 475 with a 4.75" barrel?  How do you like it?

[kmcmichael]

I have one of each and like them a lot.They carry easier. I use a strong side holster even in a vehicle.

[HGunner]

Does one work better than the other in this barrel length?  I was concerned that the blast might be harsh.  Have you hunted with them?

[BubbaNColo]

83 4.75" 454, hunted with, yes nice to carry on hip holster
Recoil was real snappy thou it didn't hurt as bad as you would think. I sighted in at 25 yards with buffalo bore 360 grain loads @ 1450fps shown on box!! I only shot 5 rounds!
Yes it jumped up hard but wasn't that much worse than my own 300 grain XTP mag loads I reload at 1400 fps.
 
Speeds are from reloading book, I bet I'm not getting that much with shorter barrel.
Got 45 colt cly to go with her and that shots nice and short barrel makes it feel funner.
 
I've thought about a 7.5" but can't come to terms with giving up this rig.
Pretty sure recoil between the two when running HOT loads isn't that differant, Freedom grip is designed to protect your hand and let gun pivot.
But the 4.75" with a scope would be a odd looking rig.
If I had money I'd own both, short barrel for packing, long barrel with scope for primary hunting rig.

[Ken ONeill]

I have FA 83's with 4 3/4" barrels in .454, .50AE and .500WE, and I like them a lot. However, the longer sight radius of the 6" barrel 83's allows me to shoot them a bit better. If I could have only one barrel length in an 83, it would have to be 6".

[BubbaNColo]

I've heard that before and I have to admit I don't really try to shot tight groups with my 454 and hunting loads, it has been more of survival tool against black bear here in Colorado, which for some reason what to break into our trailer during our fall hunting seasons. I wasn't that worried about it, most self defense shots would be pretty close.
Though I have to admit hunting with the 454 as my primary weapon I hadn't considered until this year during a Moose hunt and I found my shots wouldn't have been beyond 25 yards max so again didn't worry.
 
You make a good case for the longer barrel length for accuracy, it only makes sense and helps with hunting, it can't weight that much more than my current one in 4.75".
 
Bottom line I wouldn't trade off my 4.75" for a longer barrel, it wasn't my first choice but was cheaper than the 7.5" at the time and now really love the handling of the shorter barrel with mild loads. Instead I'd sell my first born for a 2nd FA in longer barrel.    I think both have there purposes!
 

[mk454]

i do shoot better with all my longer barrel 454's.  6, 7.5, and 10" but i find myself carrying the little one more.  it shoots great, recoil is more twisting but less on the palm of the hand than the longer barrels.  i've used mine in alaska for bear and hunting bear in arizona and new mexico.  in a word i love it.  while i do shoot the longer barreled guns a touch more accurately b/c of sight radius than the shorty but it is not a snubby that isn't good for anything longer than 10 yards, its' a hundred yard gun or longer if ya do your part.