FA 83 safe carry??

[Marsh1]

Can the 83 be carried safly with 5 rounds? I don't have mine yet, but ubderstand it doesn't have a transfer bar like the NM Rugers. Can someone please explain the sytem.
Thanks,
Marsh

[Fiveshooter]

  In this sue everyone world we live in the official answer is no. The model 83 does have a hammer block safety that must be manually engaged. It seems when people do dumb things and forget to set the hammer block and kill themselves or kill or someone else the manufacturer gets the blame so no it must be. But then again I can't think of any job you would have for a .475 that 4 rounds would not get done

If 4 rounds from a .475 don't kill whatever it is your needing to kill you better run like hell

[Marsh1]

Well, thanks I guess. Can you or someone explain how this safty works. If it is engaged, how safe is it.
Marsh

[dubber123]

Thanks Marsh for asking that, I have always carried 5, on the first hammer notch,assuming the safety was internal like a Ruger.  I would like to know how it works also.

[Dusty Miller]

Hey, I've got an 1994 Modle '83 in the safe and another on the way.  I wanna know too!!

[SJPrice]

Put my vote in the carry 4 with an empty chamber under the hammer camp.  I am wondering what would be the need to carry five and take a chance on injuring or killing yourself or someone else.  If four rounds from a FA cannon can not do the trick, one more is not likely to help either.  It is not like a FA is likely to be your CCW gun and you are going to be in a gun battle with one.  And if you are, just wait till the bad guys are lined up and shoot through 7 or 8 of them with one shot.  Just tonight I had occasion to "retire" a coyote crossing my horse pasture.  I shot him broadside through the shoulders at about 40 yards with my 475 and a 420 grain cast lead leaving at 1,300 fps.  He was in front the willow in the back pasture at the time.  The willow trunk is about a foot and a half thick and the slug went through the coyote and the willow.  I for one would not want one of those slugs  taking off by accident.

[Marsh1]

I love shooting coyote's.
But regardless of how many I carry, I still would like to know how the safety works and how dependable it is.
Marsh

[Fiveshooter]

Marsh,
         Let me clarify a bit. The hammer block saftey is a steel bar that can be raised that holds the hammer off the firing pin. You engage this saftey by raising the hammer slowly not quite to half cock then gently lowering the hammer on the saftey bar. You can tell when it is engaged properly by the obvious gap between hammer and the back of the firing pin. As far as how safe it is, well I personally believe that if properly engaged it is very safe. However it is not a passive saftey as is a transfer bar. It is when a shooter may forget to set it or not understand how to set it that an unsafe condition exists. Because not ALL people can be trusted to set the saftey correctly that the manufacturer is forced to recommend an empty chamber under the hammer. In short there is nothing wrong with the design of the hammer block saftey but it is NOT automatic. I would not be afraid to carry with all five loaded and the hammer block set but I can not recommend anyone else do so because of legal reasons.

[Marsh1]

Fiveshooter, that is an excellent description. The safety you describe sounds ingenious and I can't help but wonder if FA invented this or if was borrowed and perhaps improved on.
Anyway, I can't wait to get my hand on mine and investigate the mechanism.
Thanks,
Marsh

[Bob Baker]

The best way to learn not only how to safely carry your M83 but how to properly operate and use your M83 or any other firearm is to read the manual.  We provide a manual with every revolver as well as have a PDF file of the manual on our website or will send one at no charge to anyone who requests it.

The M83 safety is a manual sliding safety bar.  The idea behind it is to have a very strong, rugged and dependable safety even under severe conditions and one that doesn't affect trigger pull so the potential accuracy of the gun isn't diminished by a poor trigger.

[Marsh1]

Thanks Mr. Baker. Now please hurry and send me my first new FA.
Marsh

[SJPrice]

Thanks for the advice Bob and the explanation of the reason for the type of safety used.

[Boxhead]

I much prefer the deign of the M97 to that of the M83 for the very reasons listed above. Would be nice to see the same on both guns.

[Cowboybart]

Bowen Recomends not shooting his Ruger conversions w/o a case/cartrige in every hole.   If memory serves, I think it could damage the loading gate.  I don't know what is different w/ a FA, but I have always carried my 454 with all 5 holes loaded.

[scott williams]

freedom arms revolvers have recessed chambers so the loading gate is not unsupported if a chamber is empty as on non=recessed rugers

[Old Griz]

Good heavens. If you are paying that much for a firearm, you should read the manual and do exactly what it says. They put it in there for a reason.

[Marsh1]

Me thinks their lawyer put it there-for a reason.
Marsh

[SJPrice]

Hmm, I wonder how many lawyers were involved in making folks carry a Colt SAA with an empty chamber.