New FA83 .44Mag

[sc1911cwp]

I really enjoy having bought a FA83 that I will shoot in a few days. I always look for posts about shooting and hunting with it. However, some people out there really dislike FA. I understand the argument about it being too tight and such and the dislike of having to carry over an empty chamber. On the last reason I don't think having to carry with only four rounds is difficult. I've never gotten to shoot on a hunt with that number anyway. So having said that mine is from 1992. Anything I need to know besides having to learn to load so I line up an empty cylinder correctly?

[suba]

Load one, skip one, load three. Pull the hammer to full cock holding the spur while you pull the trigger lowering the hammer. From the side ( don't point the gun at your head ) double-check to make sure you see four rounds in the cylinder. Enjoy...

[parisite]

It's easy to find when you Google it, but John Taffin wrote an article entitled "The Perfect Cartridge in the Perfect Six Gun" about the Freedom Arms 44 Magnum. Great reading!!! I know you'll enjoy yours I have mine.

[HGunner]

Many experienced shooters do the load, skip, load drill but if you read the FA 83 manual you'll see that you can load 4 then let the hammer back down on the empty chamber (without bringing it to full cock). You then rotate the cylinder counter clockwise a little until it clicks in place. The great thing about this method is that you can slightly over rotate the cylinder (clockwise) while the loading gate is open and see that you are letting the hammer down on an empty chamber. It's also quick and easy to repeat in the field if you cock the revolver but decide not to shoot.  Read the manual carefully and call FA if you have a concern. They are very helpful.

[sc1911cwp]

I want to thank you all for the info. I went to the range the other day and used the first method. I will try the second. I really like this revolver. You can tell its well made and I like the heftiness of it. I will try the second method as soon as I get my reloading supplies in. I can buy the primers and powder at my LGS but I need to order the bullets. My dies and such for the Dillion 550B will be here by the end of the week and I can set that up on the die head with its own powder system. I also bought a rear express sight and front bead on GB last week as well as a fiber optic from FA. I also see a single stage press in my future

[picturerock]

And so the madness begins....


You are going to love your stay in the asylum.  I know I have.  I am glad I spent the money on my examples of Freedom Arms artistry. Just listening to the bank like clicks the cylinder makes as you cock it is a pleasure, let alone shooting it. 


Post a picture of your gun, why don't you?

[sc1911cwp]

I like the way you descibed the cylinder lock. It is vault like to say the least. I received my FiberOptic Sight  and Snap Caps from FA today and my Dillon dies and such are due tomorrow. I ordered bullets today but they will be three weeks getting here due to a backorder. So I may buy some bullets from the LGS to load up some rounds and have some fun. This revolver IS a keeper.

[myronman3]

i sure did like the one i had, but the barrel was too long for me.   i could hit a empty shotgun shell offhand most times standing back about as far as i could and still see it. 

[sc1911cwp]

Well, the dies and such are here. I need to adjust them this Friday night. The brass came and I have enough primers for the loading. I have powder, however my bullet order is going to take about three weeks. I was disappointed in the LGS as they had nothing but jacketed 240 grain and I had to go home and look up the loads, which were more than I wanted to start with. So I sent an order to GA and about 600 bullets should be here tomorrow. I installed the FiberOptic front sight and it is a quick pickup, even though since I wear glasses it is not crisp as I would like. I had bought an Express Sight off of GB with a front brass bead. Hopefully, they will be here on Saturday. If I do not have it all together Saturday I have Monday off. Someones gonna shoot some lead soon!

[Richard P]

You already know that the FA is built to tight specs. When you size your fired cases try a few in the cylinder. See if they will chamber fully. A case bulge wont be tolerated. You also want to keep the rim recesses clean. Additionally, rotate the cylinder deliberately. Dont let it slam against the bolt.
Protect the muzzle when cleaning. Enjoy shooting it.

[sc1911cwp]

I went to the range today after reloading 100 cartridges with 5 gr. of Titegroup and a 240 gr. LSWC. Soft recoil with no surprises. I am going to work up to get used to the recoil of a standard load. I like having so much versatility for reloading. The Dillon gave me a fit crimping as it wanted to seat the bullet down farther. I have to nuke that out. Yes, I found I have to keep the recesses clean or they are difficult to load. I don't understand the bolt thing comment though. I tried loading the way as suggested in the manual and it is easy.

[Richard P]

The ''bolt'' on a revolver is the piece that protrudes through the bottom of the frame and engages the slot in the cylinder. As you can imagine, boogering up this wont help cylinder alignment.
One other point on unloading the fired cases; be careful with the extractor rod and dont slam it into the cylinder mouth.  The 44 has a large enough hole in the cylinder that it doesnt present much of a problem, but the 22 has a much smaller hole and the cyl face could be damaged.   

[sc1911cwp]

OK, I understand now. Well, today I got my order from Missouri Bullets. That was a surprise as I thought it would take longer. I need to get some more primers now. I guess it never ends, just as you said.

[sc1911cwp]

I just wanted to update my posts. I've been shooting the FA using .240 gr Keith style bullets from Missouri Bullets over about 6.5 grains of Titegroup. Recoil is fine and the bullets are in my opinion fine quality, much better than GA. I'm getting used to putting the hammer over an empty chamber. It just makes me load more often, a little of a pain in the butt. As always shooting a revolver of any type sure saves on the cost of ammo as you tend to focus more on accuracy then quantity.  The thing I'm trying to sort out really is the limiting factor I have using open sites. I wear glasses and it's a pain. I have blades in fiber optic at .430 and getting one with the brass bead. I have a brass bead at .380. I found a rear express site and bought it. So I am trying to adapt before going for an optic of any type.