Buying used FA 83

[alamogunr]

Hi folks!  I don't post here often but I do lurk on the FA topics almost every day.  I have just committed to buy a FA Premier grade Model 83 with 2 extra cylinders.  The price was too good to pass up.  I know I can light load
.454 cases  but I have several .45 Colt handguns and a lot of brass.  The .45 ACP cylinder may or may not get used often, but I also have a lot of brass in that cartridge.  I guess my question now is, What is the best source of loading data for .454 and can cast bullets heavier than 300 grains be used.  This gun will be used almost exclusively with cast.  The FA site only goes up to 300 gr.

Also any comments on the combination of cartridges in this gun?
John

[MarkH]

I would go to Cabelas or Midway and buy several reloading manuals - Nosler, Speer, Hornady, Hodgdon ... I use the Hodgdon manual the most, followed by Nosler, but that is because of bullet and powder choices.  The Freedom Arms website is excellent data insofar as it goes. The bullet and powder companies have some data online at their various sites.

Lyman may have some good data for heavier bullets in the 454, but it has been a long time since I looked at it and I left mine at the office.  Hodgdon's regular manual, and the Hodgdon Annual Manual, get used the most here.  But I use Hodgdon powders almost exclusively.

I mostly shoot cast 300's, but cast 320's, 335's, 360's, and even 395's work just fine.  300 is the magic number it seems for my range/guns/loads.

I would expect you will wind up needing to get a spare shorter sight blade for use with the ACP cylinder.  This is what I would do, anyway, rather than having to jack with the rear sight settings all the time.

If it was me, I would use 454 brass in the 454 cylinder. The 454 does pretty good with plinker loads.

[Dusty Miller]

You may find something at handloads.com.

[EdK]

If you've been lurking here at GB's you should have noticed some folks reporting of accuracy difficulties with heavy-for-caliber cast bullets in the FA 454. I've not yet tried 325-350gr bullets yet but would like to.

[alamogunr]

Well, I finally got the FA .454 w/2 extra cylinders in .45 Colt and .45ACP.  I know why it was a bargain.  The owner never cleaned it.  I've been working on it for two hours  and have got most of the surface grime off the frame.  The cylinders are soaking in Ed's Red.   When I say surface, I mean the discoloration on the front of the cylinders and the window of the frame.  I'm not too concerned about the cylinder discoloration.  I would just like to put it there myself.  There is lots of grime in the nooks and crannies too, but I'm most concerned about the inner workings.  I don't trust myself to go any further than removing the cylinder and base pin and maybe the ejector rod housing.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I've even thought of sending it to Freedom Arms for a checkup.  Kind of wipes out the good deal if I do that.
 One thing I do know.  The .454 cylinder has had very little use or the former owner did clean it at least once.  Somehow I don't think that it was shot very much as a .454 Casul.

Again, any additional pointers would be appreciated.
John

[MS Hitman]

It may well be worth a trip back to the factory for your new purchase.  Think of it as an investment and not a cost and things may be a bit more palatable for you.  These revolvers are finely built firearms and maintenance never hurts.

[alamogunr]

Hitman, Thanks for the advice.

 While I was scrubbing lead out of the barrel(I still don't think I got it all out of the corners nexto the lands.), it occured to me that the extra crud, etc. on the .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders was  because of lower pressures and the brass didn't expand enough to seal the chamber.  Does this make sense?

Also, does anyone use a bore guide when cleaning FA barrels?  I got concerned by the number of strokes I had to make to get the lead out.  The only time I've seen more lead come out of a barrel, was a .44 mag. Browning 92 I bought used.  That guy cast(or sized) his bullets too small.

Thanks again, John

[MS Hitman]

Yes. it makes sense regarding the cases not sealing off.  Also, yes, I do have a bore guide on my coated cleaning rod; use it for all my firearms, not just the FAs.

[alamogunr]

Well! I finally got all the lead out of the barrel.  Took about 2 hours of alternate wet patches, brush. check w/dry patch.  Got down to a few streaks and put the JB paste to it.  Bore is immaculate. 

Also talked to Freedom Arms.  They are some fine people.  They turned me over to John, the gunsmith.  We talked for quite awhile and the condensed version of what he told me was to finish cleaning the gun and shoot it for awhile.  Then if any issues come up, send the gun to them.  He suggested that by that time  I may want something else done to it too.  Apparently a lot of customers buy a base model and then later decide to have some option added.

[MS Hitman]

Yes, they are some fine people.  Two of my FAs are secondhand to me and I would not hesitate to purchase another if the conditions are right.