First post, thinking about my first FA revolver.

[RJM1973]

This is my first post to the forum and want to say howdy to y'all.  I am glad that Freedom Arms has a dedicated forum and plan to soak it all in the coming weeks and read up on the past threads.  I don't own one yet, but that will hopefully change in the future.

I have always wanted a FA revolver and now I finally had a chance to look at and fondle one.  My friend bought a used model 83 and showed me it the other day.  I have decided that I absolutely need one or two or three.  I have other single actions from Ruger, Uberti, Cimarron and AWA so it won't be my first sa revolver.  I really like shooting single action revolvers, I really like reloading for my single action revolvers, so I figure it would be a good idea to own one of, if not the best single action revolvers out there.  I have three that are on my "to-buy list" now but the first one is going to be a model 97, .224-32FA with either a 7.5" or a 10" barrel plus a Lovell scope mount.  I am interested in this because I also shoot the .327 fed mag round through a Ruger sp101 so I have brass that I can make the case with and I really want a varmit revolver with a scope to do some hunting with.  I like the thought behind this round and it seems like it would do very well at varmit hunting, not to mention punching paper.

Others on the list are:

Model 83 premier grade, .454 casull with a 7.5" barrel with the standard adjustable sights.  I have always wanted a .454 casull and think this would be an ideal launcher for it.  It seems that FA and the .454 casull go hand-in-hand together.

Model 97, .45 colt with a 5.5" octagon barrel, round butt and and fixed sights.  Seems like it would be a great shooter and I already reload for the .45 colt, so it should be a gun I can shoot a lot.

What do you all think of the new .22 round that the model 97 is chambered for?  Is it just one of those wildcat rounds that serves the same purpose of other rounds or does it offer something different?  Do you think a chambering in .327 fed mag would be a better choice for a varmit gun?  Thanks.

[free4ever]

Welcome RJM1973!
I am somewhat new to this forum as well. A great place to get questions answered and trouble shoot problems. I was never a fan of the single action (my brother had a ruger 44 mag) seemed antiquated compared to my Colt double action. We were kids then and I've aged and (hopefully) grown wiser. FA has really made me quite fond of the single action, because it is a fairly new design and very contemporary. As you probably already know the fit and finish and action, lockup etc. are second to none. I am such a fan of FA that I am now even contemplating trading in a semi-auto to fund a second or third FA purchase. I even have a much greater respect for other brands of single actions as well (including that blackhawk). I'm not a ballistics expert so don't really have any opinion on cartridges, but have faith in the company...that if you purchase a "Varmint" class gun from them any of the available calibers will be very satisfactory. Unlike some companies FA does not (in my opinion) use customers as guinea pigs...all of the handguns and calibers are well tested and engineered before ending up in the publics' hands. One last note...as far as caliber selection my only advice is to stick to a caliber that is commonly used...especially with the ammo shortage and all. I think that way you can be assured that you will be able to find brass 10, 20 or more years from now. I've never reloaded personally (my granddad taught ballistics at West Point and loved to reload) I guess I am just lazy!? The ammo shortage is making me rethink this ...so I really regret not taking a greater (any) interest in reloading when he was still with us. 

[22popnsplat]

A freind of mine sold 3 of his rugers to buy his first Freedom arms , A year after that after he that made the statement that he wished had 3 more rugers he could sell to buy another.

[Ken ONeill]

I shot Bob Baker's personal 10" .224/32FA last summer. Even in a howling New Mexico wind, it was prairie dog/ rockchuck/ groundhog accurate to somewhere between 100-200 yds., depending upon the shooters skill, size of the target, and degree of wind. It would be greatly superior to the .327 Federal on such animals.
 I have used an iron sighted FA .32 H&R on groundhogs, and while lethal to 40 yards or so, it's challenged beyond that. The .327 would be a bit better, but would not approach the .224/32FA.
The only slightly annoying aspect of the .224/32FA to me is the fact that it requires trimming the necked cases .070". That's a personal thing though, and some might actually enjoy that step.

[Graybeard]

I also shot Bob's gun when he visited me here at my home to show me the new single shot and this revolver. It shot very nicely. He had two loads with him that day one of which apparently had a bit too much pressure as it was quite difficult to get cases out after firing. The other load just dropped out and shot just as accurately as the other.

It's a nice little round if it fills a nitch in your collection. I'm not sure it would for me but I think a lot of folks are going to like it.