looking to buy FA 454 need info

[wengwill]

I have been dreaming about a FA 454 for a long time. I think the time is finally getting close. From what i gather a field grade 6 in. barrel would be the best place to start.A few ? i had how much does a ported barrel reduce recoil does it bring it in the 44mag. range? And would i be better off buying new for warranty? Have also thought about 475.Lin.want to go bear hunting in Alaska someday but dont know about recoil! Just dont want to spend that kind of money and regret it.Also would i be better off with a SSK muzzle tamer?

[Graybeard]

If you've never fired a .454 Casull in an FA83 then you do not even need to be thinking about a .475 Linebaugh.

Warranty on the field grade is one year to the original buyer so if you are dead set on a field grade then the warranty on it vs used really isn't that big a deal and the savings is likely large.

Premiere grade carries a life time warranty to original buyer and is clearly worth considering buying new if you are gonna get one of those.

Properly applied a brake helps reduce muzzle lift on a revolver like this but it honestly doesn't reduce recoil as such. It just redirects it to a different vector. You will find it helps. No it's not gonna make a .454 kick like a .44 magnum tho you can do that with your loads if you are a reloader. But if you want or need that level of recoil just buy a .44 magnum.

The .475 might be marginally better for bear but not enough to concern yourself. If you're talking of coastal brown bear or grizzly as opposted to black bear then if you can afford the hunt you can afford a new gun for the trip as well. If you can't afford two revolvers then you clearly can't afford to even think about a grizzly or brown bear hunt.

[Ken ONeill]

Graybeard's comments are right on. I would add these thoughts: No, Magnaporting will not reduce recoil of full charge loads in a .454 or .475 to that of a .44 Magnum. SSK's Arrestor will reduce recoil more than Magnaporting, but this should be considered with either: the porting will throw a bunch of trash and lead accumulation onto the sides of the front sight base. This can be a nuisance to clean if you shoot a lot of cast bullets.
FG guns come with Pachmayr grips standard - I hate 'em. However, the FG guns can also be ordered with PG grips if you choose, and all of my FG's were ordered that way.
I'm a stickler for clean guns in immaculate condition. Some people aren't, and that's fine with me. One great advantage with PG guns is that the owner can very carefully use Scoth Brite maroon pads to buff out scratches that guns acquire over time.
More than half of my FA's were bought new over the last 20 years, but I've also bought some used ones considerably cheaper...both FG's and PG's. Mechanically, all the used ones have been perfect, although I did send one FG back for refinishing. One takes fewer chances with cosmetics in buying PG's used, because of the ability to clean 'em up with Scotch Brite Maroon if necessary.
Finally, .454's and .475's generally get shot a lot less than .44 Magnums by most of their owners, due to recoil and cost.
I use .475's for bear and large critters, but a well handled and properly loaded .44 Magnum will also kill a black bear well.

[wengwill]

Thanks for the info.Was not thinking about the diff. in warranty was just thinking about a less flashy gun for hunting.I do know the 454 is well capable of taking a grizzly and am 99.9% sure it is the gun i will buy but would like to shoot one first and explore my options.Have a 44Mag.Ruger Blackhawk 5.5 in.barrel and a TC.Encore in 308.Win. luv them both and recoil is no problem just dont want to go over my limits as i know a big gun will not kill if i cant shoot it. As for my bear hunt, will probably be later in life but would like to buy now and practice on some wild hogs.Just the type of person like to buy one gun for the job and stick with it.As for my Encore luv it but prefer to hunt with a revolver.I may consider another gun later if i become filthy rich lol. Have Pachmayr grips on my 44 and love them i guess we  are all different.
 
 

[Sverre A.]

I have a mod. 83 - and shoot very well groups with it.
But not better than my Bisley in .45 LC.

But the reason can be me!

Of course- there are a higher fps in mod. 83 - but if you shall use it for hunting - I would go for a Bisley and 325 gr HC.

When I compare the results on gameshooting - I can`t see any difference  - between 45 LC/325 gr/1050 fps vs. 240 gr. XTP MAG in 454/1880 fps.

For B5 - a mod. 83/390 gr/1300 fps - will be better.

Just my opinion!

[EdK]

Sverre, what's a B5?

For B5 - a mod. 83/390 gr/1300 fps - will be better.

Edit: thanks Ken I'm sure that's what he was meaning ... just didn't click at the time

[Ken ONeill]

I'm not Sverre, but I'm sure he means the African Big Five - Elephant, Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Lion and Leopard.

[Sweetwater]

Somewhere around 20 years ago, a Gentleman showed up on the IHMSA course in Green River, WY. He was from Lander, Wy and sported the first FA 454Casull I had ever seen. After the match, he was passing it around with a cylinder full of "light" loads for anyone who cared to shoot it. I took my turn on 5 steel pigs at 100yards. What a neat experience! Bang-flop, five in a row. Not unusual for me, but with a strange gun, I was impressed. It was by far the smoothest, nicest revolver I have shot to date, and I've had a bunch of clicked up S&W's that couldn't hold a candle to that FA! Ah, yes, the recoil got my attention. Manageable, but more than I wanted a steady diet of, and that was his "light" load... I could only imagine.

My recommedation? Find an IHMSA match and shoot some guns! The guys and gals have always been more than generous with their ammo and guns, after the match. New shooters and members are attracted that way! I was range master for a couple years and it never ceased to amaze me, the generosity and over all good will that was put forth on the range.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Lloyd Smale]

anyone buying a 454 or 475 that doesnt handload is about nuts anyway. If you handload a 454 or a 475 is a piece of cake. It can be loaded down and shot confortably and then a guy can slowly work up to the level you want to use it at. Ive got 454s 475s and 500s and very seldom run them at max power for anything. thats the beauty of these guns they can run heavy for caliber bullets at moderate speeds and kill anything on earth and do it with recoil that doesnt tear your hand off or plant a sight blade in your noggin and they will still be doing it when your grandkids are using them.

[EdK]

thats the beauty of these guns they can run heavy for caliber bullets at moderate speeds

Thanks for that Lloyd. 300gr and up cast at moderate speeds is all I ever shoot in my 454 yet people are forever telling me I'm only supposed to shoot 240gr JHP @ 2000fps (and complain the recoil is sharp and nasty)

[gary/mt]

I have a FA mdl 83 .454 Casull and absolutely love it.  It is the field grade revolver with custom SK smooth ebony grips, not the grippy pachmeyers.  A single action such as the FA 83 recoils upward with a slight twisting motion to the right and rotates smoothly in the hand.  It is not at all that unpleasant in recoil, whereas a double action revolver such as my SW 626 in .44 mag with pachmeyer decelerator's that recoils straight backward into the web of my thumb and finger stings.  I would, personally, rather shoot 10 rounds of single action .454 using a 300 gr bullet at 1500-1550 fps, than 10 rounds of max loaded 300 gr bullets out of the .44 mag at 1100-1200 fps. 

I am 5 ft 7 inches tall and weigh 160 lbs with fairly small hands.  The ebony grips were made for my hand shape, so the FA 83 fits my hand well.  My SW .44 also fits my hand well with the decelerators.  The difference in shooting the FA single action with almost twice the recoil energy of the double action .44 is that the recoil is more upward and rotates smoothly in my hand, giving a completely different type of recoil that is not as punishing as the more straight back recoul of the double action .44 mag.  I don't mean that the .454's recoil is not stout, it is just not as punishing due to its grip design for me.

I definitely would not go with a ported .454.  All you are going to get is a lot of noise.  I also shoot T/C Contenders, and would rather shoot a max 300 gr load out of the .454 than a max load out of my .35 Rem with scope.  My mdl 83 has an unported 7 1/2 in. bbl with open sights.
I had a T/C Hunter 12 in. bbl in 7x30 waters that was ported, and shot several deer and antelope with it, but traded it for a 14 in. unported 7x30 bbl due to having to shoot without time to put on my hearing protection.  LOUD, and permanently impaired the hearing in my right ear.  Go unported due to the unexpected while hunting, and save your hearing.  Just my two cents worth.  Gary

[Lloyd Smale]

got to agree with you gary. Those smiths hurt with heavy loads. My n frames see nothing but 250s at a 1000. Anything bigger i prefer a single action or a big DA like a redhawk.

[jerrykn]

FYI  If you are interested I have a FA premier grade 4 3/4" 454 fixed sights in the classified section. Pics linked in ad

Thanks

Jerry

[Groo]

Groo here
 I have both a 454-4 3/4 and 7 1/2 in  ported. the porting will hold down the barrel [ reduce rotation]
 and some people need that as the ears or humps on the grip frame can hurt....
 As to the SSK brakes--- Yes they will reduce rotation and kick back [ in the palm] but
 they must be run hard [ I have a TC in 411 JDJ with one]  If you will be using lower powered loads,
 magnaport will do as well...
 They are LOUD!!!!!!  I would shoot a non-ported barrel first, with heaver loads.
 then decide.......