Freedom Arms quaity?

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AbitNutz

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Is it the general opinion that Freedom Arms are the finest quality SA revolvers ever made?

I know, "Them may fightin' words". I've never shot one but I've handled a few and it seems to me to be the pistol equivalent of a Rolex.

Are there others that are comparable?

OK, so I typo-ed Quality. So I'm not a high quality typist....maybe I don't deserve a Model 83.
 
I don't know but would love to have one, just can't bring myself to plunk down that much $$$$. LM
 
They make an exceptional handgun. Once I'm out of Pharmacy school, I plan on buying one in .45 Colt :D

The only firearm company that might compare is BFR.
 
Back in 2005 I purchased a 5-1/2" Freedom Arms Model 1997 in .44 Special. It's the most expensive gun I own, but worth every penny. Accurate, reliable, strong, and beautiful... it's 39 oz of pure handgun pleasure.
 
I've had my model 97 .357 mag for nearly a decade. I don't shoot it as much as my autos, but when I do it's always satisfying. Accuracy is outstanding of course the trigger is excellent. I did break a cylinder lock spring once, but that was fixed quickly and for free.
The only thing missing to me is click adjustable windage, but the sight is quite rugged, so I deal with it. My Williams front ramp sight pusher works to fine tune my F/A's rear.
A.gif
 
IMHO, they are the finest examples of the gunmakers art. There might be some custom builds better and you might throw a Korth in the mix, but FA is number one or maybe 1A.
 
I deliberately said SA so I could eliminate Korth. I've only seen pictures of Korths but if they're like my my Porsche 996, they're mechanical art...However, you must fly in some guy named Manfred from Stuttgart (pronounced SHHTOOTGHAT (click heals)) to work on it. He'll then tell you it was your fault and people like you should go buy a Jaguar. Where I say, "Ha! Got ya! My wife has a Jaguar and it doesn't run either!"
If it's an electrical problem..whoa! Just park it until Manfred can bleed a chicken over it and cast out the evil spirits. Korth's don't have electrical systems do they???

Anyway...Freedom Arms. Why do you think they cost that much to make? A couple of pounds of the finest stainless steel costs "X". So the rest is genius labor? It's not complexity or sophistication. The Model 83 is the finest because the same guys that build them could also likely make a WWII Hamilton Model 21 Ships Chronometer.

There is something in me that says that I could take the Hamilton Model 21 that my father left me, put it in the passenger seat of the 996, shoot it with a Freedom Arms Model 83 .454...and the gun and chronometer would still work afterward. However, the 996 would have a big hole in it, Manfred would be pissed and the wife's Jaguar would fail to start.
 
I think the in line boring of the charge holes is a factor. Guaranteed alignment of the charge hole with the bore. I'm sure it's a more time consuming method. Also the perfect fit of the main frame pieces to each other. The joints are nearly invisible, and can't be felt. Same with the grip fitting.
I've owned a few Rugers, and they're always reliable, but fitting and cylinder alignment is hit and miss. My last Blackhawk had one charge hole that would throw it's rounds ten inches higher than the rest at 25 yards with jacketed ammo. I though the fault was mine until I marked the holes and bench tested it. That's when I decided to save up my money and get one good revolver.
 
Freedom Arms

I have not had the same experiences as all others here.
I have owned three Freedom Arms
One Model 97 5.5 inch 45 Colt plus Acp cylinder
One Model 83 454 Casull
One Mini Revolver in 22LR ( front sight fell off this one, got repaired )
I have had several issues, they are so tight I could not shoot handloads
without some difficulty, now I am 52 years old and have loaded my own rounds since I was about 10, supervised of course. Even a Lee Factory crimp die wouldn't help enough.
They are fantastic weapons , but I found them a bit over engineered.
I now shoot a Stainless Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt and a BFR 45 Colt Plus power
and find them more to my liking and price range.
I am sure the Freedom Arms shot way better then I do but I am more then happy with I still have and consider the Freedoms a lot of money for something I could not appreciate enough.
I am sure most will see this as blasphemy ,but it is only my opinion.
P.S. I even found most factory loads difficult to chamber, on both of my guns, anyone else ever see this?
 
The chambers are tight. But the only handloading problem I've had is the limited cartridge length with .358" lead bullets. The throats are a tight .357", so my .358" LSWC loads have to have the shoulder at/near the case mouth. I guess I've learned to live with it, because my Marlin likes them that way too.
As long as we're be blasphemous, the bore did have some scratches across the tops of the lands which caused leading at first.
No issues with factory ammo. Thought of having the throats opened up, but decided to live with it. The accuracy is worth the foibles to me.
 
Freedom arms

You know the issues with lead bullets were probably what irked me the most, I suppose I should have just not been such a cheap skate and stuck to jacketed.
They were not nearly so troublesome, I think it was really more a bad fit for me.
My Ruger and my BFR are more accurate then I am, so I figured what is really the point?
Another bit of trivia, the Freedom arms for sure, and I would bet the BFR are made by Pine Tree Castings , which means it at least started its life as a Ruger!!!
The Freedom Arms are all about the finest machine work I have ever seen on a gun, bar none.
I just like to point out that for me at least , the issue was far more shooter related then gun.
I sold them and got to have about double the toys at least!!!
 
I was guided by a man a few years back in Wyoming who said he worked at FA for several years. He said they paid low wages and he never got above $8 per hr. Also the man who originally designed the gun got $250 royalty per gun off the top for each sold. He said he loved the work but could not live on the low wages. Sadly could never afford one of their pistols
 
Another bit of trivia, the Freedom arms for sure, and I would bet the BFR are made by Pine Tree Castings , which means it at least started its life as a Ruger!!!
Click to expand...

Are you serious?
 
I was guided by a man a few years back in Wyoming who said he worked at FA for several years. He said they paid low wages and he never got above $8 per hr. Also the man who originally designed the gun got $250 royalty per gun off the top for each sold.
Click to expand...

Profits are evil and disgruntled ex-employees are always truthful.
 
I deliberately said SA so I could eliminate Korth. I've only seen pictures of Korths but if they're like my my Porsche 996, they're mechanical art...However, you must fly in some guy named Manfred from Stuttgart (pronounced SHHTOOTGHAT (click heals)) to work on it. He'll then tell you it was your fault and people like you should go buy a Jaguar. Where I say, "Ha! Got ya! My wife has a Jaguar and it doesn't run either!"
If it's an electrical problem..whoa! Just park it until Manfred can bleed a chicken over it and cast out the evil spirits. Korth's don't have electrical systems do they???

Anyway...Freedom Arms. Why do you think they cost that much to make? A couple of pounds of the finest stainless steel costs "X". So the rest is genius labor? It's not complexity or sophistication. The Model 83 is the finest because the same guys that build them could also likely make a WWII Hamilton Model 21 Ships Chronometer.

There is something in me that says that I could take the Hamilton Model 21 that my father left me, put it in the passenger seat of the 996, shoot it with a Freedom Arms Model 83 .454...and the gun and chronometer would still work afterward. However, the 996 would have a big hole in it, Manfred would be pissed and the wife's Jaguar would fail to start.
Click to expand...

ummm. ahhhh. well, uh. You know, I, uh..........Nevermind.
 
Freedom Arms

I am very serious about the Freedom Arms being cast by Pine Tree Castings
which is a division of Ruger.
I do not mean to imply that that is a bad thing either, Ruger also casts for S&W and
and lots of other people too.
They are very , very good at it.
They do not try to compete with a Freedom Arms on fine machining and finish work however.
Just a matter of different areas of focus, I don't believe Smith does any casting whatsoever they work with barstock forged metal and buy out any casting work they need.
Just as the frames of NAA arms autos are made by Kahr, and early Kimber frame were machined by S&W until Kimber sold enough to get their own larger CNC machines.
I love Firearms trivia, and no whether you believe me or not , check it out , it is all true.
.
 
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