To heck with Smith, Ruger and Taurus!

[Sharps Shooter]

I’ve been looking very hard for the past 6 months for a 41 Magnum revolver, stainless, with a 4 to 6 inch barrel. Smith recently had a short run of 41 Magnum “Mountain Guns,” but only in blued. They also started building some more 657s. But they’re huge – 71/2” barrels, non-fluted cylinders and of course the 657 is an “N” frame. Ruger, as far as I know, has never built a stainless 41 Magnum. At least I’ve never seen one. Taurus is building their “Tracker” in 41 Magnum with a 4” barrel and it’s stainless. In fact, that’s what I ended up buying. If I’d had a chance to look the gun over before buying it (I had to order it in) I wouldn’t have bought it. It has a rough bore and the single-action trigger isn’t the same every time.
At any rate, my wife and I were in our favorite gun shop today when the owner, Sam told me; “Here, take a look at this forty one.” It was a Freedom Arms and it was love at first touch. Yep, it’s expensive - $1500.00, but I’ve never felt a better-balanced revolver in my life. Nor have I ever seen a tighter, better put together handgun. It’s stainless with a 4¾” barrel. So there goes our tax returns plus a bunch more.
Now I don’t want to spend $1500.00 on a handgun even though I think it’s worth it. I would settle for either a Smith or a Ruger. I won’t settle for a Taurus again. The trouble is, neither Smith nor Ruger builds what I’d settle for.
Is there anyone else out there who feels like maybe they’re oddball because gun companies don’t seem to want to build the gun(s) they’re looking for? Gun companies obviously build the guns a lot of people are looking for or they couldn’t stay in business.
I guess it doesn’t matter much – I’m getting a Freedom Arms 41 Magnum. So, Smith and Ruger, if you’re reading this – that’s $1500.00 that won’t be coming your way.

 

[Old Fuff]

Your $1,500 bought you what is probably the finest production revolver made today, regardless of the cartridge it's chambered for.

Unlike S&W, Ruger, Taurus, etc. the Freedom Arms cylinders are line bored in each individual frame. That means that each and every chamber is exactly concentric to the bore. End shake is held to .001" or less, where in a Ruger .004" is acceptable. An "all shots in one hole" group at 50 yards is not unusual. Where other manufacturers seek more ways to cut costs, Freedom Arms worries more about making the best gun.

Enjoy your revolver, and don't look back...

 

[Old Fuff]

(Deleated as double-tap)

 

[Majic]

Ruger has built the Bisley in stainless and chambered it in .41 magnum. They have also built the Redhawk in stainless chambered in .41 magnum.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Is there anyone else out there who feels like maybe they’re oddball because gun companies don’t seem to want to build the gun(s) they’re looking for? Gun companies obviously build the guns a lot of people are looking for or they couldn’t stay in business.

You're not an oddball for having particular tastes.

The firearms manufacturers of the nation tend to build to the least common denominator, which is to say: they build what they're sure will sell. They're not willing to take chances on guns that might not sell immediately. They're not willing to do custom work. A few of the wholesalers still order short runs of slightly out of the way guns, but even those tend to be mere variants on standard themes.

I've been looking for the exact right .41 magnum revolver for about a year and a half now. What I've seen at gun shows has been either the same old same old or grossly overpriced. What I've seen on the auction sites tends to be grossly overpriced or ludicrously over-described. Finding exactly what one wants requires a.) a great deal of patience and persistence and/or b.) lots of cash.

How about posting pictures of your Freedom Arms revolver, eh?

 

[Eleven Mike]

Is this a single-action?

 

[Old Fuff]

Is this a single-action?

Yes.

See: www.freedomarms.com

 

[PO2Hammer]

When I was ready for a top notch .357 two years ago, I researched getting a Blackhawk, sending out for timing, trigger job, steel grip frame and panels.
Turns out the total was almost exactly the same as a small frame (model 97) Freedom Arms Premier grade revolver ($1,250)
I bought the model 97 in .357 with adjustable sights, micarta grrip panels and a 4.25" barrel.
After the first range session, I knew it was worth every penny.

I shot some handloads in my F/A .357 today and the simple joy of loading the cylinder and feeling the front band of the SWC's seat in the throat with just a slight push of the thumb is just one of the little things that make you glad you scrimped and saved for a F/A. The Target was another!

As far as Ruger goes, I can't imagine everyone who wants a Bisley wants a 7.5" barrel. Also, Ruger&co, I'll kick in the extra dollar or two to upgrade the sights to steel instead of aluminum.
I ended up buying an aniversary model flat top Blackhawk this week because it was closer to what I wanted.

 

[sm]

If I ever get rich...I want to start with these two:

905-13 .44 Special (5shot) 4¼", 5½", 7½"
$1718.00 [ I want the 5 1/2" one]


904-21 .454 Casull® 4¾", 6"
$2038.00 [This one, for some reason, I would like in a special 5" version, if they would do so]

Then work on the .22 versions .

 

[mnrivrat]

Well you got what you wanted and you paid the price for it. Nothing the matter with that.

I don't particularly think it's a good comparison to view a $1,500 gun against those costing only 1/3 of that or less and I can do a lot of lapping and smoothing for $1,000+ and will be happy settling for doing it that way myself.

 

[Onmilo]

It is always better to spend more than you expected and get exactly what you want than to spend too little and get something you will never be happy with.
Freedom Arms produces some pretty sweet firearms, I know you will be happy with your new aquisition, enjoy it.

 

[Smith357]

I see S&W 657s all the time, They are not rare, but they are coveted by the .41 fans. I'm currently in search of the perfect pre Klinton P&R m57.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976702049.htm
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976713866.htm
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976690075.htm

 

[Hammerdown]

The Unpopular model 57 in .41 Manum caliber

Hello Sharps Shooter
I share in your frustration that none of the current offerings from S&W resemble the older unpopular model 57 they dropped. The Caliber was the problem I want to believe in there decision to drop the model 57's of early production.It never caught on as it was over shadowed by the popular .44 magnum and this lead to it's downfall. They carried this model 57 for a period of one year short of three decades despite it's unpopular sales. I had an early one and like a fool sold it. That mistake took me 20 Long years to reunite myself with another model 57 and this one happens to be the harder model to find the 4" configuration. Sadly the Mountain gun they now offer is not available in Nickel as all S&W's that had this finish were dropped in 1984. It took a long time to find this one, but well worth it as it is an excellent target revolver as S&W intended it to be. I am frustrated that S&W does Not always offer models that buyers want as well. I have not owned a revolver like you just purchased but have heard nothing but positive remark on them. Congratulations on a fine revolver, and maybe someday an older model 57 will come your way as this one did. Regards, Hammerdown

 

[MCgunner]

It is always better to spend more than you expected and get exactly what you want than to spend too little and get something you will never be happy with.

OTOH, you can spend a fortune and wind up with less gun...thinking 1911 here, not Freedom Arms. The FA guns are true masterpieces and if I were filthy rich and had nothing to spend money on, but guns, well, I'd probably get one, in 454 Casull.

 

[caz223]

Well, I can tell you as recently as 2 or 3 years ago, ruger had a run of stainless acusport bisleys.
I have one, and it's a gem.
It's basically the same as your standard blackhawk, except is stainless, has the bisley gripframe, a rollmarked unfluted cylinder, and came in a 5 1/2" barrel length. These had nice adjustables except for the front sight blade being made of plastic.


The astute will notice that the front sight blade is missing in the pic, it just flew off and was in process of being upgraded when I took the pics.

 

[MCgunner]

I was wondering. LOL I am thinking of fabbing a front sight for my Old Army. The one that's on it is way too short. It shoots way high and I've brought the rear sight down to the bottom. It's a common Old Army malady.

Grips are black pearlite???? Nice looking piece!

 

[BlkHawk73]

Got a few of those Acusport Bisley's myself. There was actually two runs made of the .41 magnums. Very nice revolvers. Now as much as I really like Ruger, I will admit the quality and refinment is not to the level of Freedom Arms stuff. It's that extra attention to detail that you're paying for. They're well worth that extra money.
As for being forgotten and left out becasue you can never find what you really want...Well, sometimes ya just gotta look higher, like in this case. other times the best route is going custom route. Get the base and have your wants built from it. If it's that important to have, the cost becomes lesser of a hinderance.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

That is one fine looking M57 Hammerdown. If I'd have seen one like that in my 41 Magnum quest, I wouldn't be buying a Freedom Arms.
Actually I did see a nickled M57 with a six inch barrel at a gun show a couple of months ago. It wasn't in as good of shape as yours appears to be, but it wasn't bad. The guy was asking $450.00 and I'm still kicking myself for not buying it.:banghead: But in my own defense, I had no idea a good 41 Magnum was going to be so hard to come by.
As I said in my original post, I didn't know Ruger ever built any stainless 41 Magnums. And I would have never dreamed they built one with the Bisley grip frame. However, when I said that I didn't know Ruger ever built any stainless 41 Magnums, I'd forgot about the stainless Redhawks in 41 Magnum. It wouldn't have made any difference because I've had 2 Redhawks over the years, one in 44 Magnum and one in 45 Colt, and sold both of them. I tried hard to like them, but the reach to their triggers was too long for my hand and I didn't like the way they kicked. I'm no stranger to hard kicking handguns, but both of those Redhawks hurt the web of my hand worse than say my M629 Smith or Ruger Super Blackhawk. I'm sure not trying to start an argument here by saying I don't like Ruger Redhawks. Plenty of people do. And I think they're good guns. They just don't fit me no matter how much I wish they did.
I will post pics of my Freedom Arms 41 Magnum. It's going to be a while. Money, or "lack of" translates to a "waiting period" for me when it comes to new gun purchases.