These are the two FA83s I shoot the most, both in 454. From the start I found shooting them a challenge: the sight pictures on both were amost impossible to use. The front sight width on both was .092", yet the rear notch on both was .088". As a result, the front sight blade filled the rear notch to the point no light was visible on either side of the front sight. Since one gun shot to the left about 3" at 25 yards, I sent this into FA first. I suggested milling the front sight to a narrower width, removing material from only the right side, or opening up the rear notch on the right side. I thought either approach would move the group over sufficiently to zero the gun. John, FA's gunsmith (at least one of them) called me the day after it arrived to talk about my suggestions. He said FA's preferred approach was to turn the barrel enough to zero it up. I told him the decision was his but reminded him the front sight was too wide for the rear notch. A few days later John called to tell me the gun was done. After looking at the gun and my suggestions, he decided that my idea to reduce the front sight width an appropriate amount was the best approach. He chose to narrow it to .080", all from the right side, and leave the rear notch as is. The gun was returned and in my hands a few days later and when I shot it at the range two things were immediately clear: the gun shot to point of aim and the sights were now very visible and very useable.
I sent the other gun (the one with the mirror finish) to him next, and asked him to take .006" off both sides of the front sight. This he did, returning it after only a couple of days with the sight now at .080" wide and sporting a mirror finish on both sides of the front sight. He even cleaned up the serrations on the front sight.
I can't complement John and FA enough for the excellent service they have provided me over the years. Yes, I've read complaints that others have had with them, and all I can say is fortunately none of those problems have ever been witnessed by me.
Keith
