Author Topic: FA83 Premier .44 Magnum on the way. UPDATE (Read 1845 times)

Graybeard · « **on:** November 17, 2004, 09:13:49 AM »

OK myronman3, I'm gonna blame it on you. Yer the one got me thinking about this again. :lol: I called up Bob Baker this morning and told him to put me one together and ship it my way.

He is making me an FA83 Premier with 7-1/2" barrel in .44 magnum. It will come with adjustable sights plus scope base for use during review so I can report what the gun can do rather than how well I can see the sights. He is doing an action job with 3 pound trigger pull for me. It will wear Ebony Micarta grips. He is also sending along a shoulder holster for me to use to carry it around while scoped.

Since it was not in stock and will have to be made it will take a bit longer than if in stock. This one I plan to keep after the review period rather than sending back as I did the last two he shipped me for review. Sure hated to let those go but just wasn't positioned right to afford to keep them at the time. I am now.

myronman3 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2004, 11:11:34 AM »

congratulations!

i am on my way to go pick up mine as soon as i am done here. i will check back after i get it in hand. :mrgreen:

you can blame me all you want, i have big shoulders.

TScottO · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2004, 11:53:02 AM »

Congrats GB on a fine choice. Your wait may not be as long as you might think. On Oct 14 I placed and order for a 97 44Spec and on Nov 12 the gun was at my dealer. Now thats fast for a ground up build.

Be Safe,
Scott

myronman3 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2004, 12:22:08 PM »

well fed ex screwed me. they said the would deliver it this afternoon and i just got back-no delivery. dirty rats. :twisted:
looks like i will have to wait until tommorrow. i was sooooo looking forward to this today.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2004, 06:01:02 PM »

Yup Scott, I don't expect the wait to be all that long. I sorta got the impression from Bob it might be ready to ship when the FFL got there. The copy he had on file was expired so I had to get Steve to mail out another. I might see it next week.

I've really been on the fence on this one. Trying to decide between an FA83 in .44 Mag and an FA97 in .44 Special. Barrel length was another real tough decisions for me. Was back and forth between 6" and 7.5". In the end the FA83 and 7.5" was the way I went.

I really don't like the way single actions recoil but there just are no double actions of this quality around. I do remember from before the Winchester 250 grain mid level loads were pleasant to shoot in the FA83 .454 Casull and the .44 Mag load I plan to use is a bit lighter than that so recoil shouldn't be any concern at all.

SaguaroKid · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2004, 02:51:00 AM »

Congrats, I've had mine a couple months now and love it. Send it in for the round grip (gunfighter grip) conversion, can't wait to get it back....

Questor · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2004, 03:36:42 AM »

GB: I have always thought that if I were to get a FA revolver it would be in 44 magnum. No need for the more powerful stuff, but real value in a high quality gun. They are beautiful. Have them deliver it to my address and I'll forward it to you if I find it to be worth your while. Two months ought to be enough.

myronman3 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2004, 11:55:25 AM »

well mine showed up today. but my ffl didnt realize it was a handgun and therefore didnt do the paperwork for h.g. so i have to wait another 2 days, which means i wont be carrying it opening day. at this point i think God is sending me a message. i have tried and tried to ramrod through this situation and after this last hurtle i realize that it just isnt meant to be. at this point i feel like a groom seperated from the bride before the wedding. anxious and waiting for the honeymoon to start. there is no more i can do but relax and wait.

on the positive side- what a gun! just looking it over briefly is enough to see that they are very well made. if it shoots half as good as it feels i am going to be in good shape. the anticipation is about killing me.

SaguaroKid · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2004, 02:53:24 AM »

Not to change the subject but, what kind of holster do you guys like? The F.A. home page has a crossdraw (what I want) but it goes on your regular belt, could be a hassel taking on or off. Or, do you like a regular holster rig that you just buckle on over your regular belt. I've been toying the idea of the "Widow Maker" from Black Hills in a cross draw.

Thanks,

Kid

Graybeard · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2004, 04:43:41 AM »

I personally prefer a shoulder rig like the Bandito from Pistol Packaging, Inc. at http://www.pistolpackaging.com/ for heavy handguns scoped or unscoped. But Bob is including one of his shoulder holsters for scoped gun with this one for me to use during my review of it. Since I don't really plan to use it with scope after I buy it for my use I doubt I'll keep the holster rig but depending on how well I like it I might ask for one for iron sight gun afterward.

My plans call for use with scope (Burris 2-7) to evaluate it for accuracy and load development. May even take it afield after deer some this season that way. But after my review phase is completed I expect to use it only with the factory iron sights. When carrying an unscoped gun on the hip I do kinda like a cross draw holster but if worn on your regular belt it is a real pain. For that reason I generally use a 2" wide leather belt I have that I bought years ago with a Kramer holster for my Glock.

Graybeard · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2004, 08:04:23 AM »

Sorry bout that Chris, typo error. Belt is 2" not 3". I have now corrected in my original post.

I wear it on top of my pants not as replacement for pants belt. I got it long enough so I can wear it even with insulated clothes on too. I generally wear it so buckle is just below pants belt buckle.

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2004, 04:33:40 PM »

I called Bob again today to check to see if FFL got there. It had. I asked about when he expected gun to ship and he said since they didn't have one in stock they are having to build it from scratch and should be about two more weeks until it ships. So about the end of first week in December in general terms I'm thinking.

We talked a good while. Seems he'll be here in Bama in two weeks for the annual handgun hunt at White Oak Lodge. This has become a pretty big media event really and he attends every year. We had a good laugh over his first white tail hunting experience hunting in MO with Mark Hampton. Bob was used to looking at mule deer and said those white tail racks sure looked small to him. Yup reckon they do in comparison to a nice muley buck.

SaguaroKid · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2004, 03:23:06 PM »

Do you carry yours with 4 rounds in the cylinder or 5? It's got a transfer saftey bar on it but the inst. book says carry with 4 rounds, hammer down on empty chamber?

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2004, 10:45:37 PM »

I carry Colt/Colt Clones with five, Rugers with six and FAs with five.

Questor · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2004, 03:09:41 AM »

What happened to the ZZ-Top version of the Graybeard avatar? I kinda miss the big hat.

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2004, 06:37:28 AM »

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What happened to the ZZ-Top version of the Graybeard avatar? I kinda miss the big hat.

That isn't the Graybeard avatar, that's the Greybeard avatar. I just log in as Graybeard more often than Greybeard.

Questor · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2004, 03:13:39 AM »

OK. I was wondering about both of those things. I saw the grEy spelling and wondered whether you had developed an English accent.

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2004, 04:43:27 PM »

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I saw the grEy spelling and wondered whether you had developed an English accent.

Uh, wal nope. My southern redneck accent is still in place and doing jist fine thankee.

Quote

GB,

has your FA arrived yet?

Nope. Based on last contact with Bob I sorta kinda half way expect it to ship next week. Not sure jist which day but kinda expect it to go out then.

Graybeard · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2004, 08:33:19 AM »

I spoke with Cory at FA this mornning. The revolver is ready to ship and can go out today. BUT since this is a Friday I asked him to hold it at Freedom Arms until Monday. Bob is here in Bama at the Annual Handgun Deer Hunt at White Oak Lodge. But before he left we discussed this and agreed it wasn't too bright to have the gun sitting over a week end or holiday in a UPS truck or terminal. Too much temptation for theft.

So the gun will ship out next Monday to arrive in Bama on Tuesday afternoon late. I'll go up and pick it up on Wednesday of next week.

Now I need to get hopping on rounding up the ammo to use with it for review and check out my stash of reloading components.

myronman3 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2004, 05:19:08 PM »

i agree about not leaving it in the hands of the shipper any longer than needed. best to do as you did.

the anticipation is something i love/hate. it is so exciting, but it about kills me when things dont go as planned and you end up waiting.

this is a very busy time of year for us here, as everything outdoors is in full swing. in the morning we are headed out to go ice fishing for the first time this year. after the early ice, then it gets brutally cold out. that is bullet casting/reloading time. i will have to wait until april before i will be able to do any serious shooting with mine. i am looking foward to putting it through the paces; to see just how good the gun can be. luckily i have a lot to keep me occupied between now and then.

Graybeard · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2004, 10:23:17 PM »

Quote

the anticipation is something i love/hate. it is so exciting, but it about kills me when things dont go as planned and you end up waiting.

Dunno if I'm just getting old am jaded or if I need some Zoloft but I find it hard to get excited about much of anything anymore. The zeal of my youth is long gone and the bated anticipation with it.

targetshootr · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2004, 01:47:17 PM »

That's funny, the only thing that gets me going anymore is waiting for a gun. I'm waiting for one since Monday and I'd be more pumped it was an FA. i'm half tempted to sell some of the ones I've got and get a couple of 97s. It's a good thing they don't show up on auctions very often or my credit card would be smokin'.