Freedom Arms 475 Linebaugh

[brendonjames65]

Greetings,

Thought I’d share my Freedom Arms M83 Field Grade 475 Linebaugh, 6 “ barrel. I got it from GB about a year ago for $1600 which I thought was a pretty good price, BNIB.

I sold my old Benelli SBE 12 ga on GB for $1500 so almost an even swap! Who would’ve thunk those older SBE would be worth so much!? I quit duck hunting 20 yrs ago anyways.

I think this FA 475 may be the most precision built revolver I’ve ever owned! I only shoot 6 rds at a session of buffalo bore 420 grain at 1350 fps.

I was carrying it in Montana in a chest rig while hiking in grizzly country but since we just relocated to Oklahoma, I’d like to take a wild hog. It’s not a gun I’ll shoot a lot but I do admire the precision engineering and craftsmanship.

 

[lihpster]

That oughta take care of any hogs you find!

 

[brendonjames65]

That oughta take care of any hogs you find!

I think so too!

 

[CH4]

Or errant cement trucks

 

[Fishinfool]

That's a beauty. I own one of their .22 mag revolvers, but never one of the big bores. I have shot a couple though, and was impressed with the machining and fit. The recoil too....

That BB load is a handful I am sure, and is over kill for deer and hogs, but it certainly will work.

I have a 4 inch Anaconda I recently picked up that I plan on poking a whitetail with this hunting season.

Larry

 

[brendonjames65]

That's a beauty. I own one of their .22 mag revolvers, but never one of the big bores. I have shot a couple though, and was impressed with the machining and fit. The recoil too....

That BB load is a handful I am sure, and is over kill for deer and hogs, but it certainly will work.

Larry

Thanks! I considered a smaller bore FA, like their 5 shot 357, but I couldn’t pass on the price and I had a fistful of money from the Benelli sale!

 

[brendonjames65]

Or errant cement trucks

The recoil feels like it could!

 

[s&wchad]

Nice gun!
One of our guides on the Alaska Peninsula had a .475 Linebaugh and he let me shoot it at 50 gallon drum they used for burning trash. I fired it twice and that was enough. I don't know what load he was using, but the recoil was brutal!

 

[lihpster]

I once shot a friends 45-70 revolver. Recoil was manageable. Of course it had a 12" barrel and a scope on top. The hard thing about shooting it was that the guy had giant hands, catchers mitts, really. He had made some custom grips for his hands and it was like holding a 2x6. Definitely a 2 hand handgun.

 

[Rock185]

Mine is in .454, ordered with an aux. .45ACP cylinder. I agree about the FA guns being precision built. By far the most precision built revolver I've ever owned. In fact, that is the only reason I bought mine years ago. I had no real need for a single action .454 revolver. But having previously handled a couple FA guns, I wanted one just because. Never regretted the purchase..

 

[brendonjames65]

Nice gun!
One of our guides on the Alaska Peninsula had a .475 Linebaugh and he let me shoot it at 50 gallon drum they used for burning trash. I fired it twice and that was enough. I don't know what load he was using, but the recoil was brutal!

Thanks! Your recoil comment is an apt description! I have a Ruger Redhawk Toklat 454 which is a little more pleasant to shoot!

 

[brendonjames65]

Mine is in .454, ordered with an aux. .45ACP cylinder. I agree about the FA guns being precision built. By far the most precision built revolver I've ever owned. In fact, that is the only reason I bought mine years ago. I had no real need for a single action .454 revolver. But having previously handled a couple FA guns, I wanted one just because. Never regretted the purchase..

Our reasons were quite similar. I wanted at least one finely engineered FA in my battery and getting an excellent deal was more the determinant factor over caliber. Very tight tolerances. Excellent craftsmanship.

 

[CH4]

Nice piece! Last month I looked at a gently used Premier Grade in 454 at the Reno Cabelas. I knew I’d regret not grabbing it. A guy was there buying the less expensive version. Since you can shoot 45 Colt out of a 454 cylinder, is it worth the expense to get a second cylinder in 45 Colt?

 

[brendonjames65]

Nice piece! Last month I looked at a gently used Premier Grade in 454 at the Reno Cabelas. I knew I’d regret not grabbing it. A guy was there buying the less expensive version. Since you can shoot 45 Colt out of a 454 cylinder, is it worth the expense to get a second cylinder in 45 Colt?

Thanks! Well, my understanding is that while you could shoot 45 Colt in a Freedom Arms M83 chambered in 454 Casull, left over powder residue can cause the cylinder walls to etch over time. There must be some truth to this since FA provides a 45 Colt cylinder for a 454. Then I’ve read on other forums, if it’s cleaned very throughly after shooting 45 Colt in a 454, it should be fine. Personally, I would get an additional 45 Colt cylinder so as to not have to worry about it.

 

[CH4]

I hear/read much about shooting shorter cartridges in cylinders chambered for their longer brethren leaving a carbon ring, but never etching the chamber walls. Would be the same as shooting 38 spl in a 357 or 44 spl in a 44 mag. Just gotta clean it after each range session. Not sure if there’s any meaningful difference in accuracy. Probably FA trying to make some extra $$$.

 

[brendonjames65]

I hear/read much about shooting shorter cartridges in cylinders chambered for their longer brethren leaving a carbon ring, but never etching the chamber walls. Would be the same as shooting 38 spl in a 357 or 44 spl in a 44 mag. Just gotta clean it after each range session. Not sure if there’s any meaningful difference in accuracy. Probably FA trying to make some extra $$$.

I’m able to shoot 45 Colt just fine in my Ruger Super Redhawk Toklat 454. The Freedom Arms does have much tighter tolerances though. A very thorough cleaning after shooting should eliminate the problem. An extra cylinder is pricey!

 

[BigMuddy]

I shot a hog in OK, with a.475L Freedom Arms. Another one in FL. Yep, it’s enough gun. I like loading mine down a bit. 410 grain bullet at 1100 fps will take care of anything and is a lot more pleasant.

Lots of differing opinions on shooting 45Colt in a FA 454. I have mine but I’ll keep it to myself. Doing it voids any warranty, which isn’t the best in the industry anyway.

They are indeed terrific guns. Congratulations finding one.

Dan

 

[dave1918a2]

I have had My Linebaugh Custom Sixguns 475 for two decades now. Before I took it hunting I Fired almost a thousand rounds. 430 grain LBT with 28 grains of H110. My hog load is a 385 grain LBT WFN with 20 grains of Blue Dot. Right around 1000 FPS. This load is actually good for anything on this continent. I really like the Freedom Arms. Had seven at one time. One of the finest built handgun ever. You stole Yours. Way to go!!

 

[brendonjames65]

I shot a hog in OK, with a.475L Freedom Arms. Another one in FL. Yep, it’s enough gun. I like loading mine down a bit. 410 grain bullet at 1100 fps will take care of anything and is a lot more pleasant.

Lots of differing opinions on shooting 45Colt in a FA 454. I have mine but I’ll keep it to myself. Doing it voids any warranty, which isn’t the best in the industry anyway.

They are indeed terrific guns. Congratulations finding one.

Dan

Sounds like a much more pleasant load! I have yet to get reloading dies so just have the Buffalo Bore loads for now. They do offer a reduced 475 Linebaugh load too but I think it’s loaded down too much for hunting.

 

[brendonjames65]

I have had My Linebaugh Custom Sixguns 475 for two decades now. Before I took it hunting I Fired almost a thousand rounds. 430 grain LBT with 28 grains of H110. My hog load is a 385 grain LBT WFN with 20 grains of Blue Dot. Right around 1000 FPS. This load is actually good for anything on this continent. I really like the Freedom Arms. Had seven at one time. One of the finest built handgun ever. You stole Yours. Way to go!!

Thanks! I would love to have an actual Linebaugh revolver too! Those sound like some pretty good loads. I really thought it was a steal too! Most used FA 454, 475 and 500 haven’t been shot much seems like (wonder why? haha). The 480 Ruger seems to have died but I kind of like the cartridge, much more pleasant and plenty powerful too.