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Freedom Arms Model 83 Premiere Product Test Report Bob Baker of Freedom Arms provided me with a specimen of the FA83 Premiere revolver in caliber .454 Casull for product testing. He also provided me with 600 each of his FA300JFP and FA240FJP bullets for use in this test and the testing of the Taurus Raging Bull also in .454 Casull. Testing consisted of firing three five shot groups of various ammo types (both factory and reloads) at distances of both 50 and 100 yards. All test results are over sand bag rests and unless otherwise stated were fired with a B&L Elite 2x6 scope set at 6X mounted in a TSOB base and three rings. After completion of the scoped portion of the test I tested with factory supplied iron sights. Results of this testing will follow at the end of test report. Initial Impression: I got the new FA Model 83 Premier out April 15, 2000 for a photo session before taking it out to fire. I then went out to my range which was so muddy that travel between the 75 and 100 yard lines was really a job but the mud was deep enough everywhere. Grass still hasn't come back after the dozer work last year as it was too dry last summer. I first shot it at 25 yards to see if perhaps Bob Baker had sighted it in prior to shipment, nope no such luck. The first shot was right by a couple inches and about 7" high using my reloads with the Sierra JSP over W296. I made an adjustment down and left and fired again. On paper this time but still needed more adjustment. Made the adjustment and fired a third round. Close enough to try a group. Since this was just a "get acquainted" session and not a real test session we'll skip the groups sizes here. It wasn't a bad group but I think both me and it can do better together once I get used to it. As most know I've shot double actions almost exclusively for the last 30+ years and a single action in this power level is going to take a bit of getting acquainted. I moved out to 100 yards for one last group and the first three looked really good but then the fourth went way low and right and the fifth even more low and more right. Why? Danged if I know but I'll figure it out. I was pleasantly surprised by the recoil, or maybe I should say by the way it delivered the recoil to me. Never having fired a FA revolver before I was falling back on my experience with Ruger BHs, SBHs and Bisley's shooting both heavy loaded .45s and .44 Magnums. To me the Rugers were brutal and not a fun experience which is why I've shot the double actions all these years. The Freedom Arms grip is well designed indeed. The muzzle rise was maybe 6" or so with my relatively loose grip but that's not bad. It didn't hurt by right hand where I have a calcium deposit or bone spur that usually hurts me pretty badly with wooden grips. The broad width of the FA is well designed to distribute the recoil forces. I was wearing a pair of padded shooting gloves and glad of it but I suspect most without the problem I have with my right hand might not even need them for the 300 grain loads in the 1600+ fps range. I didn't chronograph the loads that day as it was late and the sun was at a bad angle for doing so on my range and it wasn't a full blown test session anyway. So after the first short range session I was favorably
impressed. At least that day I convinced me that the recoil wasnt going to be
a problem for the bone spur on my right hand in the long shooting sessions to
follow. The Test Results: The following is the empirical data derived from
shooting a great many groups with the FA83 Premiere revolver at both 50 and 100
yards. Lots more shooting was done at ranges from 25 to 400 yards but these are
the for record targets fired. All hand loads were put up using Starline
Brass provided by Starline for this project. I called Starline and requested 500
.454 Casull cases and they quickly provided them for this test series. Thanks
Starline. FA83 Premiere 50 Yard Test Results: Factory Ammo: Hornady 240 XTP Factory Load: Best:
1.05 Average: 1.25 @1826 fps SD=8 Buffalo Bore 300 JSP:
Best: 2.4 Average: 2.6 @1510 fps SD=22 Winchester 250 JHP
Best: 2.2 Average: 2.6 @1340 fps SD=26 Reloads: FA300JFP 29.5-W296
Best: 1.7 Average: 1.9 @1440fps
SD=18 FA260JFP 35.5-W296
Best: 1.1 Average: 1.8 @1653fps
SD=28 Nosler260HGPT 31.5-Lil Gun Best: 1.45
Average: 1.7 @1616fps SD=22 Sierra300JSP 31.0-Lil Gun
Best: 2.05 Average: 2.15 @1491fps SD=21 Hornady240XTP 28.0-AA9
Best: 1.5 Average: 2.0 @1544fps
SD=16 Barnes260XPB 26.0-AA9
Best: 2.2 Average: 2.5 @1627fps
SD=10 JL LBT280WFN 31.0-H110
Best: 2.15 Average: 2.2 @1519fps SD=14 DM LBT342XWFN 28.0-H110 Best: 2.6 Average: 2.9 @1371fps SD=25 Lyman452651 29.0-H110
Best: 1.8 Average: 2.25 @1387fps
SD=23 FA83 Premiere 100 Yard Test Results: Factory Ammo: Hornady 240 XTP Factory Load:
Best: 3.1 Average: 4.25 Buffalo Bore 300 JSP:
Best: 3.4 Average: 3.9 Winchester 250 JHP
Best: 4.2 Average: 4.6 Reloads: FA300JFP 29.5-W296
Best: 2.7 Average: 2.9 FA260JFP 35.5-W296
Best: 2.1 Average: 2.8 Nosler260HGPT 31.5-Lil Gun Best: 2.8
Average: 3.3 Sierra300JSP 31.0-Lil Gun
Best: 3. 5 Average: 3.9 Hornady240XTP 28.0-AA9
Best: 2.25 Average: 2.8 Barnes260XPB 26.0-AA9
Best: 4.2 Average: 4.5 JL LBT280WFN 31.0-H110
Best: 4.1 Average: 4.7 DM LBT342XWFN 28.0-H110 Best: 4.6 Average: 4.9 Lyman452651 29.0-H110
Best: 3.1 Average: 3.5 I have fired still more different loads and lots more groups since the firing of the above but I don't see that it would add anything to this report to list still more. Suffice to say the gun is more accurate than this shooter was with it. As I stated early on I've really never been a single action revolver shooter and even tho the FA83 is the easiest single action I've tried to shoot I still don't feel quite as comfortable or confident shooting single actions as I do double actions. After finishing the scoped portion of the testing I removed the base/rings and scope and installed the iron sights and fired a few hundred more rounds of ammo. Recoil is noticeably more sharp without the weight of the scope in place. To an old double action shooter like myself the recoil was rather painful with a few of the really hotter loads and heavier bullets. I won't list all the groups and loads or group sizes here but I amazed even myself at how small many of the groups were especially at 25 yards where I was able to see a bit better but even at 50 yards some groups rivaled those with the scope on it. Freedom Arms revolvers are really well made pieces of machinery and shoot like it. My thanks to Bob Baker for allowing me the opportunity to test this sample of his craftmanship. I've hunted with the revolver for deer in Alabama this season on several occasions but this hasn't been a very good year for me. As I write this I still have another month of season left but so far I've seen only 5 deer total and none have been taken. The FA 83 gets a big thumbs up from me and the Graybeard Seal of Approval for excellence in both craftsmanship and accuracy. If you pockets are deep enough to afford to shoot the best then this truly must be it. Contact info for Freedoms Arms: Freedom Arms, Inc. * PO Box 150 * Freedom Wyoming USA * 83120 * 307-883-2468 Below are some photos I took of the revolver and the ammo used in the testing of it prior to beginning of the test. Graybeard.
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