Freedom Arms versus Magnum Research BFR vrs new model Ruger Blackhawk (and an Old Model/ 3 screw)

[@maxmccain8950]

I have an old 3 screw that has the best trigger I’ve ever felt on a handgun. It’s been awhile so I can’t remember what part I need but I called Ruger and they had me read the serial number. When they found out it was a 3 screw that hadn’t been converted they wouldn’t sell me the part. Great old gun, very accurate to.

[@myronman3]

search for that part on gunbroker. people sell old model parts on there often.

[@maxmccain8950]

@@myronman3 That was years ago, it’s had thousands of rounds through it since then, I’m sure it’s good for thousands more. Solid piece of kit.

[@yooper7753]

I enjoy my Freedom Arms Premier Grade model 83 7 1/2" barrel in 454 Casull with accessory cylinders in 45 Colt, 45 Winchester Magnum and 45 ACP. Super accurate and swapping sight with different cartridges extends the use of my revolver.

[@myronman3]

if you handload, the 454 offers a very wide range of power. full house, it is incredibly powerful. rarely does someone need that level of power, and backing it off really offers a more practical shooting round. with your additional cylinders, you've got that all solved. you have the complete package. i realized that i was using reduced power loads more often than not, so i ended up going back to lower power level cartridges.

[@yooper7753]

​@@myronman3 I most definitely reload my own 454 Casull, 45 Colt, 45 Winchester Magnum and 45 Automatic cartridges. I used to own a Ruger New Model Blackhawk convertible in 45 Colt and 45 Automatic cylinders. I hated the tiny plow grip for my large hands. I sold it and bought my Freedom Arms Premier Grade model 83. My Freedom Arms 83 grip is the best of them all, along with the superior fit and finish. Not oversized and bulky like the BFR.

[@ronkay1573]

You’re correct about the 3-screw quality. I hunt with my SBH more than my FA 475. I prefer blued pistols and Ruger did it perfect back in the 60’s. Very smooth action.

[@johnnyquest3707]

Sack Peterson is a great guy and a real perfectionist when it comes to making grips.

[@myronman3]

He certainly did right by me!

[@gonerydin4225]

A Box Elder and Lady bug! Looks like my house right now. : ) Beautiful hand guns. I have a BFR 45-70 and Super Redhawk .454.

[@myronman3]

the dang things!

[@americanpatriot477]

There isn’t any comparison, the Freedom Arms makes the other two look like junk!

[@richardkev3077]

I’ve never handled a BFR. I’ve owned a Ruger Super Blackhawk, and I’ve handled and shot a Freedom Arms 83. The Ruger feels like a very solid gun that is tight and well put together. The Freedom Arms feels like a bank vault. The tolerances are so close, it makes the Ruger look like it’s made with giant gaps-and it is. As much as I like the Ruger, there is no comparison.

[@scottscheuerman6170]

I only have 2 heavy hitting revolver’s I have the model 83 freedom arm’s 454 and Ruger super Blackhawk 44 magnum and the freedom came with Pacmeyer grips so I put some on my super Blackhawk the sights on my 83 freedom is the same as you have on your 97 and I do like those sights

[@myronman3]

sights are something that i think could use an upgrade on most production handguns. at close distance, a person is fine. but you get out past 15 yards and the front blade obscures a lot of target which makes it harder to be precise. putting a thinner, more refined sight on the firearm makes all the difference. and freedom arms' fiber optic sight is the best that exists....other brands use too big of a diameter tube. what i would LOVE to see is HHA (archery sight company) make a fiber optic sight...as they use REAL fiber optic glass instead of the plastic tube that everyone else uses. that would be the ultimate!

[@jimsiress9687]

Agreed 👍 Freedom Arms then Ruger Blackhawk(old model).

[@tommythetrain1945]

Why old model?

[@Johnsormani]

I have a 10 inch model 83 in 454 and the same size super Blackhawk in 44, and a 686 -2 in 357. No one comes close to the quality and finish of a freedom arms. They make phenomenal revolvers

[@ronkay1573]

Good review and I agree with your comparisons.

[@JeffreyCotle]

I have a Ruger super Blackhawk hunter 44. I love it . The trigger is great and the 7 1/2 barrel,with the scope rib on the barrel makes recoil very easy to handle. And it will take very heavy loads.

[@myronman3]

They are nice guns- i had one. I especially like the rounded trigger guard on them. Barrel length was more than i like though. Perfect gun if you want a scoped pistol.

[@michigunsanta8680]

Standard Manufacturing makes some pretty dang great Single actions also! I love their color case hardened ones. Unfortunately they are a tad out my range so I have the Blackhawk convertibles 357/9mm and 45Lc/ACP. 🤷‍♂️👍🏻😏

[@danieltustison822]

I had three screw flat top with 6 1/2" .44 mag and new model SS 45lc 7 1/2 and can honestly say the new model had better trigger and added bonus of not having worry of hammer screw loosening when fire couple hundred rounds thought. I had fitted a steal grip frame from old model black powder to .44 to help recoil this made nice shooter but still no were as good as the bisley mounted to .45lc I do miss them both

[@myronman3]

if you have a new model with a better trigger, then you have a gem of a gun. OR an old model with a hideous trigger...lol. i have not seen an un-modified old model yet that didnt have an excellent trigger. i have never handled a converted old model...i wonder if your old model was converted?

[@danieltustison822]

@@myronman3 I had sent it back to factory when still had aluminum frame and they replaced cyander and added safety so carry all six. It's thinner and off center but still nice

[@surfnblues729]

Never shot a freedom arms but understand they are phenomenal. I do have 2 BFR’s 454 casull and 500 S&W Mag. Well built but agree with you about the trigger guard I have to wrap my knuckle with tape if I’m going to shoot the 500 more than 5 or 6 shots or it will bleed! My Super Blackhawk is ok because the recoil is about half of the 500 but it also wraps my knuckle fairly hard.

[@myronman3]

if they would have rounded that off a smidge more, i think it would make a world of difference. i suspect they went with that so that super blackhawk grips would fit their guns; there may be patent reasons as well, maybe not. these days i see they switched to a different grip profile, which i am glad to see as the "plowhandle" style leaves something to be desired IMO. which grip profile is on your revolvers?

[@myronman3]

get your gun back, take the grips off. pad your vise jaws with a soft wood like pine. secure your gun with the barrel pointing up. get some KROIL brand oil. it is a penetrating oil that works miracles. in a pinch, i would think that knock-it-loose or some other such penetrating oil would work as well. put some down the barrel, and let it sit for a few hours to do it's thing. then, use a brass punch/rod that is undersized, and gently tap it back into the case. the oil will make all the difference in the world. should that still not do the trick, LMK and i have more up my sleeve.

[@surfnblues729]

@@myronman3 thanks I’ll give it a try

[@jeffreylocke8808]

The BFR Bisley grip frame is the best made according to Max Prasac who loves it.

[@myronman3]

I havent handled the new bfr grip. the best grip overall of the guns i have handled and shot belongs to the freedom arms. I do like the looks of the new bfr grip though.

[@surfnblues729]

When I was replying I was referring to my .500 mag my 454 has the bisley grip but I made a dumb ass mistake I only load my own ammo and got distracted and forgot powder in a round and got the dreaded cylinder lock and not having many gun smith’s around here he’s had it for 6 months he’s totally back logged, I probably should get it back and send it to factory it can take any longer.

[@myronman3]

@@surfnblues729 my man, just take a dowel rod and tap the bullet back into the casing.

[@surfnblues729]

@@myronman3 I tried smacked it till the wood dowel splintered and I didn’t want to damage my barrel using an aluminum or steel one .so I left it to a pro. The gun cost 1300$ and if I screwed up the barrel I’m sure that would probably be 300$+ so I’m playing it safe.

[@myronman3]

@@surfnblues729 where are you located? what type of bullet were you using? i have a pile of ideas to solve that issue. 6 months seems pretty excessive for a problem it would take me at tops a couple of hours to figure out.

[@ronkay1573]

The dragoon trigger guard on my 3-screw SBH has never slapped my finger even with heavy bullet loads.

[@LibertysetsquareJack]

Nice overview. Thank you.

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

Can't go wrong with any of these. I have guns from all of these manufacturers and all are top quality. No issues with any of them (ten guns in total).

[@BPRescue]

Most of my firearms are Ruger's, including on the revolver side multiple Super Blackhawks and a GP100. For the price you can't touch them, but the quality of the Freedom Arms firearms leave every other production revolver in the smoke (swapped dust for smoke, LOL). This includes fit, finish and accuracy. Putting these on a bag, with completely equates to your familiarity, comfort and skills with each is not a viable comparison, and do this at 100 yards and beyond, and you WILL see the difference. The FA with its tolerances retains far more energy even for identical caliber/bullet with better ballistics and does shoot flatter and more accurate. Keep in mind the lighter bullets like the 240gr will not shoot as well as heavier bullets like the 300 grain. I will say you are correct on the trigger, though while it is heavy, it is also crisp with no play unlike all other factory revolvers. There is purpose to this, not just per the tight tolerances and quality, but in order to make it more predictable and sure so that consumers address it with intent. That said, trigger jobs are common, and most people who shoot this gun a lot, including those all the way up to Dick Casull get this done on all their personal guns. It comes down to customizing it for the specific shooter preference.

[@t-bfr45-70]

My uncle had every model of 3 screw when he passed away they all to his friends and family my aunt gave away all his guns pretty much every one got at least one gun only gun my aunt kept was his 41 3 screw. I ended up with a sharps. As far as if send one in and get it back ya the trigger ends up pretty much same as the new model my dad had his done worst thing he ever did in one way but at same time it's still a fantastic gun. Though one of my friends has one his dad bought that's not a 3 screw and it had be a mistake because it is one of the best triggers ever seen in a Blackhawk it was produced right at the beginning of the new models spent it's hole life in a safe had less then 2 boxes of ammo through it it's hole life when friends dad traded him for a pistol. every now and then a masterpiece can happen by either mistake or someone just wants to show their skill and take a little more time. I'm a BFR fan never thought about the trigger guard but you probably just ruined it for me because now I will probably notice it.

[@myronman3]

Well hopefully i didnt ruin it for you….lol.

[@brentconnock4252]

You should have a look at Korth revolvers

[@myronman3]

i have looked into them. i settled on the point that i could spend a whole lot of money and end up being disappointed by the law of diminishing returns. there MIGHT be something i really like; but odds are that it wont outperform the smith and wesson enough to warrant that big price tag. smith and wesson revolvers ARE mighty fine-i would rate the ones i have right up there with the freedom arms in the qualities that are important to me in a revolver.

[@kentwilliams3326]

I found it surprising that Freedom charges extra for their trigger work. I would still pay for it because of the quality of the Model - 97.

[@brickhammerSS]

Nice guns and im not trying to take anything away from this video but im pretty sure I saw something crawl across your table

[@myronman3]

box elder bugs. the damn things swarm here on the side of the house. i should make a video of it...lol.

[@brickhammerSS]

@@myronman3 lol. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't going insane

[@myronman3]

@@brickhammerSS no, brother…not yet anyway. Lol

[@headcarter4656]

Trigger guard is fine with me! On the ruger super blackhawk that is, doesn't hurt my knuckle at all.

[@myronman3]

Which trigger guard is on yours? Square or rounded?

[@headcarter4656]

@@myronman3 square

[@headcarter4656]

I don't have big hands and I don't have small hands, but I have heard a lot of people say that it hurts them, can't understand why!

[@headcarter4656]

@myronman3 when you shoot where is your pinky finger?

[@headcarter4656]

@myronman3 mine lays just under the front edge of the grip frame. If I pull it up on the front with the other two it looks like it might peen the knuckle on my middle finger

[@1957rayboconfederatecitizen]

Wad he say, I say, wad he say

[@robertmurdock9750]

The stainless Blackhawk's loading gate seemed to be poorly fit, or maybe it's just the camera angle.

[@myronman3]

you, my friend, have a very good eye. there is a little bit of play there....more than there needs to be. that being said, it doesnt effect anything negatively. i was trying to handle the guns in a manner which kept the serial #'s hidden.

[@mrsmel269]

beautiful tools!!!!

[@JMGeranimo]

Does the new Bfr have mim parts? I know they are reliable now but trigger jobs with them aren't good.

[@myronman3]

i would think so.....but i couldn't say to a certainty. the trigger was very comparable to a blackhawk; because essentially, that is what it is; only a beefed up version. smith and wesson, thompson center, and freedom arms model 83, and ruger old model blackhawks have the best triggers.

[@JMGeranimo]

@@myronman3 I agree, I sold an old 3 screw super Blackhawk(44mag) that had one of my favorite triggers ever. My Fa is great as well, should have kept the Ruger as well but didn't.

[@daleweller5193]

I have a USArms Abilene in 45 Colt, and compared to a Ruger the fit , finish , and smoothness is far superior.

[@ronkay1573]

My freedom arms breaks at 3.25 lbs. My 3-screw SBH might break less. Both quality but the FA has ZERO cylinder play.

[@myronman3]

83 or 97?

[@BaddFrogg777]

Where is the Magnum Research BFR?

[@myronman3]

i do not show it in the video...as i traded it off a few years back. i did render my observations on it though, as i owned and shot it for 4 years.

[@blueduck9409]

All those pistols are well made and accurate, but they are very heavy and dont make a very good carry pistol. Thats my biggest complaint.

[@myronman3]

The model 97 is the lightest and smallest. The ruger 44 special is next smallest. Neither of which i would choose for a ccw gun. But for a woods packing pistol, they are hard to beat

[@caseymelick8023]

Have never known a new Blackhawk. 3 hundred and fifty dollars, that's b*******

[@myronman3]

Where did i say a NEW blackhawk? i said a New MODEL blackhawk. Details buddy, details.

[@vincedonze7841]

the man has roches

[@myronman3]

box elder bugs. the dang things swarm in the fall, and it is next to impossible to keep them out. they are after the warmth. roaches move a lot faster.....these just walk around slowly and fly by occasionally. relatively harmless but still annoying.

[@myronman3]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXTClaGCftNmntksi=7m2PkpJysIdH9Nnf

[@budjohnson2990]

None of the Ruger's have an aluminum frame..some do have a aluminum trigger housing

[@myronman3]

blued blackhawks have aluminum grip frames. SUPER blackhawks, or stainless blackhawks have steel frames. but regular blued blackhawks (45, 41,357) are aluminum.

[@budjohnson2990]

@@myronman3 GRIP frames yes...but all the FRAMES are steel or stainless.....

[@myronman3]

@@budjohnson2990 glad we figured it out and are on the same page :)

[@arthurholmes2210]

Please help me find the pachmayr grips for the model 83 freedom arms i'll pay a good price!!

[@myronman3]

i took a few looks at my haunts and you are correct, they seem to be hard to come by. what i would do, is go to various gun boards and post an ad in the classifieds. i know graybeard outdoors has a freedom arm's forum, and i am sure with a little googling, you'd find a few others. have you ever shot a single action with the pachmayr grips? let me tell you, i dont think it is the answer. in my experience, it works against you more than it helps. on heavy recoiling single actions, it grabs your skin and after a shot or two, the outcome is way worse than wood grips.

[@myronman3]

you might consider using a lighter load. very few things in life require full house loads. running lower power loads also saves on components, which is really handy these days.

[@arthurholmes2210]

@@myronman3 Good point but i still don't have the control like i did with the pachmayr grips , the full power loads are better because they shoot flatter for long range .

[@arthurholmes2210]

@@myronman3 I had a freedom arms model 83 454 years ago that came with pachmayr grips and got rifle like accuracy plus i always shoot with my hunting gloves on .

[@myronman3]

@@arthurholmes2210 so you have used them...which answers that. i didnt want you to go through the effort only to find you didnt care for the change. this may be a dumb question, but have you reached out to freedom arms to see if they might have any sitting on a shelf somewhere?

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

My super Blackhawk bisley cost me 1500 for a 454 casull

[@myronman3]

Ouch

[@headcarter4656]

The ruger is the G.O.A.T

[@budjohnson2990]

buy a GOOD screw driver..lol

[@myronman3]

always use the right one! WAY too many people just grab whatever is handy....and they disfigure their gun

[@mollyknaur3894]

6 o clock hold