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I can't believe I haven't written yet about my FA Packer! Sometime in the early 90's, someone convinced FA to make a Model 83 with a 3 inch barrel as backup bear medicine. They wound up making about 200, chambered mostly in 454. There were 12 made in 44M, and I snagged one of those recently. Since it was made for full-house 454 loads, it can't be overloaded in 44M... Any bullet and powder combination that can be shoved into a cartridge will come out of the barrel. The gun weighs 44 ounces, is made of 17-4PH stainless steel, and every part of it is clearance fit, I can't get a feeler gage in anywhere. Bullets must be exactly 0.429" or they will not fit in the throats. Cylinder has recesses for the case head, and the case heads cannot protrude the least bit or the cylinder will not turn. However, I have shot 400 rounds through it with no hiccups. It doen't foul at all. No leading even with a Keith 250gr bullet over 22gr of 2400 (a compressed load - held down by a HARD profile crimp) - Which still poops out of that 3" barrel at subsonic velocity. Followed by a muzzle blast to rival a Howitzer.
The factory test target showed a 3/8" group at 25 yards. No trouble hitting an 8" plate with it at 100 yards.
Why did I buy something like that? Well, I keep hearing talk at the range about "compensation for the size of his d***", and since I blush easy, I Figured I should pre-empt having to hear that said about me
FA fixed sight guns ship with a significantly oversize front sight. Folks rarely carve on them, so most fixed sight owners never shoot their FA's (hence most FA's sold used are NIB). It's a real crime. I carved off about a pound from my front sight (the job required driving 25 minutes each way to the range 4 times), and it finally shoots to POA with 250gr over 22gr 2400 AND 300gr over 20gr 2400.
Pic is actually my gun, but was taken by the dealer I bought it from, that unmatched gentleman, JackTheDog.
The factory test target showed a 3/8" group at 25 yards. No trouble hitting an 8" plate with it at 100 yards.
Why did I buy something like that? Well, I keep hearing talk at the range about "compensation for the size of his d***", and since I blush easy, I Figured I should pre-empt having to hear that said about me
FA fixed sight guns ship with a significantly oversize front sight. Folks rarely carve on them, so most fixed sight owners never shoot their FA's (hence most FA's sold used are NIB). It's a real crime. I carved off about a pound from my front sight (the job required driving 25 minutes each way to the range 4 times), and it finally shoots to POA with 250gr over 22gr 2400 AND 300gr over 20gr 2400.
Pic is actually my gun, but was taken by the dealer I bought it from, that unmatched gentleman, JackTheDog.
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