Why are so many more 44 Mag Blackhawks made in Plow than Bisley handle?

For some reason, the Bisley has never been as popular as other Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk models.

I'm personally hankering for a 5.5" SS 45 convertible Bisley on the large frame, but I've yet to see one.

I'd scratch an itch for a powerful SA and a cheaper to plink with range toy. Seems like a winning combo to me.

Macchina said:

I've been wanting a Ruger (Super or not) Blackhawk with Bisley grip in 44 Mag for a while. I'd love a 5.5" barrel but the only 44 Mag Bisley currently available is the 7.5" Hunter with that terrible rail and the 3.75" Talo 0818 which I'm probably going to get but would much rather have a longer barrel.

Is the plow grip really that much more desirable than the Bisley?

Click to expand...

Macchina, i think is because the "plowhandle" type grips feel better in the hand and/or "rolls" better in the hand with the recoil.

The original configuration arrived long before the Ruger interpretation of the Bisley. I suspect lots of folks are merely ignorant of the attributes of the Bisley when recoil climbs. The plow handle (any configuration) is fine when mild loads are being used.

The only grip frame I really want is a Bisley. Fits my hand nicely. I wish they made more Single Sixes with one.

Honestly, if the Bisley frame was easier to come by and included with other features I want like longer barrels and more calibers I would own a lot of Ruger single action handguns. As it is, I own zero.

I was too late to buy one of those Lipseys or Talo special runs with a Bisley frame in .454 Casull. Would have been nice.

The distributor exclusives have Bisley frames more often than Ruger standard offerings....which is annoying.

You can buy or get on a waiting list for Bisley frames at Midway or Brownells and replace the plow handle grip. Many have resorted to doing that rather than wait to find a Bisley. But, from what I understand it is not simply a matter of swapping the frame.

The is a Ruger Blackhawk Bisley Hunter with a 7.5” barrel on Gun Broker right now.

I'm a little different , maybe it's because of the size of my hands, but I don't like the Bisley as much.

The bisley frame is great. But maybe look at it this way. Lots of folks buy a blackhawk because they want a "cowboy" kind of gun but still want adjustable sights. And the plowhandle is the classic cowboy grip to keep that sort of appeal and feel. So if that's what people are buying, than that's what rugers going to promote.

In all these years I have never come across a pistol with a Bisley grip, but now my interest has been piqued. Thank you!

The plow handle fits the mental image most people have of a single action revolver. And in the hand, at the gun store, a Bisley grip likely feels no more comfortable than a plow handle. It's only when recoil is added to the equation that the difference becomes more apparent.

So people buy what they think is "correct", assuming that's what everyone else likes and shoots. And that's what Ruger makes, because it sells. I have seen very few Bisley's in gun stores and I learned my lesson the hard way. I suspect many people give up on the .44 mag before they discover the Bisley grip frame.

Macchina said:

I've been wanting a Ruger (Super or not) Blackhawk with Bisley grip in 44 Mag for a while. I'd love a 5.5" barrel but the only 44 Mag Bisley currently available is the 7.5" Hunter with that terrible rail and the 3.75" Talo 0818 which I'm probably going to get but would much rather have a longer barrel.

Is the plow grip really that much more desirable than the Bisley?

Click to expand...

It depends on the thumb. My isn't that long, therefore, I prefer the Bisley grip style.

My FiL prefers the Bisley and got himself one. I still prefer the plow handle. Different strokes for different folks.

There is a reason Ruger only puts Bisley grips on their .454 and .480 Super Blackhawks and it’s not aesthetics. I suspect those who prefer the plow to the Bisley haven’t tried the plow on anything that kicks (I know this is relative). My very first BFR had a plow handle and Micarta and it was chambered in .500 JRH. With the 425 grain 1,400 + fps loads it was a bear to handle. I know this is the extreme end of the scale, but I can assure you that you wouldn’t want to shoot Ruger’s .454 SBH with a plow handle.

The reason Bisley grip is less popular is because most people do not know what it is. It's just like with single-action revolvers if more people were familiar with the Schoefield they would all want top break variety unless very powerful cartridge with high operating pressure was needed.

MaxP said:

The original configuration arrived long before the Ruger interpretation of the Bisley. I suspect lots of folks are merely ignorant of the attributes of the Bisley when recoil climbs. The plow handle (any configuration) is fine when mild loads are being used.

Click to expand...

Yep. For my hands the Bisley grip is perfect for handling heavier recoiling cartridges. Plus, I think any Ruger Bisley just looks cool.

WrongHanded said:

The plow handle fits the mental image most people have of a single action revolver. And in the hand, at the gun store, a Bisley grip likely feels no more comfortable than a plow handle. It's only when recoil is added to the equation that the difference becomes more apparent.

So people buy what they think is "correct", assuming that's what everyone else likes and shoots. And that's what Ruger makes, because it sells. I have seen very few Bisley's in gun stores and I learned my lesson the hard way. I suspect many people give up on the .44 mag before they discover the Bisley grip frame.

Click to expand...

I think this is spot-on. Many seem to judge the Ruger Bisley by its relatively non-traditional appearance and don't go any further. Aesthetically, I think they have an appeal all their own. However, under recoil, there's nothing else like it. It literally is night and day.

I grew up with traditional plowhandles. The original Colt pattern is a little odd at first and takes some getting used to.



For me at least, the Ruger pattern is a very easy transition. The first time I shot one was with what is now this custom. It started life as a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk that I converted to a Bisley. Those first few shots with the thick and rounded Hogue grips were a religious experience. Total transformation in the way the sixgun handled under recoil.

.500JRH and oversized six shot .44Mag.


Turnbull Bisley .45.


Slapped-together .41Mag.


Bisley Vaquero .44Mag.


Custom .44Mag.


This custom .45Colt went down the road last year.

earlthegoat2 said:

I was too late to buy one of those Lipseys or Talo special runs with a Bisley frame in .454 Casull. Would have been nice.

Click to expand...

You can still find them at close to what they sold for originally.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/799058091

This is the offending BFR in .500 JRH:



I can say with certainty that I have owned two revolvers that would be impossible to ride without a Bisley grip, my .500 Maximum (top), and my .50 Alaskan (bottom):

Macchina said:

Is the plow grip really that much more desirable than the Bisley?

Click to expand...

Pat Riot said:

You can buy or get on a waiting list for Bisley frames at Midway or Brownells and replace the plow handle grip. Many have resorted to doing that rather than wait to find a Bisley. But, from what I understand it is not simply a matter of swapping the frame.

Click to expand...

Several years ago I bought a 7.5" 45 Colt Blackhawk Bisley. I did not care for the Bisley grip frame so I swapped it out with a standard grip frame.

The change over is not difficult but there is some fitting of the grip frame that needs to be done and some of the hammer/trigger parts need to be changed. The hammer/trigger parts are not very expensive. The grip frame is a bit oversize at the mating surfaces with the rest of the gun and needs to be trimmed (filed/ sanded and polished) a little to get the nice matching joint.

If your gun is blued and you want the grip frame to match the rest of the gun, the frame will have to be blued or coated with something like Duracoat. I Duracoted mine. Or get a stainless grip frame and have a two tone gun.

I wanted a Blackhawk in the 5.5 barrel. When I found the Bisley I thought "sure, why not". I have never regretted the decision and it does get looks because it is a little "different". Mine is 45 Colt





-Jeff

I had a plow handle SBH 9” when I was about 22 or 23. The recoil impulse from such a powerful and light gun was an awkward twisting rise due to the plow handle grip. A Bisley grip would allow for a more easily managed recoil impulse as it would not be as likely to cause the twisting feeling of the plow handles.

I found the Colt Bisley grip to be awful, the lower edge of the grip curls too far forward for my grip-taste.

The Ruger has a straighter grip profile on the front of the grip than Colt’s does and seems to feel better in my hand... but I haven’t shot one so I can’t compare felt recoil apples to apples with my standard .45C old model Vaquero.

I do love the Ruger Bisley look, especially in the .32 sized guns!

Stay safe.

MaxP said:

the Ruger interpretation of the Bisley.

Click to expand...

Here is a pic of my two 5" .32-20 Colt Police Positive Specials (Top 1912, Bottom 1924). Are these "Bisley" grip frames?



If so, all that I can say is that on small pistols they reallllly suck if you have large hands. There is just no way for me to get a decent, proper, comfortable grip on these pups.