Beretta Stampede Bisley feedback?

[DavidB2]

Just saw a beautiful Beretta Stampede Bisley 4 5/8 barrel at my local gun store for $425.00. Two questions, is this a good deal? Also, does anyone have good or bad experiences with the Stampede Bisley model?

The action on the revolver is very smooth. I have heard that the Bisley design was for target/competitive shooting as they are much easier to shoot one handed that the plow handle. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[bannockburn]

Sure seems like a good price to me. I paid around that much for a new Stampede a couple of years ago. Beretta currently isn't showing any Stampede models for sale so there's no retail pricing available to compare it with.

 

[TennJed]

My LGS store had a Beretta Stampede (not bisley) for $500 a few months back. I think that is a very good price

 

[Twiki357]

You didn’t say if it was new or used, so just a word of warning. I bought a Stampede “Marshals” model (357 Mag) used a couple of years ago. It checked out fine at the time, but after 50 or so rounds, once the hammer was cocked, it could NOT be lowered other than by firing the gun. Not a good thing when loaded and cocked when the RO calls a cease fire. Beretta’s warranty is only good for one year and only for the original purchaser – so much for that. They wanted $75 to tell me what was wrong and how much it would cost to repair. But the $75 would be applied to the repair cost.

I kind of live by the “Once stung” philosophy so in my book, Beretta had it’s chance and blew it.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I have heard that the Bisley design was for target/competitive shooting as they are much easier to shoot one handed that the plow handle. Thanks for your feedback.

Howdy

Yes, the original Colt Bisley model was developed in 1894 as a target model and introduced at the National Target Matches at the Bisley range outside of London England, hence the name. Colt introduced it to compete with the best S&W target pistols of the day, the New Model #3. The Beretta Stampede Bisley model used a grip similar to the original Colt Bisley Model, as opposed to the Ruger version of the Bisley grip, which does not really duplicate the original Colt Bisley grip.

Here is a photo of a standard 'plow handle' Single Action on top and a Colt Bisley on the bottom so you can compare them.

As to whether or not the Bisley is easier to shoot, that is completely up to the perception of the shooter. Personally I find the standard plow handle grip of a SAA very easy to shoot, I allow it to rotate in my hand from recoil. I do not try to cram my entire hand onto a plow handle grip, I curl my pinky under the grip and allow the grip to rotate in my hand. The Colt Bisley grip, (and probably the Stampede too) is a tad longer than the plow handle grip, so it is easier to get the entire hand onto the grip. But notice how far forward the Bisley grip sweeps at the bottom front of the grip. It recurves much more than either the SAA plow handle grip or the Ruger version of the Bisley grip. What this means is, when shot with a straight elbow as we tend to do today, the Bisley gun tends to point down a bit, it does not point as naturally as the SAA plow handle grip does. This is because 19th Century target shooters did not shoot quite the same as we do today, many shot with the elbow slightly bent. With a slight bent elbow grip, the Bisley will naturally point forward.

Regarding allowing the grip to rotate in the hand with recoil, the Colt Bisley grip does not do that very well, it tends to stay put, transferring recoil directly to the palm of the hand. The Bisley in this photo is chambered for 44 Special, but I usually shoot it with very light Black Powder 44 Russian loads. It does not kick much at all. The recoil from a 45 Colt Bisley Colt will be more substantial.

Many shooters like the Ruger version of the Bisley grip because it affords more of a hand hold for heavy recoiling calibers. Because of the shape of the Ruger Bisley grip, it also does not rotate much in the hand.

It's all in how you like a gun to shoot, I would not say the Colt Bisley grip is any easier or more difficult to shoot one handed than a standard SAA plow handle grip. It is just different.

 

[MartinS]

"...once the hammer was cocked, it could NOT be lowered other than by firing the gun.'' The gun would not allow you and your thumb to catch and lower the hammer slowly?

 

[CraigC]

I love the Colt Bisley and find them very comfortable to shoot. However, I'm not real nuts about the adaptation of the transfer bar to the Colt-style lockwork of a Uberti. You can buy a new Uberti in several chamberings (.38-40, .44-40, .44Spl and .45Colt from DGW) for a little more money and that's what I would recommend. I had this .44Spl and in a move of stupidity, sold it off.

 

[35 Whelen]

I've always loved the Colt Bisley design and have coveted them for years. I just finished going through my uncles Colt Bisley .41 Colt. This particular pistol was made in 1901 and judging from the wear on the left side of the muzzle, the worn grips and the innards, had seen LOTS of use. I completely tore it down and cleaned it up then installed a new trigger/bolt spring and fit a new hand. Now I want one even more.






For a while I had a Uberti Bisley in 45 Colt but it had a 7 1/2" barrel which was just too long. But it was a pleasure to shoot. I like the way the Bisleys sit deep in my hand as this puts the barrel more in line with my forearms and tends to distribute recoil more evenly.

At this point I'm on the prowl for an original Bisley in either 44-40 or 45 Colt although I haven't completely ruled out a copy.

The price of the Beretta you mention is likely very close to dealer price. If I were you I'd jump on it. The nice thing about Colts and their copies is they're super easy to work on so if something does go wrong, it's no problem to repair them.

35W

 

[CraigC]

That's a great old Colt!

 

[35 Whelen]

That's a great old Colt!

Thanks. I hate to see her go. Check your PM's.

35W

 

[MartinS]

Thanks for posting that photo. Glorious.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

From what I understand, back in the 19th Century the accepted target shooting stance involved holding the revolver with a bent elbow rather than with the arm fully extended as one would expect from watching mid-to-late 20th Century "bullseye" shooting.

I don't shoot like that so I'm not sure a Colt Bisley (or the faithful Uberti replica) would work for me.

The Ruger "Bisley" is closer to Elmer Keith's "Number Five" custom SAA than to the Colt Bisley. I find the Ruger Bisley to be similar in feel to a double action revolver (with which I am familiar). A friend of mine who hunts with a handgun swears by the Ruger Bisley design for handling heavy loads.

That is a decent price for a Uberti revolver in good shape (Uberti manufactured the Beretta single action revolvers) but the Beretta revolvers with their transfer bar ignitions seem to be a bit less robust than the other Uberti revolvers.

 

[Jim NE]

There's a Bisley Stampede at a local gun store that just sits there. Been there a while. Don't know what resale demand is for them. But I still would've been interested in it had I not bought an 1873 clone recently.

Next time I'm in, I'll check on the price to see how it compares.

 

[CraigC]

I don't shoot like that so I'm not sure a Colt Bisley (or the faithful Uberti replica) would work for me.

I don't find that to be the case at all. I shoot the Colt Bisley just like any other sixgun, one handed or two. I also found it to be very comfortable with the heavy Keith load.

The Ruger "Bisley" is closer to Elmer Keith's "Number Five" custom SAA than to the Colt Bisley.

Most folks who have shot them wouldn't agree. I find the #5 to be fairly dissimilar from any of them. It's really only a Colt SAA with a higher hump to the backstrap.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

From what I understand, back in the 19th Century the accepted target shooting stance involved holding the revolver with a bent elbow rather than with the arm fully extended as one would expect from watching mid-to-late 20th Century "bullseye" shooting.

I don't shoot like that so I'm not sure a Colt Bisley (or the faithful Uberti replica) would work for me.

Howdy again

I already said that:

What this means is, when shot with a straight elbow as we tend to do today, the Bisley gun tends to point down a bit, it does not point as naturally as the SAA plow handle grip does. This is because 19th Century target shooters did not shoot quite the same as we do today, many shot with the elbow slightly bent. With a slight bent elbow grip, the Bisley will naturally point forward.

The first time I ever handled a Bisley, I noticed when I held it straight out it tended to point down a bit, because of the grip shape. Here are some photos of some famous early 20th Century target shooters, from the EBook Pistol and Revolver Shooting by A. L. A. Himmelwright, first published in 1904. The first two are Walter Winans and C.S. Axtell. The third photo is of E. E. Patridge, the inventor of the Patridge sight.





Notice how they do not hold the gun straight out, each has his own variation with the arm at a different angle. That is who Colt was trying to reach with the Bisley model.

Frankly, when I shoot the Bisley Colt that I posted a photo of earlier, I really do not notice anything different about shooting it, I just make sure I have the sights lined up where I want the bullet to go.

 

[DavidB2]

Great feedback. Thanks for the invaluable insight.