98s1lightning
Member
I've never held/fired a Bisley and never cared for the look of them. But the more I read about them...the praise and cult following they have I can't help but wonder what it's like!
I can't help but wonder about a Bisley Grip frame....
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ontarget
Member
I can agree with you on that. They look to me like they put the bore axis even higher above the wrist than a plow handle which to me sounds like it would magnify felt recoil and muzzle flip.
I assume my thoughts are wrong since the Bisley grip is so popular on the big bores.
I assume my thoughts are wrong since the Bisley grip is so popular on the big bores.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I currently have nine Ruger Bisleys (with another on the way that will get converted) and two Colt pattern Bisleys. For me, there is nothing better for handling heavy recoil.
First shot I fired with a Ruger Bisley was bordering on a religious experience. I had bought a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk, which comes with the standard Blackhawk grip frame and struggled with it for a few years. Full loads were just unpleasant. I ordered the parts from Brownells and converted it to a Bisley, installing the fat Hogue cowboy panels in the process. To say that the difference was night & day is an understatement. That sixgun became a fast favorite and has since been to the gunsmith twice for a facelift. From this:
To this:
And finally this:
And having a twin in .500JRH. With 440's at 1350fps, there is no other grip configuration I want in a sixgun this size.
First shot I fired with a Ruger Bisley was bordering on a religious experience. I had bought a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk, which comes with the standard Blackhawk grip frame and struggled with it for a few years. Full loads were just unpleasant. I ordered the parts from Brownells and converted it to a Bisley, installing the fat Hogue cowboy panels in the process. To say that the difference was night & day is an understatement. That sixgun became a fast favorite and has since been to the gunsmith twice for a facelift. From this:
To this:
And finally this:
And having a twin in .500JRH. With 440's at 1350fps, there is no other grip configuration I want in a sixgun this size.
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98s1lightning
Member
I think the grip angle being more like an autoloader must let the gun flip back more instead of push into your hand. This is just a guess.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It's actually more like a DA but still rolls up more than straight back.
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98s1lightning
Member
Yea. I literally just had my GP 100 out stacked over my SBH then wrote that I figured a bisley was more like an autoloader Duh. Hah. Your right it is more like a DA from what I can see I agree.
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98s1lightning
Member
Craig do you shoot the standard grip frames at all? Standard loads....
I was looking at that not long ago. Seems Brownells has stainless Bisley grip frames, or aluminum “in the white”. I don’t really want to add all that much weight to my Blackhawk, and I'd like to have a finished grip frame.
Anyone know of where to get a black anodized Bisley frame?
MidRoad
Member
Don't believe there is such a thing as an aluminum bisley. If so please post a link,because that would be fantastic. The in the white frame on Brownells site is steel.
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MidRoad
Member
Here maybe this will help ya visualize.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Up until last week, there was only one aluminum Bisley grip frame I knew of. It resided on this .45 convertible built by Jack Huntington. No idea where the grip frame came from. I've now got two aluminum Bisley grip frames on the way from RW Grip Frames. They are CNC machined from billets, rather than cast.
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98s1lightning
Member
Craig do you have one of these yet??????????
https://rwgripframes-com.3dcartstores.com/FrankenFab-Bisley-Dragoon_p_77.html
https://rwgripframes-com.3dcartstores.com/FrankenFab-Bisley-Dragoon_p_77.html
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
No, that one doesn't really turn me on. There was a lot of discussion about what would be produced and the aluminum Bisley is what I lobbied for. I also ordered an aluminum New Model XR3.
MidRoad
Member
Those a pretty slick frames! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing yours craig
Best single-action grip frame from Ruger. Recoils more like a double-action revolver in that it tends to come straight back in the hand but still lifts the muzzle. It will often rag your middle knuckle however that can be mitigated with a good set of custom grips made for your hand.
BobWright
Member
Some years back I set up some Ruger .44s and .45s to see for myself which grip suited me the best. I had Blackhawk/Super Blackawks with 4 5/8" barrels and 7 1/2" barrels with Bisley grip frames, Dragoon (Super Blackhawk) grip frames, and XR-3RED grip frames. I shot these with high velocity, lightweight bullets, high velocity heavy weight bullets, and middle of the road handloads. I shot at 100 yards using a standing, two handed hold, and standing, using the "duelist" stance at ten yards, and standing, two handed at twenty five yards.
At the end of my "testing" I found I preferred the Super Blackhawk's Dragoon style gripframe to suit me best with heavy loads, while I preferred the XR-3RED for rapid, duelist type firing, and this with the 4 5/8" guns. To my surprise, the Bisley whacked my middle finger the hardest.
All of my Rugers are now back with the Dragoon or XR-3RED grip frames.
Note I did not have the custom big calibers, and the heaviest bullet I fired was a 350 gr. affair for the .45 Colt. Nor have I any desire for the .454, .475 or .500 at this point in my life. My personal observation and area of interest revolves aroundthe Ruger Blackhawk and/or the N-Frame Smith & Wessons.
These my findings and sentiments. Yours will, of course, vary.
P.S. Actually my short barreled .44 Magnum was 5" instead of the 4 5/8" as this I already had on hand.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Bob Wright
At the end of my "testing" I found I preferred the Super Blackhawk's Dragoon style gripframe to suit me best with heavy loads, while I preferred the XR-3RED for rapid, duelist type firing, and this with the 4 5/8" guns. To my surprise, the Bisley whacked my middle finger the hardest.
All of my Rugers are now back with the Dragoon or XR-3RED grip frames.
Note I did not have the custom big calibers, and the heaviest bullet I fired was a 350 gr. affair for the .45 Colt. Nor have I any desire for the .454, .475 or .500 at this point in my life. My personal observation and area of interest revolves aroundthe Ruger Blackhawk and/or the N-Frame Smith & Wessons.
These my findings and sentiments. Yours will, of course, vary.
P.S. Actually my short barreled .44 Magnum was 5" instead of the 4 5/8" as this I already had on hand.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Bob Wright
ApacheCoTodd
member
I like neither the look nor the feel while shooting. Add to that the *bird's head* grip.
For whatever reason, the very similar angle of many DA/Modern pistols is fine with me.
But then too, I quite dislike a 1911 frame without an arched mainspring housing too.
Todd.
ApacheCoTodd
member
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98s1lightning
Member
I'm finding while I view the dragoon guard as visually attractive it is also serves a purpose as a rest for my supporting hand index finger to help hold the weight of the 10 1/2" heavy barrel on my SBH. I think without the square guard I would be in trouble with too much weight on my strong hand middle finger fatiguing my hand after short time.
LaneP
Member
I've never owned a Bisley frame but I suspect I'll own one in the future. I used to read Ross Seyfried's adventures with Hamilton Bowen custom Bisley revolvers shooting the .475 and .500 Linebaugh cartridges (if memory serves). These are pistols that recoil enough to put the front sight in your forehead if you aren't careful 
Tallball
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I have a 7.5" 44 magnum SBH "plowhandle". My FiL has a 7.5" 44 magnum SBH Bisley. We have similarly sized XXL hands and have both shot revolvers a lot. We each strongly prefer our own SBH.
My impression is that if you are used to shooting the SA revolver in the "traditional" way, with your pinky tucked under the grips and holding it a little more loosely than a DA revolver, then a plowhandle is probably better for you.
If you shoot it more like a DA revolver (all fingers on the grip, holding it more tightly), the Bisley is probably better for you.
My impression is that if you are used to shooting the SA revolver in the "traditional" way, with your pinky tucked under the grips and holding it a little more loosely than a DA revolver, then a plowhandle is probably better for you.
If you shoot it more like a DA revolver (all fingers on the grip, holding it more tightly), the Bisley is probably better for you.
I've had several of the standard Blackhawk revolvers over the years. I just never fell in love with them and don't currently own one. But having handled them in stores and at gunshows the Bisley grip might bring me back one of these days.
shootstraight57
Member
I saw a video from Power Custom where you can install a Colt grip frame on a Ruger Bisley or Vicaroe. There was a bit of filing done but the video showed a step by step installation. They sold the grip frame also.
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