Lipsey's New Bisley 3-3/4" Blackhawk

[Dain Bramage]

I've been drooling over this Blackhawk since I saw it on Lipsey's website.

Lipsey's Guns

3-3/4" barrel stainless .44 mag, fluteless cylinder. It still weighs 44 oz. for a snubby, and the Bisley grip with the short barrel is sort of at odds with itself. It's scale is kind of like a reverse Colt CCO.

But I like it. I have to wear shooting gloves with full power .44 mag loads in my 6.5" 50th Anniversary Blackhawk, with the small XR3-Red grips. It would be nuts to do anything shorter barreled without improved grips.

I think this would be a hoot to shoot. What do you guys think?

 

[CraigC]

I think it would make a dandy packin' pistol with just a simple roundbutting and proper grips. I would be all over it if I didn't already have a nice 4 5/8" Bisley .44Mag.

 

[rcmodel]

I think the ejector rod will be a little short for full ejection of .44 Mag cases!

rc

 

[CraigC]

The short buttonhead basepin helps!

 

[rcmodel]

Yea! I forgot about that part.
But still?

rc

 

[Dain Bramage]

I think the ejector rod will be a little short for full ejection of .44 Mag cases!

True. Half the time, cases don't eject cleanly in my 4-5/8" .357 Blackhawk.

It's not a gun I'd look to for fast reloads.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Right about the ejection. I have the .44 special Sheriff's Model, and even THAT won't eject all the time, even with the shorter base pin and shorter cases. But, I agree, this new "Bisley" would be great for those who feel the 4 5/8" is too long, or just like the style, weight, and/or balance. Nice package.

 

[CraigC]

But still?

It still comes up a little short but works better if you operate the ejector rather enthusiastically.

Personally, while lots of them are really neat guns that would be fun to handle and shoot, I don't think anything shorter than 4 5/8" (or 4¾") is a good idea on a real using sixgun.

 

[tahoe2]

I'll bet that's really fun with 44 specials in it!!

 

[W.E.G.]

Its a collector's and dress-up piece for the fella who has everything, and who still wants more.

 

[sidheshooter]

Another fun idea from Lipsey's. I like it.

 

[Kernel]

Close. I’d buy one if they had made it with an aluminum framed birdshead (something Ruger has NEVER made to my knowledge), aluminum ejector housing, while keeping the Bisley trigger and hammer. A bit lighter, and a bit rounder. Love the adjustable sight.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I'm just the opposite. Never liked the aluminum furniture because when it got worn, you could never touch it up, and it looked bad.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I like it...got the right look about it.

 

[Jaymo]

I'd like a bird's head Vaquero sheriff in .44 Spl.
I can dream, can't I?

 

[The Man With No Name]

Beautiful (to my eyes). Personally I'd prefer it in 45lc or 44special or 45acp. No way I'd want to put a full power 44mag through that!

 

[Old Fuff]

Personally I'd prefer it in 45lc or 44special or 45acp. No way I'd want to put a full power 44mag through that!

Agreed! The new flat-top/mid-frame Blackhawk chambered for any of the cartridges mentioned above would be a better platform for the intended purpose. Unfortunately too many marketing departments within the firearms industry don't have a lot of real expertise when it comes to understanding what's best when it comes to end use.

The revolver in question should sell well to those that suffer from Magnumites Syndrom but will be less favored by those who know what they are doing. :banghead:

 

[CraigC]

The Bisley grip frame makes all the difference. This sixgun should be very user friendly, relatively speaking. The Bisley configuration more than makes up for the short barrel. Mine is a 4 5/8" model but it is a very easy sixgun to shoot, even with full loads.

Unfortunately too many marketing departments within the firearms industry don't have a lot of real expertise when it comes to understanding what's best when it comes to end use.

The guys at Lipsey's, who are also responsible for all the .44Spl's from Ruger, are a little different.

 

[Dain Bramage]

The revolver in question should sell well to those that suffer from Magnumites Syndrom but will be less favored by those who know what they are doing.

Aww, c'mon. It's just a .44 mag. Those are barely adequate for deer, nowadays.

Besides, I'd rather carry a sweet-spot 1100-1200 fps 240g LSWC in a mild .44 Mag, rather than trying to hotrod a .44 Special.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I saw one up close today. Just my tastes, but I didn't like it as much up close. My .44 Special Sheriff's Model is much sleeker, and more to my tastes. The new ,44 Mag looked somehow out of proportion on the grip, and the same with the shape of the short barrel with the base and front sight. Something missed the target on sleekness.

 

[CraigC]

I'm not a big Reeder fan but it would look better roundbutted like mine or with his Trail Rider treatment.

 

[Old Fuff]

Aww, c'mon. It's just a .44 mag. Those are barely adequate for deer, nowadays.

Good point!! I never go into chipmunk or ground rodent country without my trusty .44 Mag.

But given the barrel length and general size and weight I'd prefer the lighter/smaller platform to start with. If I'm lugging around a Magnum the barrel will be longer

Besides, I'd rather carry a sweet-spot 1100-1200 fps 240g LSWC in a mild .44 Mag, rather than trying to hotrod a .44 Special.

I'd do the same in a .45 Colt (with a longer barrel) or more likely stay under 1000 FPS with the shorter barrel in either .44 Special or .45 Colt. Heavy/short .44 Magnums to not appeal to me at all.

 

[Dain Bramage]

But given the barrel length and general size and weight I'd prefer the lighter/smaller platform to start with.

There's no getting around the 44 oz. weight. Granted, it would be a low-volume, specialized piece where magnum power and compact packing are more desired than low weight. In my mind, it makes more sense than the old Vaqueros with short barrels and birds-head grips.

SharpsDressedMan: did you see it at a local Lipsey's dealer? My closest one is about 20 miles away. I might give them a call.

I understand the sleekness is affected by the stylistic decision to keep the standard blackhawk adjustable sight configuration. Snubnose aesthetics are already grotesque, and skew more that way by anything other than fixed, low profile sights. I can see the adjustable sights as a "feature" if you're regulating for a variety of shot, but usefulness and clunkiness cross somewhere as the barrel shortens. Every interested party will have to decide that point in person with the revolver.

 

[charlieb123]

Saw one last week at my LGS-would have been an owner if my gun bugdet was not already well into 2013-plus it sold within 2 days and made my decision moot. The feel suited me down to my toes, plus I "need" a companion 44 Mag to go with a recent acquisition of a pre-safety 44 mag Marlin rifle. This one is now right near the top of my short list.

 

[CraigC]

I look at it as a .44Mag packin' pistol you can actually use. The Bisley grip frame may look a little ungainly but you'll quickly appreciate it when it's time to shoot. The adjustable sights may look out of place with such a short barrel but again, you'll appreciate being able to adjust them for any load. If bear stompin' is your thing, you'll still get at least 1000fps with a 355gr or 1100fps with a 330gr.

Comfort-wise, all else being equal, I'd rather shoot heavy loads through a 3¾" Bisley than a regular 7½" Blackhawk.