Regular or Bisley SA?

[CraigC]

I'll put it like this. I got a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk in 1998. The short barreled guns come with the standard Blackhawk grip frame. With full loads, the recoil was horrendous. At one point I even peeled my thumbnail off with it. I suffered with it for several years before finally deciding to convert it to a Bisley. When I did, I installed the fat Hogue cowboy panels on it. The first time I fired it was a religious experience. The difference in felt recoil was dramatic. It was actually comfortable and enjoyable to shoot. So eventually this:



Went to Clements and became this:



Which eventually went to Huntington and became this:




Because of its multi-stage transformation, I actually have more invested in it than my engraved .500JRH. The Ruger Bisley is just 'that' good. Now 355's at 1350fps are child's play.

 

[Tall]

I like my Colt New Frontier really well. I wish they had made a New Frontier Bisley. I would own one.

 

[CraigC]

I got close with this Uberti.



An 1860 grip frame would be nice too.

 

[nofendertom]

Not a single action guy, but, I have shot both. Owned a SBH and a BH, both in .44mag, for a short time. Shot a friends Ruger Bisley in .45colt a bunch of times and
liked it much better. FWIW I would choose a Ruger Bisley.

 

[Seedy Character]

I have the same .44Mag. I don't find the recoil unbearable, but noticeable. When I shoot magnums, it is factory, .240 gr JHP.

99% of my shooting is with Cowboy loads.

I don't shoot any .44s over 240 gr.

I have shot 325 gr in a Browning BL-92 and it is a thumper.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

I don't fire really heavy recoiling cartridges in a single action revolver. About the heaviest recoiling ammo I fire are my Black Powder 45 Colt cartridges, stuffed with all the FFg they will hold under a 250 grain bullet. While not in the same recoil category as 44 Mag and other heavier recoiling cartridges, my BP 45 Colt ammo does deliver what I would call 'stout' recoil, certainly much more than the mouse fart loads some of my CAS compatriots shoot.

When I first decided to get into Black Powder cartridge loading about 20 years ago, I was shooting Ruger 'original model' Vaqueros, the bigger ones than the current New Vaqueros. Everyone was advising me back then that I had better look for Bisley Vaqueros to compensate for the heavier recoil of my Black Powder loads. So I bought one. I took it to exactly one match. I did not like it, and I sold it soon after, using the proceeds on my first real Colt. I have been happily shooting my relatively stout Black Powder 45 Colt ammo in Colts ever since, curling my pinky under the grip as I have mentioned many times. This works for me, and personally I do not find the need for the Ruger version of a Bisley grip.

 

[dieselchief]

for some reason the bisley grip makes a single action feel and point more like a double action revolver. jmho.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

From a "traditionalist" standpoint,I favor the 0lowhandle and have several. When I had a chance to shoot a friend's Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt , it kind of has me thinking I need one. I can see a real advantage to the Bisley ina heavier recoil round like 44 mag.