P. Plainsman
Member
I picked one of these up not long ago for my first serious single action revolver. Large, heavy stainless piece, model number KS-47NHB. Very much a Ruger in appearance -- that thick scope rail over the already stout barrel leaves little doubt about it. Tough but handsome, it would likely excel as an improvised bludgeon. The laminated grips are actually a nice dappled gray rather than the dark color shown in the Ruger site pic:
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=862&return=Y
It's unscoped for the nonce, with clear adjustable sights that don't have that slight wobbliness of the rear blade that you find on adjustable S&Ws. I'm still getting to know the Ruger, so it isn't sighted in for any particular load yet. Without a scope it's muzzle-heavy, but not awkward or unmanageable; a scope might push it over the edge. I am currently leaning toward installing a red-dot as an attractive compromise.
The Bisley grip rocks. Unlike a standard SAA-style grip, you can get your whole hand around it. The gun rears up with heavy loads, but it's just flip -- my shooting hand thumb doesn't get banged up the way it does with my beloved wood-grip S&W 629 firing magnums. As a single action novice, I'm surprised and impressed with how well this grip configuration is working.
I applied the "Poor Boy's Trigger Job":
http://www.gunblast.com/Poorboy.htm
... and have since shot, cleaned, lubricated the gun a couple of times. Now the trigger is more than acceptable. I lack a trigger gauge and am bad at estimating, but I'd guess between 3 and 4 pounds. Easy to get a clean, surprise break.
Best accuracy so far is with: (1) Hornady .44 Magnum 300 grain XTP JHP; this is a great round, milder than you'd think; and (2) Buffalo Bore "Heavy .44 Special" 255 gr Keith-type SWC, a load with a per-ounce cost roughly comparable to platinum bullion, but that just shoots like megabucks in both my 629 and the Bisley Hunter.
The Hunter also did well this week with Black Hills 240 gr JHP, my default .44 Mag for practice. The best five-shot group at 25 yards, elbows rested, over open sights, was a vertical knife slash through the center of the bullseye.
It's early days with this revolver. I suppose some terrible problem could crop up in the future. There's a touch of side-side cylinder slop which I plan to address with a Belt Mountain aftermarket base pin. As I see it at present, though, this is a fully satisfactory firearm.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=862&return=Y
It's unscoped for the nonce, with clear adjustable sights that don't have that slight wobbliness of the rear blade that you find on adjustable S&Ws. I'm still getting to know the Ruger, so it isn't sighted in for any particular load yet. Without a scope it's muzzle-heavy, but not awkward or unmanageable; a scope might push it over the edge. I am currently leaning toward installing a red-dot as an attractive compromise.
The Bisley grip rocks. Unlike a standard SAA-style grip, you can get your whole hand around it. The gun rears up with heavy loads, but it's just flip -- my shooting hand thumb doesn't get banged up the way it does with my beloved wood-grip S&W 629 firing magnums. As a single action novice, I'm surprised and impressed with how well this grip configuration is working.
I applied the "Poor Boy's Trigger Job":
http://www.gunblast.com/Poorboy.htm
... and have since shot, cleaned, lubricated the gun a couple of times. Now the trigger is more than acceptable. I lack a trigger gauge and am bad at estimating, but I'd guess between 3 and 4 pounds. Easy to get a clean, surprise break.
Best accuracy so far is with: (1) Hornady .44 Magnum 300 grain XTP JHP; this is a great round, milder than you'd think; and (2) Buffalo Bore "Heavy .44 Special" 255 gr Keith-type SWC, a load with a per-ounce cost roughly comparable to platinum bullion, but that just shoots like megabucks in both my 629 and the Bisley Hunter.
The Hunter also did well this week with Black Hills 240 gr JHP, my default .44 Mag for practice. The best five-shot group at 25 yards, elbows rested, over open sights, was a vertical knife slash through the center of the bullseye.
It's early days with this revolver. I suppose some terrible problem could crop up in the future. There's a touch of side-side cylinder slop which I plan to address with a Belt Mountain aftermarket base pin. As I see it at present, though, this is a fully satisfactory firearm.
