Ruger SBH Hunter: Bisley vs. standard grip

[YosemiteSam357]

First, let me say that I'm a big fan of Ruger's Bisley style grips. I've got them on a .357 Vaquero and a .22. I find them very comfortable for my larger hands.

But how good is this grip at absorbing/transferring heavy recoil to the shooter? I can handle hot .357 loads without problem, but I'm now considering a SBH Hunter in .44 mag.

My dealer has a used SBH Hunter (not Bisley) with Pachmayrs on it, and it feels pretty good. I don't particularly care for the standard SBH plowhandle grip, but this Pachy works real well. The gun has the originals, too.

I really prefer the look and feel of the Bisley, but I don't want to end up with a gun that's painful to shoot. I'm not planning on doing real hot loads, but I'd like to be able to shoot factory level loads without pain. Pachmayr doesn't appear to make a grip for the Bisley frame. It would ruin the look anyway.

Can anyone compare how a standard SBH, or better yet, one with a Pachy grip, compares to a Bisley type grip under recoil? If the Bisley proves to be painful does anyone make a cushioned grip for it? I guess I could always get glove...

Any thoughts?

-- Sam

 

[P. Plainsman]

I like the Ruger Bisley grip better for heavy recoiling loads, and many -- probably most -- shooters agree. It's one big reason people go with Bisleys vs. standard SBHs.

I had a SBH Bisley Hunter and it was excellent. I particularly liked the Bisley grip shape. I didn't use rubber aftermarkets, just the regular gray-laminated wood Ruger grip panels (which are quite attractive). I never found any .44 Magnum load that was uncomfortable to fire in that gun, including 300 gr loads. (OK, I never tried the really mind-bending .44 hot stuff -- like Garrett 310 gr Hammerheads.) And I'm not especially big or muscular.

It's a heavy revolver, but the mass and strength is for a purpose.

 

[ArmedBear]

I thought the Bisley grip was supposed to be BETTER under recoil. Most people report that it is.

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger_Stainless_Bisley.htm

Freedom Arms uses that grip angle, as do other small or custom makers, for big bore guns.

 

[Gordon]

The Ruger Bisley grip handles big recoil better than anything I've seen!

 

[YosemiteSam357]

Cool. Thanks for the responses. I guess I need to get to the bank...

-- Sam

 

[g_gunter]

I've owned both and must say that I've found the standard blackhawk grip to be preferable in that it provides a little better hold on the gun. The super blackhawk hunter is a little barrel heavy so the flare at the back end of the standard grip helps me to keep it pointed more easily. Since .44 mags do not have as ferocious a recoil as its bigger bore siblings, and since the Hunter model is nice and beefy already, I don't find the bisley grip to be that beneficial in this particular case. Just my thoughts.

g_gunter

 

[Leadhead]

The plow handle grip frame on the Superblackhawk Hunter is longer then the the ones on the other blackhawk's and the current production superblackhawk's.....lot's of room for you hand to fit on the grip including your pinky!
I've tried both and I prefer the regular plow handle over the Bisely on the SuperBlackhawk hunter model.

 

[critter]

I have a Ruger SBH Hunter Bisley and LOVE it. I think the grip is WAY better with heavy loads. It's my deer killer!

 

[461]

I'll be the odd man out, the Bisley gripframe doesn't work for me, I prefer the standard Blackhawk gripframe in all steel. I like the look of the Bisley better, but it just doesn't suit my hand for heavy loads. Obviously people differ in their likes and dislikes, you'll have to shoot them both to decide what works for you.

 

[Brian Williams]

I had a Bisley Hunter and sold it, I should have gotten a regular plow handle.

 

[Jim March]

If the Bisley works for you in lesser calibers, you'll love it in the big boomers.

Some people don't get along with the Bisley, but I've heard of NO cases of hating it only when the power levels rise. You either like it or you don't.

Most do .

 

[Leadhead]

I think the older superblackhawk's had the longer grip but the newer ones for some reason have been changed to the smaller blackhawk grip?
My 357 blackhawk requires me to grip with the pinky underneath the grip which I don't mind, but with the .44 I'd rather have all my fingers wrapped around the grip....The SuperBlackhawk hunter's larger grip let's me do this easily.
Really though you need to try them for your self but don't base the decision on an experience with a smaller blackhawk plowhandle because it's not the same...

 

[Snapping Twig]

I have a SBH that's waiting for a Bisley grip, Bisley hammer and round trigger guard. Frankly I detest the tiny cavalry grip and believe it to be a total mismatch for this pistol. Combine that grip with a square trigger guard and you have the ultimate opposite of what I consider to be the control surfaces for a hard recoiling, long barreled firearm.

Now, that said, there's nothing wrong with it if that's what you like.

I have a 7.5" Casull with a Bisley grip and a round trigger guard to compare to the 7.5" SBH, so for me it's like a direct side-by-side for comparison.

 

[Dionysusigma]

I personally hate the fact that I like it.

I think the Bisley grip is ugly, but they seem to work really well for me. In fact, the last .44 I shot had it, and the recoil seemed downright comfortable.