Advice Needed- Super Blackhawk Bisley 44mag

[andrewst35]

Im planning on buying this revolver as my first. I'll do my own reloads to save money. Does the handgun recoil as bad as people say? Can it be tamed down so its enjoyable to target shoot and not get beat up? I already reload for 40sw, 45acp, and 308. Thanks

 

[deac45]

First let me say great choice for a first revolver! As to recoil, it is a very subjective thing. One man's monster is another's pussycat. Recalling my first time with a 44 I can say no, it wasn't as bad as I'd heard. If you are handling the 40SW and 45ACP well enough you should do fine with the 44. It will be a step up, but nothing to fear. Just concentrate on grip fundamentals and let the shot break. And, yes, it ca be downloaded to very mild levels. Do a search in the reload section on favorite 44 mag loads.


Deac45

 

[contender]

That is a fine revolver. If you are doing ok with a 40 cal & a 45 acp,, then you will notice a difference. I'd say the biggest thing you need to do is learn a proper gripping for a SA revolver & understand the physics of it's recoil. If you "fight" it and not allow it to work naturally,, then you may not enjoy it as much. The Bisley GF is good for handling recoil. ANd if you are going to reload,, and plink/target shoot, then you should be just fine.

 

[MaxP]

I have a Bisley Hunter in .44 Mag and even with top-end loads (320s at 1,350 fps), it is pretty comfortable to shoot. THis revolver is exceedingly accurate as well. You could do a lot worse for a first!

 

[nickE10mm]

I picked up my BNIB Ruger SBHBH today at my FFL, as well..... it won't be my first .44 but I've since sold all of my others off. Now that I reload, I'll be shooting it a LOT more than I was able to before. Can't wait to get to the range!

 

[andrewst35]

Or would you pick the super redhawk?

 

[Nowata]

Congrats on a cool choice of revolver. I have a SS SBH Bisley with a 5.5in. barrel, in 44mag. I reload. I don't even own 44 special cases, just load 44 sp.-level loads in the mag. cases. My plinker load is 6.0gr. Of Trail Boss and a 200gr. RNFP for about 800fps. Stepping up a bit, I load a 240gr. SWC and 8.0gr. Unique for (probably) a tad more than 900fps. The 240 gr. load is a laser in my gun, giving less than 2" groups at 25yrds., and will be my short range deer gun-load combo. Both loads are really just mouse-phart level in recoil. I guess I might step it up one day, but I can't think of a good reason. Certainly the gun is capable of more power, and if needed, I will load for my Bisley Hunter.

 

[bigboredad]

I love the bisley style and big heavy lead bullets. Trailboss powder can tame even the biggest monster so can unique and universal. Take some time and look at as many powders and loads from as many places as you can find. 10gr of unique or universal and a 240gr bullet will be quite tame and great accuracy. Then for fun step up to a load the MaxP talks about and you'll see how cool big revolvers are and how much fun you can have there are lots of loads in books to not just online I really like the hodgdon manual cheap and can easily be stored in the thinking room for studying loads. HAVE FUN

 

[pisgah]

Among .44 magnums, the Bisley is one of the best when it comes to recoil management, IMO. Of course, others will differ, but I find the Bisley to be very comfortable even with high-end loads; and if the big boomers prove a bit much for you it is quite easy to download 'em just a bit for comfort while still maintaining fine big-game performance. My Bisley is a .45 Colt, the only one I think MIGHT be even nicer than the .44! :wink: :D

 

[Sixer]

I believe that John Linebaugh stated that the Bisley grip was the reason why he could come up with the
.475 and .500 cartridges. He tried the .500 with a standard grip and couldnt hold on to it. Then in 1984 Ruger came out with the Bisley. I think most here would agree that the Bisley grip is the best for controlling big recoil. Freedom Arms has a similar grip. You should have no problems.

 

[ndcowboy]

Im planning on buying this revolver as my first. I'll do my own reloads to save money. Does the handgun recoil as bad as people say? Can it be tamed down so its enjoyable to target shoot and not get beat up? I already reload for 40sw, 45acp, and 308. Thanks

It can be really tamed down. Handloading 44 special loads in 44 mag brass is pretty common and gives easy shooting target loads.

 

[andrewst35]

Any huge differences between the super blackhawk bisley and super redhawk other than action? Is one better than the other for target shooting?

 

[pisgah]

If anything, the Redawk is an even stronger revolver than the Blackhawk, even though both are quite strong. As far as one being better than the other for targets, I think it really just depends on which a shooter likes better.

 

[Pal Val]

Fine choice. It's an excellent gun, handles heavy loads well, and recoil is more bark and less bite than most. The big grip helps tame heavy loads, and you can put in bigger grips (if you hands will allow) to distribute the force even better. A good way to control recoil is distributing the load over as big an area as possible. That's where custom grips come to your benefit. You can load the .44mag up to rip-roaring levels with no danger to this sturdy weapon, or load them down to .44spec. levels.

Onlly thing - don't be surprised if the low-power loads hit a bit high. Counterintuitive, but true.

 

[andrewst35]

How does Taurus stack up- raging bull series or something similar?

 

[bigboredad]

The raging bull will be in peices by the time your super redhawk is broke in and the bull borders on the ridiculously large side the bisley is the easiest for packing the super will scare you how accurate they are. I have found how ever I prefer a shorter barrel on the bisley. For some reason the 7.5 seems a bit more uncomfortable than a 5.5 inch but I can't explain why

 

[pisgah]

I know nothing bad to report on the Bull, but overall both the the Blackhawk and Redhawk are unbeatably durable.

 

[andrewst35]

Any big differences between the super blackhawk hunter and the super redhawk other than price and action?

 

[Nowata]

Well, the SRH is probably stronger than the SBH. However, let's face it, how many top-end loads are you gonna shoot? I have a SBH Bisley 5.5in., and a SBH Hunter. I shoot 95-98% low-mid level loads. I just don't shoot buckets of "absolute top-end" loads. Frankly, "hot" .44 special loads kill deer out to 75 yrds great. Might want to think about a trigger job. My Bisley Hunter was perfect from the factory, but the 5.5in. needed a little luv.

 

[andrewst35]

Ya I wasn't sure if it was worth the extra $200 for the super redhawk.

 

[andrewst35]

I finally got to go to a local show and saw all 3 Ruger 44 mags. The super red hawk was OK but the grip wasn't as comfy as the Bisley model. Anyway one could change the grips so its as comfy as the Bisley? I also saw the GP100. Its a nice 357 but the grip wasn't very comfortable. Does anyone make a grip like the Bisley to put on it?

 

[Nowata]

see previous posts about grip.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I like both of my Bisleys, 357 and 44 and I reload for them. :D :D

 

[andrewst35]

Does the plain red hawk have the same grip as the super redhawk?

 

[deac45]

No. The Super uses the same tenon system as the GP100 and SP101. My dream gun is a Redhawk with the Super/GP style grip.

Deac45

 

[andrewst35]

I went to a Gunshow yesterday. Handled a plain redhawk and my index finger was snugged up against the trigger guard. Will this bugger up my finger after shooting it awhile? I handled the super redhawk and had more room but my fat fingers didn't really fit the grip. Seems the bisley has the most room out of the bunch. Too bad they don't do a bisley redhawk.

 

[bigboredad]

for most the redhawk grip frame has a bump on the back that really whack the back side of your hand I love the redhawk but after owning and shooting the super redhawks that is my preference

 

[andrewst35]

So if buy the super redhawk, how could I get more finger room? Get a gun plain grip or different finger groove grip?

 

[bigboredad]

man if you need more finger room on a super your fingers must be huge. there are several grip styles but if you have fingers that huge I would suggest get a blackhawk or super blackhaawk and then sen it to jack huntington for his grip mod that will definitely give you more room. there are several different styles of grips that would fit n the superedhawk and the must popular right now is the rubber hogue with finger grooves and gel in the backstrap. Sorry I'm not very helpful I have short fingers so I have a whole different set of problems to contend with

 

[certified angus]

Which grips are on the Super Redhawk you looked at? The ones with the rosewood inserts or the Hogue grips, with the finger grooves? They are pretty easy to change out, so try both if you can and see what you prefer. I have the rosewood grips on my 7.5", and they work just fine. My Alaskan came of course with the Hogue grips, and they make that gun very comfortable to shoot.

While I don't regret getting my 7.5" Super Redhawk, I have always wanted to get a Blackhawk. Someday.