Bisley grip question

[louiethelump]

I just won a Gunbroker auction for one of the new Super Blackhawk Bisley 45 Colt/45 acp on the big frame with 3 3/4" barrel and adjustable sights. I am shopping for some Grips for this gun, and my understanding is that all of the Bisley grip frames take the same grips; from single six to the big frame guns and everything in between.


I am looking at a set of stag grips that have been fitted to the gun they are photographed on, but the seller has added that the gun they were fitted to is an early Vaquero before the introduction of the New Vaquero midframe size.

My question: ARE all of the Ruger Bisley grip frames the same? Should the grips being fitted to an early Vaquero case a problem with them fitting a newly produced gun like the one I described above?

Thanks for any and all input.

 

[Sugar River]

Yes, all Ruger Bisley grip frames are the same, BUT, many grip makers will attest that frame to frame variations can be severe, and will request the actual G.F. in question for fitting.

 

[pisgah]

It really depends a good deal on how picky you are. They are "nominally" the same, but Ruger SA's are notorious for grip frame variations. In most cases, these result in minor mis-fits that many folks won't even notice. Other obsessive-compulsive types can be driven absolutely batty by them -- and in truth, sometimes the grip fit can be pretty sorry. As Sugar River says, may grip makers want the grip frames in hand before they'll fit new grips, either because they are nit-picky about their own work (as they should be, at the prices some charge) or because they have encountered many nit-picky customers!

 

[mike7mm08]

I just had grips fitted to a bisley frame. Every grip maker I talked to said the Bisleys are the worst for variations of any Ruger Grip frames. None of them would make a pair without my frame to fit them too. Be a real roll of the dice as to how well the grips you found fit. But they will fit kinda sorta maybe. :roll:

 

[DeletedMember275]

They couldn't fit any worse than factory Bisley grips. Just saying.

 

[CraigC]

We've come a long way from the late 19th century when grips were whittled from a single piece of walnut and were sanded to the grip frame for a perfect fit. I don't consider expecting your grips to fit properly being nit-picky or obsessive-compulsive. Poorly shaped and poorly fitted grips aren't very conducive to comfortable, accurate shooting. Ruger factory grips are both poorly shaped and poorly fitting. Unfortunately, while there is always enough variation between guns to make off-the-shelf grip fit problematic, the Ruger Bisley is one of the worst offenders. For an aftermarket grip, the Hogue cowboy grips have the best shape but fit is going to be a major crapshoot. So the only way to achieve a desirable result, properly shaped grips that are properly fitted to the gun, is to send at least the grip frame, if not the whole gun to a custom gripmaker. In most cases, proper grips will make a world of difference in your shooting, especially with hard kickers.

They're not cheap by any means but there are none better than Rob Rowen (or his mentor Roy Fishpaw):

And Jack Huntington:

Paul Persinger also does great grip work:

As does Nutmeg Sports:

Unfortunately Cary Chapman is no longer in the grip business:

For aftermarket grips the Hogue's are pretty good and pretty cheap:

 

[s4s4u]

I bought a set of Hogue "ivory" grips and they fit my 7-1/2" Bisley 45 Colt perfectly.

 

[pisgah]

We've come a long way from the late 19th century when grips were whittled from a single piece of walnut and were sanded to the grip frame for a perfect fit. I don't consider expecting your grips to fit properly being nit-picky or obsessive-compulsive.

No slight intended by using the terms nit-picky and obsessive compulsive. Fact is, were I to allow myself to slide into full-nitpick mode I could point out flaws in the fit of every single one of the beautiful grips you posted... :wink:

 

[CraigC]

Yes, I am sure. :roll:

 

[eric conrad]

Cary C said there is a difference between the blue and stainless grip frames when it comes to fit. I Always sent Cary my grip frame when ordering grips. Cary is a True craftsman. I hope he decides to start making his grips again.
Eric