bisley grip vs plow handle

[Sacramento Johnson]

Hi all,
For those that have shot both, how does the bisley grip direct recoil force compared to the plow handle grip?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

The way I hold a standard grip allows the grip to rotate in the hand, dissipating part of the felt recoil. With a Bisley grip, the grip cannot rotate as easily, so the force of recoil is directed pretty much straight back into the palm of the hand. I much prefer the standard grip to the Ruger version of the Bisley grip.

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

Thank you!
I suspected the force was more straight into the palm with the bisley.

 

[writwing]

Howdy

The way I hold a standard grip allows the grip to rotate in the hand, dissipating part of the felt recoil.

^^^This^^^.


This is the way I was taught to fire a SA. I absolutely hate recoil but have fired a 4 5/8 Ruger BH in 45C with Limbaugh loads, indoors, and had a lot of fun doing so. Allowing the gun to rotate in your hand really eats up the recoil.

 

[COLT_45]

The Bisley looks cool but just not for me.
Tried the Bisley and went right back to my old trustee Plow.
Didn't care for the Birdshead type either.
IMHO:
Bisley to long & big
Birdshead to short & small
Good ol' Plower-Just right for me

 

[hittman]

I didn't shoot the large calibers well at all with the plow handle grip. Didn't shoot them well, they weren't comfortable, never could get used to them. For me, on the large calibers only, it's Bisley or nothing. Seem to handle much more like a double action; which admittedly, I prefer. YMMV.

 

[Sagebrush Burns]

For what I consider heavy loads (250 grain bullet at 1300 fps) I find the Bisley grip preferable. For standard level loads (up to 1000 fps or so) I like the plow handle grip better.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I have a pair of vaquero's in both plow handle and bisley configuration. All guns in 44 magnum. With light to medium loads the bisleys are very nice. With full power loads, the bisley grips recoil in the center of my palm making it difficult to control the gun. The plow handles handle any power level just fine.

 

[DGW1949]

Personal preference, that's what it comes down to.
Given a choice, I'd take Stevie Nicks.
The next guy may prefer Bonnie Raitt(who aint bad herself).
The guy that hasn't heard both sing though, how can he realy know which suits him the best?

DGW

 

[dlhredfoxx]

This debate comes up a lot and I think it really boils down to individual preference. For me, I prefer the Bisley frame for the really hot and heavy big bores, as it allows me to better control the recoil and thus shoot more accurately. And I prefer the XR3-Red for everything else as I do like the revolver to rotate up like it was designed to do. But when you get to such incredible recoil and muzzle rise that you can't control the revolver any more, for me it's better for it to come straight back into me palm/arm/elbow and shoulder. You certainly feel it more but can control the revolver better. IMHO.

Nothing feels better to me than a 45 Colt shooting soft or medium power loads when I touch it off and it rolls up in my hand. That's the way it was intended to work... but put a .475 or .500 Linebaugh or worse in your hand and too much of that "roll and rise" is not a good thing.

 

[TomC321]

I concur with personal preference. I started shooting the plow handle first and I tend to prefer it. I have shot equal loads in both guns back to back and for me there really isn’t much difference. Perhaps if I had started with the Bisley I would prefer it. I also prefer the plow handle because of the position of the hammer spur for my large hands. I shot CAS for a number of years and just got used to the plow handle.

 

[Donaldjr1969]

This is the way I was taught to fire a SA. I absolutely hate recoil but have fired a 4 5/8 Ruger BH in 45C with Limbaugh loads, indoors, and had a lot of fun doing so. Allowing the gun to rotate in your hand really eats up the recoil.

Wow, I never knew Rush Limbaugh was a handgunner and reloading enthusiast!

Of course, I knew you meant LINEBAUGH loads.

 

[MaxP]

While it does boil down to personal preference, there is a good reason why most of the top-shelf custom gun builders predominantly fit Bisley grip frames to the heavy recoiling revolvers they build for customers. The Bisley tends to go straight back into your hand without a lot of barrel rise like the plow handle, allowing for better control. I have a couple of revolvers that I think would be next to unshootable if they didn't have a Bisley grip frame. JMHO.

 

[bigboredad]

the roll of the gun is fine until you get the roll and rotation so quick and violent that it cuts the grip frame cuts the thumb of your shooting hand and then every shot after that is painful. I believe Tek4260 has a picture of what I'm talking about. This usually only happens with loads that are 300gr and above bullets and velocities of 1200+ up to that point the roll or rotation what ever you would prefer calling it can be controlled before the red stuff shows up. That has been my experience

 

[Montelores]

What would the Freedom Arms grips be considered to be? They appear to be a hybrid "plow-handle / Bisley-style"?

Monty

 

[MaxP]

What would the Freedom Arms grips be considered to be? They appear to be a hybrid "plow-handle / Bisley-style"?

Monty

They are a bit of a hybrid. They have a fairly vertical profile like a Bisley, but not quite. I think it is a great grip frame!

 

[MikeMcD]

I have had both. The plow handle seems to do what folks say: pop up a bit with recoil. The Bisley, from Ruger, is not a very aggressive Bisley when compared to the artifacts of yesteryear... The barrel still flips up, but less, and recoil is not a huge difference when comparing grips of the same cartridge. The Bisley is easier (for me) to shoot one handed, or with a glove, or two handed. The Bisley difference is not a huge factor in accuracy or recoil management. Sounds like some fellers need to grip the gun with a bit more firmness, which would prevent plow "roll-back" from injuring the thumb. I like 'em both, but pick the Bisley. They look better too... Shucks

 

[MaxP]

I have had both. The plow handle seems to do what folks say: pop up a bit with recoil. The Bisley, from Ruger, is not a very aggressive Bisley when compared to the artifacts of yesteryear... The barrel still flips up, but less, and recoil is not a huge difference when comparing grips of the same cartridge. The Bisley is easier (for me) to shoot one handed, or with a glove, or two handed. The Bisley difference is not a huge factor in accuracy or recoil management. Sounds like some fellers need to grip the gun with a bit more firmness, which would prevent plow "roll-back" from injuring the thumb. I like 'em both, but pick the Bisley. They look better too... Shucks

I still think when you get into real heavy recoil -- like the revolvers I have in .500 Maximum, and .50 Alaskan, the Bisley is much easier to control. I don't think my .50 Alaskan would be shootable with a plow handle grip frame. JMHO.

 

[Hastings]

I've owned a couple of Ruger Bisley Blackhawks, and several standard Blackhawks, Vaqueros, New Vaqueros and Super Blackhawks. This is my take on the differences.

Standard grip:
- Feels best and shoots best with standard loads.
- Points most naturally. Actually, for me this grip feels the most natural of any other handgun.
- With large hands, the pinkie finger is typically under the grip, not on the grip.
- Two-handed grip is slightly awkward compared to other grip styles if you have larger hands.
- Recoil produces roll which is pleasant with mild to mid-range loads, but awkward and painful with full-blown 454casull loads and higher.

Bisley grip:
- Feels good, but not as natural as standard grip frame.
- Points less naturally. Not bad, but not the "extention of the hand" feel of a standard grip.
- Grip size allows even larger hands to fully grasp grip frame.
- Two-handed grip is comfortable even for larger hands.
- Recoil is more straight-line in nature, but with heavy loads this is desirable to avoid hammer-bite and allow faster follow-up shots.

That's my take on it. I will add that I have gotten rid of all of my Bisley revolvers, but still have the standard ones. I find loads all the way up to heavy 45colt and heavy 44mag to be comfortable and easy to control with the standard grip. I have no real use for handgun loads heavier than 300gr 45cal hardcast bullets pushing 1200 fps, so the bisley grip is not a real benefit to me. Combined with the less natural feel, I really have no use for the bisley grip, but I do see where it would be very helpful on some of the really powerful handguns used for dangerous game. Just my two cents.

I have friends that prefer the bisley grip to the standard, but without exception they are double-action revolver fans who picked up their first single action revolver later in life. They like the bisley because they think it feels more like a double action grip. I guess I sorta agree with that.

Personally, I think Sam Colt got it right and it can't be improved upon, so the closer the grip is to the original Colt style the better.

 

[MaxP]

Ah yes, but when you step into really heavy recoil -- out of the realm of .44 mags and .45 Colts, the Bisley has its place IMHO.

 

[CraigC]

I cut my teeth on a plowhandle, namely a Uberti Virginian .22 I bought when I was 12yrs old, which is very close to the original Colt SAA/Navy design. Didn't shoot DA's until much later and eventually decided that the Redhawk was one more uncomfortable sixgun to shoot. From there I stuck with SA's through the XR3-RED and eventually the Bisley. Then eventually the Colt 1860 and Colt Bisley pattern guns. Through extensive shooting, analyzing and experimenting with various grips I have come to the following conclusions.

For me, my hands and my shooting, I greatly prefer the Colt SAA/Navy/Ruger XR3 for standard loads and up to the 1200fps Keith load. For these grip profiles, I need a set of grips that are slightly thicker at the top, thinner at the bottom and rounded in appropriate places. I also prefer a beveled bottom and find that more comfortable with my pinky-under grip than a flat bottom.

I do not find the XR3-RED to be as comfortable but I can tolerate it. I have retrofitted two of my Old Models with XR3 grip frames and life is much better that way.

As it is derived from the Colt 1851 Navy pattern, the 1860 Army is probably about my favorite for handling and shooting. IMHO, this pattern needs to find its way onto more guns. It has plenty of room for all digits and thus, I prefer it with flat bottoms. It is perhaps the most natural pointing of all but point-shooting with a Colt Navy/SAA/XR3 seems to translate very well. PS, the Ruger Dragoon/Hunter grip frame is not a proper substitute, as they are derived from the XR3-RED with too much room behind the triggerguard.

Even though it is entirely different from anything else, the Colt Bisley style is very comfortable to shoot. Even with loads as heavy as the Keith 1200fps .44Spl load. I need another and perhaps will pick up a 7½" .38WCF before year's end.

For me, the Ruger Bisley is far and away the most comfortable grip frame for handling heavy recoil. Although it points differently, it is a very natural pointer for me. It makes for a very easy shooting sixgun and appears to be more forgiving of variations in grip. Like the rest, I need a panel that is slightly thicker at the top, thinner at the bottom, rounded and with flat bottoms.

Again, I see a lot of references to grips rolling "in" the hand but have never found this to be the case. You do not want the grip squirting through your hand like a wet bar of soap. Your hand should roll "with" the grip.

 

[flatgate]

Blonds or Brunets? Me, I like the Super Blackhawk with a rounded trigger guard. Eventually Ruger caught on to it's merits and released it on the Hunter Models in centerfire calibres.

Homeboy conversion on a ol' shooter.

Here's a pic of a Stainless .45 and my "Hunter" grip frame. I indeed did need to remove some steel from the cylinder frame to make the grip frame Match Up. Typical with Ruger, unfortunately.

JMHO,

flatgate