Whats all the hoopla over Bisley revolvers? I guess I'm missing something, is recoil easier to control with that style grip or is it just a personal pref kinda relationship, like with some 1911 owners?
Bisley revolvers
- Thread starter gasmandave
- Start date
Lee Martin
Hunter
The longer grip and higher back-edge arch helps control recoil. In short, the grip doesn't roll in your hand as much. I shot a 500 Linebaugh with and without a Bisley kit and trust me, they work (the "without" was an XR3-RED).
Crillyiv
Bearcat
The Bisley style has always worked better for me. The hammer and grip frame just fit me better than the SAA style, and are easier to shoot well.
Ruger4Life
Single-Sixer
Amen. The Bisley is much more comfortable to shoot. I like the looks of it over the plowhandles too.
I bought a bisley gripped blackhawk and I already had a plow handle in the same caliber(45 colt). With the loads I shoot I could not tell a lot of difference in recoil. If I buy another I will probably go with the plow handle.
Lee Martin
Hunter
I don't notice a huge difference with standard magnums. Once you get into 454 Casulls, the 475 or 500 Linebaugh, the SuperMags, etc, the Bisley makes a world of difference.
Take this 454 conversion for example:
I've shot thousands of rounds through it and have to focus to control top-end loads. My dad has an identical conversion except his is "Bisley-ized" and fit with a 5.5" barrel. The difference? I can shoot his all day and be no worse for wear. No palm swell, no pain in the web part of my hand.
Just my 2-cents, but I'm sold on Bisleys.
Take this 454 conversion for example:
I've shot thousands of rounds through it and have to focus to control top-end loads. My dad has an identical conversion except his is "Bisley-ized" and fit with a 5.5" barrel. The difference? I can shoot his all day and be no worse for wear. No palm swell, no pain in the web part of my hand.
Just my 2-cents, but I'm sold on Bisleys.
chris_
Blackhawk
How do FA's grips match up to Bisleys? They seem like a hybrid between the two.
Lee Martin
Hunter
In my opinion FA's are closer to the Bisley and are just as good at taming recoil.
In my experience, the Bisley is easier for me to maintain consistent hand placement from shot to shot. I also find the curved Bisley trigger fits my medium sized hand and stubby fingers. I just put a Bisley frame on a stainless New Backhawk Flattop and find much easier to shoot consistently.
contender
Ruger Guru
It's all about fit & comfort. It does appear that for a lot of folks a bisley is better at handling heavier recoil.
Driftwood Johnson
Blackhawk
Howdy
I have been shooting standard 45 Colt loads for a long time, starting around 1975 with a Ruger Blackhawk. I never found the recoil to be particularly punishing. A few years ago I decided to change over to Black Powder loads for Cowboy Action Shooting, and kept reading how the stouter recoil of Black Powder loads could be better controlled with a Ruger Bisley grip. I was shooting my standard 45 Colt loads in a pair of Ruger Vaqueros at this time. So I bought a Stainless Bisley Ruger Vaquero.
I wound up only shooting the Bisley at one match and eventually sold it. I decided I simply liked the traditional plow handle grip of a standard single action revolver better, even with full house Black Powder loads. I do allow the grip to rotate in my hand in recoil, just as it was designed to do, and that makes recoil very comfortable.
I have no experience shooting a 454 Casul, or any other of the modern high powered revolver loads, but at least as far as standard 45 Colt loads with either Smokeless or Black Powder, I prefer the standard plow handle grip of a Ruger or a Colt and how it rotates in the hand to help absorb recoil.
*************
Just so we are clear on the concept, the Ruger version of the Bisley grip is not true to the original Colt Bisley design. Colt developed the Bisley model as a target pistol for the National Target Matches held at the Bisley range outside of London England. The model was produced from 1894 until 1915. The grip swept forward much more sharply than the Ruger version. It was designed this way because target shooters of the day often fired with a slightly bent elbow. When pointed with a bent elbow, the Colt Bisley naturally pointed forward. When shot with a straight elbow as modern shooters do, it tends to point down.
This is an original Colt Bisley revolver.
I have always believed that the Ruger version of the Bisley is based in part on Elmer Keith's famous #5, a custom Colt Single Action Army revolver he had built. His #5 had a hammer similar to a Colt Bisley and a raised hump at the rear of the grip, but did not sweep forward as much as the Colt Bisley grip.
This is the Ruger version of the Bisley grip. It is much more straight up and down than the original Colt Bisley design.
I have been shooting standard 45 Colt loads for a long time, starting around 1975 with a Ruger Blackhawk. I never found the recoil to be particularly punishing. A few years ago I decided to change over to Black Powder loads for Cowboy Action Shooting, and kept reading how the stouter recoil of Black Powder loads could be better controlled with a Ruger Bisley grip. I was shooting my standard 45 Colt loads in a pair of Ruger Vaqueros at this time. So I bought a Stainless Bisley Ruger Vaquero.
I wound up only shooting the Bisley at one match and eventually sold it. I decided I simply liked the traditional plow handle grip of a standard single action revolver better, even with full house Black Powder loads. I do allow the grip to rotate in my hand in recoil, just as it was designed to do, and that makes recoil very comfortable.
I have no experience shooting a 454 Casul, or any other of the modern high powered revolver loads, but at least as far as standard 45 Colt loads with either Smokeless or Black Powder, I prefer the standard plow handle grip of a Ruger or a Colt and how it rotates in the hand to help absorb recoil.
*************
Just so we are clear on the concept, the Ruger version of the Bisley grip is not true to the original Colt Bisley design. Colt developed the Bisley model as a target pistol for the National Target Matches held at the Bisley range outside of London England. The model was produced from 1894 until 1915. The grip swept forward much more sharply than the Ruger version. It was designed this way because target shooters of the day often fired with a slightly bent elbow. When pointed with a bent elbow, the Colt Bisley naturally pointed forward. When shot with a straight elbow as modern shooters do, it tends to point down.
This is an original Colt Bisley revolver.
I have always believed that the Ruger version of the Bisley is based in part on Elmer Keith's famous #5, a custom Colt Single Action Army revolver he had built. His #5 had a hammer similar to a Colt Bisley and a raised hump at the rear of the grip, but did not sweep forward as much as the Colt Bisley grip.
This is the Ruger version of the Bisley grip. It is much more straight up and down than the original Colt Bisley design.
I have a Ruger .22 bisley, it does an excellent job with recoil. (Sorry couldn't resist.)
The original Colt Bisley is about the prettiest grip frame on a revolver I can think of. Just beautiful with the sweeping lines.
The original Colt Bisley is about the prettiest grip frame on a revolver I can think of. Just beautiful with the sweeping lines.
flatgate
Hawkeye
Me? The Bisley smacks my palms way too hard. A steel XR3-RED (which is simply a modified Super grip frame) works on most everything but the top end heavy bullet .44's and .45's.
I reserve my "big bore" shooting to the excellent Freedom Arms Model 83 grip.
flatgate
I reserve my "big bore" shooting to the excellent Freedom Arms Model 83 grip.
flatgate
Hammerdown77
Blackhawk
The Bisley is my preference for heavy loaded 44 and 45. I just got a FA 454, so I'll see soon enough how that grip style works for me.
I prefer the plowhandle for everything else. I like the way it rolls in the hand, and it just points naturally for me.
With the harder recoiling loads though, what happens to me with the plowhandle is that the edge of the left grip frame "ear" (the hump that mates up to the cylinder frame) comes back and peels a chunk of skin off the inside of my thumb near the first joint. I can keep this from happening by wrapping that area with surgical tape (or wearing a glove), but still...
I prefer the plowhandle for everything else. I like the way it rolls in the hand, and it just points naturally for me.
With the harder recoiling loads though, what happens to me with the plowhandle is that the edge of the left grip frame "ear" (the hump that mates up to the cylinder frame) comes back and peels a chunk of skin off the inside of my thumb near the first joint. I can keep this from happening by wrapping that area with surgical tape (or wearing a glove), but still...
DennisE
Single-Sixer
Only real way for you to understand is to shoot 'em. Dennis
DennisE
Single-Sixer
Only real way for you to understand is to shoot 'em. Dennis
RiverRat
Bearcat
I am missing my ring finger on my right hand, shooting hand, and the Bisley frame feels much better especially with a two hand hold. The Army surgeon left the bone in my hand that the finger was attached to and when I hold the conventional single action grip, my pinkie moves over and causes some discomfort.
EDK
Single-Sixer
I have been shooting RUGERS since 1970. The XR3-red is barely tolerable IF I use flat bottome grips like EAGLE GRIPS Gunfighter model. The DRAGOON (SUPER BLACKHAWK) was my favorite for years UNTIL I got my first BISLEY. I find the HUNTER, especially with the SBH hammer, is almost as comfortable as the BISLEY.
You got to try them all. AND remember that subtle changes in the grips will also make a difference.
You got to try them all. AND remember that subtle changes in the grips will also make a difference.
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