Bisley Shooting Meets

[XUSNORDIE]

I'm curious if there are any clubs that hold the original style Bisley target competitions here in the USA?

Apparently they are still holding them in the UK and I find it interesting. Timed targets at 20yds and 50yds.

If anyone here, or if there are members here from UK that participate in these competitions please share some stories, pics, etc...

I'm particularly interested in stances and grips compared to straight arm Bullseye style, and also course of fire/scoring.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Well I'm guessing probably not. I'm only curious because I never really looked into why the Bisley guns are the way they are. Basically I knew they were designed as target guns but never really looked into it. So many folks complain about the grip and how it doesn't look or feel natural. But they are not shooting the revolvers as intended. I'm preaching to the choir for most here. I've been in a shell when it comes to single actions I guess. My fault, and my loss.

This all came up from a range visit. There was an older gentleman shooting a revolver, which turned out to be a Bisley 45. He was using a very particular stance, with elbow very bent. Sort of an exaggerated old NRA pistol stance. As an old bullseye (1911) shooter I found it interesting and engaged in conversation with him. Turned out to be British and a very nice guy to chat with. He had a 44spl also. Both Ruger and beautiful revolvers. He was surprised I took interest and was more than happy to talk about the Colt history, and how it still has a fan base in UK.

I see it along the lines of CAS/SASS shooting....be interesting to see if there were some clubs/meets here, but probably not. I can't find a whole lot online. Seems like an enjoyable, different form of marksmanship to me.....maybe I'm late to a party that has already passed.

 

[Johnnu2]

I shoot my Bisley's like "normal"; never knew there was a different way to hold or shoot them. I was never interested in them up until a few years ago when I got my first one. I can tell you that I have noticed that they shoot much more accurately than any other single action I've owned..... have no idea why..!!!

J.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

It's pretty interesting if you look into it. They were designed as target guns, but not to be held out straight, as in traditional bullseye shooting. From what I have found through limited reading and one who competed in Bisley meets the grip is designed for a drastically bent elbow with, for lack of better term, almost (rifle/scout) scope eye relief distance. The targets were hidden and shown for only a certain period of time to place hits.

I am currently going through some medical issues where traditional stance is difficult. Closer is easier, and the Bisley design is meant to be closer to body, no straight arm. I'm seriously looking into a Bisley now. can still hold my own on steel with two various hand stances......but I miss the challenge of bullseye and this is intriguing to me. Again, never really researched why the Bisley revolvers are the way they are but it's all making sense now.

 

[peachhead]

It only takes one Bisley to get hooked. I never liked them until I shot one. Definitely different and in a good way.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Apparently the Bisley was designed to be fired one handed with a bent arm stance. Also, after reading into the vintage course of fire of the Bisley matches the design makes total sense now.....I know, I know, I'm probably putting out information most single action folks have known for ever. I guess after all these years the single action lightbulb just turned on in my head. I enjoyed hunting with my Super Blackhawk, looking forward to enjoying my recently acquired 45 Blackhawk....but now seriously looking forward to a Bisley and give the vintage shooting style/course of fire a try.

 

[Chief]

The bent arm technique wasn’t just for target shooting. It was a very common method of shooting pistols and revolvers. Almost no one shot with 2 hands. I believe ( someone correct me if I am in error), that the stance is known as the “duelist” nowadays. I find it quite comfortable. Those old guys fired some big calibers back in the day. The .44 Russian was pretty standard as was the special.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

One handed straight arm for bullseye shooting is all I've ever known. I think there was a bent arm "police" style? I need to look into that. If I recall it may have been discussed in a Gil Hebard book I have buried somewhere.

Suddenly I feel I am regressing my likes in handgun shooting....and enjoying it

 

[Johnnu2]

I shoot my Bisleys the way I've always shot all my handguns...two hands, with both arms locked straight out. The Bisleys do out-shoot my plow-handle guns..... Here's two of them:




J.

 

[needsmostuff]

I know, I'm probably putting out information most single action folks have known for ever.

Nope ,I appreciate the line of thought as I never really paid attention to the reasons. Ruger's Bisley grip is pretty natural for modern shooters to transition to, Colt's Bisley grip feels pretty alien.
But I have never seen a British revolver with that style grip. Was it strictly a Colt innovation to get a leg up on the Brits at their own game?

 

[needsmostuff]

Hmmmm, this is a fairly early Police Positive Special. I always felt the somewhat Victorian grip came close to mimicking a Bisley.
Wonder if that was a plan.

 

[Chief]

Nope ,I appreciate the line of thought as I never really paid attention to the reasons. Ruger's Bisley grip is pretty natural for modern shooters to transition to, Colt's Bisley grip feels pretty alien.
But I have never seen a British revolver with that style grip. Was it strictly a Colt innovation to get a leg up on the Brits at their own game?

For all the stories of the plow handled grip allowing the revolver to roll upwards in recoil, it appears that the target shooters of the day didn’t want that . They wanted the gun to be more stable. The Bisley grip is anti roll as is the S&W New model number 3 and the Russia. Model, both popular target pistols. I believe that the grips of the follow on double action revolvers just continued that trend. I will also say that I think the bent elbow stance was aimed at recoil mitigation.

 

[s4s4u]

"I will also say that I think the bent elbow stance was aimed at recoil mitigation."

IDK, if you hold a Bisley like that with my +P handloads you will likely have a bloody dent in your forehead from the front sight

 

[Chief]

"I will also say that I think the bent elbow stance was aimed at recoil mitigation."

IDK, if you hold a Bisley like that with my +P handloads you will likely have a bloody dent in your forehead from the front sight

Target shooters back then wouldn’t be shooting +P hand loads.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

From what I have been reading about the Bisley revolvers and matches is that the grip angle/design was for better wrist posture and recoil absorbtion. The (Colt) Bisley grip tended to force the point of aim downward if used straight arm. This is because they were designed for the Duelist bent arm style stance. The rear notch/front blade aligned when the arm bent.

The competitors used target ammunition, however changed to a more powerful charge when switching from the 20yd target to the 50yd target. These targets were timed, and only visible for that amount of time.

The original Colt Bisley grip is far different than the Italian clones, the USFA replicas and especially the Ruger style which was a compromise of modern and vintage to appeal to American shooters.

Apparently SASS and CAS has a "Duelist" match where the Bisley grip is preferred. I'm not too familiar with SASS but have always been interested. I've watched some of it in person and video.

I have a bit of time on my hands due to being on a medical LOA...this research is keeping me entertained and "out of trouble" as my Wife says..my back/left side is a mess and cabin fever is setting in....Neighbor had two large oaks come down on his property. I was thinking of a way to help, I have several chainsaws. I was thinking of getting them out, prepped and running to offer to him and whoever is going to help him. Same with my 4 wheelers. Somehow my Wife knew what I was thinking and I got a stern look and a "YOU ARE NOT HELPING HIM CUT THOSE TREES".......sheesh all I was going to do was offer equipment.....and maybe a cut or two (once she was at work lol), I love cutting trees. Not so much the limbing and dragging, but bucking big trees to me was always a blast.

 

[Chief]

From what I have been reading about the Bisley revolvers and matches is that the grip angle/design was for better wrist posture and recoil absorbtion. The (Colt) Bisley grip tended to force the point of aim downward if used straight arm. This is because they were designed for the Duelist bent arm style stance. The rear notch/front blade aligned when the arm bent.

The competitors used target ammunition, however changed to a more powerful charge when switching from the 20yd target to the 50yd target. These targets were timed, and only visible for that amount of time.

The original Colt Bisley grip is far different than the Italian clones, the USFA replicas and especially the Ruger style which was a compromise of modern and vintage to appeal to American shooters.

Apparently SASS and CAS has a "Duelist" match where the Bisley grip is preferred. I'm not too familiar with SASS but have always been interested. I've watched some of it in person and video.

I have a bit of time on my hands due to being on a medical LOA...this research is keeping me entertained and "out of trouble" as my Wife says..my back/left side is a mess and cabin fever is setting in....Neighbor had two large oaks come down on his property. I was thinking of a way to help, I have several chainsaws. I was thinking of getting them out, prepped and running to offer to him and whoever is going to help him. Same with my 4 wheelers. Somehow my Wife knew what I was thinking and I got a stern look and a "YOU ARE NOT HELPING HIM CUT THOSE TREES".......sheesh all I was going to do was offer equipment.....and maybe a cut or two (once she was at work lol), I love cutting trees. Not so much the limbing and dragging, but bucking big trees to me was always a blast.

The Ruger style grip is more akin to the hybrid No. 5 grip experimented with by the likes of Elmer Kieth et al. Almost none of what we are accustomed to in target shooting style applies to those old shooters. That was back when target shooters were celebrities! I don’t think most folks today realize just how popular target shooting was in the 19th and early 20th centuries.