mr. bisley is going back...picture added...

[cleardatum]

... i got a sbh bisley .454 about a month ago, and it has a barrel that collects copper like a meth head. the bore is pitted and rough. all my other rugers look like glass, by comparison. they clean up in minutes. not mr. bisley. he holds his copper like no other barrel i've ever seen. nice lady at ruger issued an rma, and it goes back monday. stay tuned...

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Mine is like glass inside,bore and chambers. I would send it back in a New York minute.

 

[mohavesam]

hope you planned ahead - before and when it returns, after pics and measurements?

 

[cleardatum]

they issued a call tag pronto. it's gone, 2nd day air, to New Hampshire (where the craftsmen are, i suspect). i documented nothing. i trust them. stupid? maybe. it has a serial number on it. i compared that barrel to another new stainless ruger i have (a gp100), and there is no comparison. i really don't know how that bisley got out the door. the bore of my gp looks nicer than my shilen... seriously. too bad it's three inches long.

 

[cleardatum]

whelp, it's back, and to say i'm disappointed is an understatement of the most gross kind. the front sight is not even close to centered. i'll check the bore tonight, but that front sight is embarrassing. the blade is lined up with the rear sight, but the base is way off to the left. everyone who has looked at it so far notices immediately. it may go back again. if the bore looks REALLY nice, i may let it slide... ugh.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Thats to bad. I would not give up. Another call to Ruger is in order.

 

[cleardatum]

i inspected their "handiwork" last night. the bore is better, but not good. rough. it catches a patch pushed through it. there was some copper in the bore from proof testing. all five chambers had been fired. it needs to go back, but i get the feeling it's the best they can do at this point. i am disappointed. i realize it's not a custom revolver, but i expected better. i know ruger can make a very good barrel- i have a few.

 

[cleardatum]

mr. bisley is on his way back to the mothership again, per advice from many friends, family, and so on. again, a very nice lady took my call, and i diplomatically stated that the gun is "not up to ruger's standards". stay tuned for yet more news and information regarding this tragic situation.

 

[DeletedMember275]

One member had to get Ruger's CEO involved in order to get his 5-shot Bisley (can't remember if it was a .454 or .480). Hope you have better luck!

 

[71shooter]

One member had to get Ruger's CEO involved in order to get his 5-shot Bisley (can't remember if it was a .454 or .480). Hope you have better luck!

That fellow got tired of sending it back (It was a 480) after the third or fourth trip and asked for a Redhawk instead. The Redhawk he received had an issue too!

 

[cleardatum]

One member had to get Ruger's CEO involved in order to get his 5-shot Bisley (can't remember if it was a .454 or .480). Hope you have better luck!

That fellow got tired of sending it back (It was a 480) after the third or fourth trip and asked for a Redhawk instead. The Redhawk he received had an issue too!

not particularly confidence inspiring- i did shoot an email to the ceo. seemed like it might be a good idea.

 

[AKDRSS]

I have now officially gave up. My last 4 had to go back. Guess I should be happy because they were fixed to my liking.

 

[cleardatum]

i got a call today from the technician working on my bisley. he spoke with the veep, and the veep said (according to the tech) that their hammer forging process results in rougher barrels as the caliber gets larger. i wondered if maybe this was the case, as my ruger barrels definitely follow that pattern. at any rate, he hand selected the best barrel he could find, and went through the whole thing, took it to the range, and put 15 rounds through it. he said it is a very nice shooter. he was very apologetic, and even admitted to being the one who let the misaligned front sight slip through. they're beaming it back to me tomorrow morning.

 

[led]

If you decide to keep it look into firelapping. That will cure the rough bore.

Later,
Stephen

 

[JJ_Miller_480]

I'm calling BS on this one…………go buy a SW………………..JJ

 

[Rclark]

So SW makes nice single actions now? Haven't heard that one yet. I keep seeing those 'ugly' lookin' DAs they have though . Hah!

Hope this time all is ok when you get it. I must say all my Rugers have never had a 'to rough a bore' problem for shooting lead... But have seen constrictions which I've removed with firelapping.

 

[cleardatum]

theoretically it's on it's way home. if it is not up to "their" standards, i may just get a freedom arms .454. a lot of dough, but a very nice gun, from what i hear. i did consider a sw, but that bisley was EXACTLY what i was looking for. a normal sized sa revolver with hella power. prolly get it back next week (traveling across the country).

 

[vhntr1]

If all is good with it when you receive it back ,you will love it. I have had mine about 9 months around 600 rd through it love the gun I also have a fa 454 ,I like the 6 1/2 in barrel on the ruger.
Enjoy

 

[Onty]

theoretically it's on it's way home. if it is not up to "their" standards, i may just get a freedom arms .454. a lot of dough, but a very nice gun, from what i hear. i did consider a sw, but that bisley was EXACTLY what i was looking for. a normal sized sa revolver with hella power. prolly get it back next week (traveling across the country).

Regardless, you might consider firelaping, see http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/59 . Not just because of the barrel condition/finish, but also because of inevitable barrel constriction in the threaded area.

 

[cleardatum]

mr. bisley has returned. the barrel is much better. perfect? no, not even close, but much better. overall, everything looks good. the cylinder gap opened up to .004. a LOT of oil in it, mixed with rouge, it looks like. he's going to the range this weekend, and then get stripped down for a thorough cleaning ( taking that thing apart is a chore- lots of loctite and lock screws). i suspect they've only got one guy doing all the single action revolver work. not much demand these days...

 

[gwpercle]

mr. bisley has returned. the barrel is much better. perfect? no, not even close, but much better. overall, everything looks good. the cylinder gap opened up to .004. a LOT of oil in it, mixed with rouge, it looks like. he's going to the range this weekend, and then get stripped down for a thorough cleaning ( taking that thing apart is a chore- lots of loctite and lock screws). i suspect they've only got one guy doing all the single action revolver work. not much demand these days...

Lap the barrel , by hand or with one of the fire lapping kits. Sounds like , except for the rough bore , it was just revolver you were looking for.
I read a report on the good results a shooter had with the David Tubb's Fire lapping Kits . Basically bullets are fired through the barrel with polishing impregnated bullets that smooth out the barrel. The Tubb system has 5 grades of abrasive polishing coated bullets .
You've come so far.....don't give up just yet. Good luck
Gary

 

[Rclark]

SA ... not much demand these days...

Well, judging by the people who frequent these forums, and others, there is plenty of demand these days. I figure it has a 'lot' to do with the Ruger QA.... You look at how fast Lispeys sells out of special runs, and others. No I think there is plenty of demand (from my perspective). Then you start hearing about how many SAs people have in their collections and ... yeah there is 'demand' out there! Granted probably not like those slab sided thingy's that people seem to buy every chance they get , ,,,, but enough.

 

[cleardatum]

probable final update:
bisley shot fine at the range yesterday, but that barrel... is a travesty. parts of it are nice and smooth, but there are some sections that look like the other two (barrels that ruger put on this thing). hard to describe what i'm seeing. i've never seen anything like it. it won't lap out, as there are craters and pits that have to be seen to be believed. also, it's like the metal has been smeared and torn in places. those spots may improve, but there's no improving the craters and pits and grooves. 10 rounds, and there was major copper deposited. maybe i'll just keep the damned thing. maybe i'll sell it. ruger tried to make it better, and failed. sending it back again would be absolutely ridiculous. i'm not even disappointed anymore. this is where hillary's teleprompter would tell her to shrug.
p.s., i never did hear back from the president...

 

[mc1911]

My 45 flat top went back twice , Ruger had to replace both cylinders. It is a favorite now.
My 45 barrel is very smooth. I would try sending it back again with some stronger wording.
Good luck.

 

[Forty-Four Fan]

probable final update:
bisley shot fine at the range yesterday, but ...

"Thanks for inviting me for dinner, it was delicious. But I can't help noticing there's so many dirty pots and pans in the sink now..."

Am I the only one wondering what the problem is? You bought a production-grade revolver. It shoots fine. There are no malfunctions or finish issues. And you are upset because there is fouling in the bore, which in addition to being normal, is having no effect on shooting. I'm lost. :?:

Think of the jacket fouling as blacktop. It's filling in the voids.

 

[cleardatum]

probable final update:
bisley shot fine at the range yesterday, but ...

"Thanks for inviting me for dinner, it was delicious. But I can't help noticing there's so many dirty pots and pans in the sink now..."

Am I the only one wondering what the problem is? You bought a production-grade revolver. It shoots fine. There are no malfunctions or finish issues. And you are upset because there is fouling in the bore, which in addition to being normal, is having no effect on shooting. I'm lost. :?:

Think of the jacket fouling as blacktop. It's filling in the voids.

do not be lost, my friend. i will be shooting the living bejeeesus out of it, spending the rest of my time cleaning that wrecking yard of a barrel. maybe it will smooth out. it will be interesting to monitor the progress/ lack thereof as the years go by. like everything, it will be a learning experience. theoretically, mass production should bring uniformity, not mediocrity, imho.

 

[cleardatum]

i just got back from the range, where i tried some full power loads. the barrel copper fouled badly, but that was to be expected. it shot fine, other than that, BUT (and this is a huge but), the base pin kept working its way out even though it was locked. i pulled the pin out, and THE NEW BARREL DOESN'T HAVE A RECESS FOR THE BASE PIN LOCK. sorry for shouting, but that's ridiculous! i'll fix it myself (i don't trust them to touch this thing ever again). sheesh...

 

[cleardatum]

this is the barrel in question. one can imagine what this looks like through a borescope. remember, too, that this is the third (and best) barrel...

bear with me... trying to figure out how to post a pic.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

If you're not getting the satisfaction you expect send Mike Fifer a email off the Ruger site. Better still here you go the link. https://ruger.com/dataProcess/tellTheCEO/

I've had a few guns that seemed to have unsolvable issues , they were brand new Ruger's. I contacted Mike Fifer and things happened. Usually he will get with you or someone from Ruger will the next business day. The guns were either repaired correctly or replaced. I was even given a completely different model at my request when they weren't able to send me anything but defective LCR's.
It only takes a few minutes of your time to shoot him a email.

Looking at those bore pictures I don't think I would be very happy with it or able to accept that no matter what the tech told you or claims.

 

[cleardatum]

i will do that. thanks for the link.