Ruger SBH "Bobbed" Trigger Guard
- Thread starter RatCat454
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Uncle Howie
Buckeye
Well, "That's interesting!" 
I've never shot a SBH with the squared/"Dragoon" style trigger guard. I have big hands, so based on the reports of others… I suspect that I might get some rapped knuckles.
With the number of complaints I've seen on them over the years, I sometimes wonder why they're still offered.
Probably for some nostalgia, and the fact that they DO look cool…
I've never shot a SBH with the squared/"Dragoon" style trigger guard. I have big hands, so based on the reports of others… I suspect that I might get some rapped knuckles.
With the number of complaints I've seen on them over the years, I sometimes wonder why they're still offered.
Probably for some nostalgia, and the fact that they DO look cool…
Funky
Single-Sixer
Different, really thinking outside the box, I really like the grips. Good Luck Chris
DeletedMember275
Hunter
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2002
- Messages
- 2,759
Seems like I recall Skeeter Skelton having the Dragoon trigger guard 'rounded' on a gun one time. Heating and bending, with some follow on contouring is how they did it. In today's world, I do believe that I would just replace the grip frame with a different style. Still, the OP does demonstrate 'outside-the-box' thinking.
needsmostuff
Blackhawk
I stare at it and keep trying to imagine some big, scary disadvantage to it.
But I really can't.
But I really can't.
contender
Ruger Guru
I'm not sure I'd like that modification. the potential for it to get bent if dropped or whatever exists. Then the gun may become unusable until the guard is returned to a position where it wouldn't bind the trigger.
Uncle Howie. The dragoon shaped trigger guard came about due to requests for it long ago. It has survived because many of us CAN shoot it w/o knuckle rapping. I've shot them for decades,, and don't have any issues. UNLESS I improperly grip the gun & place my hands incorrectly. Or,, if a person "fights" the recoil by trying to keep the gun from rolling upwards. I had a guy a few years ago insist that the only way HE would shoot a gun was if HE controlled the recoil. He wanted the gun to be "held down" as he fired it. Of course,, physics being what they are,, he got serious knuckle rapping. He refused to try a different method of gripping a SA handgun. Of course,, he also boasted of his abilities of a 6" grouping at 15 yds too. I get better than that at 100 yds with several SA handguns.
How a gun treats the shooter comes down to several things. Grip fitment is important. How a person grasps the grips. How a person operates the trigger. And how the shooter works WITH the recoil,, not against it.
The gun above,, not for me.
Uncle Howie. The dragoon shaped trigger guard came about due to requests for it long ago. It has survived because many of us CAN shoot it w/o knuckle rapping. I've shot them for decades,, and don't have any issues. UNLESS I improperly grip the gun & place my hands incorrectly. Or,, if a person "fights" the recoil by trying to keep the gun from rolling upwards. I had a guy a few years ago insist that the only way HE would shoot a gun was if HE controlled the recoil. He wanted the gun to be "held down" as he fired it. Of course,, physics being what they are,, he got serious knuckle rapping. He refused to try a different method of gripping a SA handgun. Of course,, he also boasted of his abilities of a 6" grouping at 15 yds too. I get better than that at 100 yds with several SA handguns.
How a gun treats the shooter comes down to several things. Grip fitment is important. How a person grasps the grips. How a person operates the trigger. And how the shooter works WITH the recoil,, not against it.
The gun above,, not for me.
Rat76
Single-Sixer
To each his own, but if I had it, it would be dangling off a belt loop, fence wire or something similar before you know it. 
I don't think I would ever cut a trigger guard. It has guard in the definition for a reason. I do have a S&W model 29 in 44 mag that used to bang my knuckle with the original wood grips. changed them out to a set of Hogue and that issue went away.
Interesting solution.
IIRC, flatgate chop, cut, bent his shooter into a round trigger guard on his shooter.
I changed out my first KS410 to Bisley to help with the knuckle wrap.
Didn't want to,,, but traded it off for my first 32 Bisley.
Missed it, and got an opportunity to replace it, followed up by a Hunter.
Now I enjoy shooting it with 44 specials in the 10.5" ,,,, and shoot the Magnums in the Hunter.
IIRC, flatgate chop, cut, bent his shooter into a round trigger guard on his shooter.
I changed out my first KS410 to Bisley to help with the knuckle wrap.
Didn't want to,,, but traded it off for my first 32 Bisley.
Missed it, and got an opportunity to replace it, followed up by a Hunter.
Now I enjoy shooting it with 44 specials in the 10.5" ,,,, and shoot the Magnums in the Hunter.
I've never had an issue with my SBH with any loads......FWIW never got the "hammer bite" from a 1911......I never had "scope ring" cut above my eye from heavy recoiling rifles........geez I feel left out for some reason 
As for the circumcised Dragoon......BLASPHEMY!!!
As for the circumcised Dragoon......BLASPHEMY!!!
I am the original poster (OP). I was not responsible for the "blasphemy". It is a recent purchase to be delivered today. I was looking for a moderately priced SBH that was available immediately and this one appeared. I have multiple extra (about thirty) grip frames (dragoon, Hunter, Bisley and a couple of Ron Wells "RatCat Fat Back -Dragoon") to swap if the "bob" does not work out.
As for recoil, the XR3 and Bisley does not do well for me beyond moderately powered cartridges. I have "bobbed" the trigger guard on a couple of XR3 framed SBHs about 30 years ago and they worked out okay, well enough that friends bugged me to trade the guns away.
I will most likely install a set of Bisley trigger and a modified Bisley hammer...or use Power Custom items. I have never liked the fitment of Ruger single action hammer skirts at the grip frame ears.
The grip panels, while attractive, are a bit strange. The gun has Williams's fiber optics sights, front and rear. The grip frame has been fitted. The gun overall has been polished. And the serial numbers are in a straight line!
As for recoil, the XR3 and Bisley does not do well for me beyond moderately powered cartridges. I have "bobbed" the trigger guard on a couple of XR3 framed SBHs about 30 years ago and they worked out okay, well enough that friends bugged me to trade the guns away.
I will most likely install a set of Bisley trigger and a modified Bisley hammer...or use Power Custom items. I have never liked the fitment of Ruger single action hammer skirts at the grip frame ears.
The grip panels, while attractive, are a bit strange. The gun has Williams's fiber optics sights, front and rear. The grip frame has been fitted. The gun overall has been polished. And the serial numbers are in a straight line!
nice looking pistols! a few of my favorite thingsInteresting solution.
IIRC, flatgate chop, cut, bent his shooter into a round trigger guard on his shooter.
I changed out my first KS410 to Bisley to help with the knuckle wrap.
Didn't want to,,, but traded it off for my first 32 Bisley.
Missed it, and got an opportunity to replace it, followed up by a Hunter.
Now I enjoy shooting it with 44 specials in the 10.5" ,,,, and shoot the Magnums in the Hunter.
bisleyfan41
Blackhawk
I've never had issues with either the dragoon or xr3-red frames with any loads. Ironically, the only one that has rapped my knuckles is the bisley. Go figure. Old xr3 just feels micro.
Hondo44
Hawkeye
If you measure the distance between the trigger guard and the grip frame of the bisley, you'll find it actually has the shortest distance of any Ruger grip frames.
I find my middle finger gets rapped equally with the dragoon and other grip frames. The one big advantage of the dragoon is the grip frame length which allows my entire hand to stay on the grip without my pinkie hanging off.Well, "That's interesting!"
I've never shot a SBH with the squared/"Dragoon" style trigger guard. I have big hands, so based on the reports of others… I suspect that I might get some rapped knuckles.
With the number of complaints I've seen on them over the years, I sometimes wonder why they're still offered.
Probably for some nostalgia, and the fact that they DO look cool…
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I got my scope ring cut from a 6 pound Remington 600 .350 magnum, it was brutal.I've never had an issue with my SBH with any loads......FWIW never got the "hammer bite" from a 1911......I never had "scope ring" cut above my eye from heavy recoiling rifles........geez I feel left out for some reason
As for the circumcised Dragoon......BLASPHEMY!!!
Great looking gun, horrid recoil!
