Find myself with two vacancies that seem to be becoming 'wants'.

Due to selling and trading off some guns over the last few years in order to fund my S&W addiction, I find myself without a single SA revolver.
Over the years, I've enjoyed Ruger Single Six .22's, a Blackhawk in .41 Mag., and a Uberti SAA in .45 ACP. All gone now, as stated.

Some more drivel to add - growing up, and reading every thing I could from Elmer Keith, I loved stories of his 'old #5 Colt .44 Spl.'
A similar Colt is not in my budget.

Thinking hard of one of the Ruger, Lipsey Edition Bisley Blackhawks in .44 Spl., 5.5" barrel. This would be a very rough approximation of 'old #5.'
And I do handload, so thank goodness ammo is not a problem, lots of brass and bullets on hand. It'll be a woods-carry, range, and occasional hunting tool.

Having never owned anything with a Bisley frame, just seems interesting.

What's the consensus with any of you guys? Any strong preferences of standard frame Blackhawks over the Bisley, or vice-versa?
Thanks.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

None of my Blackhawks are Bisleys but, my Lipsey's 44 SP is a favorite

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I had one of those .44 Special Bisley Blackhawks. It had to go back to the factory for a rear sight pin walking and loose, poorly fitted grips. It also was nowhere near as accurate as a .44 Special should be.
They fixed the sight and grips, but it still didn't shoot worth a damn.
I dumped first chance I got.

SAs are fun. I don't have any Bisleys, just old Vaqueros and old Single Sixes, but I've shot Bisleys, and they're fine; I just prefer the standard stocks.

***GRJ***

I personally am not a big fan of Ruger Bisleys (I LOVE Colt Bisleys!). In your neck of the woods, a 44 special should suffice for anything you'll run into.

Unless you're just dead set on a Bisley, I'd suggest getting an Old Model (3-screw) Ruger single-action. I personally think they're made better, plus they don't have that stupid transfer bar safety thing. This one was made in 1966, and it's one of my favorites. It shoots just as good now as it did forty-eight years ago. You can pick up an Old Model Super Blackhawk these days for what I consider to be incredibly low prices.

I just bought the lypsey's .45 acp/LC, flat top convertible. The same size as the original flat top Blackhawks, which was the same as the Colts.

It is a sweet gun and it indexes the chamber to the extractor rod.

I am praying they come out with the same gun, in .357/9mm. They already have a .44 special version, which would be close to the Colt you wanted. I hear they have discontinued the .44special, but they are still available.

Everybody should have a single six, IMHO. Ed

I like the Colt Bisley frame. Had several and still one in 44-40.
I don't care for the feel of the Ruger Bisley personally,,but many do.

Don't care for the N/M actions either, so I'd go with converting an OM BlkHk to 44sp.
I've got one started on a fine O/M that someone Drilled & Tapped for a scope long ago. A steel New Army grip and steel eject tube await along w/a 44cal Ruger bbl. Time is the thing that is hard to find.

You might look for a 3rd Gen Colt SAA 44sp that's been used/shot. The collector value is gone and they can sometimes be bought for a decent price as shooters. Certainly for what a Ruger and conversion to 44sp would probably cost.
Another might be one of the out of production US Revolver Co guns, though they are so highly regarded they seem to have surpassed the Colt SSA in price. Worth some looking,,you never know what may be around.

Hope you find what you're looking for!

I have the 4 5/8" version, and its a great shooter. I really prefer the Bisley grip, the standard grip frame is just too small for me. I usually end up putting Goodyears on the standard frame.

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Even older, even crankier....

I'm exactly opposite of 2152hq. The Colt Bisley feels terrible in my hand. I was worried about the Ruger Bisley - all I'd had was Blackhawks, for close to 20 years. But I played with a Accusport special - 5 1/2" 45 Colt in stainless. Felt damn good. Then I sent it off to Wes Flowers to be converted to an Old Model action - half cock, no transfer bar, etc.

Liked that so much I had a blue 7 1/2" one chopped to 5 1/2", and had it converted too.



Got no experience with the New Blackhawk, but with the older one, that Bisley frame feels real fine to me.

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I always take precautions

This one shoots fine.

Ed

I got the Lipsey's convertible .45Colt/.45ACP model. Not a Bisley, but fun to shoot and one of my most accurate handguns in my hands. I think the Bisley grip frame is largely a matter of personal preference.

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I have a Blackhawk (.357) and a Single 10 (22LR) .

Both are fun to shoot. I think the quality of Ruger revolvers is pretty good. I own several and have never had a problem with any of them.

Did you look at the cimarron sa's?

They offer some modern calibers in the older style brand new open top revolvers. They look cool.

Check out there conversion, 1860 revolvers there neat looking. Check them all out.

I like my modern looking ruger SA revolvers but the cimarron SA's with the conversion and open top cartridge revolvers look neat too. Plus they offer nickel too.

With s&w offering less in DA revolvers it's time to look elsewhere. Plus none in nickel.

You are going to love a Ruger in .44 Special! I have four of em, three Flat Tops and a Vaquero and Ruger really should tout them as target pistols. I only have one Bisley model Ruger a "old model" Vaquero, and I don't really see how it supposedly handles heavy recoil better and I am so-so about it. They do however look cool!

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I'd like to get a few SA in 38 special/357mag, 41mag and 44 special /44 Russian.

Thanks for all the views and responses so far...
I've only had two centerfire SA's in the past - a Ruger BH .41 with 4 5/8 bbl., and a Uberti SAA .45 ACP 5.5".
Liked them, but found the grips just a bit too small. I did end up putting a SBH SS grip frame on the Blackhawk, and that helped a lot.

But, like I said, sold these off to fund S&W-itis and want another SA. Shot a friend's Bisley-framed BH several years ago when they first came out and seem to recall it handled really nice.
And - it would 'sort of' emulate Elmer's old #5.

Was just trying to get some sort of consensus of general thoughts on Bisley-framed SA's.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Actually, that gun, with the 4 3/4 inch barrel is on my short list. I have a number of Ruger SA's, with most of the available grip styles, and the Bisley, to me, is very comfortable, and handles recoil well.

The three .44's shown are all new models. They are well made and accurate. Though not bad, they don't have the polish and finish of the old Super Blackhawks, but then neither do the newer S&W's.

Larry

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I recommend the real deal. Third Generation 44 Special with ivory...Third Generation 38-40 with fake ivory...Second Generation 45 with walnut.

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