My Favorite Single Action Revolvers

quikdraw67 · #1 08-16-2021, 08:38 PM

My favorite single action revolvers by far are Ruger Bisleys.

I love the grip angle and the look of the gun.

I have literally thousands of .44 Magnum reloads from my late brother. They are mostly loaded down to .44 Special specs, so indoor range shooting is allowed.

I picked up this lightly used Blackhawk Bisley to pair with the Winchester Model 92 of the same caliber.

I have its twin, a Blackhawk Bisley in .45 Colt along with a Winchester Model 94 to use up the copious amount of reloaded .45 Colt from him as well.

I have my Dad's and my brother's 629-1's, but I know I can shoot the Rugers, use them as a hammer, shoot them with full Magnums until my wrists cry "Uncle", and they'll be like "OK, next".

Smith and Wesson makes the best Double Action revolvers in the mass produced US market, hands down IMHO.

Ruger makes the best Single Action revolvers in the mass produced US market hands down IMHO.

Enjoy

29aholic · #2 08-16-2021, 09:09 PM

Personally I like the mid frame New Model Flattop Blackhawks over the bisley. I love the bisley grip but it's a full size frame and heavy

Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk

CajunBass · #3 08-16-2021, 10:40 PM

I'm not a big fan of S/A revolvers, but have managed to have a couple turn up here recently.

One is a Ruger, Single-Six, 50 Anniversary model.

And a Heritage Rough Rider.

Those don't really surprise me. They were relatively inexpensive, and hard to beat for a 22. This next one really surprised me when I bought it. As I said, I don't really care for S/A guns. I like the way they look and feel, but I don't really enjoy shooting them at the range for some reason.

Still, it's pretty easy on the eyes. USFA, 45 Colt. I have fired it a few times.

I gotta admit...I like all three of them.

The Norseman · #4 08-17-2021, 01:00 AM

One of my favorite Special Single Actions.

The Bisley, a little different to get use to,
to handle, and to shoot.

Gunhacker · #5 08-17-2021, 01:08 AM

I'm a big fan of Ruger SA's, but I'm not as big of a fan of the Bisley grip frame, as I am with the Bisley style hammer modified to fit a standard grip frame:

.357magger · #6 08-17-2021, 03:37 AM

My favorite single action is this 1932 H&R Model 199 Single Action Sportsman.

Slim, elegant, and a tack driver.

Fishinfool · #7 08-17-2021, 03:55 AM

I like Ruger SA's as well. All three grip frames work for me, but I am partial to the Bisley for heavy loads.

Larry

My Favorite Single Action Revolvers-ruger-44s-jpg

My Favorite Single Action Revolvers-ruger-44s-jpg

krsmith58 · #8 08-17-2021, 04:32 AM

i have 3 single action revolvers but only pics of 1. i have a Ruger single six unconverted 3 screw with probably 5" barrel. i have a Ruger new model Super Blackhawk with scope i took in trade. the mount was bent and you couldn't hit paper plate size target with it at 25 yards. the young man that i traded out of it told me up front of the problem with it. checked it out and started shimming it and got it figured out and was shooting 50 cent sized groups with it at 25 yards. sent some pics of target to the young fellow i got it from and he acted like he wanted it back but never actually made an offer.

my other single action revolver is a Taurus Gaucho in 357 magnum. it's their copy of SAA. polished stainless steel maybe 7 inch barrel that i really like. fun to shoot. i seldom go to the range without it. sites regulated pretty good at 25 yards. kenny

Thuer · #9 08-17-2021, 08:01 AM

I do own a lot of SAA revolvers of all kind of brands. At this moment I do shoot only these two. A Pietta Westerner II with Birdheadgrip. The grip holds very good in my hand and with the 4 3/4 inch barrel in .45 colt it is a good shooter. The second one is a Uberti Russian in ofcource .44 Russian. It shoots better then the Pietta. But I do look for another hammer for it. That is a kind of problem in the Netherlands. It is working but fragil. I gonna atend a westernmeeting comming weekend. So I put them in their holsters made by a good leathermaker Bert Lange.

squidsix · #10 08-17-2021, 09:14 AM

I absolutely love my Frankenruger.
New model Blackhawk .357/9mm on a Super Blackhawk grip frame.
It is a joy to shoot and a tack driver with 180 grain loads.

Dieseltech56 · #11 08-17-2021, 10:15 AM

I’ve posted it before but here is my lone ruger bisley, I have a half dozen or so other ruger single actions but this thing is worth posting. Beautiful gun and shoots amazing

454 super blackhawk, I shoot 350gr WFNGC that I cast for my 45-70 and I squeeze them down to .454 and deep seat for this gun.

The Norseman · #12 08-17-2021, 02:00 PM

A favorite among favorites. Always in my
Range Bag Rotation.

A Premium Special Single Action Six Shooter.

xray97 · #13 08-17-2021, 02:33 PM

I have 3 Ruger single actions, this is my favorite.

pawncop · #14 08-17-2021, 03:17 PM

To best of recollection, I have never shot a Bisley grip single action revolver. Not that I didn’t want to, never had the opportunity. I must address this deficiency.

Baltimoreed11754 · #15 08-17-2021, 06:12 PM

I like .45colt Ruger Vaqueros. I made zebras out of a 7.5 blue and the ss birdshead as I had to get rid of the ugly blue bare aluminum ejector rod hsg on the 7.5 so I used the ss hsg from my shortened revolver build. Then I swapped the cylinders, a perfect fit and function. Lightened the mainsprings on them. Andy Horvath did the cutdown.
Just realized that these are old pix as now they have wide spur blackhawk hammers on them.

dave1918a2 · #16 08-17-2021, 06:37 PM

I only have one single action left now. It is one I will not part with.

Geronimo Jim · #17 08-17-2021, 07:52 PM

Skeeter Skelton's first gen 38 wcf.

Rifleman200-10X · #18 08-18-2021, 01:40 PM

This one by far, a Colt Buntline Scout 22 I've owned since I was 14 years old, in 1973. Growing up on a farm that bordered a very large creek near the Platte River, it was my constant companion during trapping and hunting season. worn in the belt holster rig shown, slung over my shoulder to keep it high and dry above my hip boots. It's been the demise of countless raccoons, coyotes, and other small game. Still accompanies me during deer season to collect any tasty small game that happens to cross my path.

MarkAlt · #19 08-18-2021, 03:22 PM

Just had to try out a "Cowpoke". A fun little six-shooter.

quikdraw67 · #20 08-18-2021, 05:14 PM

Had to get this from a fellow forum member today.

45ACP/45 Colt convertible with the original box.

Pre-warning, Bicentennial marked, and Southport made gun.

The trifecta.

2152hq · #21 08-18-2021, 05:16 PM

A Ruger O/M 357 B/H
I bought it about 15+yrs ago as a project, never got around to it till I 'retired'. It had a scope mt hole in the top strap. Other than that it was a standard 357 OM w/a 6.5" (?) bbl. I think I paid $129 for it at the time.
Probably too much!

N/M 45cal bbl. Tapered and trimmed to remove the Warning
Ruger Old Army steel grip frame
Ruger steel ejector rod housing. Old style 'Donut' ejector rod head.
Custom made pinned blade & base front sight as on the Colt FT Target SAA's
Orig Ruger adj rear sight assembly removed. Slot in frame filled with steel insert.
Top strap then shaped to match S&W N Frame fixed sight profile.
357 cylinder rechambered to 45Colt
Set of custom grips made (American Walnut).
Ruger hammer replaced with Power custom Bisley style hammer for OM Ruger
Custom trigger made to look a bit like the Webley revolver style and to move the trigger return plunger & spring out of sight and up inside the mechanism. The latter purely cosmetic, Well actually both are.

Shoots very well.very accurate with the soft ball loads I've used so far.
Red Dot and Grn Dot.
Just put another 50rds through it last Thursday w/no issues.

Still needs a little tuning so the the hammer drops into the loading notch a bit quicker.
Then a final polishing, screw heads fixed up and then the engraving and most likely a rust blue finish.
But it'll have to wait to finish a Win61 engraving and bluing first.
Still undecided about checkering those grips.
I thought about a lanyard loop on the butt earlier on in the project but then never put one on. Still might do that.

I've got a couple orig Colt Bisley SAA's. One in 44-40 rough bore, another badly reblued in parts that can become anything. Another standard SAA in 32-20 with a bad bore. A repro Opentop 44spcl. That's my SAA round up.
So this Ruger is the better of the bunch right now for usin' though the repro is nice too.

Some great looking revolvers posted here..

Muley Gil · #22 08-18-2021, 06:09 PM

I've got a few SAs in the safe:

Cimarron Model P Jr 4 ¾” .32-20/.32 Mag blue
Ruger New Model Blackhawk 4 5/8” .45 ACP Colt blue
Ruger Bisley 4 5/8” .44 Magnum blue
Ruger Old Model .44 Special 4 5/8” (conversion) blue
Ruger Flat top .357 4 5/8” blue
Ruger New Model Bearcat 4” .22 LR/Magnum Stainless
S&W Model 1 ½ .32 nickel
USFA SAA 4 ¾” .44 Special blue
Ruger Old Army 7 ½” .44 Stainless with .45 Colt conversion

I also have six black powder revolvers.

csurp34 · #23 08-18-2021, 06:34 PM

Also a big fan of Ruger SA.

Right now I have 3 Vaqueros , all in .45 Colt

Bright with factory gold on the cylinder.

Bright with Birdshead grips.

Full custom Bob Valade cattle branding engraved.

Just sold a SBH Hunter in .41 magnum to a buddy of mine.

S&W629 · #24 08-18-2021, 06:39 PM

I love going to the Ruger sites...and bragging/showing off my S&Ws.....

but I do have 5 Blackhawks.....

Biggfoot44 · #25 08-18-2021, 06:55 PM

I have a Bisley .45 Colt , but to me , it's a niche gun . Yes , it's more forgiving for really, really heavy loads . But the regular grip feels more natural , and points naturally , but a Bisley I have to deliberately think about .

The 3 Screw XR3 is the best , with the XR3 RED and SAA clone just behind

Johnnu2 · #26 08-18-2021, 07:31 PM

I like them ALL.... Bisley or plow-handle...
Here's a favorite of mine:

J.

Drm50 · #27 08-19-2021, 01:52 PM

When in my teens I was a Ruger cheerleader, for basically everything they made. They lost me on SAs when they went New Model. One at a time the Bean Counters have destroyed the model lines.

Modified · #28 08-22-2021, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quikdraw67

My favorite single action revolvers by far are Ruger Bisleys.

I love the grip angle and the look of the gun.

I have to agree.

It is one of my bigger regrets that I passed on a Single Six Bisley years ago, I didn't realize its glory at the time.

Later I was able to buy something on auction which has smoothed over any regrets I have with passing on guns, although the only reason I own this is because of a mistake the auction house made:

When I bought it the auction listed it as a Bisley Model that D.W. King had added target sights to. It had two small pictures, and for some reason was a Wednesday morning auction. I was the only bidder. The modification to the grip was not mentioned...

It's arrival was a mild disappointment to me (as a huge King Fan), as King clearly had nothing to do with it. But I had stolen a vintage Keith No. 5 of some stripe, and I was over the moon with the absurdly nice feel of the gun. With that SAA front strap, and the wonderful angle of the custom made backstrap, coupled with a nice wide trigger set forward, and a truly lovely action... it was an immediate favorite of mine. I didn't mind at all that I would never know who made the modifications.

Months later, this arrived:

Which was quite the document. I mean, Colt did this? In 1920? And who is CM McCutcheon? Turns out C.M. is the dude in the upper right in this picture:

He was a very large man apparently, and an excellent shooter. At one time held the world record for speed shooting.

The gun lettered to having gone out to Montgomery Ward originally in .45, where it looks like CM bought it, and then later had Colt modify it to .38spl, along with the rest of the mods.

So whenever I see people appreciating the wonderful Ruger Bisley I can't help but think that they must owe some thanks to CM McCutcheon. I don't know if the mods were all his idea, were Croft's idea, were someone else's idea entirely and Croft only copied it later. But based on what I have read about McCutcheon I have little doubt that his input went into what we now enjoy today as the Ruger Bisley.

Not that anyone really seems to know that. Whoever owned this Colt before me apparently took the secret of the "Keith No. 5" to his grave. I'm super appreciative that Cowan's auction is enough of a class act to send me the documentation that I didn't even know existed when I purchased the gun.

canoeguy · #29 08-22-2021, 02:21 PM

I enjoy shooting Ruger Single Actions. This Stainless Super Blackhawk goes afield with me often:

Steel targets at 20 yards"

On paper at 25 yards, standing two handed hold:

And, a fun shooting 1983 vintage Single Six:

HOUSTON RICK · #30 08-22-2021, 04:27 PM

My only single action is a Ruger Single Six.

quikdraw67 · #31 08-22-2021, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOUSTON RICK

My only single action is a Ruger Single Six.

Nice 3 screw.

crsides · #32 08-22-2021, 04:46 PM

The bluing on this pic came out extra blue? Original in the box, factory ivory grips. My favorite SA Ruger.

My favorite Colt SAA. 1881 frontier six shooter.

Faulkner · #33 08-22-2021, 05:00 PM

I'm particularly fond of single action revolvers in .22LR and have several including a Colt's Frontier Scout, an Uberti Stallion, and three Rugers. I have to admit the Ruger Bearcat is my favorite.

My Favorite Single Action Revolvers-22lr-saa-59-jpg

My Favorite Single Action Revolvers-22lr-saa-59-jpg

Johnnu2 · #34 08-22-2021, 07:15 PM

YOWZA.......

J.

mike454 · #35 08-23-2021, 03:26 PM

Count me in the Bisley fan club as well! Here is my first gun purchased for me on my 21st birthday by my college girlfriend. A rare drift adjustable 22 with stainless gripframe. Pictured with my most recent 22 revolver, a stainless bisley 22, my wife bought for me 28 years later, wearing Rob Rowen grips.

A few other favorites!

Ivan the Butcher · #36 08-23-2021, 03:44 PM

Mike 454, I like your choice in women!

Ivan

Ivan the Butcher · #37 08-23-2021, 04:06 PM

I have quite a few single action revolvers. I have a pair of reproduction Colt Walkers. with 55 to 60 grains of Goex FFFg they shoot to the sights at 25 yards. (I think originals were sighted for 100 yards!) I have Colt Army's and Remington Old Army's (repros) and they are OK/Fine, I have a stack of 1873 clones, and by and large the to are OK/Fine. I have a pair of 5.5" blue Ruger Bisley Vaqueros in 45 Colt and a pair of Stainless 4" Vaqueros, and all 4 are better than OK! But the guns that are a joy to use are the pair of Uberti No 3 Russian copies. At 50 yards they both clover leaf 5 shots! While no where near "Magnum" power, those bullets just seem to destroy whatever they hit! There is one problem! These guns were made to use single handed, using the recoil to lift the barrel to the 12 O'clock position and the guns weight to drop back down with your thumb on the Hammer to cock it. It is incredibly fast. But it is a safety violation in SASS rules!

I have a number of single action derringers, but they are a story for a different thread!

Ivan

BlackAgnes · #38 08-23-2021, 04:20 PM

This is my full-custom Ruger SBH--Ron Power internals and his #5 Keith grip frame, custom grips, Bowen rear sight, barrel-band front sight, charcoal blue and real case-hardening, trigger right at 3#. A shooter, too!

A very late Second-Generation Colt SAA, pictured in Wilkerson's book, "Colt Single Action Revolver Handbook 1955-1975"

Tim

max503 · #39 08-24-2021, 06:40 PM

I don't like grips that are bigger at the bottom, even though my favorite gun of all time, my S&W Model 15, has those kind.
Nobody's perfect.

joe44va · #40 08-24-2021, 07:14 PM

Best looking revolver ever made IMHO.

CajunBass · #41 08-25-2021, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe44va

Best looking revolver ever made IMHO.

Amen that!

CajunBass · #42 08-25-2021, 08:18 AM

I found one I forgot about. I'm not sure it really belongs here, but what the heck. It's fun for plinking at cans and such.

Uramex "Colt SAA" in .177 cal BB. CO2 power.

It's all metal construction. Functions like the original, except for only three clicks instead of four. It uses a standard 12 G CO2 cartridge for power (inside the grip). You load the BB's into the "brass" cartridge you see at the rear of the cylinder. It will send a can rolling inside 30 feet or so.

bgrafsr · #43 08-25-2021, 09:04 AM

I have several, but not sure which is my favorite.

old tanker · #44 08-25-2021, 09:50 AM

I like the three screw Rugers. A Single-Six convertible, a .357 Blackhawk and a Super Blackhawk are the three I think everyone should have. When I feel like playing cowboy, a 4-3/4 Frontier Six-Shooter to pair with '92 Winchester come to mind.

But its the first generation Colts that capture my imagination, like this Bisley in .38 WCF. It was shipped on May 18th, 1904 to Norvelle Shapleigh in St. Louis, Missouri. Only interesting tidbit about the ship date is that it probably arrived just in time for the start of the 1904 Summer Olympics Games in St. Louis.

One of these days a 5-1/2 inch SAA in .41 Colt will appear...

USBP SW · #45 08-25-2021, 10:28 AM

I have always been a fan of the Ruger Bisley. I was introduced to them in the mid 1980's, when I was selling them for a distributor. I took a roll stamped .45 Colt to all the stores as a salesman's sample, to extol the virtues of the new model. I ended up keeping it. Now I have two Pachmayer pistol boxes, obviously, one is full of Smith and Wesson pistols and the other (smaller) one is for Ruger day. That box has a Ruger 5.5" MarkII, a stainless Bisley convertible .45 Colt/ACP and a .41mag Bisley. They are not the only single action revolvers I own but they are the most shootable and therefore likely the most enjoyable.

Thuer · #46 08-26-2021, 01:04 PM

I do see a lot of Rugers overhere. OK I play. I do have a Vaquero made in 2001. It is the old sturdy frame with my favorite barrel 4 3/4 inch in .45 colt. And my old made somewhere in the seventies Bearcat. in.22lr
I love them both. But the Bearcat some more.

Could not resist to place a picture of my very first collection piece. Found it by Mike Long in Nothingham way back in 1993. Just a simpel Whitney model 1 in .22. The odd thing is, becouse it is made after 1870 (made in 1871) it is on my permit. If it was made in 1869 it was a free revolver in the Netherlands.

jag312 · #47 08-27-2021, 12:21 AM

This has to be my favorite handgun. It is a USFA in .44 Special. Those are Paul Persinger ivory grips. I tell people that it was a gift from California State Senator Don Perata. Senator Perata had a gun buyback in Oakland, and I was 5th in line. I turned in a bunch of junkers; Iver Johnson, H&R, and a rusty old pinfire revolver. The money I got, plus $58 dollars paid for this gun. Why am I smiling right now?

dsf · #48 08-27-2021, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag312

This has to be my favorite handgun. It is a USFA in .44 Special. Those are Paul Persinger ivory grips. I tell people that it was a gift from California State Senator Don Perata. Senator Perata had a gun buyback in Oakland, and I was 5th in line. I turned in a bunch of junkers; Iver Johnson, H&R, and a rusty old pinfire revolver. The money I got, plus $58 dollars paid for this gun. Why am I smiling right now?

You know what would make that story better? If that miserable so & so Perata read this post and realized he put another gun into circulation.

I don't know that either of these is my favorite, but I enjoyed getting them.

I picked up this NIB Colt SAA 2nd Generation at Willey Bros in Reno. Was in town for a gun show, I explained to them the Colt was C&R eligible, they verified and off I went. Externally fine but the worst action I've ever felt on any SA revolver. Took a bit of work but it's now smooth as silk.

IMG_0209.jpg

The USFA Bisley was sitting in a local "tacticool" store and for a ridiculously low price. It was their longest tenured gun in the place, pretty sure it had dust on the box.

IMG_0210.jpg

The 5 1/2" barrel isn't my favorite but it's a nice shooter.

crazyphil · #49 08-27-2021, 02:14 AM

Elmer Keith said: "The old Colt Single Action was and is a darn good gun,
but it cannot compare with the fine modern Ruger....I consider the New
Super Blackhawk the finest single action sixgun ever produced".

RobertJ. · #50 08-27-2021, 03:55 AM

My favorite SA of all time is the Ruger SBH. Here are my others also. The BH with the rib and oversized stocks (in .45 Colt) just happens to be my favorite plinker at the moment because it's just so darn accurate. I wasn't wild about the rib, but it's grown on me. The old model, in .357, is my only old model. The stainless SBH, which is wearing the stocks from the .45, was given maple stocks after this photo was taken: