Super blackhawk bisley owners?

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Hey all,
As some of you may have seen previously, i am allowed (by wife rule) one, yes one, firearm purchase per year. I discussed before possibly waiting on a great deal on a FA model 83 with a 10" barrel that i can get but would need to wait until a friend inevitably needs money this winter VS a new bfr in 500 jrh. I have mixed feeling because i only get one, for us married folks i think you may agree that's reasonable considering my previous buying habits (i was naughty). January is coming friends and i've got some dollars burning my pocket up. One other contender in this fiasco is the super blackhawk bisley in 454 casull. It would be the least expensive and really would do what i want (powerful single action). Not looking for the caliber debate or which one is going to canoe open a grizzly skull better or any of that nonsense. Just opinions on the SBH bisley in 454. Being a distributor exclusive i can not put hands on it. Never owned a blackhawk (have had other single action revolvers).
What do you say?
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Need a longer barrel unless falling back to 45 Colt in it.
I have a 5" SRH in 454 casull and i'm satisfied with a slight sacrifice in velocity for portability. Same gun is available with 6.5" barrel, which i haven't ruled out either. More interested in possible short comings of the platform compared to other options.
 
I can’t help you with the 454 but I have a SBH Bisley 7 1/2” barrel in 45 colt and it’s about my favourite revolver. I have shot a friends 454 exactly like the one in the picture and all I can say if you buy it make sure you get a good set of rubber grips for it cause shooting full load Casull loads with wood really hurts like hell in my old hand.
 
Hey all,
As some of you may have seen previously, i am allowed (by wife rule) one, yes one, firearm purchase per year.

First, I'd re-negotiate this contract.:)

I had a Ruger 7-1/2" Ruger 45 Colt Bisley handgrip revolver and hate revolver with the Bisley hand grip frame. I replaced the Bisley hand grip frame with a standard handgrip frame and I'm much happier. I still have the modified 45 Colt revolver.

The 45 Colt Bisley grip frame sits stored in the box for the next owner of the side arm.

I'll agree that the frame is a personal opinion and fortunately with the Ruger pistols, changing grip frames is not too difficult.

I do not have a 454 Casull revolver but I do have a 460 S&W Mag S&W X-frame revolver. It is nice to have the extra capability in the revolver. Most of my shooting with my S&W 460 S&W Magnum revolver is with hot 45 Colt level loads in 460 Mag cases.
 
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First, I'd re-negotiate this contract.

She's a shrewd negotiator , to be fair i do kind of deserve it.

I didn't know the SBH grip frame was able to be changed without too much trouble, i've seen the customized rugers with various grip frames but figured they were welded to the cylinder frame.
 
My FiL has a SBH with a Bisley grip. I have one with the regular grip. We each prefer our own. Mine is probably my favorite handgun. His is in his top few.

Ours are "only" 44 magnum. :)
 
I really wanted one if those when they first came out.

I figured I could load 45Colt close enough to 454 for anything I'd need doing in a regular model though. The biggest, meanest things we get here in Ohio are hog and black bear, and those are so rare as to not be worth worrying about. So I grabbed a convertible Bisley instead.

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For what it's worth, ergonomically I much prefer the Bisley frame and hammer.
 
I can't comment on the 454 cartridge, because I don't own anything that shoots it, and have never fired that particular wrist-wrecker.

However, I have several Ruger single action revolvers in 44 Mag; both Bisley and standard grip frame.

For me, I much prefer the Bisley frame. I have larger hands, and the bigger grip affords more room for my palm. It just makes sense to me that when I shoot some boomer round, I want 3 fingers holding the revolver, not just 2.

The angle of the Bisley is more comfortable under heavy recoil, at least for me.

Grips are such a personal thing, it's hard to say what would suit you better until you try it. Is there any way to try it before you buy it ? Maybe rent one at a range, or borrow one from a friend?
 
I have all three options in question. The Ruger will likely need a trigger job and if you intend on feeding it a steady diet of .454, there are better options like the FA. I think the BFR is the most attractive option here. The .500 JRH is chalk full of terminal goodness. If you are set on a .454, you can get one from Magnum Research as well that’ll handle whatever you throw at it.
 
Having converted my SBH to a Bisley, I'm going to say pass.

I think the grip frame is great! I think the Bisley hammer is too low (I have a regular BH hammer on mine now). Ruger quality assurance isn't amazing either. I like Rugers, I have quite a few. But I'd get a BFR or FA 83 over that any day!
 
Nice. Yeah, i've loaded 454 a couple years. Did you have to special order that one? I had heard a couple years back there was a year wait or something.

I got mine from a local gun shop new for $600, they had it in their inventory for over a year so they discounted it. There are quite a few of them for sale on gunbroker for $750-$800. Buds gun shop has the 4.62” barrel model that you posted for just over $700.
I only have 240 rounds through mine (all .454 rounds) and other than the grip screw loosening up on me a couple of times, I have been impressed with it.
As mentioned, a BFR would be a great way to go as well, my next heavy hitter will be one in either .475 or .500 Linebaugh.
 
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I purchased the Ruger Bisley from Lipsey and I love it. I don't reload so I have to purchase my ammo. I chose the .45 ACP/ .45 LC because I have plenty of .45's on hand. The price for the ammo of .454 Casual is just to expensive. Short barrel for the carry option.
 

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It’ll still produce meaningful velocity with that short barrel. .454s aren’t as barrel length sensitive as many “lesser” revolver cartridges.
I have experienced significant differences in barrel length as somewhat proportional to recoil and shooter punishment.
 
This thread is hijacked by the anecdote that a Bisley grip is not favored for heavily recoiling guns. My SBH Bisley 44 Magnum was the answer for me, and I sold my regular Blackhawk, although admittedly it was a Flat Top with that smaller grip. I also have a Bisley conversion kit from Ruger that is earmarked for my 41 Magnum Flat Top .
 
I have experienced significant differences in barrel length as somewhat proportional to recoil and shooter punishment.

Do you have a short barreled .454? They really don't seem to lose as much as the lower pressure alternatives.
 
I have shot a friends 454 exactly like the one in the picture and all I can say if you buy it make sure you get a good set of rubber grips for it cause shooting full load Casull loads with wood really hurts like hell in my old hand.

There are no rubber grip options available for Bisleys. That said, the one-size-fits-all wooden grips aren't very good, but a custom set made for your hand goes a long way towards making the experience pleasant. I have custom grips on my .454 SBH as well as my two .480 SBHs.

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Why the snarkiness? It was a legit question. You made a statement above about the short barreled .454 and I merely asked you if you have one and thereby if you had tested one.
You misunderstood my lame attempt at humor. I was thinking that at some point in degree of recoil and barrel flip you are no longer able to have a preference. I suppose with a lot of experience with such cannons, one can better appreciate the subtleties.
 
This thread is hijacked by the anecdote that a Bisley grip is not favored for heavily recoiling guns.

Really? Hijacked? I think most (but not all) people who've shot "heavy" loads with both would agree that this Bisley is a far superior grip frame for handling recoil.

BFRs are available with Bisley grip frames too. :)
 
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