Lipsey's Flattop Bisley Blackhawk 44 Special - Come to Papa!

[JeffDavis]

Just got home with my newest treasure. A blued 5.5" Bisley Blackhawk in 44 Special (AKA God's Caliber)!

This is one serious handgun, one with a weight to it. It's not that it feels heavy, but more like it conveys to the shooter
a sense of security or confidence that says " I will handle anything you can't take care of yourself."

It's a feeling I have never had while handling semi-autos or double action revolvers. Oh sure,they do the same
thing; send a hunk of lead down range. They just do it faster that's all.

While I have owned and traded off a dozen or so single actions in my shooting lifetime, this gun is different somehow.
Maybe it's the Bisley grip (a first for me) that feels so good. Or maybe the way a 5.5" barrel seems to hang just right.
The size of the bore certainly adds spice to the recipe. It's definately a mix of these 3 features, but there is another
trait lurking in the shadows, waiting for its chance to shine.

I look forward to sending the first of many projectiles to their intended purpose from this glorious piece. It seems only right
to stay with cast boolits at this time. I have 250gr SWC-GC and 208g WC waiting on the loading bench, right next to cans
of Unique and 2400. These both shot like a house on fire from the Ruger SBH 10 inch barrel. I can't help but think they will
do the same from the Bisley.

[coyotejoe]

When you fire it I think you will be surprised at how well that Bisley grip handles recoil. It is by far the most comfortable grip ever put on a single action. I think people avoid them because they look odd but that is just a matter of what one is accustomed to seeing.

[Steve P]

I just picked up mine with the 4 5/8" bbl.  Slept with it the first night to welcome it to the new home.   Now if I could only find my 44 Spc brass so I can load for it........... 

Steve

[gcrank1]

They make more........(brass). Or 'borrow' some from a friend until you find yours.
Hope it shoots as good as it looks! Though I will bet the POI vs POA will vary considerably between those bullet weights. No matter, just find where to hold the front blade for elev rather than make sight adj. (that is, after you have them set for your favorite load).
FWIW, Just a pers. gripe for credit where credit is due, but I sure wish they had properly called that the Keith/Croft grip rather than 'Bisley'.....too late now.

[Jeff H]

The 250s are a given as to how they will suit that 44, but the 208 WC and 215 SWC surprised me.
Everything I have put through it has shot well, from 208 WCs to 265 RDs.
I will be sending my own Bisley on dwon the road, unfired.  Once I had it in my hand, I realized (ok, remembered), it won't work for me.
They are beautiful and I have been sucked in by that beauty of the Bisley and the S&W N-frames before.
As much as I like them, they don't fit me like the XR3 and XR3 REDs.
I am glad the Bisley fits other people though - so I can still look at one once in a while.

[Axehandle]

The 7.5 inch versions arrived here last week...  These are the 92 copies that were not serial numbered properly for The Shootist group...
Makes a nice looking little FT Bisley 44 Special...  Read some words about the front sight blades not being tall enough...

[Frank V]

Also, don't overlook a good .44-40 bullet. I've used the RCBS 44-200-FN with very good results in the .44 Special.    The .44 Special will handle a very wide assortment of bullets & bullet weights. Good Shooting! 
Frank

[Blackhawk44]

Axe, for me, the front sight on the 4.6" FT Bisley has proven to be too short for my Skelton loads.  I may have to sell it since I'm not going to load 200's or 215's just for this one piece.  My other seven Specials are all sighted for the Skelton load.  Even my target load will shoot to their sights.  Not changing.  For me, light bullets go in WCF's. 

[Axehandle]

I did happen to have a set of Ajax Sambar Stags in the parts box  for my 5.5 FT Bisley 44 Special...  Sure hate that the blue front sight blade isn't pinned like the stainless guns...  Sure would have made the front sight change easier..

[DJWright]

Sweeeet guns. I picked up one with a  4-5/8" barrel. Surprising thing however was that it shoots OK with anything above 1,100 fps with Unique powder. But once I dropped back to the standard 7.5 gr load, it shot 20' groups at 100 yards! Did the same with another friends identical gun. Did some testing and finally found the sweet spot with Win 231, or HP-38. 5.0 gr and my LBT MFN handcast will stay in a grapefruit at 100 yards consistantly. Load developement is done. I smoothed up the action and did a spring set change, and installed some checkered grips. Made all the difference in handling and is one slick little gun now. My favorite so far.

[zoner]

the ruger bisley's are excellent revolvers. I bought a 5 1/2" 45LC Bisley Vaquero when they first came out....nice gun but couldn't see the sights as well as i liked. So i bought a used 4 5/8" NMBH 45 convertible, sat down with the Ruger Factory Manual and switched grip frames,hammers and triggers and then had a 4 5/8 Bisley w/adjustable sights and a standard Vaquero. Sold the Vaquero and got back the money i spent on the NMBH...cheapest way to do a Bisley conversion.The bisley config fits mt big hands like it was made for them. And that's a very nice 44 special amigo

[kingstrider]

Very nice!  I haven't bought any Blackhawks in a while, been in a Marlin kick for a while but now you have me thinking...