Scope installation on a Ruger Bisley?

[Bowhunter57]

How difficult is it to install a scope on a Ruger Bisley?
Drilling? Tapping? If so, I'm going to take it to a gunsmith.
Or is it just a matter of removing the iron sight and installing a scope base?

Thank you, Bowhunter57

[Lloyd Smale]

personaly  i wouldnt do it but then i dont like scoped sixguns anyway. If it were me and i really wanted a scoped handgun id consider selling it and buying a hunter model or a redhawk with scope cutouts on it. the bisleys are slowly going up in value and drilling and tapping one about insures that youll never get crap for it when you resell it. One other option is one of the no gunsmith scope mounts. I had one i think was a b square and it didnt look that great but worked fine. It used the adj sight mount holes and clamped to the sides of the front sight base.

[BlkHawk73]

  I'd cringe at doing that to a Bisley also.  If you must though, the strongest way is to have the topstrap drilled & tapped for a permanant type mount.  Be much stronger than the clamp-on B-Square type. 
  if I needed another scoped Ruger, I'd get another Hunter model.  With the mounting grooves more forward, it makes for a nicer handling scoped outfit.  Worst case, I'd buy a BH/SBH and change it over to a Bisley configuration before drilling & tapping.


What chambering is this Bisley?

[Bowhunter57]

Worst case, I'd buy a BH/SBH and change it over to a Bisley configuration before drilling & tapping.

If this is possible, that's a viable option. I've owned the Super Blackhawk, in .44 Mag. and the ONLY reason that I sold it was due to the grips. The recoil was not manageable with the western style grips. The muzzle flip would put the grip in the bottom of my hand and the rear of the trigger ring would smack the second (middle) finger. So, I put Pachmayr grips on it and it just made things worse, as the grips were over sized.
I owned a S&W model 29 with the 8 3/8" barrel and had no complaints with the recoil.

How difficult is it to change/convert a Super Blackhawk to the Bisley grip/frame style?

What chambering is this Bisley?

I haven't purchased one, yet, but it would be a .44 Mag., as I intend to use it for deer hunting.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[Graybeard]

Sounds to me you're a fellow like myself for whom the DA is better than the SA as a choice. Why not just stay with the S&W or get a Ruger DA if that's what you just gotta have? Why do you think a Bisley is gonna solve your problems?

I'm a confirmed DA guy and SA recoil from the Ruger guns even the Bisley grip frame ones just plain hurts. I can barely hold onto a 7.5" Bisley in either .44 Magnum or .45 Colt when velocity with 300s reaches 1250 fps which is really not all that hot. On the other hand a S&W pushing them 200 fps or more faster is quite comfortable to me.

With the FA83 I can push 320s at 1550 fps but it's not fun unless scoped. With a scope that's not too uncomfortable a level for me. On the other hand a Taurus RB454 or RB480 can easily push 320s to 1600 fps with comfort or the 420s in the .480 to 1100 fps with comfort.

[BlkHawk73]

I haven't purchased one, yet, but it would be a .44 Mag., as I intend to use it for deer hunting.

  Perfect, go with the SBH Bisley hunter.  It's easily available in .44 mag comes with the Ruger mount all integral to the bbl and includes the rings.  Add your choice of a scope and you're all set.  Simple as that.
  For something a bit different, they did offer these albeit in limited quanities in .41 mag and even fewer in 45 Colt.   the later may become available again this year but that's not definate.

  Changing gripframes involves removing the grips, the hammer spring assembly and removing 5 screws that hold the gripframe onto the cylinder frame.  Reverse the order and you've Bisleyized it.  Changing the trigegr and hamemr just add two steps (removing a pin each) and again reversing the order toreassemble.
 Be easier to go with the Bisley hunter from the get go though.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

I'd go for the Ruger Bisley Hunter in 44 Mag as well...Why D&T a perfectly good Bisley Blackhawk?
That Bisley Hunter is a darn fine looking revolver to boot...

[Bowhunter57]

BlkHawk73 and WNY_Whitetailer,
The Ruger Bisley Hunter would fit my needs perfectly, but.....are they still in production? The standard blued models are all that Ruger shows on their website.

Graybeard,
I have nothing against a Ruger Super Redhawk, if they weren't so expensive. I like the fit and feel of the grips of DA revolvers and that's what I've owned the most.
Perhaps I'll find one at a local gun show.

Either one are great suggestions!

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[BlkHawk73]

  Yes the SBH Bisley hunters are still cataloged models.  They're in .44 mag so gotta look under Super BH's.  Like I said before, some were also made in .45 Colt and .41 mag for distributors (Lipsey's & Davidson's respectfully) 
  The Bisley grip is nicer to shoot with hotter loads than the tradtional plow handle grip style.  Just remember, in either style, let the gun roll upwards rather than fight it down.