Several years ago I got the handgun hunting bug.
I bought a Ruger Super Blackhawk hunter (regular grip), and for some reason I can't remember, wound up selling it.

I would like to own a nice hunting pistol in .44 mag. (perfect for deer and hogs), and I'm trying to decide between the Blackhawk Hunter or Bisley Hunter.

My only "gripe" with the regular grip was that when the hammer was cocked, the web of my shooting hand got in the way. I have average size hand, but I guess I have a naturally high grip. I had to make sure I lowered my grip so the hammer had adequate room, but doing that left my pinky finger nothing to hold onto.

The Bisley design looks like it would take care of my grip issue, but I've never been able to put my hands on one and try it.

Was just wondering if:

1. The Bisley grip actually gives you more area to hold onto without getting in the way of the hammer.

and....

2. Are their any goods OR bads about the shape/design of the bisley grip when firing stout .44 mag loads? I didn't know if this design tends to help distribute recoil or if it pushes more back into the shooters hand than the regular grip.

Any input would be appreciated.

SCHOOLCRAFT

Ross Seyfried is probably the only reason Ruger still makes the Bisley grip. He was/is quite a vocal proponent of it's virtues. He was hot-rodding Blackhawks decades ago, and would use nothing but Bisleys. Maybe some of his older articles are on the net for you to peruse. Guns & Ammo, Handloader and Rifle magazine were his venues IIRC.

I have a Bisley hunter in 44 mag and I like it over the plow handle because the plow handle digs into the bottom of my palm and it hurts to shoot one. I have big mitts though.

I've been shooting a plow handle for so many years I just can't get the Bisley grip to feel right for me. I've had several and I like the fact that it's bigger but it just doesn't feel right. I think you are just going to have to handle both and decides what fits your hand.

Having tried both I personally like the Bisley style for heavy loads. A friend prefers the standard plow handle. To each his own I guess.

As will become quickly apparent, grip shape is a very personal thing and personal preference. It may also depend on what you started with and got used to. I have 5 �� SS NMBHs in .45 Colt with the XR-3RED grip and the Bisley grip. I have fired heavy loads in both back to back to see what differences I might detect. I have large hands. The first thing I noticed is that I had to change the grips on both. I have found that I prefer Eagle Gunfighter grips for both. The standard Ruger NMBH grips flare at the bottom and make themselves very uncomfortable. The Bisley grip doesn�t flare, but it was just the right diameter to align my second finger with the trigger guard where it got a nice beating. The Eagle grips eliminate that for both guns. With the Eagle grips I don�t feel much of any difference between the guns. The NMBH rolls more in the hand. The Bisley has a slightly more straight line push, at least to me. The Super Blackhawk has a lower, wider hammer spur than the NMBH, while the Bisley has an even wider hammer spur. I actually prefer the higher hammer spur of the NMBH. I am tempted to fit a NMBH hammer to my 5 �� Super Blackhawk, but I haven�t gotten around to it.

I prefer the Bisley to the plow handle (any iteration of the plow handle). I have Bisley grip frames on my hardest kicking big bores and IMO, they would be uncontrollable without the Bisley grip.

Most of the reputable custom gunsmiths will automatically change the grip frame on their conversions to the bigger calibers -- like the .475 and .500 Linebaughs. In fact, Hamilton Bowen won't even build a .475 or .500 L without putting a Bisley grip frame on the revolver.

I use Houge grips on my Redhawk...
The stock wood just leaves my hand sore too quickly.

I have both the Blackhawk and Bisley. Prefer the Bisley.

I find my Bisley hunter in 41 shooting 210's at 1400 fps easier to control than my buddy's blackhawk in 357.

Part of that is surely due to the extra weight and longer barrel of the Hunter. But i also give much credit to the extra length of the Bisley grip handle.

Yes, the grip does give a longer "gripping surface". I can actually use three fingers to hold and control the revolver. With a standard SBH grip, I can only fit the 2'nd and 3'rd fingers onto the grip.

Also the Bisley grip will cause the revolver to push more directly into the web of your thumb and roll upward less than with the SBH handle.

Stop in at your local gun store, and give both a feel. I fondled both models extensively at the local Sportsman's. But I had to go to Gunbroker and purchase a Davidson's model to get the Bisley Hunter in 41 mag.

My hands are middle size, a Glock 21 is about the largest pistol I can grip with comfort.

I also have pitifully little experience behind a either Ruger, BUT....in the little bit of experience I HAVE had in actually firing both on a range, I find that the SBH rolls quite a bit more in the hand. as my pinky fingers are the smallest portion of the hand, I also find that flare at bottom to be a good thing, but a reasonable followup shot is darn-slow

For the Bisley, I found the recoil to be more straight back. With little 44mag expereince (something I would like to change) I found the gun very comfortable to hold and quicker as to follow up shots, but considerably less comfrotable to shoot

So there you do or don't have it, pending the credence you give this

I like the bisley grip better for heavy loads. Linebaugh is a big proponent of the grip as well for his builds.