Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger Bisley 44 Mag

Always wanted one of these, and now it's here. I got the blued 7.5" model.





Took it out for first shooting today with some 240gr JHP over 9.5 gr Unique. Should be around 1100 fps or so. Shot really well. Target is standing, from 25 yards, 6 o'clock hold. I'm liking it.





Some scenery on the way to the shooting spot.

Very nice. I think you'll like it. I didn't get one when they first came out, but several years afterwards I ended up with two, a .44 and .45. The .44 I liked the looks of even more than the .45 because it had a fluted cylinder. Both went away in trades. I've had a 45 Colt for a number of years now and like it. I seldom use it but it's there if the need arises. I bought it off an old boy and if it had been fired once, it didn't look it. It was cheap too.

Thanks for sharing the pics. Love the outdoor scene.

MM, I suspect I may have said this before - you have fine taste in shooting iron...
Every time I see a Bisley it makes me think of a great article on it by Ross Seyfried in the early 1990s (in Shooting Times I think).

Thanks for the pics and sharing.

Fine looking iron! I love the bisley, they are so much more comfortable to my mitts.

It sure is comfortable to shoot. I know everybody has said it since it first came out. I had never shot one until now.

I like the 45 Colt too. I've got one of the Blackhawk convertibles in 45, it's pretty versatile.

Very nice.. Had a couple of those.. Have a .44 spl. now.. very fine weapon..

Congrats MM...One of the best .44's ever made. The design of the Ruger Bisley grip is a study in perfection of the magnum revolver. You're going to have fun with that one.

I have a Super Blackhawk Stainless Hunter with the Bisley grip. Perhaps my favorite .44 mag revolver!

Mike Holmes

MM,

Good looking SA! I like the wood/blue!

How smooth is the cylinder change? My Bisley was binding a bit when I first got it, but I sent it back to Ruger and they fixed it right up--they even paid shipping both ways.

The cylinder runs smooth, and is easy to remove/replace.

I don't have feeler gauges, but to the eye, the barrel/cylinder gap look very minimal.

My Bisley is a 45 Colt 5-1/2" I don't have any convertibles. Adjust sights once and shoot. But I also have a 45 Colt Vaquero 4-5/8" and a couple of stainless 45 Colt Blackhawks 4-5/8" one hasn't even been shot.

My 44 Mag is similar to yours only stainless that started life as a 7-1/2" cut down to 5-1/2" square trigger guard. Also a 3-3/4" that is pretty cool and a 5-1/2"Vaquero in 44 mag. What can I say, I like the original Vaqueros, they are big and tough also.

You pick good guns.

I knew you had the .45 convertible. I've owned two or three of the same model myself. They are versatile guns. IIRC you like some heavy lead bullets in that gun.

The first was a used gun that somebody had put a Super Blackhawk frame on...4 5/8" barrel. Later I owned a 7 1/2 incher that I bought new. I don't currently have a regular Blackhawk in 45 Colt.

I haven't gone too heavy in the 45, at least not yet. I've loaded some cast 200gr SWC, 230gr XTP, and 255gr cast SWC with the powder coating by Missouri Bullet Co. It really likes the 230gr XTP.

My older 44 Mag SBH with the 4 5/8" barrel has a bag full of the heavies, 310gr WFN at 1250 fps via 20.5gr H110. I'll be giving that load a go in the new Bisley for S&G.

I’ve never had or shot a Bisley, but I’m gonna have to try one. Whittaker’s Has a nice flat-top Bisley in 44 Special.........hmmm.

Hard to beat and about the finest for a hunting sixgun. My 44 Mag Bisley is a 5 1/2" converted three screw SBH. A fine piece.

MM, I'm starting to get away from the heaviest bullets, as I don't live in Alaska any longer. For most things this will work and be a little easier on the wrists. My Arthritis is catching up with me. http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm 265Gr WFNGC is a nice bullet as well.

I enjoy shooting the mild to midrange stuff too. I loaded up a batch of the warm loaded 310s that I shot a few to get the sights dialed in on with the older 44, but I generally only carry them woods defense, they aren't much fun for target/plinking.

This is the older SBH I bought about 1978, and the heavy 310gr Oregon Trail bullet. I had the barrel cut back from 7.5" along the way,






I want to find a nice fun shooting load for the Bisley, I'm thinking something around 240-250gr cast at 800-900 fps. And shoot a few of the 'stomper' loads when I get the itch.

That’s a nice Bisley 44 Magnum you’ve got there , Marine. Those loads you mention are for sure more fun to shoot in quantity. My loads the fit what you describe is a 250 gr. cast Keith bullet over 8.0 gr. of Unique for about 850 fps out of my 7.5” Redhawk. Accurate and a fun shooting load. If out of Unique, 7.5 gr. of Universal works pretty much the same.