Ruger Bisley for 1st hunting handgun?

[AtlLaw]

I figured my pistolaro days were over 20 odd years ago when my eyes started going south.  Haven't shot a handgun much since the mid 90's I guess.   

Then I decided the S&W M49 Body Guard I've been carrying since the early '70's wasn't an adequate CW.   
About that same time I started thinking about carrying one of my 45 Colt SAA's hunting.
In a fit of 44 lust, I bought a Taurus Tracker 44 Mag., 5 shot medium frame 2 inch barrel for a general carry weapon.   
Loading up and blasting away with some 240 gr. SWC's at 850 - 900 fps, I remembered how much fun handgunning is! 
So much fun in fact, I think I'll get a hunting handgun.   

After reading the handgun forums here on GB's, and considering my own personal likes, it appears my first choice would be a Ruger SBH Bisley 44 Mag.  I have reservations however:  The only barrel length offered is 7.5 inches.  I've never shot anything with over a 4 inch barrel that I can remember and I wonder if the longer barrel adversely effects the balance of the revolver?  I'd prefer a 5.5 inch at the longest.  The shorter tube would save a little weight also.  At 52 oz. this ain't no featherweight!

Opinions on the whole subject of the first deer hunting revolver please?     I mean don't feel you have to limit the discussion to the barrel length issue.   

[Badnews Bob]

That is the same revolver I am looking at, I currently use a .357 ruger GP 100 6" or a Super red hawk .44 with a 9.5" tube, The SRH is to much to carry around good for sitting still thou. The .357 is fine but I want a little more, henc the bisley, I like 6" or longer barrels for hunting, I don't use scopes so the longer sight plane suits me well The BH is a litlle lighter than the SRH also which is what I want.

BTW that bisley would look right at home with that .45-120 when you get her done.

[MS Hitman]

The Bisley would make a great first hunting revolver for someone already accustomed to the maggie.  No flies on a .44 Mag and having the firearm tweaked to your preferences isn't all that difficult.  Go for it!

[AtlLaw]

That is the same revolver I am looking at,

Great minds and all that huh Bob!?   

I like 6" or longer barrels for hunting, I don't use scopes so the longer sight plane suits me well

One of the reasons I picked the SBH is because of the scope mounts.  I'll HAVE to use a scope!     I've got no idea if and how a scope would go on the BH

BTW that bisley would look right at home with that .45-120 when you get her done.

I plan to have the 45/120 done pretty quick!    Now how an I gonna scope THAT!? 

[AtlLaw]

No flies on a .44 Mag

Ya know, I was never a a big fan of the 44 Mag. 'till I got one.  I wanted a 44 Spl. and preferred a 45 Colt.  But after shooting and reloading for it, I like it!   

[mray]

the sbh hunter is a great gun. Personally, I like the weight. It makes the the kick a little easier to handle. I've owned other 44s that I tended not to shoot because if the recoil, but this gun gets lots of action.

[Graybeard]

A man of your refined tastes  and high breeding  should just go ahead and do it right the first time. Get yourself an FA83.  You can even ask Bob and company at FA to set it up with scope base/rings and scope all before they ship it out to your local FFL guy. Unlike that Taurus  the FA83 will not only shoot it will actually hit what ya aim at. 

[critter44]

That is my favorite hunting sixgun. Shoots wonderfully, handles recoil of even the heaviest loads really well and the scope mount setup can not be beat. You will not be disappointed and will be superbly armed for handgun hunting. Best of luck. You have chosen wisely.

[Glanceblamm]

Opinions on the whole subject of the first deer hunting revolver please?

This is an excellent time to buy because you can shoot all Spring & Summer then be "driving tacks" when your 09' hunting season comes around.

I have had no issues at all on pulling my revolver from it's crossdraw and getting the hammer pulled back. It has always been quick & quiet and I have never alarmed a deer. You kind of "finness" that hammer
back and it hardly makes a noise that even I can hear. Course I had 22years of experience with the big dog eared hammer on the .50 cal rifle...seems like your sub-consious knows where the "clicks" are and you
ease through them.

I did let a 160's class buck walk by at 110yds upon my second season. I had practiced plenty off hand and sitting @ 100yds but could never beat a 7" 20 shot group. I felt good about letting it go but had I been carrying that .50 blk-pwder, the buck would have been mine.

If you want a deer with a handgun, take a handgun only!...I can legally take the rifle & a handgun but have left the long gun at home for five years now.

[AtlLaw]

Get yourself an FA83. ... Unlike that Taurus  the FA83 will not only shoot it will actually hit what ya aim at. 

You just had to do it didn't ya...    But, "unlike the Taurus," this time I picked a weapon that not many people questioned the quality of, and you still got to jump in there and up the anti!     So now, if I buy the Ruger, and heaven forbid I have a problem with it, you will be on me like white on rice with the I told you so's! 

Oh well, let me ease on over to the FA forum and read around... 

Thanks Bill...     

[AtlLaw]

A man of your refined tastes

Developed over years of "get the best, forget the rest"

and high breeding

Yes, yes.  One of the oldest families in the country... a Gentleman by breeding, birth and act of congress...

Now...

Get yourself an FA83.

ARE YOU CRAZY!      WITH AN $1800 DOLLAR BASE PRICE!!      WE'RE IN A RECESSION YA KNOW!!!   

I think I'll look at a nice cheap T/C Encore... 

[Badnews Bob]

I'm not sure about that great minds comment,, are you funnig me?

[AtlLaw]

are you funnig me?

Heck no!     I thought the SBH was the perfect choice, 'till Bill chimed in anyway... 

And since the SBH was your choice also, and since I KNOW I have a great mind, you must have one also since "great minds think alike."  See, pure logic and reason!   

Uh, you ain't thinkin of one of them FA 83's now are ya?   

[Badnews Bob]

Not on yer life althou they be damn fine shootin irons they make my right rear cheek hurt. I like my Rugers just fine.  You might be right about the great minds thing but my wife don't think so. Wimmins can't live with'em can't shoot'em.

[AtlLaw]

 

[Krooz]

I'll be posting some other questions in a thread but the SBH Bisley looks good to me as well but unless one can find a "Hunter" version somewhere how do you mount a scope on it? (I need one as I want a 45 colt and hope to "reach out").
Drill and tap or is there another way?

Krooz

[AtlLaw]

how do you mount a scope on it?

I was looking at the Hunter version because of the integral scope mounts but had the same question.  How do you scope the plain barreled model?  Glad you asked there Krooz!     Now we sit back and wait for the smart folk to edumacate us!   

[Badnews Bob]

Weaver makes a mount that fits in the rear sight mount and clamps to the frame in front of the cylinder. Gets good reviews at midways sight. Leopould make one as dose weiglan.

[Autorim]

AtlLaw,

I don't think there is any way you will go wrong with the .44 mag Bisley Hunter. I no longer have any single actions that do not have Bisley grip frames because they are so comfortable to shoot.

I will turn 69 years old next month and I shoot handguns a LOT - both iron sights and red dots - no scopes yet. But, you never can tell. Nothing in the body works quite like it did, but I can still shoot pretty well for an old fart.

I have a Bisley in .45 Colt that is currently with Alan Harton for additional work for a hunting handgun. It is a real shooter and I expect more when I receive it from Alan. My grandson is 6 years old and the .45 Colt will be my take along when we take him hunting. I have not hunted with the .44 mag, but the history is well known and reliable. I do have a couple of .44 mags that I use for testing loads. It is a very flexible cartridge. I assume you roll your own.

Go for it and have fun.

[Possum]

I love my 44 Bisley hunter.  Very accurate and easy to shoot.  My favorite Bisley tonight since it accounted for two does this evening.  I think you need two, though.  One scoped and another regular Bisley for the open sight hunts.

The added weight of the hunter model seems to make the recoil better for me. 

[jbquack1]

I have 2, a 5 1/2 inch in .45 colt that i converted to a bisley from a standard blackhawk, the other is a 5 1/2 inch in .475 linebaugh.Both guns are easy to carry and accurate.The 44 mag is a good cartridge, i have owned several, it would make it easier if ruger offered other barrel lengths but this can be fixed.Excellent choice, i wouldn't own any other.

[Freezer]

    Atlaw, is this going to be the only weapon you'll carry or will you have a rifle also.  Terrain also is a consideration.  I've had a few Ruger SBHs, great guns but they all need trigger work.  Wolf springs help a lot.  Where I hunt the terrain is very steep and I usually hike long distances.  I had a (approx) 7" SBH but I found it too heavy unless it was the only thing I carried.  I traded it for a 5 5/8" SS SBH.  I loved that gun until a bear caused me to relieve myself in my shorts .  I just wasn't sure if I had the composure to cock it every time I wanted the gun to go bang.  There are also a lot of cougar in the hills I hunt so I need to feel sure of myself.  My side arm is also my defence piece.  I got rid of it the day I got home and got a 629 SW 6".  Too heavy again but I'm considering a scope for that one.  Now I carry a SW Mountian Gun 4" SS.  That fits the bill nicely in regards to weight and accuracy but the recoil makes it no fun to pratice with.  I also hunt with a Contender, now that is a pistol!  It's too heavy to carry with a rifle but you don't need one with a 14" Contender   I carry my MG when I carry it.  The Encore comes in a pistol frame configuration.  Think about it, rifle and pistol on one frame, any caliber you can think of, the possibilities are endless!  Heck one good spending spree on barrels, scopes and reloading supplies...you could end this recession single handed and become Obama's poster child















 

[AtlLaw]

Good stuff here!     I got to handle a SBH Bisley, not the Hunter model, this weekend and that 7.5 inch barrel balances much better then I thought it would.  The grip was also very comfortable and fit well.

I don't do much walking down in south Jawja, and the terrain is one type... FLAT!  I may walk a couple of hundred yards from where I park to any one of my stands.  I never thought of carrying a rifle and a hunting handgun, though I often do carry a pistol while rifle hunting; my rattlemouth copper moccasin insurance!   

Unlike Autorim, my 63 year old eyes just will not let me see open sights.     Therefor a scope is mandatory.  A friend of mine just had to show me his new toy this weekend; A SS S&W 8 some odd inch barrelled .460.  Now he gwanna be 60 next month and this feller is still shooting open sights!     He drove out to his farm with it Saturday evening and killed a spike with LeverRevolution ammo!  He had to call me as he was driving back just to tell me all the details.  Now I got to get me a huntin handgun and kill sumpin wiff it or I'll never hear the end of it from him!   

[Badnews Bob]

My first deer with a handgun was I think one of my favoritis shots I've ever made. I think the only thing that will top it is when I finally get one with a bow. I just picked up a ruger BH in .357 maximum, I'll be learnin that'un this summer so I can hunt with it this fall.

[Dand]

I have a 41 mag Bisley that is scoped.  The smith I went to recommended tapping the top strap and mounting a Leupold base - 3 screws I think.  Its very sleek and tidy compared to the weaver and some of the others. I have a 2x Tasco in it that works fine though I think I'd prefer to get a newer Weaver or of course Leupold.  I too would prefer a 5 or 6 inch barrel, just for ease of carrying.  But so far, I have kept the 7.5 to get all the velocity possible out of that cartridge. Wonder if it would be easier to get a 4 5/8 SBH then put a Bisley grip frame on it? You'd probably want the Bisley hammer too  but that could be arranged.  Don't know how the economics would work out compared to having the barrel shortened.  Oh, just remembered, I had the smith straighten out (drop down) the end of the trigger a bit, seemed the end of it was biting my trigger finger with heavy loads - much better now.

[jbquack1]

I have a 41 mag Bisley that is scoped.  The smith I went to recommended tapping the top strap and mounting a Leupold base - 3 screws I think.  Its very sleek and tidy compared to the weaver and some of the others. I have a 2x Tasco in it that works fine though I think I'd prefer to get a newer Weaver or of course Leupold.  I too would prefer a 5 or 6 inch barrel, just for ease of carrying.  But so far, I have kept the 7.5 to get all the velocity possible out of that cartridge. Wonder if it would be easier to get a 4 5/8 SBH then put a Bisley grip frame on it? You'd probably want the Bisley hammer too  but that could be arranged.  Don't know how the economics would work out compared to having the barrel shortened.  Oh, just remembered, I had the smith straighten out (drop down) the end of the trigger a bit, seemed the end of it was biting my trigger finger with heavy loads - much better now.

I went with a 5 1/2 inch blackhawk in 45 colt as i had the parts for a bisely on hand, but didn't have the tools to cut/recrown the barrel,cost was an issue on this project and i figured this was the quickest/cheapest means to an end.I also had a bisely cylider that fitted up well,i plan to put a over travel screw and get a good ejector rod/housing and maybe one of bowens good rear sights eventually.As far as the 41 magnum goes, i have limited experience with it but what experience i do have was good and what i have heard has all been positive,i got on a 45 colt kick and haven't stopped yet.jim

[mcwoodduck]

"I never thought of carrying a rifle and a hunting handgun, though I often do carry a pistol while rifle hunting; my rattlemouth copper moccasin insurance! " By Altlaw.
I carry a hand gun when I hunt with a rifle most of the time.  When I go deer hunting I will stick a .22 on my hip for small game on my way out of the woods.
and will carry my S&W M29 when I carry my 22 rifle while squirrel hunting incase bullwinkle walks through the oak trees.
When ever I would carry just a deer rifle all I would see is tree rats and rabbits, when I would carry my 22 for the small game all I would see is deer.  When I carry both I ensure I see nothing.  
Good luck.

[Handgun Hunter]

Atlaw,

     My first hunting handgun was a SBH 7.5" barrel and I still love this gun. To be honest, had I heard about the Bisley model, I would have bought it instead. Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy with mine, I just like the Bisley grip better. B square makes a scope mount as well and worked fine on my gun even with the 310gr WFN handloads that I use. I found it at Midway for a good price.

     Like you, I do not have $1800 to spend on a gun of any type, but those FA83 guns are a real sweet gun, and I would like to own one. Basically the difference between a Timex and a Rolex. But a lung shot deer will never know the difference.

     Have you ever used shooting sticks to shoot a handgun before? I ask because shooting a scoped handgun much past 40yds., my sight picture gets pretty shaky. When me and my son set up on a spot, we bring our sticks to increase our accuracy and distance. They work great for us for good shot placement.

                                                       Tim

     

[cwlongshot]

It will do you right. I much prefer the 45colt... but the 44 is a good one too.

 As for the FA guns, they are top quality. I too have wanted one since I knew about them.. I turned down three of them, all used, all fair prices. I should have bought at least one, but for what ever reason, I did not!!! I saw one a couple weeks back. A presention grade 454 m83 with 2X Leupold scope in behuler mounts and leather... The guy wanted 2 grand...

 Fade back to 1990, I bought a 45colt Bisley when they came out. I figured I would sell/trade it if and when the right FA came along. Like I said a couple did come along, but I didn't jump. In the mean time I spent another couple hundred on the bisley. Fancy grips, stronger lock work, oversized base pin trigger job, you know... I'm about ready to send it out for a complete rework and 5 shot conversion... $12-1400 price!! Add that to the $400 orig cost and couple hundred I added thru the years. Guess what.. just add it up, I could have bought the FA almost twice over!!! (Remember we are looking at early '90 prices here. IIRC it was under a grand for the orig. 93 back then.

CW

[AtlLaw]

Man!     The good advice just keeps coming!    Not to mention the questions I have received an answer to!

I like a 45 Colt also.  Got 2 in SAA's.  Never had a thing for 44's until I bought the Taurus... the one I haven't been able to shoot for a couple of months.     When I started reloading for it I found out how versatile the cartridge is.  Of course the 45 is also, but I'm on a 44 kick now!   

The FA looks grand, and if Bill recommends it, that's all I need for an endorsement.  But the price is a little daunting.     If I were a dedicated handgunner there would be no doubt, but this is an itch, and I don't itch that bad!     Maybe if I get hooked...

For well over a decade the extent of my handgun use has been for concealed carry.  Never did much big bore shooting or target shooting other then the PPC.  My 44 Mag has a 2 inch barrel and will barely shoot minute of torso at 25 yds.     Not that that bothers me... I can't see the sights anyway.     A scope is mandatory!     That's why I decided on the Hunter model.  But it's good to know they have mounts for the standard Bisley.

So this will be a new adventure for me!     And I won't try to shoot at a deer offhand, I shake real bad unless I got a couple a drinks in me!     So the crossed sticks are another great idea and are something else I will have to practice with.

'corse, now I got to find a Bisley!