Hi Gents, I have to admit to never being a revolver fan. I had a GP100, and quite frankly, I thought it too big and heavy for 6 rounds of 357 Magnum. Very cool gun. Very cool cartridge. It just didn't come together for me. Anyway, I've always thought that of I were to get another revolver it would be for fun and nostalgic purposes. So, to that end, I'm looking at a Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Can someone tell me the difference in the Standard vs Bisley? I can see the differences, but don't understand why. For instance, grip and hammer are clearly different, but why? Thanks
Bisley is cooler. Hammer easier to cock one handed. I think all single actions should come with the Bisley hammer.
If you want fun and nostalgic, why are you looking at a Blackhawk? I never saw the point in buying a single action revolver that looks like some cross between a real one and a modern double action. John Wesley Hardin didn't have adjustable sights. Fun and nostalgic is more like a Vaquero and a Uberti is both cheaper and more authentic. Both come in .45 Colt and the Uberti, really being a copy of a Colt, will fit the average western style holster. Also, if I'm buying a cowboy gun for the looks, I want it to look like what was both common and used in all the western movies, and that's not the Bisley. Last one of these I bought was under $400, comes in .357 Magnum and .45 Colt:
It totally depends on the size and shape of your hands. Just like some people have no problem griping and shooting a J frame Smith. I have Large Slim Hands. There is just not enough grip for me to hold to shoot the Ruger. The Bisley is larger and at a better angle for me. I don't think I could enjoy shooting a Magnum Round from a standard single action.
The Colt Single Action Army Bisley was designed for formal target shooting way back. The grip is supposed to give a better angle for one handed shooting. The hammer is lower for easier cocking. The trigger is wider. Special Target sights were an available option. The target sighted versions had a flat top frame. When Ruger came out with a Bisley model, it was found that some people felt much less recoil with that grip than the standard ones with Magnum cartridges. Had a 5.5" Ruger Flat Top in 44 Special, standard grip. With Elmer's load, it hit my middle finger hard. A friend has the Bisley Flat Top in 44 Special. When I shot Elmer's load in it, the recoil was much milder. I was surprised and the next Magnum single action I get will have the Bisley grip. For the 357 Magnum Blackhawk, recoil is not a problem with the standard grip.
Good info, guys. Thanks for the replies. I think what I'm hearing is buy both....but start with the Bisley. Also, for Bren, I have a soft spot for Ruger's anyway, and I don't need an exact copy. In fact I like a little old with new styling.
I bought a Ruger Redhawk 41 Magnum snub last year. I shot 2 boxes of potent 210 gr loads through it and it tore my shooting hand all to heck. And it wasn’t very accurate. So I sold it and bought a Blackhawk 41 mag with a 4 5/8” barrel, which is a lighter revolver and it shoots like a laser beam and is much less punishing to shoot than the Redhawk was. Now I have a 480 Ruger SBH Bisley with a 6 1/2” on the way. Really looking forward to my first giant bore Bisley!
View attachment 699882 And I shoot the birdshead better. this is a Pietta, copy of a 2nd gen Colt. This one has Turnbull case hardening.
