Single action Revolvers: opinions?

Mark-II

Mark-II

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I know this has been asked before, and I have searched the forums and read all I can online, etc, but everyone likes to start a thread now and then, so why not?

Anyway - here's the sitch.

I've been away from handguns for a long LONG time. I used to shoot a S&W Model 10 (with big boy grips) when I was a lad, and I still own a Ruger MkII that I intend to get out with this year.

I need a centrefire pistol, however. I've debated semis, but I'm a bit of a fettarsche, with a fused spine to boot, so picking up brass would, quite literally, be a pain.

I've debated something like a S&W Model 14, like my dad and brother own, but I really don't want another plain jane .38 special DA style revolver.

So, I'm thinking Single Action Colt clone, being as how I'm not near rich enough to buy a real Colt.

My preference is for .45 Colt and a 7.5"bbl. My intention is to plink, and to shoot a mixture of smokeless and black powder loads.

I've been to the local shops and held Ruger Vaqueros, Uberti Cattlemen, and a Beretta something-or-other with a 7 inch barrel.

They feel ok, but I have LARGE hands and the grips are awfully small and I feel like I'm choking up on them a bit much, even with the pinky-curled-underneath hold that I am given to understand is proper.

I'm pretty much down to two choices, so far as I can see: the Ruger Bisley, or the Pietta 1873 "Tombstone with oversized walnut grips" that Marstar sells.

Neither one of these I have held, of course - this is merely the conclusion of the process of elimination.

This is where your opinions come in. From what I understand the Pietta is a well made product, and should be trouble free, and I'm confidant in the quality of Ruger.

Which one is better suited for big hands/fingers?

And has anyone even seen a Bisley in .45 Colt (at a decent price, new or used) at any of the dealers? I've just found them in .44 Mag, which interests me not at all.

Ta guys
 
Over size grips are widely available for Rugers and SAA clones and are well worth having. My hands aren't very big but I sure appreciate them on my Blackhawk.

I've shot bisley grips and really don't care for it but thats just me. One place to check might be: ht tp://countryclassics08.com/cimarron.html . Not the cheapest out there but they have or can get you Bisleys and all kinds of other single action models.
 
Thanks for the thoughts and info. I'll bump them an email and see what they have. I'm leaning towards Ruger, for the adjustable sights, but then I recall that my old Model 10 didn't have those, and I didn't want for them.
 
I bought a Ruger New vaquero from P&D recently (still waiting for my STATT) since they had them at $580! That's the cheapest I've ever seen 'em. They had some Bisley's vaqueros as well for $720. The longest barrel Ruger Vaquero Bisley is 5.5" unless you were referring to the bigger Blackhawk Bisley model. Not a fan of the Bisley grip but that's just me.
 
A few years ago, I came across a new in the box 'old' model production of the Ruger Vaquero, 5 1/2" and in 45LC. Had to have it, and still do. I personally prefer the older Vaquero as the newer version is scaled down in size, close to that of a Colt SAA, and better suited for some of the heavier diet I tend to feed it.

RugerVaquero45LC-1.jpg


A while ago, just to round out things somewhat, I had a friend use his talents and make me up a 'Duke' John Wayne holster rig for it.

BigIron.jpg


A couple of years ago, at a gun show in Naniamo, I saw and couldn't resist another Ruger. A SS model Ruger Blackhawk Convertable, 4 5/8" in 45ACP/45LC. For strength, no brass chasing and for the flexibility of what you can feed it, a convertable may be your answer.

45LCRugerBlackhawkSS-1.jpg


I had the same local individual make up a holster for it as well, patterened along the lines of a Bianchi Lawman.

SSRugerBlackhawk45LC.jpg
 
Last year I bought a 7 1/2'" Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in 45 Colt. I am quite happy with it, very accurate and it can be handloaded to 44mag energy levels at lower pressure if you feel the need for a big bang from time to time. Hogdon's data has special loads only for Ruger and Thompson Center. (Don't share this ammo with Colt SAA clones). A couple have popped up on the EE in the last year or so. The Bisley Vaquero may also be worth a look but usually has the 51/2" barrel. The Bisley grip seems to help absorb recoil better according to Elmer Keith. I guess he would know....
 
bexan said:
Last year I bought a 7 1/2'" Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in 45 Colt. I am quite happy with it, very accurate and it can be handloaded to 44mag energy levels at lower pressure if you feel the need for a big bang from time to time. Hogdon's data has special loads only for Ruger and Thompson Center. (Don't share this ammo with Colt SAA clones). A couple have popped up on the EE in the last year or so. The Bisley Vaquero may also be worth a look but usually has the 51/2" barrel. The Bisley grip seems to help absorb recoil better according to Elmer Keith. I guess he would know....
Click to expand...

Can't argue with that. To my way of thinking though, the way the gun rolls up in your hand with the recoil, helps absorb. I find with the Bisley grip, instead of the recoil causing the gun to roll up in your hand, it pounds more straight back and I feel more of the effects of recoil. That's one of the two reasons for my preference of the more traditional single action grip configuration. The other, I just don't find the 'look' of the Bisley style grip appealing to the eye. Not at all and perhaps that's just to my eye.
 
I've been looking at those convertibles too. I'm prone to letting feature-creep take me out of my price bracket, though, so I need to keep focused ;)

It's the size rather than the shape of the bisley grip that has my attention. For all I know I won't care for it either when I actually get my hands on one.

Wholesale sports says 8 to 10 weeks for the next lot of Blackhawks to come in. I can certainly wait that long, since I don't shoot in the winter anyway. I've sent country classics a request for information as well. That Alchimista model they list looked interesting in the YouTube review I saw. I'll need to see the price before I get TOO interested in it, however!
 
I prefer the older Vaqueros as well. But if the OP has an issue with the small SA grip, he might be better to go with a Super Blackhawk, but then it is a .44 that he isn't crazy about. Of course a .44 doesn't have to be loaded the way I load it, it can be a pussy cat, just like a .45 Colt.
 
A good fit to your hands is only some new wood away. Even if you can't source grip scales that you like it's not that hard to make them or get a local wood working hobbyist to work with you to craft up some new grips to suit a larger hand.

Hell, if you "hold that thought" for a few months I'd be in a position to make up something like these that I did a while back for my own Super Blackhawk for all the same reasons you mentioned. The fatter grip around the neck was all it took to turn the gun from something that slide around in my grip terribly to one which lets me maintain control easily even with full power .44Mags.

Here's a couple of pictures of the new grips. If you're much familiar with the usual skinny neck shape you'll appreciate how much bigger around these are. My pinky still sits under the butt end and that's fine. The lower edges were rounded more than with the stock gun to avoid the hard edge and even though it's not much of a difference it really shows when shooting.

And if you can't wait until my shop is fully up and operational at least you can use these pictures as a guide for someone else to work from or for you to go shopping for something more big hand friendly;

grips4.jpg


grips5.jpg
 
It's more the cartridge than the gun. I have a thing for the old black powder stuff, even if it's mostly shot with smokeless. And in a SAA style revolver that means 44-40 or 45 Colt. Ruger isn't making anything in 44-40 these days, so I took that one off the table, and I've not found an Italian job in stock anywhere that is to my liking in anything but 45 Colt either.


I did dabble with the notion of .30 Carbine, since Prophet River has one. But that's more novelty than desire, I think, though relatives who had them back in the day said they were pretty nice.

Can't own them all, so I need to choose with care.

Edit: BCRider. Thanks - i'll keep that in mind. I know a wider grip made all the difference even in the Mk-II pistol. I'm sure I can wait one way or the other. I'm not rushing out to buy this week.
 
I have exactly two single action revolvers. The latest purchase is a really nice Ruger Old Army in stainless steel.
It certainly helps that I already have two other new manufacture BP firearms before I got this one.
BP firearms require a devoted cleaning regime, otherwise you have rusting hulks of metal.
Plus many indoor ranges do not allow them for the obvious smoke clouds they generate.

Not for everyone for sure................:)
 
BCRider said:
A good fit to your hands is only some new wood away. Even if you can't source grip scales that you like it's not that hard to make them or get a local wood working hobbyist to work with you to craft up some new grips to suit a larger hand.

Hell, if you "hold that thought" for a few months I'd be in a position to make up something like these that I did a while back for my own Super Blackhawk for all the same reasons you mentioned. The fatter grip around the neck was all it took to turn the gun from something that slide around in my grip terribly to one which lets me maintain control easily even with full power .44Mags.

Here's a couple of pictures of the new grips. If you're much familiar with the usual skinny neck shape you'll appreciate how much bigger around these are. My pinky still sits under the butt end and that's fine. The lower edges were rounded more than with the stock gun to avoid the hard edge and even though it's not much of a difference it really shows when shooting.

And if you can't wait until my shop is fully up and operational at least you can use these pictures as a guide for someone else to work from or for you to go shopping for something more big hand friendly;

grips4.jpg


grips5.jpg
Click to expand...

That's exactly the hold I employ on any of my single actions. Good looking grips by the way and that additional thickness may well be just the ticket. Tucked away in my reloading room, I have a number of pieces of dried/cured 'tiger tail' maple I've been saving for grips for a couple of single actions and 1911's. Just got to get my butt in gear. With my reloading caught up and the sleet coming down, it may be an activity for the near future.
Again, grips look good and I like the upper width concept.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
That's exactly the hold I employ on any of my single actions. Good looking grips by the way and that additional thickness may well be just the ticket. Tucked away in my reloading room, I have a number of pieces of dried/cured 'tiger tail' maple I've been saving for grips for a couple of single actions and 1911's. Just got to get my butt in gear. With my reloading caught up and the sleet coming down, it may be an activity for the near future.
Again, grips look good and I like the upper width concept.
Click to expand...

x2 on BC Rider's grips. I've been thinking of making a set of thicker grips for my .45 Colt Blackhawk so those pics really help. Has anyone expermented with the "Jordan Trooper" style where the RH side has a bit of a palm swell? I think this is mostly used for DA revolvers but it might work on a SA as well.

:) Stuart
 
josquin said:
x2 on BC Rider's grips. I've been thinking of making a set of thicker grips for my .45 Colt Blackhawk so those pics really help. Has anyone expermented with the "Jordan Trooper" style where the RH side has a bit of a palm swell? I think this is mostly used for DA revolvers but it might work on a SA as well.

:) Stuart
Click to expand...

It's a long story but I'll try and keep it short. In the mid 70's, I went to visit Elmer Keith in Salmon Idaho and a picture of that visit is my present avatar. After visiting Keith, I continued on and stopped in for a tour at Herrett's shop in Twin Falls Idaho. Following the tour, and being a recent convert to the S&W 29, I purchased a set of 'Jordan Trooper' stocks for mine. Other than just trying them out on my 4" Smith, I never really used or 'needed' them, that is until I purchased a 500 S&W. Even with the rubber Hogue grips it came with, there was still a very localized painful spot on my hand with max loads. To help 'tame' the recoil effects, I remembered the Jordan Trooper stocke and thought I'd try modifying them to see if it would help. BINGO!! Success!! You still knew you had a 'handfull', still kicked like a Mule but the recoil effects were noticeably more bearable.

SW500TheHummer.jpg


A separate issue, the only other Herrett's stocks I have are a set of Target Gun Stocks that came with a recently purchased High Standard Supermatic Citation.

Opps
I forgot to mention, a palm swell, with a decorative touch such as a Steers head on the palm side of the grip was a touch Keith was very much in favour of. His opinion was that it filled a gap in the palm section very effectively.
 
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Johnn Peterson said:
Opps
I forgot to mention, a palm swell, with a decorative touch such as a Steers head on the palm side of the grip was a touch Keith was very much in favour of. His opinion was that it filled a gap in the palm section very effectively.
Click to expand...

Well son of a gun, now there's a piece of information that has eluded me. It simply never occurred to me that the raised decorative carving on a grip panel would have any practical application, in fact to the contrary, I have always considered such "embellishment" to be a bad idea on a heavy recoiling gun. I doubt if I'll run out and buy a set of carved ivory grips for my .44, but suddenly the look is less pompous then it was a few minutes ago.
 
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