Ruger Bisley

The Ruger Bisley, manufactured by Sturm Ruger & Company, is a 5 or 6-shot, single-action revolver. It comes in a variety of different finishes, calibers, and barrel lengths. The revolver takes its name from a grip frame designed by Colt's Manufacturing Company that was popular at shooting matches held at Bisley.

Ruger Bisley
TypeRevolver
Place of originUnited States
Production history
ManufacturerSturm, Ruger
Unit cost$809.00 [1]
Produced1984
VariantsVaquero, Hunter
Specifications
Mass50 oz.
Length13​1⁄2"
Barrel length7​1⁄2" (6​1⁄2" .22 LR)
CaliberVaries see Calibers
ActionSingle-action revolver
Feed system6-round unfluted cylinder
SightsAdjustable Target Sights

Overview

In the mid-1980s Ruger introduced their Bisley line of Single Action revolvers. Using the same frame as the Super Blackhawk, the Bisley features a down-turned grip inspired by the old #5 single action army grip made up for Elmer Keith by gunsmith Harold Croft in 1929, although it is larger in size. This was in turn inspired by the classic 1894 Colt Bisley revolver, so named after the famous English shooting range at Bisley which was the site of many notable shooting matches in the late 19th century and is still in regular use. The Ruger Bisley is very popular for target shooting and hunting, and comes from the factory with adjustable sights, a 7​1⁄2" barrel, and rosewood grips.

The Ruger Bisley can also be readily identified by its factory engraved unfluted cylinder, and low hammer spur. It is currently manufactured in .44 Magnum (RB-44W) and .45 Long Colt (RB-45W); however, it has also been manufactured previously in .22 Long Rifle with a 6​1⁄2" barrel (RB-22AW), .32 H&R Magnum, .357 Magnum, and .41 Magnum.

The distinctive grip angle can also be found in two other models: the Bisley Vaquero and the Bisley Hunter. The Bisley Vaquero is a fixed sight, short barrel (4​5⁄8", 5​1⁄2") version that was manufactured from 1993 to 2005. The Bisley Hunter comes in Stainless Steel, with Black Laminate grips, a 7​1⁄2" barrel and factory rings for mounting a scope. 'After-market' grips for one Bisley will fit the others and seldom require hand fitting.

The Ruger Bisley has become a popular platform for conversion to even larger calibers by custom gunsmiths such as Gary Reeder, John Linebaugh, and Hamilton Bowen.[2][3][4][5]

Calibers
.500 Linebaugh in recoil.

Finishes

References
  1. Ruger product info
  2. Quinn, Jeff (23 August 2004). "The .500 Linebaugh". Gunblast. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  3. Taffin, John. "Taffin test: The .500 Linebaugh". Sixguns.com. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  4. "500 Linebaugh". The Reload Bench. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  5. Taffin, John (May–June 2006). "The sixguns of John Linebaugh: the man who wrote the book on big!". American Handgunner. Retrieved 8 September 2009.

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