Ruger .44 Special Flattop Bisley-Review

[Hrfunk]

You fellows helped talk me into this one (Not that it took a lot of effort to do so, Ha, ha!). Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the review!

Howard

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Looks like you got a good one and vary nice shooting

[onelight]

Very informative and realistic review. GOOD JOB
In my experience Rugers tend to benefit a great deal from a total disassembly to clean and deburr in a lot of places when new and smooth up nicely. My stainless 4.6" 44 Bisley had to have a taller front sight to get zeroed ,looks like yours did well with just adjustment , nice.
Thanks for the video.

[Hrfunk]

Looks like you got a good one and vary nice shooting

Thank you!

Howard

[Hrfunk]

Very informative and realistic review. GOOD JOB
In my experience Rugers tend to benefit a great deal from a total disassembly to clean and deburr in a lot of places when new and smooth up nicely. My stainless 4.6" 44 Bisley had to have a taller front sight to get zeroed ,looks like yours did well with just adjustment , nice.
Thanks for the video.

You are most welcome. Thanks for watching!

Howard

[rintinglen]

Nice review, Howard. Love the jacket and hat, (brilliant minds think alike) I have a similar coat and hat, myself.
I've had my eye on those bisley-framed 44's for sometime, but I can't really justify another gun at this time.

I've had a Ruger Flattop with the traditional plow handle grip for about 7 years now, and it is one of my favorite woods-walking guns. The only complaint I had was with the ill-fitting grips. Why Ruger can't put a decent fitting grip on their single-action revolvers I can't figure out, given that the Italian Manufacturers manage to do a pretty good job on guns that cost less, but that has been true of every Ruger SA I have bought in the last 10 years (7 including this one). Mine did not exhibit the binding that you describe, which I think is related to the transfer bar, but It has slicked up with use. I have about 1800 rounds through mine, and it is one of my favorites. The accuracy is exceptional. It is well worth spending the money on a trigger job.

The Skeeter Load is what mine is sighted in for, but I have actually shot more NOE 432-232 WC boolits. 4.5 grains of Red Dot and big bore shooting fun abounds.

[fivegunner]

Great Job Howard, I have the same Ruger , your load( Skeeter Skelton) Is good in mine also, but ( Power Pistol ) is my go too load . Thank you for another great video . Best regards Frank

[Char-Gar]

Another excellent video.

[Hrfunk]

Nice review, Howard. Love the jacket and hat, (brilliant minds think alike) I have a similar coat and hat, myself.
I've had my eye on those bisley-framed 44's for sometime, but I can't really justify another gun at this time.

I've had a Ruger Flattop with the traditional plow handle grip for about 7 years now, and it is one of my favorite woods-walking guns. The only complaint I had was with the ill-fitting grips. Why Ruger can't put a decent fitting grip on their single-action revolvers I can't figure out, given that the Italian Manufacturers manage to do a pretty good job on guns that cost less, but that has been true of every Ruger SA I have bought in the last 10 years (7 including this one). Mine did not exhibit the binding that you describe, which I think is related to the transfer bar, but It has slicked up with use. I have about 1800 rounds through mine, and it is one of my favorites. The accuracy is exceptional. It is well worth spending the money on a trigger job.

The Skeeter Load is what mine is sighted in for, but I have actually shot more NOE 432-232 WC boolits. 4.5 grains of Red Dot and big bore shooting fun abounds.

Thank you! I really like the Skeeter load. It will do 90% of anything you can reasonably ask of a handgun. I'm hoping that hitch in the action goes away with use. Otherwise I might be sending my Bisley back to Ruger. In any case, I need to find a good gunbelt for it!

Howard

[Hrfunk]

Great Job Howard, I have the same Ruger , your load( Skeeter Skelton) Is good in mine also, but ( Power Pistol ) is my go too load . Thank you for another great video . Best regards Frank

Thank you Frank!

Howard

[Hickory]

Always informative, clean and concise.
Howard, you do an excellent job everytime.

[historicfirearms]

Always informative, clean and concise.
Howard, you do an excellent job everytime.

I agree and am subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work.

[Hrfunk]

Always informative, clean and concise.
Howard, you do an excellent job everytime.

Thank you!

Howard

[Hrfunk]

I agree and am subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work.

Will do! Thanks for watching and thanks for the subscription!

Howard

[buckwheatpaul]

Howard....always loved the 44 Special....carried S&W 29 for years on the streets.....used the Speer Lawman 200 gr bullet....but practiced with the 44 Special and cast Lyman 429421 (Keith) bullets with 10 gr. of Unique. Thanks for the first class review of Ruger Flattop Revolver!

[oldhenry]

Howard, an excellent video.

I own that exact same model FT: my 1st. .44 spec & is one of my favorites. Mine did not have the rough spot on cocking that you described. I must admit that I haven't tried the SS load. For 50 yd. chickens I find the Lyman 429421, SAECO 441, H&G 45 & Accurate 43-210A to be equally accurate with a variety of powders. My favorite is the 43-210A with WST: a very mild load that will tip over the chickens if I do my part (also controllable in my GP100 3" SS).

Henry

[contender1]

Very nice.
I happen to enjoy my Rugers quite a bit,, and I have a few of the 1st run of the 44 Spl's Lipsey;s put out. They are not the Bisley's.

I would like to offer a POLITE clarification to a few comments you made.
You mentioned the front sight, ramped,, and dark. Wishing for a contrast. You mentioned replacement front sights, to include fiber optics. While this is true to a degree,, you should have clarified that the changes to a BLUED gun would not be easy. You have to either remove, & re-solder a front sight, then re-blue the gun. Or mill off the blade, grooving & drilling the base, and then add a pinned front sight replacement blade. The Stainless models have an easily replaced front sight blade by just removing the blade insert. Quite often, many folks desire a different front sight and for blued guns this isn't as easy as a stainless gun.
Another minor correction. You mentioned the grip frame on the Blackhawks,,, and causing knuckle pain. You mentioned your SUPER Blackhawk as the culprit. The Blackhawks are a different model,, and do not have the squared backed Dragoon grip frame that the Supers have. The Bisleys are a total different grip frame design as well. But only the Supers have the square backed g/f. AND,, there are Hunter Models of the Super that have a rounded trigger guard as well. Just a minor clarification there too.

One feature of the Bisley's you didn't mention was the Bisley trigger, it is a different contour than the Blackhawks.

And lastly,, the grip frame material. You used a magnet to test the backstrap, and the trigger guard. Almost all models of Ruger SA's have a one piece grip frame assy, which includes the trigger guard. Only the Bearcat has a different, separate trigger guard. Maybe a mentioning of the little fact that it is all one piece.

PLEASE,, PLEASE do not take this as criticism. it is offered as a CLARIFICATION of a few minor points you missed. Many newer Ruger owners may not know these things,, and it helps to clarify such things to some folks.

[Hrfunk]

Thank you for the clarifications! I am obviously not the world's foremost authority on Ruger firearms, so I need all the help I can get.

Howard

[jonp]

Yeah, I bet we had to work hard talking you into this one!

Another great video, Howard. Thanks for the review

[Hrfunk]

Howard....always loved the 44 Special....carried S&W 29 for years on the streets.....used the Speer Lawman 200 gr bullet....but practiced with the 44 Special and cast Lyman 429421 (Keith) bullets with 10 gr. of Unique. Thanks for the first class review of Ruger Flattop Revolver!

It seems to me there was a character in a movie who subscribed to that same notion. I would try to pull the character's name from my memory but a man's got to know his limitations.

Howard