I plan to get either a Bisley or standard Blackhawk next year. Whats special about the Bisley? I heard it handles recoil better and you can have them converted to bigger calibers (475/500 Linebaugh) is it simply what feels best to the individul or is there more to it?

It boild down to preference. This photo shows a Bisley (top), and SBH (Dragoon-style). For me, the Bisley is better when recoil climbs.

For me, yes. The Bisley just handles and points better.

All the above, and I don't like the squared off trigger guard.

yrs ago I thought the bisley "look" was ugly, but it growed on me in more recent yrs. when I went to buy a ruger Blackhawk hunter I held both types side by side and picked which felt best to me. I got the bisley.

+1

If you are buying it to look at, I think the plow handle looks better, but if you plan on actually shooting it, the bisley handles the recoil better.

I'm mixed on this. I prefer the feel of the super gripframe. It handles more like an FA to me and it shoots very well in my hands. The bisley on the other hand honestly has never felt good to me. I have to use it on the big guns but I have had to really learn a different way to hold that gripframe. If I hold it like I do the super , it kills my hands to the point that they are numb after one cylinder of heavy 500 Linebaughs. With the midrange loads I primarily use, it does fine. We are all different. You need to try both and make your decision from that.

I have and use all three grip styles . All three beat my middle knuckle up with factory grips [Dragoon, Blackhawk or Bisley} when I take a full grip , and I like all my fingers on the grip. Hogue and Pachmayr make grips for the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk[square trigger guard]that take the bite out of these guns.The grips have a filler behind the trigger guard and are a bit longer.For the Bisley Eagle grips with a filler behind the guard are what I use, because Hogue nor Pachmayr make grips for the Bisley. I also made a set myself with a filler that work as well as the Eagles.It still comes down to individuel feel but I like them all {with after market grips}.

I prefer the Bisley grip also. I also get my knuckle slammed at times. Generally, I will take a stronger grip to avoid this on the next shot and than start easing up on the grip a bit at a time. Is there another solution to knuckle busting?

Jack Huntinton's grip mods to both the Bisley and the various plow handles (XR3, XR3-RED, Dragoon - SBH) go a long way to making even the heaviest recoiling revolvers pleasant to shoot. The Bisley mod is really subtle, but it works well. My .500 Max will still occasionally tag my knuckle, but it's a world better than stock. A set of real custom grips that are actually made for your hands' dimensions also go a long way to taming recoil. Here is a photo of my Max's grip frame and grips (unfinished). Again, the mods are subtle but significant.



Here is a photo of an XR3-RED with Huntington's grip mods. All of the advantages of the Bisley, with none of the negatives as far as I am concerned. This revolver is in .500 JRH and it is a pleasure to shoot even with full-tilt loads.

Whit
Could you lay it next to or under an unmodified frame and snap a picture? It looks to be a bit longer with a bit more room behind the guard. If you like them Hogues or Pachmayr's are still the cheapest alternative no bite with my .44 or.45. The Eagle grips for the Bisley were $80.00 when I bought mine and I still had to do a bit of fitting to the frame.

I agree that the rubber grips are a viable quick fix, but the grip frame mods and a first-rate set of truly custom grips will only set you back $300.00. I cannot emphasize how significant a set of grips made to fit your hand actually is when shooting heavy loads. I won't even get into the aesthetics.

Here is apicture of a stock XR3-Red on the right, and a modified XR3-Red on the left.

I'he yet to have my birdie beaten up by a Bisley trigger guard and I run some pretty hot loads (26 grains of H110 with a 250)

The same can't be said for the plowhandle.

I have had both, and I prefer the Bisley. But won't mind both again;)

i dont like the bisley grip frame but then im running just about standard 44 mag loads. as a side note dont care for the dragoon grip ether. rx3 works just fine where im at.

Bisley

Handles recoil and makes for a more natural hold of the gun.