Hi all. Been lurking here off and on for a while. Vance in AK mentioned to me on another board that I should post over here. So, here I am, another Alaskan. He said some of you may want to drool over my new toy.


Here is the new BisHunter 45 Colt project. The gun is a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter Bisley 45 Colt. I just got my hands on it and haven't even shot it yet

It's one of 279 limited production 45 Colt SBH Bisley Hunters. They made 603 with the regular SBH grip frame. Bore slugs at .451, throats are tight at .451 as well. I'll shoot it and then probably have the throats reamed to .4525 and try it with and without a Belt Mountain base pin and see how that works out.

I just got the scope today. Weaver 2x28 Classic. I think it was made for this gun. Size is just right. Fits between the sites perfect and only weighs 6 ozs. ER is excellent. According to info I could find, guys are saying this scope can handle lots of heavy recoil. Weaver says it was made to handle 1000's of 454 rounds. I'll see how it works out with the full house 45 Colt loads. The tube is one solid piece, optics are Japanese, scope says made in Japan. I wonder who makes the optics for Weaver. I wish Leupold or Burris made a 2x28, all they make is 2x20. I figure the 28mm will gather more light. Not interested in a variable 32mm 12oz scope. It seems you have to screw the rear site all the way down for them to fit. I hope to get it dialed in with the scope and sites and then I can pull the scope if I want and be good to go.

Mould is a custom LBT, 350gr with an 80% metplat. I named it the Hammer. I just started casting and haven't even been able to seat any gas checks or lube any yet. I do have 9 though left from the ones the guy sent me when I bought the mould from him. I've shot a few from the 4" Redhawk. So at least a I have a few to send down range on the next warm day! It's 30 below zero outside as I type this.

I've been toying with handgun hunting but never got really serious. I think this spring for blackies and next fall for moose I need to get serious, now that I have a BisHunter.

As always, I'm open to input and suggestions in getting this thing lined out. I've never scoped a handgun before.

I'm also looking for a holster and input. Probably a chest carry rig. Not interested in a nylon bag or a bulky leather bag either. At this point I'm leaning toward the Galco Kodiak Hunter or something similar in a custom job.

The parts...


Slap it on just to see how it fits and check the ER! Perfect fit.


The Hammer LBT Mould


The 350gr Hammer next to a 360gr CastPerformace WLN.

A 28mm may gather more light but your eye will never know it. The human eye pupil maxes out at 5mm. The accepted formula for calculating the maximum usable objective for power is to multiply the X's of the scope time 5 (5mm) which reveals that a 2x scope with a 10mm objective will transmit the same amount of light to the retina as a 20mm, 28mm or 32mm. That is why there are not many 2x scopes with large objectives.

Nice gun, I have that same model in 41 Mag.

Welcome to Handgun Hunter! The folks here will gladly help you spend your money.
Those are great pistols. I sold my 45 Long Colt Bisley and got the regular grip Black Hawk Hunter in 45 LC. I have the Bisley in a 41 Mag.
I really like the way mine shoots. I'm shooting a 300grn Flat Nose Gas Check bullet by BearTooth bullets with H110 powder. I have tried some similiar to your cast bullet by Penn Bullets called the Hammerhead in 350 grn. They did'nt shoot as well as the 300grn so I stuck with the lighter bullet for my Oklahoma Whitetail and pigs.
I have a Simmons 2x6 on mine and it has lasted 4 years with a lot of rounds through it. My 41 Mag is going to get a 2x or 4x scope for where I want to hunt with it.
Good luck with your casting and hunting with the Ruger.
You need a indoor range with that kind of weather!

Mike

Welcome aboard.
Nice looking set-up.
Lots of knowledge and information here. People are very willing to share their experiences.

Hey where did you get the mould?

Welcome to HH.

Gary: I bought the mould from a guy at CastBoolits forums. It is an LBT mould. He had it made to by Veral Smith. http://www.lbtmoulds.com/ He's probably still got the cherry.

s4s4u, Ya, I,m aware of exit pupil size when it comes to light. 7mm for us humans until we get to be about my age then it's closer to 5mm. But, a larger exit it pupil also gives an advantage of being easier to get the image where you can see it when you raise the gun. Also, according to all the scope specs, this one has more eye relief than the others and since the scope mounts further forward on the SBH I figured it may make a difference. One problem I have here in Fairbanks is that local shopping is limited so I am not able to go look through and compare a bunch of scopes. In fact I could not fine ONE handgun scope in town! If I could compare the 2x20 Luepy or Burris side by side with this one I may have made a different choice. But, all I can go by is published specs and hope I like it when it shows up.

Gotta love them hunting Rugers! Welcome to HH

Hey Snyd!

Glad you decided to join the board. You may be fairly new to handgun hunting, but you have a wealth of hunting experience that I have really benefitted from on the Alaska forums, & I think others here will as well. Weather's crummy here as well while not as cold. I was hoping to get out to shoot my new 480 yesterday, but it was about *12 (above), blowing pretty hard, snowing, & visiblity was poor so I wimped out.
I think you'll like the Weaver. I had their variable on my Encore pistol & never a hickup. As clear & sharp as anything else I've tried.

So guys, what are you using for holsters for your SBH Hunters???
I know Gary & quite a few others shoot them.

Welcome to HH!! Several .45 Colt shooters on here to help you 'test' your new Ruger.

For the Ruger, I use Pistol Packaging. It's a bandoleer style and not a true cross chest.There's an outfit in Alaska,Diamond D, that makes custom cross chest holsters called 'Guide's Choice'. Says he'll make one to fit.

Because my SBH Hunter wears a scope, I've not used a holster. I will at times stuff it in my pack in a Boyt rug. Of the holsters I've seen, I would go with the pistol packaging holster.

Snyd, you are going to love that sixgun, with the Bisley grip frame you should be able to "enjoy" all the recoil you can stand with that bigger hammer you have. Usually those slugs need to run pretty fast to shoot well but at moose distance I think you will like it a lot.
I used a weaver scope on my FA 475 in Africa, it held up very well & I pounded a lot of rounds down the barrel.
If you want the best in custom leather look at Mike Barranti's website, he makes a great chest rig for scoped guns.
This is his chest rig for an iron sighted gun, its called the Northwest Hunter rig.



This is my 10" 44 with a scope on top.



Dick

Welcome to HHM Snyd!
That's a nice hunting rig.

Hi Snyd,

Welcome to HH. I would second the Pistol Packaging rig for a scoped Super Blackhawk as it will protect the scope in the holster. Great looking set up.

Welcome! I also love Weaver optics on the Hunter model Rugers. My .44 Magnum wears a 2X and the .45LC (standard grip Hunter) carries a 4X. Both are loaded heavy (320 in the .44 and 340 in the .45) and full tilt. The optics are working great.

Snyd,

Take a look at and give Dave a call a http://www.diamonddholsters.com, 907-688-0366, Chugiak, Alaska. He make a "Guide's Choice" chest , xdraw rig you may really like. Top notch stuff, great guy to work with, reasonable price for top quality!

Doc

Thanks for the input on the holsters guys. I emailed Dave at Diamond D last week. Haven't heard back from him yet but may just give him a call after the holidays.

I just can't get excited about Pistol Packaging leather bags. I don't really see a need for a "pistol scabbard". I've never had to worry about protecting my scope on my rifles for the last 35 years. At this point I am comparing everything to the Galco Kodiak Hunter, 160 bucks or so. Other than the generic pics I ran across a few others online. The harness system is the same one they use on the Kodiak Holster. I sure would like to see one in person but it ain't gonna happen here in Fairbanks

Snyd, I can tell you that Galco Kodiak is a good rig, my buddy Jeff Hoover used one this fall while elk hunting with me, they are nice. The one you show in the photo is being worn much too low, if you get a sixgun down on your thigh like that you'll be worn out in half a day, I'd be worn out in half an hour!
Hope you find what you're looking for.

Dick

Snyd, I really like the looks (style) of the Galco. Kind of reminds me of some of my old ISPC holsters! The only thing I don't like is the retention strap. Will the gun stay reasonably secure without it (only need it when climbing, alder crawling, etc) or does it need to be on all the time?
I will say that the pistol packaging hasn't interfeered with my Eberlestock Blue Widow pack at all, & it doesn't feel as big as it looks since it's cut to fit the gun (add a leather's thickness to the gun dimensions so to speak), & it's cheaper. I like the look of the Galco better though. I hope you buy one so you can give me a 1st hand report! I love nice leather!

Snyd, the kodiak by galco is a very nice holster, but keep in mine that that the scoped version is made for the S&W X-frame revolvers. It may not fit the blackhawk hunter w/scope. When I first got my BHH I was looking for a holster and really like the kodiak. I called Galco and they said it would not work (scoped model) but that they made an unscoped model for the RBH. This was a few years ago and they might make one now though. Just letting you know what I know so you don't spend alot of money and it not work. At th time (before I knew about pistol packageing) I bought a Hunter Bandolier that is made similar to the kodiak just not as high quality. It has a removeable scope cover. It's what I use with my BHH, but I would suggest pistol packageing first. Just my 2 cent.

Oh, pistol packageing also makes a holster with removable scope cover. When removed, it looks alot like the kodiak.

Thanks for the heads up there KRal. It looks like Galco has two model numbers now for the kodiak hunter. One says it fits 7.5 Blackhawks, Redhawks and Smith N frames.

That pistol packaging one with the removable scope cover looks sort of interesting. How is it set up for carrying? Bandolier, chest rig, cross draw on a belt?

It can be carried belt or bandolier with their bandolier belt. If you combine the holster with an "Apex Hunter harness" it can be carried across the chest. The Apex harness is what I'm using to carry my unscoped FA right now and it's fantastic!!!! It's made by a member here on HHM (Apex Hunter) he has a few post on the subject, with pics.

Thanks for the info on the Kodiak. I haven't checked their site in a while, didn't know they finally came our with one to fit the scoped rugers. I did email them several times about it over the last few years, but don't know if it had anything to do with it....LOL

For me the Bandito was a head ache. I had the 1 w/removable scope cover. It did work though. Reholstering was a bear & I returned it. Damn Ruger for not making more Bisley Hunters in 45 Colt. I've been waiting & I'm envious. I like a Bisley more than my FA. Good luck & welcome

Thanks for the welcome. Here's one on gubroker now. It's not mine and I don't know anything about the seller. Just giving you a heads up. Shttp://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=150769847

SWEET HUNTING RIG! Another one to add to my ever growing wish list.