Ruger Bisley good or bad?

[Mule Ear Mortensen]

I want to get a pair of identical revolvers to see how fast I can get at the game. I shoot mismatched guns, gunfighter style, and have heard many posts about one handed shooters liking a bisley grip for hammer reach. Recently I have read some posts about the bisley being passe because the blackhawk hammer has become legal on any revlover grip type.

I would like to hear from those of you that shoot, have shot, and won't shoot the bisley and the reasons for your choices'.
Does it have advantages beyond the lowered hammer. Does it have disadvantages based on the grip shape?

I've handled one and I found it comfortable and the hammer reach much improved for my grip but I have not drawn from leather, aquired the target and broke a shot with one.

Thanks in advance!

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I have a Bisely New Vaquero in 45LC and really like it.  Its partner is at my FFL doing the 10 days "cooling off" (California you know) period before I can take it home.  I then will have a pair for CAS.  I shoot one handed and like the feel of the revolver in my hand.  By the way I shoot Silver Senior so I am not the fastest shooter in the world.

[Danny Bear Claw]

I'm a two handed shooter.  I like to wrap my pinky under the grip.  It is difficult to do that with the older, larger Ruger Vaquero Bisley grip frame.  Now if you buy one of the newer Bisley Vaqueros, I suspect it would be easier to shoot one handed.  The older, larger model is easier to shoot one handed than say a standard "plow handled" Vaquero because of the lower hammer.  The original Bisley grip frame, as on the Colt Bisley, was actually designed for one handed shooting to make it easier for American shooters to more easily compete in European shooting venues which were one handed shooting matches.  We're talking about the shooting competitions held at Bisley Field in England.  (Hence the name Colt "Bisley").
Now the Bisley grip frame on the Ruger Vaquero Bisley is quite different than that of the Colt Bisley.  A side by side comparison will easily show the difference.  The Colt Bisley frame is narrower and has a more downward angle to it.  The Ruger Vaquero Bisley grip frame is like the grip frame of an Elmer Kieth #5 revolver but it still works well as a one-handed shooter.  It works better at controlling recoil too, which is pretty much what old Elmer had in mind when he designed it that way.
My personal Ruger Bisley Vaquero is the blue/cc finished version with the 5.5 inch barrel in caliber 45 Colt.

[John Smith]

I believe the grip frame on both the "old" and "new" Ruger Bisleys are the same size.

[Danny Bear Claw]

Mr. Smith may be correct.  I've never actually seen a new model Bisley Vaquero.   

[Stu Kettle]

I bought Bisleys because I thought they would be just the ticket for gunfighter style one-handed shooting.  I made this decision after trying them on in he store, having never shot one.  Turns out that I love them for two-handed shooting, but prefer the plow handle grips & the pincky underneath method for one handed shooting.  The moral of this story is, you should shoot both before you choose, or buy both & then decide how you will shoot each.

[Mule Ear Mortensen]

I bought Bisleys because I thought they would be just the ticket for gunfighter style one-handed shooting.  I made this decision after trying them on in he store, having never shot one.  Turns out that I love them for two-handed shooting, but prefer the plow handle grips & the pincky underneath method for one handed shooting.  The moral of this story is, you should shoot both before you choose, or buy both & then decide how you will shoot each.

Yes, that is kind of why I'm asking for all this info.  
But there are worse things, I suppose, then having plenty of options when you step up to the stage...

Pay Dirt
Yeah, a big part of a season can pass before you can start practicing with a new brace of guns in this %&$@ State!

[Camille Eonich]

I bought Bisley's for when I shoot double duelist but prefer my plow handles for two handed.

[Longshot Lil]

I'm just getting started in CAS, so I don't know yet if I'm a one handed or two handed shooter, don't even have my rig (it's being made now) or my second gun (it's in layaway and coming home soon).

A piece of advice given to me by another lady shooter was "get whatever feels good in your hand".  I held several revolvers and kept coming back to the Bisley Vaquero, so it is my gun of choice.  My husband liked the feel of the Blackhawk in his hand and that is what he chose for his guns.

The thumb on my right hand is about a 1/4" shorter due to a childhood (stupid) accident.  I like that I can cock the gun with one hand if I need to because the hammer is lower, and I like the longer grip, it just feels more secure in my smaller hands.  It just "felt right".

So my advice is handle a lot of guns, even if you don't get to shoot them, take note of how each feels in your hand, and what "feels right" to YOU.

Hope this helps!  ~Lil

[Mule Ear Mortensen]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and opinions!

I've not been able to find anyone at my club with one to shoot but from holding them (in the shop) I think that it is a low risk option to buy them and see how I might be able to employ them.

I'm gonna have to hurry or the summer will be near gone before the second one clears the CA waiting periods.