Photos & Story
by R.K. Campbell
Contributing Editor

I have been accused of walking a different path to the beat of a different drummer. I like handguns that were not the most popular in their day, and I sometimes find myself in arguments as to the relative merits of one or the other. Among my favorite types of handguns is the single-action revolver and I appreciate the Bisley versions of the same.

You know what a Bisley is don’t you? It’s the ugly gun. How they shoot is most important, but the history is interesting. During the heyday of the single-action revolver, Olympic pistol shooting events were popular, especially at the Bisley range in England. The Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolver was not as popular as the light, lovely and well balanced Smith & Wesson break-tops. I would have much preferred the heavy duty Colt and its powerful .45 caliber chambering on the frontier, but the Smith & Wesson was very popular in competition.

Colt set out to introduce a revolver that would be well suited to target shooting. Much that is of value today came out of the Bisley shooting matches, including the popular Patridge sight. Colt paid attention to what shooters were clamoring for.

The SAA grip frame is pleasant to use and fire, featuring a plow handle that rolls in the hand in recoil. That’s fine for all around use, but in timed events and target shooting, a minimum of motion and smooth cocking of the hammer is needed. Target grade ammunition is of a lower power than service ammunition and very consistent. The shooter had to be consistent as well.

The Bisley version of the Colt SAA was well suited to the course of fire of the day. The revolver featured a shortened hammer reach, achieved in part by lowering the hammer and designing a low, wide hammer spur. This hammer is quite squat and works well in conjunction with the Bisley grip. The hammer spur was sharply checkered as well, aiding in keeping purchase during cocking.

The butt shape of the revolver is considerably changed from the Colt SAA. The butt frame of the Bisley attaches to the frame or receiver at a higher point than the standard SAA. This makes for a higher grip and lowers the height of the bore above the hand. The Bisley is among a very few revolvers with a bore axis comparable to some semi-auto pistols. This is a considerable improvement in diminishing the leverage for muzzle flip.

An advantage of the Bisley shape is that even those with large hands can get all of their fingers on the Bisley grip frame, while the small finger often hangs off the end of the SAA grip. Overall the Bisley was an improvement over the SAA in many ways. Total Bisley production was about 45,000, and all of these were manufactured from 1894 to 1915. The Flat Top version featured target sights, but this is a true rarity, with perhaps 1,000 manufactured.

Historically Correct
At one time, the Bisley was not popular among collectors but now has become hard to find and, like all old Colts, the value is steadily increasing. But Uberti (17603 Indian Head Hwy., Dept. GWK, Accokeek, MD 20607; phone: 301-283-6981; on-line: www.ubertiUSA.com), the well known Italian maker of reproduction revolvers, has introduced a modern replica of the Colt Bisley. The revolver is historically correct in every way, and a fine example of the gunmaker’s art. It is available as the Cattleman SA Bisley in .45 Colt and .357 Magnum, in a choice of three barrel lengths: 4&Mac186;-inch, 5&Mac251;-inch and 7&Mac251;-inch.

Truth be told, the Uberti is probably made of better material than Colt had to work with in 1894. At the very least, the Uberti has the advantage of modern production methods. Since I wished to own an example of the Bisley in period form, and originals are well out of my reach, I focused on Uberti’s Bisley. The forged 4&Mac186;-inch barreled Bisley seemed to meet my criteria for an all around handgun. It is powerful, light and handy enough, and by reputation should be as accurate as any of the other single-actions that have crossed my path.

Photographs do not prepare you to actually handle one of these revolvers. I have fired the Ruger Bisley on several occasions, and the fit of the frame to the grip and the shape of the hammer all conspire to make for a good shooting handgun. Still, the Ruger grip is not quite in the same category with the original Bisley. The Bisley is not clumsy; it is elegant in the hand. I enjoy the way the grip feels and find it quite comfortable when firing moderate to heavy loads. Upon examining my new Uberti Bisley, I found the fit and finish excellent. The blue is very nice, deep blue and the color case-hardening acceptable. The fit of the grips to the grip frame is very nice, with no overlaps and good fitting in all regards. The checkering of the hammer spur is not only correct but pleasing to use. Overall we have a good combination, a revolver with historical significance but one that can be used with pride on its own merits.

Regulating Sights
When firing a single-action revolver with fixed sights, all we can hope for is to regulate the sights for a single load at a reasonable distance. After experimenting with numerous loads with bullet weights from 165 to 300 grains, I have managed to regulate my revolver well, making it a dangerous proposition for small to medium edible game to fall within my sights to about 35 yards. Remember, once you have chosen the load you wish to use, the sights can be modified to keep that load on the point of aim. You may experiment with different loads until you find one that shoots closest to the point of aim. This can be expensive if you use factory ammunition, but is no mean trick for the handloader.

Since Black Hills produces affordable, accurate ammunition, I regulated my Bisley for the same. The Bisley strikes about an inch high at 15 yards and dead on at 25 yards with these loads. The 185-grain SWC load that break about 700 feet-per-second (fps) are fine for my daughter to fire casually but strike three inches low at 15 yards. The front sight is tall enough that it can be sanded down to bring the point of impact higher. However, it is best to experiment with other loads before permanently altering the sights. The Black Hills load proved accurate enough, producing a neat 2&Mac251;-inch cluster at 25 yards. It burns clean and performs well.

Trigger compression of the Bisley plays a part in good accuracy. The trigger breaks cleanly at about four pounds. There are simple means of making a single-action trigger even lighter, but the factory trigger works for me. With other family members using my single-action revolvers, including my growing daughter, I find that the factory pull weight is well suited to both the novice and the experienced shot.

After packing the Bisley on various woods jaunts and finding it good, I worked up a number of hand loads that have given good results. The perfectly charming RCBS Cowboy Dies have been put to good use. These dies are a mix of gun barrel blue and brass, made up specifically for cowboy shooters. I have always enjoyed good rapport with RCBS and I will be bragging on these dies for some time. Cowboy shooting is supposed to be enjoyable and these dies simply add to that enjoyment.

Handloads
I discovered the Hornady cowboy bullet gives fine results at moderate velocity. This swaged bullet features powdered lube and a relatively soft alloy that really grips the bore. If you have a well worn .45 or the more common problem of barrel throats that do not match the bore diameter, hard cast bullets cannot give good accuracy. A softer bullet closer to the original type will often slug up and give acceptable results. This is the niche the Hornady bullet fills, and it is acceptable for any shooting chore linked to cowboy action. I have enjoyed this bullet very much. Accuracy is good, with groups in the 2&Mac251;-inch range at 750 fps. The preferred powder is Hodgdon’s Titegroup, a clean-burning, economical powder with many good attributes.

As a general purpose load for use in the wild, I elected to produce a load with greater thump than the 750 fps cowboy loads. Moving to the Oregon Trail 250-grain cast bullet, I worked up a load using Hodgdon’s HS 7. These revolvers will not take the pounding a modern heavy revolver will, but they are surprisingly stout. At moderate range, a 250-grain flat point bullet will do the work of a Magnum if driven to adequate velocity. Adequate was 950 fps, with plenty of accuracy. The Bisley grip is quite comfortable with this load, although I use it sparingly.

I also attempted to work up a good jacketed bullet load in the spirit of experimentation. The Sierra 240-grain JHC proved very accurate, turning in a surprising 2-inch 25-yard group. At 860 fps over HS 7, this bullet is not likely to expand, but accuracy is good.

Overall, my experience with the Bisley is positive. Here is an accurate reproduction of a rare pistol that gives good service, good accuracy, and more than a little pride of ownership. I like mine very much. After 500 rounds, the only problem encountered is minor. The large action screw just in front of the union of the grip frame and receiver worked loose and protruded from the frame. I set it back in place and resumed shooting. I like the Bisley, and intend to add it to my modest collection of cowboy shooters. It will fit any holster the SAA finds a home in and offers good accuracy. If you are looking for a fast draw handgun, perhaps the Bisley is not for you but it just may be the most accurate of single actions.

An Alternative
I have also tested a bird’s-head version of the SAA from Uberti. This is a modern pistol that bears no relation to any historical piece. The Lightning double-actions featured a bird’s-head grip but not the SAA. Overall, the handling is different from the SAA—more so than the Bisley.

The pistol seems to offer more muzzle flip, but on the other hand the bird’s-head grip really packs your fist right. I found that I could draw and manipulate the pistol quickly, making rapid first shots and repeat hits in good fashion. I prefer the SAA for general use, but the bird’s-head offers an option for many hand sizes.

The single-action is carried for personal defense by more shooters than I care to admit, and this would be a good choice in that arena. Laugh, if you will, but the .44-40 is a far more effective cartridge than the 9mm, thank you. I like the bird’s-head gun. But I kept the Bisley! As for accuracy, the revolver was probably more accurate than I could hold. I was acclimating to the grip style, but just the same I was able to place five Black Hills .44-40 rounds into 3 inches at 25 yards. Overall, a pleasing variation on the single action theme!