Anyone who likes their.22 or .32 Ruger Bisley's please report it here?
- Thread starter boa2
- Start date
I have owned quite a few .22 handguns over the years. I don't even know how many I own right now. Off the top of my head I own two Ruger autoloaders, two S&W Model 17s and one 617. I own some kind of High Standard, I own a Ruger Single Six, a Ruger Bearcat, and a Bisley. I have shot them all extensively. Thousands of rounds each on top of thousands of rounds fired out of ones I no longer own.
If I was going to buy a new .22 handgun as my one and only it would be the Ruger Bisley.
I can't give you a good reason why. That is just my overall impression of it.
Several years ago, I owned a Single Six that had passed through at least three owners. I had sent it back to the factory twice myself. It was ready for mothballs and I needed a new one. I mentioned on an on-line gun forum that I would like to buy a new Ruger Single Six but I wanted one that was stainless, had adjustable sights, and had a 4" barrel. This is a combination that Ruger did not offer as a standard product: but I had been wishing for one for years. Well, ask and ye shall receive: someone answered my post and told me that Ruger was offering this exact gun and it was being sold through only one wholesaler: I think they were called Lipseys. Anyway, here was the gun that I had been talking about for years. This was my idea of the perfect .22 handgun. So of course, the next morning found me at my local gun shop ordering one. When it came in and I went to pick it up, I happened to look in the display case and saw a Bisley in .22LR. I asked to see it and play with it. It turned out that I couldn't leave the store without it. I ended up buying both guns and the only reason I bought the Single Six was because I special ordered it. Put another way, I went to the store to buy the .22 handgun of my dreams and found out that it paled in comparison to the Bisley that I had never seen before.
If I was going to buy a new .22 handgun as my one and only it would be the Ruger Bisley.
I can't give you a good reason why. That is just my overall impression of it.
Several years ago, I owned a Single Six that had passed through at least three owners. I had sent it back to the factory twice myself. It was ready for mothballs and I needed a new one. I mentioned on an on-line gun forum that I would like to buy a new Ruger Single Six but I wanted one that was stainless, had adjustable sights, and had a 4" barrel. This is a combination that Ruger did not offer as a standard product: but I had been wishing for one for years. Well, ask and ye shall receive: someone answered my post and told me that Ruger was offering this exact gun and it was being sold through only one wholesaler: I think they were called Lipseys. Anyway, here was the gun that I had been talking about for years. This was my idea of the perfect .22 handgun. So of course, the next morning found me at my local gun shop ordering one. When it came in and I went to pick it up, I happened to look in the display case and saw a Bisley in .22LR. I asked to see it and play with it. It turned out that I couldn't leave the store without it. I ended up buying both guns and the only reason I bought the Single Six was because I special ordered it. Put another way, I went to the store to buy the .22 handgun of my dreams and found out that it paled in comparison to the Bisley that I had never seen before.
Ruger .22 or .32 Bisley?
444:
1)Thanks, for your excellent response! I enjoyed it very much!
2)I have never owned any single action revolvers before! However, I ran accross two NIB condition Ruger Bisley's(One is a .22 and the other is a .32 magnum!)and I found them to be interesting! I'm torn between whether or not to buy either(Or maybe both, of these Bisley's?)since I don't know much(Yet!)about these guns(Or, if I would(Or, could?)like a single action, revolver?)? So, my objective, in this thread, is to receive all of the input(Regarding anything about these Bisley's("Positive" or "Negative"?)that I can, as an aid to learning everything, about these guns(As well as to help me in deciding to go for one or both of them?)?
3)Please bring in some more comment's? Thanks!
444:
1)Thanks, for your excellent response! I enjoyed it very much!
2)I have never owned any single action revolvers before! However, I ran accross two NIB condition Ruger Bisley's(One is a .22 and the other is a .32 magnum!)and I found them to be interesting! I'm torn between whether or not to buy either(Or maybe both, of these Bisley's?)since I don't know much(Yet!)about these guns(Or, if I would(Or, could?)like a single action, revolver?)? So, my objective, in this thread, is to receive all of the input(Regarding anything about these Bisley's("Positive" or "Negative"?)that I can, as an aid to learning everything, about these guns(As well as to help me in deciding to go for one or both of them?)?
3)Please bring in some more comment's? Thanks!
neal bloom
New member
My Bisley .22 was a disappointment out of the box. It's accuracy was deplorable. After a couple range sessions, I noticed that lead was being shaved and deposited on the cylinder and the frame. It seemed to me that the cylinder was wobbly when the hammer was pulled back. After doing some research on this forum and others, I bought a Belt Mountain base pin and installed it. Wow! What a difference! The Bisley is now very accurate. In my opinion it is a good gun.
neal bloom:
1)Can you explain what the belt mountain base pin is? And, where to obtain it?
2)Have you heard of your problem with your .22 Bisley, happening very frequently on the Ruger Bisley's?
3)How expensive was the new belt mountain base pin?
4)Did you have any other defects(Or, problems?)with your Bisley .22?
1)Can you explain what the belt mountain base pin is? And, where to obtain it?
2)Have you heard of your problem with your .22 Bisley, happening very frequently on the Ruger Bisley's?
3)How expensive was the new belt mountain base pin?
4)Did you have any other defects(Or, problems?)with your Bisley .22?
Robby from Long Island
New member
When the Bisley's first came out, I bought their .22. I couldn't have been more pleased.
I found the action to be very smooth. Accuracy was excellent. As it turned out, I then proceeded to buy Bisley's in .357, .44 mag and .45 LC.
To my way of thinking, the Bisley grip is much more comfortable than the standard Blackhawk grip.
My only regret is, that I wasn't able to buy one in .32 magnum, as that would have completed my collection of Bisley's.
Safe shooting.
I found the action to be very smooth. Accuracy was excellent. As it turned out, I then proceeded to buy Bisley's in .357, .44 mag and .45 LC.
To my way of thinking, the Bisley grip is much more comfortable than the standard Blackhawk grip.
My only regret is, that I wasn't able to buy one in .32 magnum, as that would have completed my collection of Bisley's.
Safe shooting.
The base pin in a single action revolver is a pin that the cylinder rotates on. With the Rugers, you press a "button" on the side of the frame, just in front of the cylinder, and pull the base pin out. The Belt Mountain base pin is usually larger in diameter than the factory base pin. It takes the slop out of the cylinder and tightens everything up: hich usually improves accuracy to some extent.
I own a number of Ruger single action revolvers: SBH in .44 mag, BH in .45 Colt, BH in .357, BH in .30 Carbine, and the .22s. I have a Belt Mountain base pin in all the single action/centerfires and I used to have them in my .22s. But, with this latest round of .22s, they not only wern't needed, but they wouldn't even fit. The factory base pin was about as large as would go in.
I have never been diappointed in the accruacy of any of the Ruger revolvers I have bought. But, the base pin was a cheap add-on that I figured wouldn't hurt anything, so I bought them. I don't think they are needed by any means. http://www.beltmountain.com/
I own a number of Ruger single action revolvers: SBH in .44 mag, BH in .45 Colt, BH in .357, BH in .30 Carbine, and the .22s. I have a Belt Mountain base pin in all the single action/centerfires and I used to have them in my .22s. But, with this latest round of .22s, they not only wern't needed, but they wouldn't even fit. The factory base pin was about as large as would go in.
I have never been diappointed in the accruacy of any of the Ruger revolvers I have bought. But, the base pin was a cheap add-on that I figured wouldn't hurt anything, so I bought them. I don't think they are needed by any means. http://www.beltmountain.com/
Bisley .22 & .32?
444:
1)Thanks, I understand now!
2)Do you think that the base pin(In your first Bisley .22)was just undersize in this particular gun(Or, possibly, something the Ruger needed to correct, early on, in the production of these .22 Bisley's?)?
3)Just curious: Of all of your single action Ruger's, which one(Regardless of caliber!)do you like the most? And, which of the new models(1973 and later?)do you think is the most valuable, as a potential, "Collectible"?
4)Then, if I understood you correctly, on your problem .22 Bisley, you were able to wiggle the cylinder from side to side(From day one!)in view of the loose fitting base pin?
Robby from Long Island: Thanks to you also, for your input!
444:
1)Thanks, I understand now!
2)Do you think that the base pin(In your first Bisley .22)was just undersize in this particular gun(Or, possibly, something the Ruger needed to correct, early on, in the production of these .22 Bisley's?)?
3)Just curious: Of all of your single action Ruger's, which one(Regardless of caliber!)do you like the most? And, which of the new models(1973 and later?)do you think is the most valuable, as a potential, "Collectible"?
4)Then, if I understood you correctly, on your problem .22 Bisley, you were able to wiggle the cylinder from side to side(From day one!)in view of the loose fitting base pin?
Robby from Long Island: Thanks to you also, for your input!
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Sir William
New member
I have had a few Ruger single actions and Uberti Bisley 1894s. I like the size of the Ruger best. I also like birdshead grips also. I prefer the overall look of the Uberti Bisley 1894s. I think the 32-20 and 5.5" version is nice. Uberti used to make a flattop target Bisley. IF Ruger would make a Bisley flattop in 32 H&R Magnum, 32 S&W Long and a 32-20, I would buy a pair. 32-20 would not be possible on the medium frame Ruger though. I am waiting to see what develops from the new retro-XR3 frame. I figure Ruger will discontinue the Bisley grip single action. They have a past history of doing odd things.
neal bloom
New member
Boa2,
444 gave a nice explanation of the base pin. I have not personally seen others having this problem with Ruger base pins. If you do some research on this and other forums, you will find some people who recommend changing out the factory base pin. For me it solved a problem with my particular Ruger. If the base pin replacement did not work then I would have sent it back to Ruger. I have only replaced the base pin on the Bisley .22 and not on my Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk.
That is the only problem I have had with the Bisley. Like I said before it is a good gun and everyone in my family likes to shoot it. I would not hesitate to buy another but they are pretty rare in these parts.
Good Luck.
444 gave a nice explanation of the base pin. I have not personally seen others having this problem with Ruger base pins. If you do some research on this and other forums, you will find some people who recommend changing out the factory base pin. For me it solved a problem with my particular Ruger. If the base pin replacement did not work then I would have sent it back to Ruger. I have only replaced the base pin on the Bisley .22 and not on my Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk.
That is the only problem I have had with the Bisley. Like I said before it is a good gun and everyone in my family likes to shoot it. I would not hesitate to buy another but they are pretty rare in these parts.
Good Luck.
With any mechanical design there are certain tolorances built in and guns are no exception. On these single action revolvers, there obviously has to be a certain amount of slop in the base pin or else the cylinder would be frozen in place and not be allowed to rotate. However, the tighter it is, the more accuracy. And the tighter it is, the less tolorent of dirt it will be etc.
In this case I would guess that the hole going through the cylinder has to be within a certain tolerance to pass quality control. And, the base pin has to be within a certain tolerance to be within spec for quality control. If you happen to get a cylinder that has a hole that is at the large end of the tolerance and a base pin that is at the small end of the tolerance, then you might be able to "fine tune" your gun a little by changing out the pin with a bigger one. I would guess that the Belt Mountain pins are probably made to the large end of the tolorance.
This is all just a guess on my part, but I think it makes sense.
I am trying to get you to see that the gun is well made and this is not big deal. It is just an icing on the cake type of thing.
In this case I would guess that the hole going through the cylinder has to be within a certain tolerance to pass quality control. And, the base pin has to be within a certain tolerance to be within spec for quality control. If you happen to get a cylinder that has a hole that is at the large end of the tolerance and a base pin that is at the small end of the tolerance, then you might be able to "fine tune" your gun a little by changing out the pin with a bigger one. I would guess that the Belt Mountain pins are probably made to the large end of the tolorance.
This is all just a guess on my part, but I think it makes sense.
I am trying to get you to see that the gun is well made and this is not big deal. It is just an icing on the cake type of thing.
Ruger Bisley .22 & .32!
1)Yes, it does make sense about the base pin problem, not really being anything other than a potential occurence, whenever the tolerances are out of line(Just enough!)to cause the clearances between the cylinder and base pin, to be loose enough to cause the problem, that you had described!
2)I like the Bisley .32(Model RB32W)with the fixed sights and the unfluted cylinder. Although, I understand this model Bisley, is pretty rare, I would have preferred to have this same revolver in this caliber(.32)with the "Fluted" cylinder, instead(Model RB32A)! This Bisley, is just as rare-(But, I might not ever see the "Available", RB32W, ever again?)!
3)I also like the Bisley .22(Model RB32)with the fixed sights and the "Fluted" cylinder! I think that the fluted cylinder looks nicer than the unfluted cylinder, on the Bisley's!
4)Decisions, Decisions?
1)Yes, it does make sense about the base pin problem, not really being anything other than a potential occurence, whenever the tolerances are out of line(Just enough!)to cause the clearances between the cylinder and base pin, to be loose enough to cause the problem, that you had described!
2)I like the Bisley .32(Model RB32W)with the fixed sights and the unfluted cylinder. Although, I understand this model Bisley, is pretty rare, I would have preferred to have this same revolver in this caliber(.32)with the "Fluted" cylinder, instead(Model RB32A)! This Bisley, is just as rare-(But, I might not ever see the "Available", RB32W, ever again?)!
3)I also like the Bisley .22(Model RB32)with the fixed sights and the "Fluted" cylinder! I think that the fluted cylinder looks nicer than the unfluted cylinder, on the Bisley's!
4)Decisions, Decisions?
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Sir William
New member
I have seen many Ruger single actions benefit from the replacement of their basepins. The 44 Magnums had a bad habit of backing out. I had two 44-40 Vaqueros that backed out. Locking basepins stopped that and improved accuracy. I would replace the factory springs, basepins and install Power Custom free spin pawls in any Ruger single action.
Sir William
New member
Brownells or Midway. The Ruger is certainly a DIY-friendly design. I hear about them being called "grandpas farm truck". I would call them the Plymouth 'Cuda. I have been guilty of hot rodding them both! LOL
