Took my Lipseys special to the range today for the first time. I had decided to try two loads with it. The 1st a 7 grain of Unique with a 250 gr SWC. The 2nd is Skeeter Skeltons old 7 1/2 grs of unique under a 429421 (240 gr SWC).
What a great surprise, Skeeters old load is a perfect load right from the start for this gun. I'll chrony this load myself later, but I've been told it's around 950 fps. That's just about perfect for my use. Recoil in with the 4 5/8 bbl was moderate, but I'm used to the 44 mag and it felt mild to me. Very, very accurate as well.
I discounted the four fliers even though they're 2 1/2 ", the other six went into one 1" hole, for me that's damn accurate. Man do I love this gun!
Not the Bisley, but I have the flat top too, same length. My latest is 8.0 gr Unique with my 200 gr 44 WCF bullets, coated RNFP. Yeah, it shoots like a low end Magnum, which I like. I believe I might get a broader forcing cone angle done for the oversize bullets (.430). The throats are too tight even for jacketed at .429, so that will get attention too. Nice gun, but the standard grip is a bit short even for my small hands. I understand the affection for the Bisley from a shooting rather than eye appeal standpoint.
Ruger's CS is great, but their online store has the slowest shipping of any online service I have ever used. Once again I ordered grips or a holster from them, and it becomes a black hole, while CS has no clue when it will ship. I am hoping to change the standard black grips to one of their logo offerings in nice wood. I know Lipsey's Bisley comes with nice wooden grips.
My only problem is that I have 2: a Lipsey 44 Special and an original 44 Magnum Blackhawk. I have to read EVERY post to see what people are talking about.
Mine's a model 5236 "Flat top Bisely .44 special". From what lipseys has said, It's a recreation of the Keith #5, that he used to develop the 44 mag. It utilizes the smaller "old style" black hawk frame" with micro sights.
It feels like a SAA in your hand, but it's heavier.
Ruger has two catalog Flat tops, models 5232 and 5233 with the conventional "plow handles". The bisely grip style seems to give my hand a little more purchase for control with the heavier bullets. I'm also wondering what other little changes Lipseys had Ruger incorporate in to this gun, as it shoots my home cast 429421's so well. I size them to .430. Love the flat trigger also, easy reach for follow up shots.
The two models I mentioned, 5232 and 5233 were put into regular production because of the Lipseys special that Bear Bio showed us . They were such a hit that Ruger decided to put them into regular production. For years people have been taking old model 357 Blackhawks and converting to 44 special. My 44 mag Super Blackhawk feels cumbersome compared to any "flat top". All the new model Blackhawks except for the "flat tops" share the same frame size with the "Super"
With heavy 44 Special loads, the Bisley model has much less recoil than the standard grip. Very comfortable in comparison.
The Flat Top versions use a steel Micro type sight. The other frames have "ears" on them to protect the adjustable sights. There are old and new flat top frames.
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