Henry Rifle Forums

Today I took 3 45 colt pistols to the range to test some loads. My range trip was just not very good. I shot my Ruger 45 colt with a Bisley grip, my unfired Uberti El Patron that has a tuned action and the 1860 Uberti conversion. My targets were terrible and the loads i had were ok but not near as good as the last ones. I also shot some 255 gr with 6.5gr of Red dot. Of all of thes pistols I must say for me the Bisley Ruger is the most comfortable to shoot. You know I really do like single actions but I just am not a very good shooter with them That knuckle bust a guy gets with the trigger guard just isnt my cup of tea. I find that when it comes to pistols I shoot double actions and certain autos better. I dont necessarily like them better but I do shoot them better. This being said at 25 yards when I was shooting steel. I shot the steel better than paper. YMMV

Don't feel bad. I can't hardly even hit steel anymore with my Ruger New Model Blackhawk in 45 Colt. My most accurate load, off the bags, is 9.0 grains of Unique behind my 255 gr, Keith style WFN cast bullet at 25 yards. Past that and my eyes fool me and hand shakes take over. I don't get knuckle bust but heavy recoilers sure play havoc on my arthritis. My 44 magnum doesn't get shot to much.

Al... a target pic would have helped to show us what the issues might be. Were your shots going off windage,elevation or just everywhere?
With SA revolvers the shape and type of grip can cause windage issues when you pull the trigger if it doesn't fit your hand well.
Most times my first shots will be off to the right,shooting left handed, until I settle down.
I tend to shoot the Bisley type grip well especially with hotter loads.

Sometimes when shooting a revolver in DA mode you will shoot it better staging the trigger since pulling the trigger back just at the edge
of trigger break plants the grip back in your hand helping steady the revolver. That is the case with my Ruger Alaskan. Hard to do that with a SA revolver with light trigger.

Yes could be the load you were shooting. I found that sweet spot for my .44 Special load with the Ruger .44 Bisley FT.

Some days you just shoot better than others due to weather conditions or just being anxious to shoot again.

Keep at it! Oh and a "me too" at shooting objects better than a target paper!

Forty the load I was testing was 5.8gr of red dot and the 200 grain bullets. I finally got my 200 gr bullets from MC. My 1860 conversion just plain shoots high and slightly left. I alway use a 6 oclock hold. I tried these 200 gr loads in all of the pistols. The Uberti shoots low with the 200. Low and slightly right. With 250gr it shoots low but not as low. All of my 250 gr loads had the 6.5 charge. The Ruger has adjustable sights so I got it to shoot right on. After not shooting well off hand I took out something from my car and used it for a rest on the roof. When doing that I got some good groups from the bisley. The 250gr in the bisley shoot well. My target was set at 15 yards. When I finally got done with paper I went to shoot the steel at 25 yards. My results there were much better. I shot all three shooting best with the Bisley and poorest with the 1860. I ran out of 200 gr for it and was shooting the 250gr. It shoots those real high.

Al, one way to beat that knuckle busting is to use a pinkie under grip, even with the Bisley, but especially with the plow handles. I use a pinkie under on the most notorious knuckle buster of them all, the Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 with the squared off dragoon trigger guard and can shoot hot 44 mag loads with no worries. I once had the same gun with the shorter 5 1/2" barrel that would roll so bad in my hand that the hammer spur would come back and gouge and cut the back of my hand. The pinkie under solved that problem, too.

I've also found the pinky under grip on a single action improves accuracy, since it forces you to grip the same way for every shot and that, in turn, puts your trigger finger in the same position, too. It's a trick I picked up from the cowboy action shooters.

Lastly, single actions have a slow lock time, via that long hammer fall. Good follow though is critical for accuracy. I find that regular dry fire practice, emphasizing this point, really helps.

Anyway, just sharing some single action shooting tricks I've learned along the way. Not saying it's the right way or the only way, so feel free to use whatever works for you.

Thanks for that summary NCG! I don't have a hard kicker in SA, only a BH .357/6.5" barrel. But, that is good info to have if/when I do shot one.

The Ruger BH in 357 is a great SA. Never had one that wasn't a good shooter.

I would settle for a bad day at the range. I haven’t been to the range in months.

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:24 am

I would settle for a bad day at the range. I haven’t been to the range in months.

Sir Henry....sounds like you need a good dose of "Saloon" time. One plane ticket to Va. for a weekend shoot would fix you right up.
But there is that darn Convid risk on the trip dang it!
Hang in there and hopefully you can get some shooting in.

Those 1860 type black powder revolvers do tend to shoot high I have noticed as well. And great info on gripping the revolver NCG!