Lipsey’s and Ruger have done it again. This time they have unbridled a new, must-have revolver on the market just before Christmas. This shrewd marketing plan just eliminated the need of my wife having to ask me what I want for Christmas. I just got it! You know you have knowledgeable gun folks working together when a gun like this comes to be. They have combined the nostalgia of the Ruger Blackhawk in the sought-after Flattop frame with a cartridge, the 41 Magnum, that has somewhat of a cult following. Those combinations alone are sure to sell every gun made and leave those who dilly dally on the gun buying fence to later lament that they really messed up! On top of that, these revolvers have Ruger’s excellent Bisley grip frame, one of my personal favorites that is sure to be well received by hunters and shooters alike. I doubt you will see many of these 41 Magnum Bisley Flattops on the used gun market in coming years. For the uninitiated, this grip design is superb for firing any cartridge that produces recoil. While the traditional plow handle grip of the single-action revolver tends to roll in the hand after the hammer strikes the primer, which is fine for moderate loads, the straight, long back of Ruger’s Bisley grip frame distributes the force of heavy recoil into the palm of the hand, making it much more manageable and virtually painless. Look at the design of various single-action revolvers offered today that are chambered in the heavier calibers from manufacturers and gunsmiths like Bowen, BFR, Freedom Arms, Linebaugh, Reeder, RW Grip Frames, and the like and you will see that the Ruger Bisley or a similar grip frame style is prevalent. Long story short, if there is recoil involved Ruger’s Bisley is one of the best ways to go, in my opinion.
The 41 Magnum came about after some serious negotiations and influence by gun writing legends Bill Jordan and Elmer Keith. The famous duo leaned on industry icons like Smith & Wesson, Remington and Norma to produce a gun and cartridge that filled the gap between the 357 and 44 Magnums. Skeeter Skelton also lobbied on the 41’s behalf. Its main purpose was to function as a law enforcement sidearm, but it soon found favor with outdoorsmen as well. In the end, the 41 developed a devout following that continues to this day, and the rest, as they say, is history.
While its police function waned, a good number of shooters and sportsmen kept the 41 Maggie alive and pined for additional good sixguns chambered in the cartridge. Over the years we have seen the occasional offering of revolvers in 41, but it’s been hit and miss at best. Currently there are only a handful of 41’s available, with Ruger’s Blackhawk and this new Bisley Flattop being among them.
The Flattop Blackhawk (left) differs from the standard Blackhawk(right) in that the standard model has the rear sight protective “ears” machined in the top strap of the frame.
The 41 Magnum is a flat-shooting cartridge that can easily be propelled from moderate to smoking velocities. The ten loads I fired through this gun ranged from 170 to 300 grains in bullet weights and listed velocities varied from 1100 to 1650 feet per second. This makes the 41 Magnum a versatile cartridge. Additional use of 41 Special ammo, like those available from HSM, allows for some lighter recoiling options and even more flexibility.
Ruger Bisley 41 Magnum shown in Stainless model
On the matter of recoil, just what does the 41 Magnum feel like? As a sort of go-by, I like to reference a good book titled, Ammo & Ballistics 5, by Bob Forker that contains Relative Recoil Factor (RRF). The book explains that this number is based on the muzzle momentum of the bullet and the expelled powder gas for a typical loading. I’m not certain I know exactly what that means, but here’s how I use the information. For a cartridge I have not shot, or to provide an example to a shooter who is new to a cartridge, I look at the RRF of one I (or they) do have experience with to get a perspective on just what the recoil of said round might feel like. For example, the RFF of the 357 Magnum is 0.89. The 44 Magnum’s RFF comes in at 1.45. Our subject at hand, the 41 Remington Magnum is 1.23, right where one would expect, between the other two classic cartridges. Having said that, the recoil with all the ammunition tested in this revolver is quite manageable. My friend Paul Evans had his standard Blackhawk in 41 with a 4 5/8-inch barrel at the range and we did a recoil comparison firing it and the Bisley with the same load. Felt recoil was a bit more notable in his gun, as one would expect.
The author is impressed with this revolver’s looks, function and accuracy. He is also a fan of the 41 Magnum; it’s definitely a keeper.
This mid-sized frame requires a shorter cylinder so there will be a few of the long, heavy bullets that won’t work in this gun because they will protrude out of the cylinder face. Not to worry, there are plenty of other good options for running your 41 Mag. This gun weighs in at 40 ounces, or just 2.5 pounds depending on which unit of measurement you prefer. It’s easy packing, for sure.
So, what is a “Flattop” one might ask. Lord knows you can read an assortment of answers on social media. Most are correct, and some I’ve seen are a bit off target, so to speak! The simple truth is that the top strap on the original Ruger Blackhawk was flat. Later versions incorporated a small barrier or “ears” if you will, that rises on each side of the rear sight to offer additional protection. Once this became the norm, the original guns came to forever be known at the “Flat Top or Flattop.” They also instantly became collectors’ items because of that, their “old model” or “three-screw” action that required them to be carried like a Colt Single Action Army (SAA) with an empty chamber under the hammer and the Colt SAA-style (XR3) grip frame. In depth explanations of these models and their characteristics could easily entail a lengthy article of its own!
A variety of quality ammunition was used in the review, the sixgun shot them all well.
The serrated ramp front sight is pinned, meaning it can be swapped out with a sight of a different height or of another preferred configuration. This sight showed clear and bold for my eyes, but I’ll admit there are times when I like a little color (red, orange, green) or a nice gold bead. For me this gun originally shot low, and I had to raise the rear sight quite a bit, something I would rather not do. For hard field use I prefer the rear sight on a handgun to be screwed down as close to the frame as possible. A shorter front blade from my friend, Fermin Garza, (fermincgarza.com) who manufactures his Custom Pin in Blade will get this gun zeroed and allow me to get that rear sight back down where I want it. Fermin is in the process of moving his shop, but he is taking orders by phone at (361) 960-3697.
I was fortunate to get a good assortment of quality ammunition on short notice to run through this 41. Not surprisingly, they all shot well which is a testament to these ammunition manufacturers and the inherent Ruger Flattop Bisley. The following chart depicts what I was able to do while seated and wresting my hands on a small bag at 25 yards. My targets were 1.5-inch circular orange target stickers. I did not include a couple called fliers in the measurements and probably should have left a couple more out of the mix but didn’t. Still, an average of all shots measures 2.9-inches which is quite respectable. Along with the monotony of punching holes in paper, a fair amount of steel got slapped out to 50 yards firing two-handed and one-handed from a standing position. This gun shoots very accurately and is a pleasure to shoot with all loads I had for the review.
The new Bisley Flattop is right at home in this old Simply Rugged holster and Galco cartridge belt.
The only issue that arose with this gun came after I had fired twenty rounds or so and the loading gate flopped open after a shot was fired. A closer examination revealed the small, spring-loaded piece that rises from the frame and holds tension on the gate, appropriately known as the “loading gate spring,” had jumped slightly forward, therefore releasing its tension on the loading gate. I simply pushed it down and back in place with a small screwdriver and opened the gate all the way and that was it. It stayed put through dozens more rounds and functioned perfectly.
This good single-action sixgun offers handgunners a powerful, classic cartridge in a handy mid-sized frame. You probably already know it’s offered in blue or stainless steel. The 5.5-inch barrel on these initial guns is a perfect compromise, providing good balance and a little additional sight radius, all while maintaining the important aspect of portability. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to gather my gear and head to the ranch. We’re in the middle of whitetail season and I have a new 41 Magnum to hunt with!
To locate a dealer near you visit www.lipseys.com/dealerfinder