Lipsey’s New Compact Power Package
The First Mid-Frame .41 Magnum Ruger Bisley
Lipsey’s Exclusive, on left, next to full-size .41 Magnum on right.
Notice the protective “ears” on the full-size for rear sight
compared to the “flat top” on the mid-frame gun.
Jason Cloessner is Lipsey’s brilliant vice president of product development. Die-hard sixgunners know the name because of his long and varied track record of success. Cloessner’s job is to tweak factory offerings from the gun manufacturers and turn them into the Lipsey’s exclusives savvy sixgunners lust after. Having a good grasp of what shooters want and desire is natural for him because he’s one of us.
Cloessner’s modifications are legendary among Lipsey fans. It’s a simple formula, one he’s mastered, making Lipsey’s and him successful. He has the ability to persuade manufacturers to make the modifications for Lipsey’s. More importantly, his suggestions sell lots of guns, which is good for everyone involved. Believe me, I know because I’ve been seduced by most of the Ruger Exclusives he’s designed — and I am still eating beans for them.
The cylinder size is evident in the side-by-side comparison.
But don’t worry, there’s plenty of meat in the mid-frame
cylinder for full-power .41 Magnum loads.
Compact Powerhouse
This latest project is simple, making one think,” Hey, why didn’t I think of that?” The gun is a Bisley mid-frame single action six gun chambered in; drum roll please … .41 Magnum.
It’s the first time the middle magnum has been chambered in the smaller mid-frame-sized gun. It weighs a scant 46 ounces, but there’s always compromise.
The smaller, lighter frame requires a shorter cylinder, meaning classic “Keith” style bullets and longer, heavier LFN style slugs are too long when seated using the provided crimping groove. This is no fault of the bullet; it is just a simple fact for the mid-frame guns. There are several options that work perfectly in the gun.
While full-sized frame Bisleys from earlier days were unfluted, having roll-marked cylinders, Lipsey’s Exclusive Ruger Bisley sports a fluted cylinder. The smaller, lighter mid-frame Bisley makes for a fine carrying gun in the field, packing all the power of the full-size .41 Magnums. All throats on my sample measured .410” using pin gauges. This provides excellent accuracy, as the bullets are not sized down prior to entering the forcing cone.
For some reason, Ruger’s chambered in .41 Magnum always seems to be extremely accurate. Perhaps the lesser recoil contributes to this, but every Ruger .41 Magnum I own has always had perfect throats, unlike many .45 Colts and .32 caliber guns, which were undersized. They are easily fixed, as removing metal is easier than adding. Not to mention, you rarely see .41 Magnums on the used market. People who buy them like them!
Longer bullets such as 265-grain LFN design or “Keith”
style bullets from Lyman and H&G bullet molds are too long,
sticking out the cylinder when loaded.
Cylinder throats measured a perfect .410” on
Tank’s sample, adding to the excellent accuracy.
Sixshot’s Slug of Choice
Thankfully, one of my favorite bullets, an LBT design featuring a 250-grain wide flat nose cast slug (WFN) works just fine in this gun. I first became acquainted with this slug back in 2009 on an Idaho elk hunt with Dick Thompson, aka “Sixshot.” Dick used this slug loaded over a charge of 9.2 grains of Unique powder, launching the bullet just over 1150 fps. It proved its worth by plowing through a cow elk, pulping her lungs, proving the humble lead slug is still useful for those wanting to cast their own bullets.
Dick loaned the mold to me, and I cast a lifetime supply of the bullets, then promptly shipped it back to him. If you’re not a handloader, don’t worry. There are several good companies making quality ammunition that shoots wonderfully in the Bisley mid-frame marauder.
Test bullet lined up. From left: Buffalo Bore 170-grain JHP,
Barnes 180-grain XPB, and hard cast 230-grain SWC.
Remington swagged 240-grain SWC and Tank’s 250-grain
WFN. Lost River’s 215-grain SWC and poly coated 215-grain SWC.
Shooting
Lost River Ammunition provides a 215-grain hard cast SWC slug averaging 1,191 fps from my 5.5” Bisley. Groups averaged 1.1” for five shots. They also make a lighter load with the same bullet design, only it’s poly coated and averages 859 fps with 1.3” groups.
I also tried three different loads from Buffalo Bore Ammunition. The first is their 230-grain hard cast SWC that averaged 1423 fps. Groups were under 1 inch. I also tried their 170-grain JHP bullet averaging 1652 fps with groups averaging .8.” Lastly, was a lead-free load using the Barnes 180-grain XPB averaging 1577 fps and .6” groups. This was the most accurate load of all.
Remington’s 240-grain swagged SWC averaged 868 fps with .8” groups. My home-cast 250-grain WFN slugs loaded over 17 grains of 2400 averaged 1,257 fps with 1.2” groups.
All shooting was done at 17 yards with my wrists resting on a sandbag.
The bullets and their respective boxes.
Other Stuff
The mid-frame .41 Magnum has a 5.5” barrel and is available in either blued or stainless-steel versions. Stainless Ruger single actions have always had pinned front sights, making removal easier for different sight blades for different loads. The blued mid-frame .41 Magnum also has a pinned front blade for the first time. Thank you, Jason!
Plow handled .41 Magnum mid-frames will probably be released later for those preferring more traditional grip frames.
Targets from Buffalo Bore Ammo were impressive.
Bisley History
The Bisley Matches date back to the 19th century and are associated with the Victorian-era clubhouse, first built in 1865 and moving to its current Bisley location in 1895.
These matches challenged both a shooter’s skill and the gun’s accuracy. Colt released the Target Model in 1894, a specialty gun with a flat top complete with drift-adjustable rear sight and removable blade front sight. This Target Model had a funny-shaped grip.
After the Colt proved itself at the Bisley Matches, years later, it became commonly known as the Colt Bisley — only after further refinements were made to the grip frame and hammer. Thereafter, the Colt with the funny grip was associated with the Bisley Matches and the name stuck.
Bill Ruger modified the Colt Bisley to his version of what he thought a “Bisley” grip frame should be, releasing the Ruger Bisley on a full-sized Blackhawk frame and Single-Six in 1986. I’ve always preferred the feel of the Ruger Bisley grip frame, especially with heavy recoiling calibers.
The Lipsey’s Exclusive .41 Mag mid-frame Bisley was impressive.
Bullets such as MP Molds rendition of the H&G #258,
Elmer’s design, and pretty as they are, are too long
for the mid-frame guns.
In Summary
The Lipsey’s Exclusive Mid-Frame Flat Top .41 Magnum is an outdoorsman, rancher, hunter, or trapper’s dream come true. The caliber hits almost as hard as a .44 Magnum but is flatter shooting with less recoil. It’s kind of a “less is more” proposition — one that comes in a smaller, lighter, more packable package.
Elmer Keith enjoyed the .41 Magnum, carrying a matched set of 4” Smith & Wesson Model 57s during the remainder of his life. He also took a few caribou with his .41 Mags, proving their worth as hunting guns when they were first released. He noted the flatter trajectory of the .41 when he shot over the back of his first caribou.
Good enough for Elmer, good enough for us! I have no doubts that the mid-frame Bisley in .41 Magnum will be yet another successful Lipsey’s Exclusive!
