Questions about recent Ruger midsize .44 and 45s

[brionic]

What is the general consensus on the pros of the various Ruger medium framed .44 and .45s? I haven't bought a NIB revolver in many years, but I've gotten to thinking I've missed the boat.

I've heard from many of you about the high quality of the recent guns in terms of fit and finish of the blued guns. What about the stainless guns?

Which configuration is your favorite? Why?

(I mean, beside "all of them"... three growing boys guarantee that my gun budget is strict.)

I kick myself for not grabbing one of the .44 SP Bisleys when they were available new but I'll keep looking for a nice used example.

All opinions and diatribes are welcome. Pictures, too. Feed my need.

[sagebrushburns]

I have one of the 5 1/2" blue 45s. It is a fine shooter, feels just right in my hands and QC is just fine. The gunfighter style imitation ivory grips are too skinny and will get replaced, but other than that, no complaints.

[375supermag]

I ordered one of the Lipsey's .44 Special flat tops w/51/2" barrel when they were first announced.

It is accurate, well made and the finish is a step above the average Ruger SA, IMHO.

I have become quite fond of it other than the grips and have even carried it in my coat while making late night runs to the local convenience store, leaving my Springfield Armory 1911 at home.

If I trust my life with it, that seems like a pretty favorable endorsement.

I intend to buy another flat top in .44 Special and am seriously considering one in .45Colt.

[Ken O'Neill]

I have a blued .44 Special 4 5/8" flattop bought shortly after they were announced. It is finished a bit better than most blued Rugers.
I also have a stainless .45 convertible 4 5/8" barrel that is finished much better than the run of the mill stainless Ruger. However, I also have examined a 5 1/2" stainless .45 convertible in a local gunstore that was not as nice and had terribly fitted grips ... really bad. The front sight is too high for me on the .45, so I replaced it with a lower one. This would be a bit more of an issue with a blued gun.
I like this .45 well enough that I'm now in the market for a 5 1/2" version, but given the fact that I've seen this one "unsatisfactory" version, I want to see it in hand at a dealer's, rather than order it.
Here's a quick pic:

[mike56]

I recently got bitten by this bug bad. Ran across the Lipsey's site by accident. I picked up a Talo stainless .44spc last week, 4 5/8s barrel. Handles and shoots great. I just started reloading for the special round so I've not found the best load yet.
Also ordered one of lipseys bisley flat tops. Should be here this week.
The Talo gun is handy, very well finished and fit and has a great trigger out of the box.

[mike454]

Was looking at buying a stainless and blue 5.5 inch 45 convertable. Bought the blued model but the stainless had some cosmetic issues. The gripframe had some casting flaws and didn't fit up with the frame really well. Ended up getting 4 5/8 stainless which looks pretty good. All three stainless guns had some poor finishing on the frame/gripframe area by the hammer. Both guns had very usable triggers out of the box and cylinder dimensions look good. Haven't had a chance to shoot them yet

[Otony]

I have two, both blue, both .44 special. A Sheriff's Model and a 4 5/8" Flattop.

Both are heavier than a respective version built by Colt would be. I honestly believe a great deal of that weight could be removed by judiciously paring away at the internal webbing of the gripframe. Eliminating the lock would also lighten things up, and is easily accomplished with a small aftermarket adapter.

Other than that, I find both revolvers eminently handy, and best of all, an extremely affordable way to indulge in my love for the .44 Special. Up until now I have been reduced to muddling through life with only a USFA Flattop Target, and a Uberti Open Top in .44 Russian. There have been a few other Colt, Smith, and Uberti .44 Specials in my past however, so I feel as though I have a solid base for comparison.

The NM Ruger gives me something that I often wished for, a safe alternative to loading only five rounds, and does so in a strong, attractive package. It is more compact than a large frame Ruger, even if the weights are close. As others have mentioned, the workmanship on these mid-frames seems to be a cut above Ruger single actions of the last few years, another bonus.

As I type this, I am looking at a 7.5" .44 Special New Frontier barrel sitting on a bookshelf. The Ruger and some NF barrels share the same threads (fortunately, this barrel does so). So in the not too distant future a long tubed .44 Special will join the collection. I just have to run across a Flattop at a good price.

As you can see, I am smitten. The mid-frames honestly serve my needs well. I am not in need of a Linebaugh level resolver, nor do I shoot many magnum rounds nowadays (arthritis in my hands), so am well served by these offerings. My only objection would be the aforementioned weight, and that can be addressed. The Sheriff's Model sees carry duty in an IWB holster fairly often, while the Flattop gets the nod when I am out and about in the woods. What more could a feller need?

[dmize]

I bought a blued 44 from Lipseys when they first came out. Fit and finsh are really good. The steel grip frame does some heft but it just feels good to me.
I am absolutely smitten with this frame size,I wish I could afford to buy one of all.
The only gripe I have is the cheesy feeling plastic grips.

[rkrcpa]

I bought a Blue 4 5/8 44spl when they were announced. I'm very pleased with the fit, finish and accuracy of the gun. However, I think I would rather have a Bisley model and would have waited had I thought they were going to be next.

[brionic]

Thanks for your opinions. Keep 'em coming.

Checking online this morning, I found a few of the .44 Bisleys available. Last week, there were none. Must be a new batch.

[dougader]

After several years of 45 Colts, and only 45 Colts, I finally picked up the 4-5/8" Bisley flat top in 44 special. Gorgeous little gun. But mine had a few problems: (1) base pin latch assembly wasn't working right. The base pin would jump out every time I fired the gun, which ties up the action. It seemed as though there was no spring in there (or the spring was twisted or something); (2) the front sight was not perpendicular to the top strap and barrel. It pointed off to the right at about 12:30, which meant I couldn't get my groups to center on the target, even with the rear sight adjusted all the way over; and (3) there was a small spot on the front edge of the frame where the bluing didn't take.

I emailed Ruger about it and they sent a call tag with UPS. I got the gun back in about 8 days or so and everything was perfect. They re-blued the entire gun, even though I told them this is a working gun and I honestly wasn't worried about the bluing. I just wanted it to shoot straight.

I couldn't be happier. Oh, and get this. You know how it is when you get a brand new gun? How it looks like they test-fired the gun with maybe 2 or 3 rounds (if anything)? Well, that's how the gun looked when I first took possession of it. But when it came back, wow! You could really tell they had test fired the heck out if it! I just laughed and took it to the range.

One thing's certain: it's a keeper!

[elrodcod]

Jan 8, 2012 14:58:36 GMT -5 brionic said:

Thanks for your opinions. Keep 'em coming.

Checking online this morning, I found a few of the .44 Bisleys available. Last week, there were none. Must be a new batch.

I'm pretty sure it's a new batch. I signed up for email notification @ Grab-A-Gun & was notified 0n 1/05 that the Lipsey 5.5" blue .44 special Bisley was back in stock so I forced myself to order one. ;D