Talo Exclusive Turnbull Ruger Bisley .45 Colt CCH

[magman]

I should have paid attention at the gunshop the other day. They did have the Talo/Turnbull 44 mag. I really wanted the Bisley though. I wonder what that gun looked like up close.

[eskimo36]

Are y’all sure Ruger did these good things they haven’t done in other guns or maybe it was Turnbull? I haven’t put my hands on one yet. I’m just thinking out loud.

[nolongcolt]

Anyone had a chance to shoot one yet? Its very tempting, but I have an early SS version from one of the first distributors, cant remember which one, and a Vaquero Bisley at 5.5 so am kind of torn. Sort of a Grail gun though. Just remembered, my SS Bisley is an Acu-Sport distributor.

[hughree]

A local dealer showed one of the Talo Bisleys in its on-line inventory. After my recent experience with a new stainless .22 Single Six Bisley, I decided I would not buy another Ruger revolver without prior inspection. So off I went with a large roll of cash and fingers crossed. The helpful salesman checked his computer and verified they had only one in stock, went into the back of the store, and returned with what appeared to be the regular Ruger plastic case - red, instead of gray, and bearing a large Talo label on the outside. He removed the big Bisley, dripping in lube, from its plastic bag and handed it to me for inspection. First observations after wiping off the lubricant revealed a front sight canted to the right, grips that did not come close to fitting the frame, and freckling in the case colors along the right side of the topstrap. The grips, while attractive, actually fit worse than the ones that came on the Single Six Bisley. The sides of the backstrap could be seen along its entire length and light on one side of the revolver could be seen on the other side through the gaps between the grips and the front of the frame. There is a photo of grips on another Talo Bisley on the Ruger Forum. That example, five serial numbers higher than the one I inspected, that look like they fit identically to the one I held today.

Game over.

Since it was not going home with me, I didn't ask to try the action, gauge the throats, or measure the b/c gap. I will leave that to the ultimate purchaser. The frame to gripframe fit was very, very good. As good as I have seen in recent years and FAR better that the cockeyed alignment on the Single Six Bisley I purchased a few months back. Also, the case colors and bluing were well-done as would be expected from Turnbull's shop. The freckling in the colors on the topstrap look exactly like the imperfections that can be seen in the faux case coloring in my 20 year old Bisley Vaquero. I don't know if it is some form of surface oxidation/rust, but I suspect the finish of this latest example will require special attention to keep it looking new. Or as it should appear when new. As others have noted, it seems like bluing or coloring the hammer would have been an easy but desirable improvement to the spec sheet.

Bottom line - I honestly don't think Ruger lavished any extra effort on this special Talo run based upon what I observed. The canted front sight that left the mothership was the worst of the deja poo. I've seen too much of that crap before. I realize that ill-fitting grips have become he standard on regular production Blackhawks, but this is a limited edition that distinguishes itself purely through cosmetics. And its apparent that Ruger and Turnbull had very different standards with respect to their separate contributions. Sending it back to Ruger is not going to get better fitting grips, and re-clocking the barrel requires a trip to the factory. I would have left most of thousand dollars with the dealer if Ruger had ensured that their production Bisley was carefully assembled, inspected, and tested before sending it to Turnbull for his special touch -sort of a One of One Thousand philosophy.

Granted, I only have held the one example. But my money went home with me.

God bless,

Hugh

[paul105]

Thank you Hugh! Kinda what I figured. I was sorely tempted a couple of times, but don't need another project gun. Typically don't have a specimen to examine locally, so I was torn about ordering one. You saved me some money.

Thanks again,

Paul

[hughree]

Paul - You're welcome.

When I returned home, I found a description on the TALO website that said Ruger sends the parts to Turnbull for finish work. Turnbull then sends the blued and colored parts back to Ruger for final assembly. That makes sense and, to me, explains the leaning front sight and ill-fitting grips as they are then part of the regular assembly process. That's cost efficient but doesn't offer any higher level of craftsmanship during fitment than regular production items. And as badly as I wanted to like this beauty, I also am not excited about paying the $900+ asking price before starting down a road with warranty work, custom grips and possible refinishing at Turnbull's shop. I don't ever expect to see FA quality in a production Ruger. Ruger is simply not set up to invest that level of machining, fitting, polishing and inspection. That's why we wait in line with cash in hand to obtain that level of workmanship in EVERY revolver shipped from Freedom, Wyoming. Still, I would gladly pay the asking price of the TALO Bisley if I knew that every example, sight unseen, would exhibit fitted, figured wood grips, vertical sights, correct and uniform throats, no thread choking, even polishing, no burred screws, and smooth actions that were the hallmark of Rugers when I had brown hair and more of it. The early Super Blackhawks come to mind.

Pretty is as pretty does. And while that TALO was mighty pretty, it just didn't do it for me.

God bless,

Hugh

[Burnston]

Have any of you old hands shared Hugh's experience back in the days of the old model? (I trust that all readers understand that 'old hand' is meant as the sincerest of compliments.)

[Encore64]

Dec 6, 2017 9:31:06 GMT -5 Burnston said:

Have any of you old hands shared Hugh's experience back in the days of the old model? (I trust that all readers understand that 'old hand' is meant as the sincerest of compliments.)

No, but don't share his opinion or experience now either. Clearly, I haven't held the gun at his shop. However, the ones at my shop are a different animal than he describes.

I measured mine out this morning. Barrel gap is a very tight .0015". A .002" feeler gauge won't go thru no matter the effort.

A .451" XTP bullet passed thru the throats, but a .452" cast required some effort. Not scientific, but tells me what I wanted to know.

I put on a pair of bonded ivory Hogue grips that fit great. I prefer this combination, but understand grips are a personal choice.

I've got multiple customs from Reeder, Bowen and Huntington. I'd pit this gun against the best of those.

My LGS has gotten two in. Both went before they arrived. A third is due in today, a pair of these may be in order.

I won't dispute anyone else's evaluation or expect anyone to buy anything on mine. But, I will encourage anybody who's interested to check them out.

[paul105]

Two totally different "hands on" experiences and, FWIW I believe both. Unless you can personally examine, it looks like a total crap shoot. If one shows up around here (which is unlikely), I'll look it over and maybe reconsider.

Paul

[Encore64]

Dec 6, 2017 13:50:36 GMT -5 paul105 said:

Two totally different "hands on" experiences and, FWIW I believe both. Unless you can personally examine, it looks like a total crap shoot. If one shows up around here (which is unlikely), I'll look it over and maybe reconsider.

Paul

Good idea Paul. I hope everyone will look and judge for themselves.

The third is due in at my shop today. I won't obligate to buy it until I scope it out.

They got in six of the stainless Bisley 22s. One was near FA in quality. Three were very, very good and two I wouldn't have bought for base guns.

I'm not discounting another's evaluation. Just hope the majority of them are good and happy for those who get them.

[mart]

I ordered one today. It will be four weeks before I have it in hand. I sent the funds today so by the time the money gets there and he ships it to my FFL, I'll be back on the slope for three weeks. I'll let you know how mine looks when I finally get to touch it. I was giving serious consideration to sending my 7.5 inch Bisley out to Jack Huntington for a shortening to 5.5 inches and CCH on the frame when they came out with these.

[bradshaw]

This his a good thread made in straight talk on personal impression. No manufacturer scouring the apoplectic bottom line wants to read a critical review, as will be found here. Way I see it, when you square with the very best shooters there are, you square as well with those struggling to improve.
David Bradshaw

[wildcatter]

I do understand the need for a hands on look before buying. The one in the picture shows the backstrap exposed its full length. But for me that's not a deal breaker. But the comments on the single six bisley's I can verify, as the one I got couldn't even be shot reliably with the the pawl plunger and spring binding the hammer as it returned. I understand what your saying about them not being worthy of base guns, with the fit of the cylinder in the frame of mine being less than preferred but I may just send it of to Clements, let him make the final call as to send it down the road or keep it, it may be the only way I can have one, as there will be no more I believe.

Sounds like on these guns it's the luck of the draw to get a keeper.

[Encore64]

Well Gentlemen, we're three for three here. My LGS got the third one in. Its so good that I decided a pair was in order.

One is serial number 12. It'll probably be hoarded back for my grandson in the future.

[eskimo36]

I had my LGS get me one. I’m thinking I will swap the the hammer for a blue one, get an action job, LSCG grips and a Bowen sight. It’s a beautiful gun. At least Ruger and Jason are trying.