David Bradshaw Photos Vol. 110 - Ronnie Wells Gripframe Pt 4

[Lee Martin]

Bradshaw Bisley grip frame machined by Ronnie Wells from billet brass. Final fitting awaits wood scales to suppliment linen micarta shown on Ruger 03. Ammo: .45 Colt, Tank Hoover cast, powder coat 330-335 SWC Plain Base; deep seated over 10.9/HS-6 in Staline brass; Federal 155 primer; COL=1.542"


Brass Ruger Bisley (left) duplicates Ruger factory Bisley, except precisely machined. Thick cords (front, bottom & backstrap) allow trim by owner. Bradshaw Bisley is Ruger factory profile pushed rearward 3/16". David's intention: put air between middle finger and trigger guard. Also, delay the start of muzzle rise and reduce the effect of BARREL TIME.


Bradshaw Bisley overlays RW Ruger Bisley to illustrate increased room for, and protection of, shooter's hand. Thus far, Ruger level .45 Colt loads are comfortable, even on aerial targets shot one-hand. Welcome relief for hands which have witnessed more than a half-century of knuckle dusting magnums.



Ronnie Wells brass Bradshaw Bisley tips scales at about 12 ounces-----3/4 pound-----3 oz more than Ruger's steel Bisley.



Hole alignment is so precise on RW grip frame, screws drop into threads without bind or need to counter-rotate to index threads. Ronnie says Ruger hole pattern remains consistent over the years, a huge plus.


Bradshaw Bisley grip frame uses Ruger mainspring and trigger spring. Ronnie adjusted geometry to provide spring clearance while preserving spring rates.


Nomenclature is handy when discussing the single action grip frame. To borrow from steel beam lingo, the frontstrap is a FLANGE; likewise, the backstrap. The interior reinforcement is a WEB. Without the web on a Ruger single action, the mainspring would require a separate seat. Trigger spring also fastens to the web.


Hammer and trigger slots are dead square and smooth, with clearance the minimum for correct cocking, squeeze, and reset.


Holes drilled for Bisley-defining hidden screws allow screws to enter frame holes on axis (not angled).


Ruger 03 with RW brass Bradshaw Bisley, stocked in cloth micarta, tips scale @ 3 lbs, 1.4 oz. From the factory with Ruger's faux ivory, the 03 weighs 3 lbs on the nose.


Thrown water jugs provide a test of reading sights on a moving target, while squeezing on the move. Dowel traces path of .45 ACP cast 195 Wadcutter over 4.5/231 Federal brass and 155 mag primer; COL=1.165". Note absence of hydrostatic shock. A .45 ACP hollow point or .45 Colt hollow point or well fed SWC would have blown the jug.



-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[bradshaw]

Beaucoup thanks Lee, for posting the photo essays. And Ronnie, for borrowing rocket science from the NASA and Top Fuel drag racing to the Conservation of Anatomy in revolver shooting.
David Bradshaw

[maxcactus]

"While I like the looks very much, it's that extra 3/16" of room that really interests me. I, too, have been rapped pretty severely on my second finger and would welcome the additional room. I know some here were sending their grip frames off to Jack Huntington for some trimming to increase the space between the front strap and the trigger guard. This appears to be another alternative to that end.”
----maxcactus

*****

Jack Huntington has done several grips for Lee, and Lee counts Jack’s work tops is looks and on the firing line. I was fixing to cobble a Ruger Bisley when Ronnie Wells cratered the horizon. To ask Ronnie to extend Ruger’s Bisley 3/16-inch may sound arbitrary, but comes from measurement of my hand----bare and gloved----on the gun. “Keep Ruger’s Bisley but push it back.” My concerns involved length of pull, trigger finger placement, and spur clearance of cocked hammer. Ronnie’s technical concerns involved hammer clearance, spring clearance, and spring geometry.

A few things the Bradshaw Bisley gives me
* Prevents “finger tap”----Ronnie’s term.
* Fast support hand cocking.
* One-hand control of power without death grip.
* Reduced dry fire bounce.
* Eliminates glove overlap of cocked hammer.
* Answers the “brass grip on stainless revolver” question.
* Compliments Bill Ruger's single action aesthetic.

Assessments continue.
David Bradshaw

[squawberryman]

Whoever did the final cosmetics on that grip frame should smile

[potatojudge]

Mentioned previously, part of the value of Ronnie's grip frames is in the grips. Decked, dead flat, CNC contoured to perfectly mate together, all that is required is removal of the mill marks to have grips that would rival the best customs for fit. The grips snap on even without the screw, which is only there to aide production, removal of the panels, and as insurance for rough handling.

While his grip frames are more expensive than a Ruger casting, they're infinitely better, ready for final fit and buffing, and more versatile, and the addition of his grips makes it a no-brainer. I can't imagine doing a conversion without one now.

Having brass and aluminum in hand, it's a toss up between aesthetics and weight. Thankfully I don't have to choose.

[RDW]

Thank You Gentlemen!
You are to kind. Hearing this makes all the effort so worth while.
I will continue to improve these everyway possible and critique and improvement is the path to perfection. Tear em up any way you can. I will fix it.
Thanks again guys.
I have just had the Best day ever!
R

[contender]

This whole thread makes me smile, drool, dream, and design all at the same time! Love it all.

[bradshaw]

Oct 6, 2020 13:28:22 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Whoever did the final cosmetics on that grip frame should smile

*****

Greg.... brass is a wonderful material to work. Belt sander, Dremel with 1/2” drum sander, emery paper with water, brass polish. A pro would include a buffing wheel. Patience, a careful eye for lines, numerous tries of grip frame to frame. Getting close, working continues with scales attached. Ronnie's patterns for grip frame and scales is exact. Some while before the rise of RW grip frames, I told Lee that, aesthetically, brass on stainless has to be ugly.

Slapping brass on the Ruger 03 changed my mind.

One can gain breathing room for the middle finger by taking down the front strap of the factory Ruger Bisley. A duplicate Ruger Bisley by RW provides a thicker flange (front strap) to reduce, but it is the precision of the RW grip frame which makes it a thrill to work with.
David Bradshaw

[bradshaw]

Ronnie Wells’innovation & quality make this possible.
David Bradshaw