What grip frame a particular person prefers on a Ruger Single Action revolver is a highly personal thing.
Member OttoSig recently had a Bisley grip frame conversion done on a Ruger Blackhawk 10mm revolver.

Here: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/6600088415

Me? I can't get onboard with the visual appearance of the Bisley grip frame. It takes away that Old West appearance. For me, that is part of the appeal with a Single Action Ruger revolver.

I have added a Birdshead grip frame to a Ruger Blackhawk. It's chambered in .357 Mag & 9mm so relatively low recoil.

IMG_20250326_123900903_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

I really prefer the grip frame that comes stock on a Ruger "Hunter" revolver. It preserves the look, while giving a longer grasping surface by about 3/8" which allows all the fingers for grasping.

Here is a factory "Hunter" pictured.

PXL_20251011_003505348 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

It never made any sense to me that Ruger uses the shorter grasping surface grip frames on the 4-5/8" and 5-1/2" .44 Magnum revolvers.
Many people add the "Hunter" grip frame on those two short barrel revolvers just for the increased grip grasping length.
The round trigger guard is also a plus as the flat rear face trigger guard "Dragoon" grip frame often smacks the middle finger knuckle during recoil in the heavier recoiling calibers.

Here is an added "Hunter" grip frame on a 4-5/8" in .44 Magnum that originally came with the shorter grip frame.

IMG_20250326_123758416_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

I recently acquired several used stainless take-off Ruger "Dragoon" grip frames over on another Forum.
They have the benefit of having that longer grip grasping surface.
The downside is with my 2XL glove sized hands, that flat back rear trigger guard will smack my middle finger knuckle under recoil in the heavy calibers.
But on a 10mm Blackhawk, and a .22LR/.22 Mag. Single Six, both are relatively low recoil compared to .44 Magnum.

PXL_20260314_164941470 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260314_164909022 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Decisions... Decisions... Which Ruger revolvers will get the new-to-me take-off grip frames.

Grip frame variations for Ruger Single Action revolvers here, I recall up to about 14 now. Here: https://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm

With the exception of the Ruger Bearcat and the integral grip frame on that particular model, the hole pattern/spacing on all Ruger Single Action Revolvers, Old Model and New Model, are all identical.

Even though I grew up shooting a Single Six with an XR3-Red frame, I absolutely hate them. The original XR3 is just okay (too small), but not for anything that recoils. I had a 1958 .357 Flattop fir a little while, I could deal with it. I had a .44 mag flattop briefly, it ate me up. Think I only ever took it to the range one time before selling it.

The longer SBH grip frame, I can live with if I have to. But for me, feel and shooyability (not to mention handling some ugly recoil with the 5 shot .45 and 500L) the bisley is the only choice for me.

The birdseye grip Single Seven is the perfect combo for me.
Hard to find, but oh so worth it when you do.

Well I could argue that the Colt Bisley did debut in 1894 so there is some old west appeal to it.

I do agree that the plowshare grip is more attractive, but I prefer the feel of the Bisley grip when shooting hard kicking single actions.

Good looking revolvers!

This is a Power Custom Keith #5 grip frame on my custom Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum.
It handles recoil well.

I finished the first Dragoon Super Blackhawk grip frame installation this afternoon.
Sadly, Hogue was out of stock for my grips order. I ordered three sets and the website said they were in production. Sadly again, they didn't say what month they were going into production.
I "borrowed" these Hogue black linen Micarta grips off another revolver and put them on this 10mm Blackhawk.
One finished, one more to go!

PXL_20260322_201244152 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Back in the early 90's I had a stainless Super Blackhawk that I put black buffalo horn grips on. Then I polished the whole thing to a mirror finish, like they would eventually do with the Vaquero when they came out. It was a bit gaudy.


That reminded me of "better times", maybe not better times but better prices. I bought than pristine SBH for $200. I'd heard through a mutual acquaintance that someone they knew had a gun they wanted to sell. All he knew was it was a Ruger. Stopped by the guy's place of business and met them. He must not have been much of a "gun guy", despite having jumped through all the hoops to get his NY pistols license. He didn't know what model it was, he said "I just know it's a Ruger, it's silver and it's a .44 magnum". I said I'll take it! I didn't know what it was either, but I knew whatever it was, it was worth $200!

My oldest son carried that 10mm Blackhawk during the 2025 NYS big game hunting season, along with his new Ruger American Gen II Ranch rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.
He successfully harvested his first deer ever with his rifle, but told me it was a "pipe dream" wanting to get a deer with the revolver.
Several weeks later towards the end of the season, I did harvest a deer with the above pictured scoped Ruger Hunter revolver.
I think I've convinced him that the Hunter model is the best bang for the buck for a hunting revolver, he just doesn't enjoy the .44 Mag recoil.
Actually, with the heavy top rib barrel, scope, and rings, I consider the Ruger Hunter in .44 Mag to be pretty mild shooting.
If the 10mm Blackhawk had the easy factory scope mounting capability like the .44 Ruger Hunter model, I would likely have to go "pry" the 10mm out of his hands.