Dapper Dave Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 My 1873 Uberti Old Model Birds Head is quickly becoming the gun I am going to use as a main match revolver. It's short, fast and the shorter barrel doesn't seem to be an issue at the shorter range for CAS targets. So far. Now the thing that gets me is the regular plow handle grip seems to crowd my knuckle a wee bit against the back of the trigger guard. I handled a Taurus Deputy at Scheels last weekend, and it was an instant no-go, feeling like I'm putting my knuckle in a vise. But the Birds Head doesn't do that, or at least it FEELS like that. Anyone else concur/disagree/wanna make smoke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I sure like it! I heard colt made 4 original special order saa's with bhg. I always wondered if they were walnut or gutta percha stocked? Anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Graybeard Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I have very large hands. The Birdshead and the regular plow handle grips just don't work for me. I use Rugers with the Bisley grip. Works best for me 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I handled this fantasy 44 at the gunshop a couple of times before I had to trade for it. It just felt good in my hand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I won a Uberti Lightning twenty years ago at a match, didn't care for its small size, traded it off, and never thought about having a birdshead again. Then five years ago, I came across a pair of 3 3/4" Ruger birdshead .45 acp's, NIB and consecutively numbered, for such a ridiculously low price it would have been foolish to not buy them. I later found another one pretty reasonably priced, cuz ya gotta have an identical backup, doncha know, then a shooting buddy texted me one day about a fourth one on Guntrader just six miles down the road from me, so I ended up with two sets. I dressed 'em up with some new shoes, picked a pair to shoot, and have used them more than anything else for the past five years. I really like them. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Sobrante Kid Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I like the look, and have a beautiful one in 44-40. It is relegated to my "also ran" group of guns because the rear of the trigger guard hits the knuckle of my supporting hand, every time I fire it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 No. The Colt SAA grip is as small as I care for. The SAA grip doesn't crowd my knuckle the way a Ruger Super Blackhawk or Remington 1858/75/90 do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickamauga Charlie, SASS #47963 Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I switched to birdsheads 20 yrs ago and never looked back. They just seem to groove into my palm for POA. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cholla Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 10 hours ago, Timothy said: I sure like it! I heard colt made 4 original special order saa's with bhg. I always wondered if they were walnut or gutta percha stocked? Anyone know? If you are referring to 1st Generation Colts, experts I know claim this is a myth. Where did you get this information? On the other hand, the custom shop has put out a few since the 1980s. I have written about two of them for American Handgunner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackrabbit Joe #414 Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 (edited) My cross draw is Birds Head grip. 38 special Uberti Stallions, action job by Bob James Edited October 25 by Jackrabbit Joe #414 Add information. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 Bill Fuchs of Spring Creek Armory built this custom. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 Personally, I dislike the birdshead grip but do like the Lightning and Thunderer grips, which some call birdsheads as well. I know people who liked the looks of Thunderer grips but then didn't like the feel. Like a lot of guns, you gotta get your hands on them (and preferably shoot them) to really know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 Yep depends on what fits your hands well and you really need to shoot them to make sure they will work for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 having had true birdshead , and a couple of sets of Thunderer grips I went back to plow share grips , fit me better worst was a set of Thundereer grips on a set of 44-40s for me CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dapper Dave Posted October 24 Author Share Posted October 24 I've seen the Lightning/Thunderer grips but have never laid a hand on one. This one I have put a few rounds through and it fits really well. I also think, or maybe it's something else, but it FEELS to me that the grips for Pietta and Uberti are ever so slightly different, and the frame of the Uberti guns fit me much better. No idea why. However, I am looking to pick up a matching one for this one, perhaps in December, depending. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Chapo Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 I really like the idea. I have small hands and shoot gunfighter. I definitely wouldn't mind having a pair and giving them a try. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 i have a couple but seldom use them they just dont feel quite right to me - probably just a "used to" thing of my main match guns , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kloehr Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 Completely dependent on your hands. Birds heads do not fit me for SAA guns. For carry, after several iterations, I have settled on single-stack 9mm 1911 platform with thinner side panels, In your hands? No guarantee these will fit you either. If the sights don't line up for you naturally, even using common "tricks," keep borrowing guns until something does work; then get that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margarita Marie Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 3 hours ago, El Chapo said: I really like the idea. I have small hands and shoot gunfighter. I definitely wouldn't mind having a pair and giving them a try. Hey there El Chapo! If you really want to try a pair, let me know and I will get TimBuk2 to bring a set and ammo for the next Gila Ranger's monthly shoot for you to try. He's also got a pair of single six plow handle in .32 as well as the birds head ones you've seen him shoot. Just let me know!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Chapo Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 28 minutes ago, Margarita Marie said: Hey there El Chapo! If you really want to try a pair, let me know and I will get TimBuk2 to bring a set and ammo for the next Gila Ranger's monthly shoot for you to try. He's also got a pair of single six plow handle in .32 as well as the birds head ones you've seen him shoot. Just let me know!!! He's the reason I have to try a pair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 22 hours ago, Old Man Graybeard said: I have very large hands. The Birdshead and the regular plow handle grips just don't work for me. I use Rugers with the Bisley grip. Works best for me I have medium size hands and I don’t like the way they feel. I’ll stick with the good old plow handle grips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 I have large wide hands. They just feel small to me with my pinky hanging below the bottom of the grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tell Sackett SASS 18436 Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 My wife sure loves HERS!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 NO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Neeley Posted October 26 Share Posted October 26 i like them and love the look. This is my custom shop Colt. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Pepper Kid, SASS #60463 Posted October 27 Share Posted October 27 I have this one. I call this birds head my fun gun and I really should shoot it more. My main match guns are old model Ruger Vaqueros. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted October 27 Share Posted October 27 I've got a pair of Vaqueros, they had thin bird head grips, I replaced them with some fat, checkered Altamont grips and they fit my hands really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camille Eonich SASS # 48444 Posted October 27 Share Posted October 27 When I first started shooting CAS I shot birdheads and while I love them they tend to roll a lot and I shoot better with plow handles. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted October 28 Share Posted October 28 i do like the look of them [im partial to older webleys too ] ut in the end i only need one for my doc holiday holster rig to be happy , 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blarney Kid Posted October 30 Share Posted October 30 On 10/24/2024 at 1:58 PM, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: Personally, I dislike the birdshead grip but do like the Lightning and Thunderer grips, which some call birdsheads as well. I know people who liked the looks of Thunderer grips but then didn't like the feel. Like a lot of guns, you gotta get your hands on them (and preferably shoot them) to really know. I agree. I have a 3.5 in. Thunderer and like it, but the birdsheads without the hump just don't look right. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted October 30 Share Posted October 30 I traided into a couple of Lightnings. I thought I'd like them. But the grip seems too round and I can't always get a good grip on them 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted October 31 Share Posted October 31 19 hours ago, Warden Callaway said: I thought I'd like them. But the grip seems too round and I can't always get a good grip on them Same here. I bought a pair when they first came out but they are way too small and hard to hold and I have fairly small hands. The originals had a much more comfortable grip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dapper Dave Posted November 1 Author Share Posted November 1 Hmm, I should ask if someone here wants to sell off Birds Heads they don't like anymore... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted November 3 Share Posted November 3 (edited) I don't have them (wish I did!). I think they're beautiful and they fit my hands really well. Thanks for sharing these v. nice examples in the photos! Edited November 3 by Dusty Devil Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dantankerous Posted November 4 Share Posted November 4 I like the look of them, especially on Ruger, short barreled Vaqueros. My hands are size XLs and for the guns I just mentioned I really like, don't work well for my sized hands. Although several years ago at Land Run, I was on a posse with a big old boy who shot his very well and he had at least XXL size paws so it can be done... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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