Anyone else really like Birds Head grips?

[Dapper Dave]

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?

 

 

[Timothy]

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?

[Old Man Graybeard]

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

[Warden Callaway]

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.

 

[Three Foot Johnson]

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.

 

[El Sobrante Kid]

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.

[Griff]

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.  

[Chickamauga Charlie, SASS #47963]

I switched to birdsheads 20 yrs ago and never looked back. They just seem to groove into my palm for POA.

[Cholla]

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.

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

My cross draw is Birds Head grip.   38 special Uberti Stallions, action job by Bob James

 

Edited October 25, 2024 by Jackrabbit Joe #414
Add information.

[Warden Callaway]

Bill Fuchs of Spring Creek Armory built this custom.

 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

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.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

Yep depends on what fits your hands well and you really need to shoot them to make sure they will work for you.

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

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 

[Dapper Dave]

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. 

 

 

[El Chapo]

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.

[watab kid]

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 , 

[John Kloehr]

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.

[Margarita Marie]

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!!!

[El Chapo]

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!

[Rye Miles #13621]

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. 

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I have large wide hands. They just feel small to me with my pinky hanging below the bottom of the grip.

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

My wife sure loves HERS!!!

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

NO.

[Doc Neeley]

i like them and love the look. This is my custom shop Colt.

[Chili Pepper Kid, SASS #60463]

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.

[Assassin]

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.

[Camille Eonich SASS # 48444]

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.

[watab kid]

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 , 

[The Blarney Kid]

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.

[Warden Callaway]

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

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

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.

 

[Dapper Dave]

Hmm, I should ask if someone here wants to sell off Birds Heads they don't like anymore...

[Dusty Devil Dale]

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, 2024 by Dusty Devil Dale

[Dantankerous]

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...