Bearcat size revolver

[tonygrz]

Does anyone know if any gun maker sells a ruger bearcat size .22 ??? Ruger bearcats are getting rather expensive.

Thanks,

tonygrz

[Pastor C]

yeah I'd like one too. but who wants to pay $500 FOR HALF A GUN

Taurus makes small revolvers for $380-ish and are 9 shot

I would be interested in what's out there in .22's with ammo as high as it is

[oscarmayer]

heritage makes a small single action 22 combo 22/22 mag with an extra cylinder and they are priced right. not the quality of a ruger but very functional

[Teejay9]

Originally Posted by Pastor C

yeah I'd like one too. but who wants to pay $500 FOR HALF A GUN

Taurus makes small revolvers for $380-ish and are 9 shot

I would be interested in what's out there in .22's with ammo as high as it is

Pastor, I'm not that familiar with the Bearcat, so what do you mean "Half a gun?" I need educating. The only .22 revolver I have is a '58 S&W mod. 18. TJ

[Alpo]

Teejay, visualize a Colt Single Action Army. Now let it get wet and shrink until it is between 3/4 and 7/8 as big as it was. Now you have a Ruger Single Six. Get that wet and let it shrink until it is about 3/4 as big as it was, and you have the Ruger Bearcat.

This is a Blackhawk on the right (which is about the size of the Colt) and a Bearcat on the left. Notice it is quite a bit smaller.

[Teejay9]

Originally Posted by Alpo

Teejay, visualize a Colt Single Action Army. Now let it get wet and shrink until it is between 3/4 and 7/8 as big as it was. Now you have a Ruger Single Six. Get that wet and let it shrink until it is about 3/4 as big as it was, and you have the Ruger Bearcat.

This is a Blackhawk on the right (which is about the size of the Colt) and a Bearcat on the left. Notice it is quite a bit smaller.

Once again, I've learned something. A tip of my hat of my hat to you, Alpo. I think I'd like that Bearcat Thanks, TJ

[Danwin22]

I had a Ruger Super Bearcat back in 1964. It was sure a pretty little thing but too tiny for my hand.

I liked the Colt New Frontier .22 grip because it had a better fit for my hand.

Later on I had a Ruger Single Six and a Super Single Six which were nice too.

[tonygrz]

I have a Heritage and it's a lot bigger than the bearcat and a lot heavier. Maybe an Iver Johnson small .22. What do you think Bill????

tonygrz

[oscarmayer]

wow live and learn. i have never handled a bearcat but have a heritage 22 with a 3.5 in barrel and birds head grip. i just looked up the weight of the heritage 33.5 oz vs the bearcat @ 23 oz

[Bindernut]

Yup, if you've got small paws the Bearcat is a wonderful little revolver. Yeah, they're a little pricey now days but I'm glad to see it back in production. The original Bearcat & Super Bearcat (which was a convertible 22lr/22mag model made for only a few years) was made from '58 to '74, but the Bearcat was reintroduced in 2008 for it's 50th anniversary.

Basically, it's a scaled down version of the 1890 Remington. A co-worker has one of each: an original, Super, and New Bearcat plus a NIB, unfired 50th anniversary with the gold trigger guard & cylinder inlays. His wife has laid claim to the original as her "skunk medicine".
For a kid or someone with really small hands it's a great little shooter. I've got pretty skinny fingers but I find the Bearcat grip is still a bit too small for extended use.
Even being all steel, it's so light that you can pack it around all day and barely notice it's there though.

[Claude Clay]

Alpo said it well.
heres a picture of 2 bearcats flanking a single-six 32 h&r and a vaquero 45lc

i wanted a 50th anniv to go with my 1st year [the one on the left] but $550 for a whim is too much. $400 for 'normal' production is value for money as these are finely put together working pieces of art. and they shoot very accurately once you find the ammo they like.

[Pastor C]

After holding the Bearcat for about ten minutes, it hurts my middle finger because there's hardly any room between the trigger guard and the grip. And I have small-ish hands..
would I like to have one? yeah , but... pay $500 for one , ouch I'd rather have a P95 9mm Ruger for $400

[Pastor C]

Or a Beretta Bobcat (.22) that shoots single and double action , 7 (or so) shots , and fits in your pocket where a bearcat is a little long and sells around $400

[Alpo]

Well, I guess people's preferences are their own, but what you said doesn't really make sense.

Kinda like saying, "I test drove a Volkswagon, but did not like it. I'd rather have an Indy car, or a Land Rover." They are all internal combustion automobiles, but they are used for totally different things. I suppose you could race the VW (Herbie did all right) or drive it back in the boonies.

Large 9mm police/self-defense holster automatic, vs .22 "get off me" pocket gun, vs small .22 plinking/camping holster revolver.

[Danwin22]

Alpo, I know what he means.

Sometimes something catches our eye and we quickly buy it Later on we find out it isn't really what we are comfortable with.

A good case for me is cars. You go to a car dealer and he lets you drive a mile on roads with a 50mph limit or less. Some cars seem very quick up to about 60 and then fall off the power band quickly after that.

I like to rent a car for a weekend to see if I really like it before buying one.

For me the Ruger Bearcat .22 was one of those occasions. I loved the brass color trigger guard and overall cuteness of it and it seemed fine looking it over at the gun dealer. Once I handled it for a while it was just too small for my hand. It's still a fine little weapon and highly collectible but I need a slightly larger frame for shooting. I guess I'm defective, not the gun.

[flyingcubby]

E.A.A. has their bounty hunter series in a .22

[tonygrz]

thanks for the input flyingcubby, but the bounty hunter is a littly heavier than I was looking for. The eea weighs over 40 ozs.

tonygrz

[jrg]

The Heritage Birds head gripped is smaller than a Bearcat, but heavier. Convertible as well, if that floats your boat - I'm a .22 Magnum fan myself.



If you like small .22 revolvers, this one might be a pick - but check it out first before you buy, some do not care for the Heritage 'lesser' looks.

[Danwin22]

It appears to have a painted frame. I guess that wouldn't be too bad on a knock-around gun if the paint is durable enough.

It does have a tricky look.

[jrg]

Yes sir, painted frame (if you are refering to Heritage - but to a knockabout pistol, really doesn't count for much.

[Danwin22]

Yeah, I've known guys who will buy a beautful field-carry pistol and then are afraid to carry it in case they might screatch it.

I suspect a lot of super-finished Weatherby "Cabinet Queen" rifles will also be left home while some simple Winchester or Marlin lever action rifle will do the dirty work.

If that heritage shoots well I'd be willing to try one.

[louiethelump]

I have several of the new Bearcats, and plan to leave one blue one to each of my three kids. (then I bought a stainless one for me to use!!) I picked them up slightly used for around 300 to 325 each, including the stainless one. The 2008 version that folks are quoting at 500 plus is a gussied up collectable one, and not meant to be a shooter. Every one of mine shoots very close to point of aim (within an inch at 25 years) and they all shoot tight groups. They are similar in size to the S&W model 34 (blue) or 63 (stainless) and the S&W's are going in the 700 dollar range these days. I like the durable fixed sights and the simplicity and durability of the single action design. The new model has been out about 10 years now, and when they first showed up, there was a convertible model that was pulled off the market right away, and are now collectable if you have one. (1100 to 1200 dollars is what I see them at) As far as I know, the original Bearcat with the aluminum frame and then the Super Bearcat with the steel frame were never offered as a 22 magnum.

They are great little guns, and I really like the holsters displayed in that early post with the two different size guns. Can anyone advise who made those?

I really like the Bearcats, and I have fat hands. But I am used to single action revolvers, and to hear someone suggest that they would rather have a Ruger 9mm auto because it is cheaper; while a valid point; is an indication that the person is not a single action revolver person. Bearcats are steel and walnut (or rosewood) and that is how guns are supposed to be in my opinion.

Nice thread though....................

Louie
Thanks