Bearcat-.22 Long Rifle to .22 Magnum?

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Muley Gil

Blackhawk
Joined
Oct 27, 2004
Messages
614
Location
Southwest VA USA
I posted this in the Smithing section, but I might get more responses over here.

Has anyone converted a New Model Bearcat .22 Long Rifle to .22 Magnum?
 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,041
Location
People's Republik of California
Yes, and custom pistol smiths even convert to 32 H&R Magnum.

The old model cyls are not long enough for 22 Mags but close

However, they're plenty long enough for .22 WRF (Winch Rim Fire) which are back in production and cheaper than MRF. While they're velocities are not far behind MRF.

Here's my OM Super Bearcat in WRF:

xlarge.jpg
 

ChiefTJS

Blackhawk
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Messages
853
Location
Nebraska
Yep. Had my daughters Bearcat reamed to .22Mag years ago and shoots like a champ, also added adjustable sights.
 

G2

Hunter
Joined
May 8, 2006
Messages
2,491
Location
UT/AZ
When the Stainless came out I bought this one and reamed it to magnum. Neat little gun but just to small for my big o'l paw.
P1010006-5.jpg
 

Muley Gil

Blackhawk
Joined
Oct 27, 2004
Messages
614
Location
Southwest VA USA
Thanks. I just bought a second NM cylinder from another member. I'll either rent a reamer or get Dave Clements to ream it. He lives about15 miles from me.
 

bobster

Bearcat
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Messages
15
I have a SS Shopkeeper 3" barrel. I just had a second cylinder reamed for 22 mag. It shoots great. Does anyone have suggestions for a good cross draw holster?
 

BrewsterII

Bearcat
Joined
May 10, 2018
Messages
43
Location
Arizona
So, I assume the Bearcat barrels are bored to .224 right from Ruger like the Single Six convertible models?
 

Sugar River

Buckeye
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
1,084
Location
S Florida
There's an easy way to tell.
If a 7/32 bit enters the muzzle, it's bored for 22Mag (.219).
If not it's .217 (LR).
 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,041
Location
People's Republik of California
The Long Rifle bore (diameter of the lands) is .222"; the WMR is .224".

A #2 drill is .221" at the cutting end and a more accurate test. And check your drill bit with a dial caliper or a micrometer. Recognize the shank of the drill bit is smaller than the actual cutting edges, so use the cutting end of a new drill.

The 7/32" (.219") drill bit is too small to discern the difference in bore sizes. It will enter a clean .222" bore.

Bearcats were introduced in 1958 so those produced before 1960 likely have LR only bores; #s A001 thru X453, and possibly later. I don't have one that early to confirm.

Super Bearcats introduced 1970 (all steel except trigger guard until 1973) all have the .224" bore.

The Single Six LR only .222" bores ended at ~ #150,000 in 1959.

All Lightweight Single Sixes have .222" bores thru #212,530 when they ended production in 1959. The S (seconds) model Lightweights assembled in 8/64 and 4/65 are all numbered below #212,530 and may have either bore because they were assembled later.
 
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
11,654
Location
Kentucky
Yes, but we're not measuring at the root of the grooves, we are measuring the "clear bore" at the tips of the lands. These measure .219" for the magnum barrels and .217" for the LR barrels.

A 7/32" bit is .2187" and will JUST slip into the magnum bore but NOT into the LR bore.

This has worked just fine for me for, oh, fifty years or so, but do whatever you like.

And I did double-check this with iowegan, if anyone cares.

:mrgreen:
 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,041
Location
People's Republik of California
Ale-8(1) said:
Yes, but we're not measuring at the root of the grooves, we are measuring the "clear bore" at the tips of the lands. These measure .219" for the magnum barrels and .217" for the LR barrels.

A 7/32" bit is .2187" and will JUST slip into the magnum bore but NOT into the LR bore.
:mrgreen:

Ale,

True we're not measuring the groove diameter with the drill bit; actually can't measure it that way. The bore is the diameter between the top of the lands.

Try a #2 (.221") drill bit in your .22 Magnum barrel just for sake of discussion.
 
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
11,654
Location
Kentucky
Hondo44 said:
Ale-8(1) said:
Yes, but we're not measuring at the root of the grooves, we are measuring the "clear bore" at the tips of the lands. These measure .219" for the magnum barrels and .217" for the LR barrels.

A 7/32" bit is .2187" and will JUST slip into the magnum bore but NOT into the LR bore.
:mrgreen:

Ale,

True we're not measuring the groove diameter with the drill bit; actually can't measure it that way. The bore is the diameter between the top of the lands.

Try a #2 (.221") drill bit in your .22 Magnum barrel just for sake of discussion.


Hondo, that's exactly what I said.

I don't happen to have a #2 bit, and I don't need one to make the quick check we are both talking about . . . the 7/32" bit works quite nicely.

:mrgreen:
 

tylosaurus

Bearcat
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Messages
14
Location
Utah
Dave Celemets' wait list is moving into next year. I just put my Bearcat in line for a .22 Mag conversion.
 

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