Muley Gil
Blackhawk
I was able to just slip the twist end of a #2 drill bit into the muzzle of my Bearcat. I should be good to go for magnum ammo. I got another cylinder from a forum member. Now I need to rent a reamer and get this project done.
Muley Gil said:I was able to just slip the twist end of a #2 drill bit into the muzzle of my Bearcat. I should be good to go for magnum ammo. I got another cylinder from a forum member. Now I need to rent a reamer and get this project done.
Actually it is a 3.5" barrel.Hondo44 said:Armybrat,
That's nice, still has the 4" barrel.
Seems folks with the ss 3" have to pick out the empties,the extra 1/2" in blue solves that. I'm waiting for the unfluted 3 1/2" in stainless!!Armybrat said:Actually it is a 3.5" barrel.Hondo44 said:Armybrat,
That's nice, still has the 4" barrel.
Oddly enough, the stainless Shopkeeper barrel is 3" according to the catalog. Who knows why the difference?
. Jim, I wish you were closer, I have an Alpha Cat you could measure bore. I really want a .22 M in a Bearcat. I handled a Wrangler, bronze finish. Then dealer layed a 1959 Single Six Magnum on glass counter. I bought the 1959 Ruger. I would rather have the early Rugers, they all shoot great for me. Character, with a solid feel.Hondo44 said: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.
foxtrapper said:Seems folks with the ss 3" have to pick out the empties,the extra 1/2" in blue solves that. I'm waiting for the unfluted 3 1/2" in stainless!!
Armybrat said:Yeah, the crescent-shaped ejector rod head (designed to slide over the cylinder pin) seems flimsy and is kind of ugly. Ruger could have enclosed the forward end, making it cup-shaped like half a thimble.
I hadn't thought of changing to another ejector rod.
eveled said:Are all Bearcat cylinders the same?