I'm going to buy a new Bearcat in the next week or so. There are a few available locally but I cannot decide between blue or stainless. My only reasons for wanting stainless is ease of cleaning and I can "neglect" it. By that I mean put it in my trunk in my go-bag and not worry about corrosion. Personally I prefer the look of the blue, especially having a blue/dark front sight blade. Your thoughts?
Bearcat, Blue or Stainless
- Thread starter vtmactech
- Start date
flatgate
Hawkeye
First things first..... Welcome to Ruger Forum!
The obvious answer to your question is "buy one of each"
I like stainless steel revolvers since they are so easy to maintain.
I like blued revolvers since they are "more traditional".
OK, so I have more than two Bearcats..........:roll:
flatgate
The obvious answer to your question is "buy one of each"
I like stainless steel revolvers since they are so easy to maintain.
I like blued revolvers since they are "more traditional".
OK, so I have more than two Bearcats..........:roll:
flatgate
Floridaoutdoors
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- May 21, 2011
- Messages
- 210
My blued Bearcat has ended up seeing quite a bit of service on the trail,camp.With just basic care the 'Cat has weathered well.
I like Flatgate's most masterful answer!
Ruger offers a nice holster for the Bearcat.
Enjoy and Welcome!
I like Flatgate's most masterful answer!
Ruger offers a nice holster for the Bearcat.
Enjoy and Welcome!
A
Anonymous
I prefer stainless for the much easier care; everything I have is stainless except a 10/22. On New Bearcats, the ejector rod housing is black or silver anodized aluminum, and neither quite matches the rest of the gun. EWK Arms (also a member of RugerForum) makes stainless steel replacement housings:
http://www.ewkarms.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3
He has also on occaision made blued steel ones, but not at the moment.
I have two stainless New Bearcats, and both have EWK housings, a big improvement, to me. One definite reason to buy a Bearcat in stainless.
http://www.ewkarms.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3
He has also on occaision made blued steel ones, but not at the moment.
I have two stainless New Bearcats, and both have EWK housings, a big improvement, to me. One definite reason to buy a Bearcat in stainless.
Really, not much difference. I suppose if you leave in bag for a year, run it through washer a few times.......it will rust. Stainless will rust also.
For what it is worth......exterior, on blued or stainless, use shoe wax.....color doesn't matter......apply, rub, let dry, polish.......have never had any rust develop after exposure to rain, water, humidity, etc......
Either will require some regular attention......only non-maintenance are those plastic water pistols or rubber look-a-likes.........
For what it is worth......exterior, on blued or stainless, use shoe wax.....color doesn't matter......apply, rub, let dry, polish.......have never had any rust develop after exposure to rain, water, humidity, etc......
Either will require some regular attention......only non-maintenance are those plastic water pistols or rubber look-a-likes.........
deserttrans
Buckeye
Like flatgate said.... the SS is less maintenance. But to me the blue is much more to my liking. It is hard to beat a pretty blued gun!
As was said, get one of each. Be advised they have a reproduction problem. I bought one simply to have one and now I have four of them...all this year. I try to keep them separated but they keep reproducing. :roll: :roll:
contender
Ruger Guru
When I first saw this post, I was going to simply put; "Buy both" but I see where Flatgate has eloquently posted the same answer. (Contender who has more than 2 also!)
CraigC
Hawkeye
I wanted stainless for my Bearcat, so I could slip it into my pocket while fishing. I typically prefer blued guns but it's a wonderful little sixgun.
Floridaoutdoors
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- May 21, 2011
- Messages
- 210
all this good talk and now I am thinking of getting a second Bearcat.
be great if the next one had decent adjustable sights,convertible/mag cylinder.........
be great if the next one had decent adjustable sights,convertible/mag cylinder.........
A
Anonymous
Floridaoutdoors said:
You mean a Single-Six, right? Some people are just never happy with the way something comes...... :roll:
Myself, I think Bearcats are great as is. I am glad I didn't buy one before they lengthened the barrel and tucked the barrel roll mark underneath.
CraigC
Hawkeye
I'd like to see a factory adjustable sight Bearcat too.
A
Anonymous
bearcatter said:
Great as is, except the aluminum ejector rod housing, I should have said. Wouldn't have bought one without an alternative ERH.
KLR650
Bearcat
Depends on where you live in my opinion, Im in Arizona where its almost always hot and dry, or cool and dry so blue would be fine here. If your in a real humid state I would go with the stainless. I am from a more humid state and I can tell that blue guns will collect rust like flys on a picnic table in no time.
Muley Gil
Blackhawk
I had an OM Bearcat and had to sell it years ago. I have owned a stainless and a blue NM Bearcat. Needed to sell one, so I sold the blue one and never looked back. The SS BC was the most accurate of the three.
Calthrop
Single-Sixer
I was sitting here trying to give you advice sifted from all of my experiences with Bear Cats.
Go to the store. Go to every gun store you can get to. Handle every BC until you find the one that is right.
I kind of felt sorry for you when you said that you could neglect it. It is hope that you will never let the sun set on a dirty gun. Two more things. After your gun finds the ammo it likes. You did not know you were in for a .22 ammo buying/ test extravaganza? Paco Kelly. Paco Kelly makes a tool that will transform the ammo used. It is called a nasty nose and has earned great respect on shooters on the Forum.
Best wishes and good luck. Calthrop
Go to the store. Go to every gun store you can get to. Handle every BC until you find the one that is right.
I kind of felt sorry for you when you said that you could neglect it. It is hope that you will never let the sun set on a dirty gun. Two more things. After your gun finds the ammo it likes. You did not know you were in for a .22 ammo buying/ test extravaganza? Paco Kelly. Paco Kelly makes a tool that will transform the ammo used. It is called a nasty nose and has earned great respect on shooters on the Forum.
Best wishes and good luck. Calthrop
Calthrop
Single-Sixer
Yup you are right I read to much into sentence. Neglect kind of pushed a button I guess. Sorry if I ruffled any feathers. Best. Calthrop
I was thinking. The BC is the most difficult handgun I have ever learned to shoot. I must tell you I began loosing my hearing at about age ten or so to my aunts OM Convertible. I believe it was the gun that fired .22 mags. I digress. The regular rim fires report were enough to make my ears ring.
When I got out of the Army in '71 I bought a Single Six with a nine and a half inch barrel. A recession was on. I had a job. A friend and I hiked the back country deserts//this is when you could//and I shot that gun loose. My next purchase was a BC.
I had been in matches. Bulls eye. I had fired most of the Military's and some Naval ordnance. The BearCat is in a class of its own. I can almost assure you will find it is not a firearm to familiarize your self with, clean and stow for a bad day.
As I said above there is the ritual of the ammo selection. Finding what it likes. Then there is you getting used to the sights and the fact that the trigger is on the left side rear of the frame in the trigger guard. The grip is small yet somehow manageable for those of us with slabs of ham sized hands.
A word of caution. No snake shot. Solid shot. When you get your second one whichever is the stainless find a gunsmith called Alan Hortan {SP} City in the land of Huston, of the Great State of Texas and talk of magnums//The dark side: get your hearing protection, sunscreen, and protective eye ware//.
I was thinking. The BC is the most difficult handgun I have ever learned to shoot. I must tell you I began loosing my hearing at about age ten or so to my aunts OM Convertible. I believe it was the gun that fired .22 mags. I digress. The regular rim fires report were enough to make my ears ring.
When I got out of the Army in '71 I bought a Single Six with a nine and a half inch barrel. A recession was on. I had a job. A friend and I hiked the back country deserts//this is when you could//and I shot that gun loose. My next purchase was a BC.
I had been in matches. Bulls eye. I had fired most of the Military's and some Naval ordnance. The BearCat is in a class of its own. I can almost assure you will find it is not a firearm to familiarize your self with, clean and stow for a bad day.
As I said above there is the ritual of the ammo selection. Finding what it likes. Then there is you getting used to the sights and the fact that the trigger is on the left side rear of the frame in the trigger guard. The grip is small yet somehow manageable for those of us with slabs of ham sized hands.
A word of caution. No snake shot. Solid shot. When you get your second one whichever is the stainless find a gunsmith called Alan Hortan {SP} City in the land of Huston, of the Great State of Texas and talk of magnums//The dark side: get your hearing protection, sunscreen, and protective eye ware//.
