Kit Gun - Bearcat Shopkeeper vs. S&W 63

[south_ridge]

I've been looking for a 3" S&W model 63 for a while for a general-purpose kit gun - mainly for carrying around on the farm while I'm doing chores. I've tried to buy one on a couple of occasions but nobody seems to have them.

Today I handled a Bearcat Shopkeeper for the second or third time. I'm starting to think I should just get one of those. If they had adjustable sights, I would already own one.

So here are some questions for those of you with the Shopkeeper:

1) Do you like yours?
2) Were you able to find ammo that shot close to point of aim, or did you have to file on the front or rear sight to make it hit where you wanted it to hit?

Thanks,

SR

 

[WIL TERRY]

I shot one just a month ago. Did NOT care for the shiny sights. IT did not shoot to point-of-aim at 50meters either. Did NOT care for the dinky ejector stroke that tended to leave most fired brass in the chambers and somehow sorta chewed upon the finger operating the ER at the same time. Did NOT really care for the 'feel' of that gripframe in comparison to either of my two currently owned Bearcat pistols. BOTH of my own BC pistols will easily outshoot that particular example of a "storekeeper" Bearcat. The best part; I did not have to buy it first to learn all this about it; Been there done that before !!

 

[G2]

While the Shopkeeper is a net looking little gun, IMO ... Too much money,
The quality, fit & finish was/is just not there. I took mine apart and gave it a good clean up and that helped a bunch but when I went to shoot it, it was way off. (5")
Bottom line I was disappointed and sent it down the road.
I concur that ejection was a PITA.

My S&W 63 is the way to go for a small .22 cal kit gun,,,,

and I own 12 Rugers to 1 Smith.

 

[Ladobe]

Never even seen let alone handled or shot a Shopkeeper in person, but it has no appeal to me anyway. I've owned a bunch of S&W Kit Guns from the old 22/32 on and loved them all. Last one was a 63 6-shot I shouldn't have let a gent talk me out of. It was a 4", had red ramp front and custom grips. It carried just as easy in my back pocket as my first two Bearcats did in the early 60's and the current Super Bearcat since 1971. If I got another S&W it wouldn't be the 8-shot.

 

[Ethang]

I have no experience with the shop keeper but can tell you the 63 is worth the hunt. I have an older one that my wife stole from me. Great little pistol. In a 22 I don't think the stupid lock would bother me too much other then being ugly, but if I were you I would find an older one.

 

[south_ridge]

G2 - How far were you shooting when the shopkeeper was 5" off?

I appreciate the comments about the 63. They support my desire to own one. I generally prefer the older Smiths, but the new offering has a lot of what I am looking for - primarily the 3" barrel. I have a 4" k-22 and want something a little smaller (and with a shorter barrel) for this particular purpose. Most of the older ones I have seen - and I haven't seen many - are 4" guns. They made some 2" guns for a while but they are rare enough that the prices have gone up quite a bit.

If anybody has positive experience with the shopkeeper I would love to hear it. I'm sure there are many guys out there who love theirs.

Thanks,

SR

 

[Boxhead]

Though I own a Bearcat and enjoy it, it is not even close to the M63. I have owned mine since the year they came out and IMO there is no better piece for such duty.

 

[eveled]

I agree keep looking for the S&W if not the 63, the 617 is an awesome gun, or go with a Ruger SP101. Ed

 

[Ethang]

The 617 is a great gun, but it is really heavy for a 22 field pistol.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I own the 9-shot Taurus version of the Smith, and while it's obviously no Smith it certainly beats my OM Bearcat for this particular application.

That said, I'd not give up the 'Cat.

 

[ren52157]

I have both. My Bearcat Shopkeeper experience has been frustrating. It's headed back to Ruger for the third time (first time hammer adjustment, second time cylinder replacement). I have consistent misfire issues. It will only reliably fire Federal ammo. Eight other American made varieties of 22 ammo average 2-6 misfires per cylinder. Ruger's tech notes show good results with Federal and Remington but they have been having some problems with Winchester. I can't get Winchester to work either and have never had all six rounds of Remington fire. Ruger customer service offered to replace it with a standard model Bearcat but could not offer a Shopkeeper replacement. They offered to take one more look at it but with no promise that performance can be improved. I don't know why this particular revolver is so problematic but I'm stilling holding out hope the technicians at Ruger can figure something out. It's a beautiful little revolver. Fit and finish seem great and accuracy is fine for a small frame, short barrel gun. Sights are workable if you're used to fixed sight revolvers. However, I don't think I'd go down this road again knowing that Talo versions are not replaceable under warranty.

All of the ammo that wouldn't fire in the Shopkeeper fired 100% in the 4 inch S&W model 63.

 

[south_ridge]

Guys,

Thanks for the feedback, which unfortunately is pretty consistent. It also matches much of what I've read elsewhere. I know internet forums tend to overweight the negative reviews, but it's telling that nobody has come to the defense of the little shopkeeper yet. I wish that wasn't the case, because it is such a great-looking little firearm.

I will continue my pursuit of the model 63 at a reasonable price. I may just have to redefine 'reasonable' based on what I've seen the past few months.

SR

 

[WIL TERRY]

AND HERE IS THE FUNNY PART....I have had S&W M63's in 2" and 4" [ at the same time ] and sold 'em both because I could not abide that silly orange insert in the front sight. It would have been easy and cheap to have a Baughman or Patridge front sight blade inserted but was I smart enough to do that oooooooh no !!! My momma thought I did look smarter than that also.....but i still have the S&W 4" M34 and perhaps the best of all [ drum roll here.....] the 5" HB M63-4, easily the finest shooting Kitgun I've ever had bar none. MY wife can pick the buttons off your shirt at 50 meters with it and not use all eight shots.

 

[Ethang]

Reasonable is subjective. Remember especially with older Smiths, you never pay too much, you just pay for them too soon.

 

[G2]

While the Shopkeeper is a net looking little gun, IMO ... Too much money,
The quality, fit & finish was/is just not there. I took mine apart and gave it a good clean up and that helped a bunch but when I went to shoot it, it was way off. (5")
Bottom line I was disappointed and sent it down the road.
I concur that ejection was a PITA.

My S&W 63 is the way to go for a small .22 cal kit gun,,,,

and I own 12 Rugers to 1 Smith.

I should add, I hate saying anything negative and normally just keep my mouth shut.

I also have a .22/MAG, 3.6", birdshead, fixed sights that shoots right on the money.

Lipsey's really needs to get another run of these guns, they are true gems.

 

[dcxplant]

Hi all,

I'm late to the party, but I was searching for Bearcat Shopkeeper threads.

I really like mine. I own a couple of 'Smiths, 686 and 29, and love them both. The 686 is my current favorite revolver. But, my newly acquired Bearcat Shopkeeper is a real sweet shooter. The fit and finish are fantastic. I did look at two different individual Shopkeepers to check ejection action with a handful of cases I brought along, and one did eject a little easier than the other; I bought that one

I test fired with 100 rounds and it shot less than 2" at 25 yards from a bench with no bag, just my arms resting on the bench (non-adjustable sights). The front sight was a bit shiny, but then again, so is the front blade on my blued Single Six. The ejection was not as snappy as my Single Six, but it was adequate. The last cylinder full was a little sticky from fouling, but I found that rotating the cylinder counter clockwise against the stop lets the ejector ride along the chamber's wall to hit the lip of the case making for a better extraction.

I'm very happy I bought the Shopkeeper version. It will be a great packing pistol on the trail this summer.

Happy shooting.

 

[south_ridge]

It is funny that this came back to the top, since I started this thread a couple of years ago. I eventually found and purchased a Bearcat Shopkeeper. I shot it some and carried it some, but I just never liked it as much as I thought I would. It didn't shoot near point of aim for me. I learned the correct amount of windage to apply - which was a lot - but I got used to it.

A couple of weeks ago a buddy had a 10/22 with a Mannlicher stock (one of the Walnut Talo ones from a couple of years ago). We made a trade that was agreeable to both of us.

One of these days I'll pick up a S&W Model 63. Until then I will just carry my 4" K-22.

SR

 

[dcxplant]

SR,
How funny, I bought that same 10/22 too, and the Boy Scout one for my son. Too bad about the windage on your pistol, sounds like a good for you trade though.

Happy shooting

 

[Bearcat]

Best "kit gun" ever...But I sold it because it was worth too much money. Replaced it with the Ruger SP-101 8-shot .22lr and put about $300 back into my pocket (about what I paid for the S&W 63 in the 1980s)....

 

[22/45 Fan]

Still another alternative kit gun and still in the Ruger family; the 4.2" SP-101 .22LR. It has fully adjustable sights and an 8-shot cylinder. A rugged version of the M63.