little bearcat question

[44-357]

where I got my old single six they had some bear cat 22s. How do you tell if they are older ones not the new ones? I have never messed with one.

 

[rugerguy]

if they are only marked on the left side of the frame,below the cylinder, Bearcat , NOT "New" Bearcat, then it should be an older one,aluminum grip, main frame, 'gold colored " (anodized) alumium trigger guards, if ALL steel, then it could be a Super bearcat ( serial numbers will be a #91 prefix) new ones are a #93 prefix............
serial numbers will tell about all you need to know..........then of course, its "condition, condition, condition" of the overall finish of the gun........ 8) :roll: :wink:

 

[44-357]

thanks are they good shooters?

 

[street]

if they are only marked on the left side of the frame,below the cylinder, Bearcat , NOT "New" Bearcat, then it should be an older one,aluminum grip, main frame, 'gold colored " (anodized) alumium trigger guards, if ALL steel, then it could be a Super bearcat ( serial numbers will be a #91 prefix) new ones are a #93 prefix............
serial numbers will tell about all you need to know..........then of course, its "condition, condition, condition" of the overall finish of the gun........ 8) :roll: :wink:

Only the New Bearcat will be marked on the Frame. The Old models both the Bearcat and the Super Bearcat are not marked at all on the frame. Only the cylinders are marked, "Ruger Bearcat". Both the Bearcat and Super Bearcat are marked the same.

 

[gtxmonte]

thanks are they good shooters?

Depends on the size of your hand, but for the most part NO. They are tiny and don't fit well into normal or large hands. Fixed sight so not inherently accurate. More of a novelty in my personal opinion...........BUT if you like Ruger pistols, you should likely own one. I have a nice older model that rarely gets shot because of the fit, but I have no itch to sell it either.

 

[flyguy958]

I enjoy mine, but I have medium hands. A really fun little gun.

 

[Fox Mike]

I have a few of them and can say that if you are looking for a 'tack driver' look elsewhere. If you are looking for a fun gun and a good kit gun then they will more than fill the bill. The new adjustable sight model, however, is capable of very good accuracy. I was very impressed with mine. Once adjusted it did hit where it was pointed, consistently.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

The Bearcat is a very cute little gun. I have admired them from afar but when I tried to shoot my brothers Cat my finger bairly fit in the trigger guard and it felt very uncomfortable in my hand.

 

[WAYNO]

thanks are they good shooters?

Okay, I'll be the odd man out and say they can be good shooters.

I've owned many over the years, and most, with the fixed sights, were not regulated to where or how I shoot. Then a year or two ago, Heliman ended up with a really nice old one that shot perfectly for me. Caused me to go buy another one to give it a try, and voila! The sights were again perfect for me. I shoot it often, and now seldom shoot my Single Sixes.

Yep, it's a tiny little gun. And folks profess them to not be manly. If ya set your pride aside for just a minute, and really try to make these things work for what they are, they are an extremely handy little gun.

Everything is relative. :mrgreen:


WAYNO.

 

[rugerguy]

tiny, not just because they are "small and cute", there is NOT a lot of room for folks with big (chubby) fingers, and the grip is very small, like an old fashioned "kit gun" to pack away in your 'kit' ( or possibles bag)
That being said small also means there is NOT a lot of room "inside, , the lock work, things are close together ,spacing is close, when the hammer is down, it rests against the firing pin and you can see this actually touches the rear of a case , and the cases are RIM FIRE.......tadaa, bump it and it will go bang, put a fat finger in, and the trigger will "go off" much easier than most other guns.......not the best example to be used for teaching young people or new shooters....LOTS of thought and proper instruction must be used.......accuracy is in the hands of the user, holder, shooter.......seen some folks cold NOT hit a barn ,from INSIDE the barn, and others can do 'head shots' on squirrels...............
and yes, I obviously mistated the marking on the frame, and meant to say ONLY the NEW model bearcats are marked...... 8) :roll: :wink:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

In other words, the original "old models" don't have the transfer bar ignition system.

;)

 

[Ruger1441]

I had an old bearcat that was dead on at around 75 yards. A lot of rabbits felt safe at that distance and they were dead wrong.

 

[Fox Mike]

That being said small also means there is NOT a lot of room "inside, , the lock work, things are close together ,spacing is close, when the hammer is down, it rests against the firing pin and you can see this actually touches the rear of a case , and the cases are RIM FIRE.......tadaa, bump it and it will go bang, put a fat finger in, and the trigger will "go off" much easier than most other guns.......not the best example to be used for teaching young people or new shooters.

I believe that I would teach a young person or new shooter the "load one, skip one, load four" method of carrying an OM Bearcat (or any other single action without a transfer bar or some type of safety modification).

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I wouldn't be without a bearcat. They are nice little pistols and some even shoot pretty well, depending on your eye and ammo you use. I've found the older ones shoot best with standard velocity ammo. I consider them a handy "kit gun" and as such is good to have around in the woods. May even provide a meal. If my son ever decides kids are in his future and marries his girl friend, I'd love to be able to teach a grand kid to shoot. Bearcat would be just the tool for that.

 

[Hondo44]

Easiest way to tell if it's a new model (or if it has been converted to the transfer bar safety) is the wide spur hammer like a mini super Blackhawk hammer. Also one can see the transfer bar when the hammer is cocked if it has one.

Bearcat accuracy has nothing to do with the sights. Most all are accurate. The only difference the sights make is how well the shooter can see the sights and if they're aligned for the shooter's sight picture. The sights and light weight only affect how accurate the shooter can shoot with the Bearcat, not the accuracy of the gun itself.

 

[eveled]

IMHO, the single six is the better choice for an adult. Even my kids like the single six better than my Bearcat.