New Bearcat magnum a possibility?

[edorfox]

Hi,

I have been pondering a new addition and in examining a stainless Bearcat, I notice Ruger has "conveniently" left off the customary "LR" on the barrel where it is only stamped .22 CAL. The cylinder is clearly marked .22 LR. Now a question, has anyone with one of these slugged the barrel to see if Ruger is "planning ahead" with a .224" magnum bore already in place?

Ed

 

[flatgate]

Ed,

Sir, you are late to the party.....

Ruger produced .22 mag. New Bearcats back in 1993. They had "problems" with the mag cylinders which, In My NOT So Humble Opinion, were the result of poor gun handling techniques and not a design issue. Nonetheless, Ruger discontinued the .22 magnum cylinder after about 1,000 .22 LR/.22 Mag convertibles were shipped.

So, you betcha, one could convert a New Bearcat to .22 mag. Several of the "name" gunsmiths/gun builders have been making them for years.

Surf over to www.gunblast.com and look for Boge Quinn's Bearcats....

flatgate

 

[COR]

They already tried that and recalled the 22mags years ago...it is a true 22 barrel, which is probably why they tend to outshoot the Single Six, generally speaking in a 22LR.

Many gunsmiths will ream them out to 22Mag for around $150 bucks or less. It can be done safely but don't take my word for it, ask a professional and confirm.

Boge Quinn is the resident Bearcat addiction counselor but keep in mind that he himslef has yet to recover from said disease...

 

[flatgate]

...it is a true 22 barrel...

I question that statement. Knowing Ruger the answer would be "no, it's the same as the current production Single-Six". Ah, but I've NOT slugged the bore any of my New Bearcats, have you?

flatgate

 

[tek4260]

What problem would a magnum Bearcat have from mishandling that a standard 22LR be immune to?

 

[flatgate]

What problem would a magnum Bearcat have from mishandling that a standard 22LR be immune to?

The spitting of jacket fragments when firing "out of battery". Much different effects than similar situations using .22 LR ammo.

Ruger says the trouble occurred when the user loaded up his mag cylinder, on half cock, then pulled the hammer back a wee bit, squeezed the trigger a wee bit then lowered the hammer to "at rest". At that point the revolver was "out of battery". They implied that firing in that situation could result in the cartridge being discharged "out of alignment" with the barrel.

I don't swallow that statement. Try fanning the little bugger with mags on board! A short stroked hammer will still pop the rimfire cap, so to speak, with possible dangerous results.

MY OPINION ONLY!!!

flatgate

Not one, not two, but THREE New Bearcat Convertibles...
Yes, three consecutive serial numbers, too.

 

[COR]

...it is a true 22 barrel...

I question that statement. Knowing Ruger the answer would be "no, it's the same as the current production Single-Six". Ah, but I've NOT slugged the bore any of my New Bearcats, have you?

flatgate

No I have not...nor will I if it still shoots straight :wink: ...I made an assumption based on what I have heard and read and my experience with both guns. God knows you know much more about Rugers than I. Someone has slugged it that may chime in here but I can't confirm my "suspicion" yet.

 

[G2]

Never slugged the Barrel, and have since parted with this little gem, to a fellow forum member.

It shot/shoots POA w/ Winchester ammo.

I was going to send it in and get another LR Cylinder fitted,
-BUT-
IMO this is the way these little feller's should be, 22 MAG !!
A whoot to shoot !!

FYI
Bore the cylinder to 22 MAG- $80. A very nice job performed by a well known Gunsmith in Texas.
New Ruger fitted .22LR Cylinder ~$150 as quoted from RUGER.

 

[5of7]

CCI is now loading .22 LR ammo called "velocitor" that they say will generate 1440 FPS out of a rifle and this with a plated 40 gr. hollow point bullet.

I do not know the velocity out of a 4" handgun, but I will know soon as I have 500 rounds coming from Midway.

The .22 Mg. will come out at about 1250 to 1300 in a 4" revolver. It will be interesting to see what the difference is.

I will shoot some in me Bearcat and give you all report next week sometime.

 

[Boge Quinn]

http://www.gunblast.com/Boge_BowenBearcat.htm

 

[Charon]

I just slugged the barrels on my New Model Bearcat, and my Old Model Single Six Convertible. The Bearcat has a 0.2225" barrel, near as I can measure, and the Single Six has a 0.224" barrel. The Bearcat was produced in 2005, according to Ruger's website, and the Old Model Single Six in 1972. I was unable to get what I thought were reliable measurements in the grooves pf the slugs, which would correspond to the lands in the barrels, but they seemed to be about 0.217" or 0.218".

 

[pete44ru]

I guess the New Model BC's are covered - but alas poor Yorick, what of the Old Models ?

I have a pristine 1969-DOM BC, that I'm thinking of making into a .22 Mag via either reaming the issue LR cylinder's chambers, or getting a second cylinder to rechamber.

What I's REALLY like is to convert it to .32H&R - but can't afford that, and eat too.

Whaddyathink ?

.

 

[Boge Quinn]

My Bowen Bearcat was built on an Old Model, but Hamilton says he won't do another - strictly New Models from now on.

I have a WONDERFUL Alan Harton 5-shot 32 Magnum, built on an Old Model Super Bearcat.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Sounds like I've got a new project coming up. Glad I've got two bearcats. One would make a fine magnum!!!

 

[Boge Quinn]

I never miss an opportunity to post pics of my Harton 32 Magnum Bearcat! It's one of the COOLEST sixguns I own - but of course, I do love Bearcats. The only thing I'd do differently now is, I'd have Alan use the Clements Pre-War rear sight (as Bowen did on my 22 convertible Bearcat) instead of the J-frame sight. Nothing wrong with the J-frame sight, I just think the Clements sight is more aesthetically pleasing on a Bearcat, it looks like it belongs on there.

Anyway - mine is the blued one, built on a "safety converted" Old Model Super Bearcat. The stainless one was built right after mine for my Yooper pal, Lloyd Smale. Both feature Eagle American Elk grips, fitted by Harton.

 

[Danjet500]

Very cool, Boge. And nice serial number on the stainless job.

 

[flatgate]

I just slugged the barrels on my New Model Bearcat, and my Old Model Single Six Convertible.

Very interesting! So, Ruger's using the original OM Bearcat barrel specs. Wow, I'm surprised!

flatgate

 

[5of7]

I never miss an opportunity to post pics of my Harton 32 Magnum Bearcat! It's one of the COOLEST sixguns I own - but of course, I do love Bearcats. The only thing I'd do differently now is, I'd have Alan use the Clements Pre-War rear sight (as Bowen did on my 22 convertible Bearcat) instead of the J-frame sight. Nothing wrong with the J-frame sight, I just think the Clements sight is more aesthetically pleasing on a Bearcat, it looks like it belongs on there.

Did Harton have to open up the channel in the frame to load the .32 Mg. ctgs?

In my Single Six 32 Mg. it is a snug fit and the Bearcat is a little smaller gun.

 

[Boge Quinn]

Did Harton have to open up the channel in the frame to load the .32 Mg. ctgs?

In my Single Six 32 Mg. it is a snug fit and the Bearcat is a little smaller gun.

Yes, he did. It's subtle, but you can see it in comparison to a standard Bearcat. Here's a pic of an Old Model Super Bearcat (a different one than the one Alan converted):

And here are the Harton 32 Magnums:

 

[gramps]

Boge you are no bearcat addiction counselor. You sir are an enabler of the highest sort. Nice pics and guns, and I don't even like SA's
gramps

 

[Boge Quinn]

My name is Boge, and I'm a Bearcat-holic...

 

[jimbo1096]

Very nice Boge, Makes me want one too, and I'm not a Bearcat-aholic.

 

[Quarterbore]

Funny, and I had foolish ideas of going the other way (17 HMR) but that 32 really is an interesting idea. My hands are just too big for the bearcat so I think I will stick to my single sixes. Very nice customs in this thread however!

 

[Boge Quinn]

I have big hands, but a Bearcat nestles in there just fine. Doesn't keep me from having a bunch of Single-Sixes too! God is good.

 

[edorfox]

Hmmm... dual cylinder Bearcat...Gunbroker. Anyone here?

Ed

 

[peyton]

I have been patient long enough, Boge what was the conversion price for the 32 if you don't mind giving us a ball park figure? And will Harton do this work again in your opinion?

 

[Boge Quinn]

I have been patient long enough, Boge what was the conversion price for the 32 if you don't mind giving us a ball park figure? And will Harton do this work again in your opinion?

Peyton, I'd rather not give prices on a public forum - suffice it here to say it was a surprisingly low figure. If you'd like to email me I'd be glad to go into more detail. He will do (and has done) more of them, in fact he is quite fond of the conversion.

 

[peyton]

Boge that is understandable. For the conversion would I need a regular bearcat or is the magnum bearcat actually have a longer cylinder window?

 

[Boge Quinn]

Boge that is understandable. For the conversion would I need a regular bearcat or is the magnum bearcat actually have a longer cylinder window?

Any steel-frame Bearcat will work fine. For a 32 Magnum the frame window does not have to be lengthened. For a 327 Federal, it does. Alan has done that, with spectacular results, but it's quite a bit more money.

 

[peyton]

Let me ask, a bearcat can be converted to use 327? If that the case what is that fellow address?? Oh, I better start looking for a Bearcat!!