The Ruger Bearcat

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Star43

Buckeye
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Last night I was looking at Bearcats (actually trying to see their grip frame, but that is another story). Anyway, Type in Ruger Bearcat, and you will get many, many photo examples of this little gun. I looked at a lot of them and then I watched the Ruger Tech Talk on the Bearcat. It is only a little less than 3 minutes. I watched it twice. I have never had the itch to get one before, but that was before I started looking at them, and to be honest I like what I see. I think I want one. But I really know nothing about them. For those who have one, please educate me on what I may have possibly been missing. What is it you like about the Ruger Bearcat ?? I thank you in advance. 👍
 
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Last night I was looking at Bearcats (actually trying to to see their grip frame, but that is another story). Anyway, Type in Ruger Bearcat, and you will get many, many photo examples of this little gun. I looked at a lot of them and then I watched the Ruger Tech Talk on the Bearcat. It is only little less than 3 minutes. I watched it twice. I have never had the itch to get one before, but that was before I started looking at them, and to be honest I like what I see. I think I want one. But I really know nothing about them. For those who have one, please educate me on what I may have possibly been missing. What is it you like about the Ruger Bearcat ?? I thank you in advance. 👍
 
Good advice. I just don't see them, so it's been like out of sight, out of mind. But you are right that it would be good to hold one first. 👍
 
Personally, I LOVE the Bearcat! 😍
My hands definitely aren't huge despite my 6' 3" frame, but it wouldn't really matter too much to me if they were. The Bearcat is perfectly scaled to the 22 LR cartridge...And, that's the #1 reason why I love 'em so much!

13359.jpeg
 
The Bearcat was originally designed as a small "kit" gun for folks who wanted a .22 LR AND it be small & easy to carry. Such as fishermen.
They are perfectly good smaller handguns.
By all means,, go on a search of gun shops, gun shows or pawn shops to put "hands on" first.

The Bearcat was introduced in 1958. The first ones were serial numbered 1-999. After that,, Bill started adding a letter of the alphabet to the front of the serial number. (A001 to A999) then moved to another letter of the alphabet. Hence the name "Alpha Cats!" The only letter not used was the letter "O" as it was too much like the number 0.
 
Last edited:
WAYNO said:
I've owned many, but I'm down to only one. And I only shoot it at the range, and then, not very often. And for no reason.

I have gorilla hands. Large but short fingers. I dwarf the Bearcat grip. But I also dwarf full size single action grips. Point is, they still all work fine for me.

I think we could call a Bearcat a kit gun. When I have need to carry or use a .22 revolver, I just seem to grab a Single Six, first. And again, for no reason.

This discussion could likely make me dig out my Bearcat for my next range trip.:cool:
Click to expand...
I think you should. You owe it to yourself and your down to only one: Bearcat !! Have fun. 🙂
 
contender said:
The Bearcat was originally designed as a small "kit" gun for folks who wanted a .22 LR AND it be small & easy to carry. Such as fishermen.
They are perfectly good smaller handguns.
By all means,, go on a search of gun shops, gun shows or pawn shops to put "hands on" first.

The Bearcat was introduced in 1958. The first ones were serial numbered 1-999. After that,, Bill started adding a letter of the alphabet to the front of the serial number. (A001 to A999) then moved to another letter of the alphabet. Hence the name "Alpha Cats!" The only letter not used was the letter "I" as it was too much like the number 1.
Click to expand...
Now I understand the "Alpha" thing. Interesting. Looking at Bull's-Eye's above, which is a nice looking gun.....I see 91 as the prefix ? Does that mean the year 1991 ? Probably not ?? Didn't they stop making them for a long time ??
Feel the 'Pane said:
I have to agree, the grip is small but 'doable' with custom grips. Here's my 1 & only, purchased to fill the void in my OM collection.

View attachment 47224
An AlphaCat wearing Seth Peterson stags.
Click to expand...
That's another beauty.....Love the grips !! That is very nice !!! 🙂🙂😊😊
 
BULL'S-EYE said:
Personally, I LOVE the Bearcat! 😍
My hands definitely aren't huge despite my 6' 3" frame, but it wouldn't really matter too much to me if they were. The Bearcat is perfectly scaled to the 22 LR cartridge...And, that's the #1 reason why I love 'em so much!

View attachment 47221
Click to expand...
I looked at yours again. There is something special about that blueing with the brass and the white, I guess Pearl grips......Very nice! 👍
 
Star43 said:
Now I understand the "Alpha" thing. Interesting. Looking at Bull's-Eye's above, which is a nice looking gun.....I see 91 as the prefix ? Does that mean the year 1991 ? Probably not ?? Didn't they stop making them for a long time ??

That's another beauty.....Love the grips !! That is very nice !!! 🙂🙂😊😊
Click to expand...
Beautiful and in the box !! Love it....😍
 
"My recollection is the letter "O" was not used because it looked to much like a zero?"

You are correct,, I made the mistake. It was the letter "O" not the letter "I."
 
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