The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Revolver Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 17, 2013, 09:03 AM   #1
ruger357w
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 13, 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 158
Ruger Bearcat

How accurate are this little rugers? I held one the other day at my lgs and it felt good. I'm just looking for a nice little plinker.
ruger357w is offline  
Old February 17, 2013, 09:41 AM   #2
rep1954
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 5, 2009
Location: Mid Western Michigan
Posts: 1,187
This one from 1960 will shoot 1 1/2" to 2" groups all day at 15 yards. I have owned a couple of others that would not better 3" at that distance.

rep1954 is offline  
Old February 17, 2013, 09:57 AM   #3
BlkHawk73
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 14, 1999
Location: Maine
Posts: 756
For what it's intended to be, it's a great little revolver. Keep the expectations within the realistic area, and you'll be very pleased.
__________________
Shoot safe, shoot often
BlkHawk73 is offline  
Old February 17, 2013, 10:47 AM   #4
IDAHOMIKE
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 25, 2007
Location: Gooding, ID
Posts: 348
Mine is pop can accurate out to 50 yards. Ive got an older one and wouldnt trade it for the world. It even gets to be a pretty much EDC piece.
IDAHOMIKE is offline  
Old February 17, 2013, 07:32 PM   #5
Rainbow Demon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2012
Posts: 397
Something to be wary of when buying an older Bearcat.
I got one many years ago that couldn't hit the ground if you dropped it. I could find nothing wrong with that little revolver and never figured out what was wrong with it. Timing was perfect, yet it spit lead worse than any revolver I'd ever run across.
The gunshop took it back in trade in on another pistol.

A few years back I found the answer.
Someone else had the same problem with their Bearcat and tracked down the cause.
A number of these revolvers got past quality control (which at times has been a joke) with no forcing cone cut in the barrel. The raw breech was chewing up the bullets and spitting peeled away bits out the gap.
Thats the one thing that it never occured to me to check.

So if buying an older Bearcat check for presence of the forcing cone.

Most likely the majority of the defective ones were sent back to the factory long ago or repaired. Still there are occasions when pistols were not fired much if any and the situation not recognized.
Rainbow Demon is offline  
Old February 17, 2013, 10:17 PM   #6
bedbugbilly
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2009
Posts: 3,283
I have a Super Bearcat - circa early 70s - and I would echo what rep1954 said. It is a fun little gun to shoot and I sort of have kept it for my "wife's gun" if she goes to the range with us when we shoot. It's a nice little plinker and a great size to carry on hikes. etc. I certainly wouldn't expect it to take the eye out of a gnat at 50 paces, but overall, mine does a good job.

Mine is in "pristine" condition so I try to keep it nice along with the original box and paperwork. I wanted a "knock around" SA 22 so I picked up a Heritage Rough Rider with a 4 3/4" barrel. Certainly not a Ruger but I've been very happy with it. . . and I also own Colts, S & Ws, etc.

Good luck with your Bearcat if you decide to get it. I think they are a fine little pistol and if there are any problems, Ruger should make it right as they seem to offer fine customer service. . . . but it should be just fine right out of the box. With the ammo shortage, the nice thing is that in a SA 22 you also have the option of shooting shorts instead of LR if they aren't available. Where I am for the winter - LR just aren't on the shelves but i was able to get a quantity of shorts that will work well in my Bearcat, RR and the Henry.
__________________
If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63
bedbugbilly is offline  
Old February 18, 2013, 06:36 AM   #7
CajunBass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 6, 2005
Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia
Posts: 4,766
I had a Bearcat for a long while (at least for me). I called it the gun to carry when I didn't want to carry a gun. I scared several squirrels with it, but never actually harmed one. Not the guns fault I asure you I've scared them with a lot of other guns too.

The Bearcat however is plenty accurate enough to knock a can or pine cone around though at normal plinking distances, and probably for a lot longer ranges than I ever tried it.

Like most other guns I've owned at one time or another, I got bored with it and sold it off for something else. I might buy another one one of these days.
__________________
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)

Last edited by CajunBass; February 19, 2013 at 07:30 AM.
CajunBass is offline  
Old February 18, 2013, 08:00 PM   #8
TailGator
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 8, 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,786
I was browsing around earlier today and was intrigued to see that Bud's has listed the Bearcat Shopkeeper - with a 3 inch barrel and bird head grip. Cute little bugger - might need to put it on my list.
TailGator is offline  
Old February 18, 2013, 10:33 PM   #9
redlevel42
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 27, 2007
Location: South Georgia
Posts: 310
Ruger Bearcat

Minute of Mt. Dew can & pine cone at 15-20 yards! A wonderful little plinker. I haven' shot it at paper yet. Don't know if I will . . .
Attached Images
File Type: jpg ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361244447.472237.jpg (75.1 KB, 104 views)
redlevel42 is offline  
Old February 19, 2013, 11:31 AM   #10
Glenn E. Meyer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Posts: 20,064
That Shopkeeper is adorable. I have standard Bearcat and do I need this one?

Well, since there is no 22 LR to be had lately - I'll wait.

It's so cute.
__________________
NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens
Glenn E. Meyer is offline  
Old February 19, 2013, 09:16 PM   #11
bamaranger
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 2009
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 8,273
coke can accurate

I've never benched mine. It seemed to have a distinct tendency to shoot off to one side (left I think) and I was giving some serious thought to sending it off to Ruger for a 6 shot conversion and some tweaking to get to point of aim.

But....., the pistol had a Bubba'd cylinder pin made from a screw driver shaft. I bought a genuine old model pin on line, and the little gun now seems to shoot to point of aim! Those dinky sights are a pain, but when I do right, a coke can at 15-20 yds is in grave danger.

It won't go back to Ruger now!
bamaranger is offline  
Old February 20, 2013, 06:23 PM   #12
TailGator
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 8, 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,786
Quote:
That Shopkeeper is adorable. I have standard Bearcat and do I need this one?

Well, since there is no 22 LR to be had lately - I'll wait.

It's so cute.
We both waited too long. It is listed as out of stock now. This market is nuts.
TailGator is offline  
Old February 20, 2013, 06:51 PM   #13
Jakes
Member
 
Join Date: September 3, 2007
Posts: 20
Had one a stainless,sent it back to Ruger 3 time it came back doing the same thing.Now it at the bottom of a lake in ND.
Jakes is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 07:57 PM   #14
Glenn E. Meyer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Posts: 20,064
I was thinking if they could make the Shopkeeper in 327, that would be an awesome little thing.
__________________
NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens
Glenn E. Meyer is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 08:13 PM   #15
Shane Tuttle
Staff
 
Join Date: November 28, 2005
Location: Montana
Posts: 9,442
I haven't benched mine, either, yet. So far, it seems to be nearly as accurate as my wife's Buck Mark Hunter. And that thing has a long bull barrel with a high-viz front sight if that means anything.

As bedbugbilly said, it may not shoot a gnat's eye at 50yds. But I love the Bearcat. I looked for a long time for one. Nearly gave up until someone posted one here for sale some time back. I'm certainly not disappointed in the performance nor the fit/finish.
__________________
If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language.

Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting
Shane Tuttle is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 08:27 PM   #16
Jbar4Ranch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 19, 1999
Location: Near Helena, Montana
Posts: 1,719


I had eight at one time and seven when this pic was taken, but I don't remember why the seventh one didn't make it into the picture.
I've since sold the two very early models with the plastic grips like rep1954's is sporting, but still have the other five. All old models, not current production.
__________________
Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced...

SASS 47015
Jbar4Ranch is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 10:05 PM   #17
Super Sneaky Steve
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 9, 2011
Posts: 1,246
I have the shopkeeper and so far it sucks. Extraction is impossible with fingers. I have to pull the cylinder and punch them out with the basepin. Not cool, but it is pretty.

Super Sneaky Steve is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 10:35 PM   #18
redlevel42
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 27, 2007
Location: South Georgia
Posts: 310
I have the shopkeeper and so far it sucks. Extraction is impossible with fingers. I have to pull the cylinder and punch them out with the basepin.

Mine has improved greatly in that regard. I shot some Blazer ammo originally, and had the same kind of problem you describe. Next, I shot some old loose ammo in a cigar box, probably several different brands. Most of the time, extraction was pretty easy. Today I shot a box of Remington Cyclone Hollowpoints. I noticed that they seemed to be more powerful (at least a louder report), more accurate, and much easier to extract than any thing I have shot in it yet. I probably have shot close to 400-500 rounds, and I haven't cleaned it yet. Many of the Remington cases today almost fell out of the chambers with just gravity. Keep shooting it. It is a wonderful little plinker. The pine cones and drink cans have had a rough time since I got mine.

Box of loose .22lr and .45ACP ammo being consumed by the two Birdshead revolvers
__________________
Georgia on My Mind
redlevel42 is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 11:27 PM   #19
Super Sneaky Steve
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 9, 2011
Posts: 1,246
Good to know redlevel. I'll try to put it through it's paces again soon.
Looks like we have the same taste in revolvers.


Mine's a .45 Colt.
Super Sneaky Steve is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 11:38 PM   #20
ricko
Member
 
Join Date: February 2, 2013
Posts: 96
The Bearcat was my 'cowboy' gun in the 60s when I was about 12 years old. I was never good enough with a pistol to tell you how accurate it was, but it was a sweet little gun, very nicely made. It was certainly as accurate as I could make use of.
ricko is offline  
Old February 21, 2013, 11:50 PM   #21
kilimanjaro
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 23, 2009
Posts: 3,963
Pop cans at 200 yards. Put it on a rest, breathe, and squeeze.

It's better for plinking, though. Lots of fun.
kilimanjaro is offline  
Old February 22, 2013, 06:27 AM   #22
ruger357w
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 13, 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 158
Well I think i'm convinced. I guess i'm going to be picking one up in the near future. Now my lgs has one for $450.00 is is about 15 minates for my house. I have located one about 100 miles away that is the old model for $400. with fuel cost I would have the same in both, just more travel time. ?
ruger357w is offline  
Old February 22, 2013, 07:47 AM   #23
kcub
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 24, 2010
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 3,318
I have an old model that shoots pretty high. If I use hyper velocity ammo it shoots close to dead on since the bullet is out of the barrel before the front rises from recoil.

For you super bearcat owners, you can shoot 22 WRF as well. Good to know in these ammo constrained times since it's an oddball that might be on the shelf. It's actually a good hunting load for any 22 magnum when you dont want to ruin meat.
kcub is offline  
Old February 22, 2013, 08:49 AM   #24
SGreve32x
Member
 
Join Date: January 30, 2013
Location: J'Ville, Iowa
Posts: 27
I had an old 3 screw and I thought it was pretty accurate. Not every shot hit the bullseye but what do you expect from a pistol with a 5.5 inch barrel
SGreve32x is offline  
Old February 22, 2013, 04:15 PM   #25
wooly booger
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 22, 2013
Location: on the edge
Posts: 143
I have one from the mid 80s. It has a permanent home in my flyfishing vest. It is plenty accurate for what I need..I've taken a few squirrels and grouse for the camp pot and even a badger and a beaver with it. You need to find a flavor of ammo that they like. They can be very finicky. Mine prefers mini mags. Stingers and Remington Thunderbolts are horrid through it.
wooly booger is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06709 seconds with 8 queries