New Model Ruger Bearcat
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2022 3:20 pm
We've slowly been easing back into burning powder after a long layoff due to Covid as well as taking a long layoff after purging most of our powder burning guns a couple years back. We did keep our favorite cartridge guns, though, and one of those was this mint condition original Ruger Bearcat 22 LR made in 1970. Even have the original box. Won't part with this one.
I've had a long love affair with this little single action 22 LR since I shot the first one back in the 60s. The little BC has a rep for being hard to shoot, but in my experience with over a half a dozen Bearcats over the years, the Bearcat is actually an inherently very accurate little revolver. It's the Bearcats small size and tiny sights that make it a challenge to shoot up to its accuracy potential.
As much as I love those Ruger Old Model single actions like the little Bearcat above, I like to back them up with one of the New Model versions to save wear and tear on the originals. Thus I've been on the prowl to add a New Model Bearcat this last year. Any of you been trying to buy a revolver, recently? Well, good luck getting a new one. Found a used stainless New Model Bearcat a couple weeks, ago, but the owner was asking more than the new price because there's nothing available new. No thanks.
Stopped at my favorite LGS this morning, though, and low and behold, there was a used 2019 vintage Bearcat for sale that showed no evidence of having been fired. Better yet, the action and the trigger were excellent and, even better, got it for a very reasonable price. (By the way, don't confuse the Bearcat with the Ruger Wrangler. The Bearcat is heads and shoulders better in construction quality than the cheaper Wrangler.)
Here it is, Old Model on top with the New Model below.
The gun even came with a handmade leather holster for the Bearcat made by Leatherwork Holsters.
Just how small id the Bearcat? Here it next to my Cimarron 357.
Okay, a revolver with fixed sights is always something of an unknown when you buy it as to where the gun shoots. You just hope you get one that shoots reasonably close to your point of aim. Time to go shoot the newly acquired Bearcat.
Not to worry, this one is perfect using a dead on hold at 16 yards with Eley Subsonic 22 LR HPs. For testing purposes, I just sat in a lawn chair at that distance and rested my forearm on one knee, not too different from the way I would shoot this little gun in the field without the lawn chair. (The steel 22 LR bullet trap I use tends to spray the paper targets with lead fragments.)
Also did well with CB 22 Shorts (shot lower) and CCI SV (shot a little higher), but doubt I'll find anything better than the Eley for this little jewel of a gun.
Yup, I am one happy cowgirl.
I've had a long love affair with this little single action 22 LR since I shot the first one back in the 60s. The little BC has a rep for being hard to shoot, but in my experience with over a half a dozen Bearcats over the years, the Bearcat is actually an inherently very accurate little revolver. It's the Bearcats small size and tiny sights that make it a challenge to shoot up to its accuracy potential.
As much as I love those Ruger Old Model single actions like the little Bearcat above, I like to back them up with one of the New Model versions to save wear and tear on the originals. Thus I've been on the prowl to add a New Model Bearcat this last year. Any of you been trying to buy a revolver, recently? Well, good luck getting a new one. Found a used stainless New Model Bearcat a couple weeks, ago, but the owner was asking more than the new price because there's nothing available new. No thanks.
Stopped at my favorite LGS this morning, though, and low and behold, there was a used 2019 vintage Bearcat for sale that showed no evidence of having been fired. Better yet, the action and the trigger were excellent and, even better, got it for a very reasonable price. (By the way, don't confuse the Bearcat with the Ruger Wrangler. The Bearcat is heads and shoulders better in construction quality than the cheaper Wrangler.)
Here it is, Old Model on top with the New Model below.
The gun even came with a handmade leather holster for the Bearcat made by Leatherwork Holsters.
Just how small id the Bearcat? Here it next to my Cimarron 357.
Okay, a revolver with fixed sights is always something of an unknown when you buy it as to where the gun shoots. You just hope you get one that shoots reasonably close to your point of aim. Time to go shoot the newly acquired Bearcat.
Not to worry, this one is perfect using a dead on hold at 16 yards with Eley Subsonic 22 LR HPs. For testing purposes, I just sat in a lawn chair at that distance and rested my forearm on one knee, not too different from the way I would shoot this little gun in the field without the lawn chair. (The steel 22 LR bullet trap I use tends to spray the paper targets with lead fragments.)
Also did well with CB 22 Shorts (shot lower) and CCI SV (shot a little higher), but doubt I'll find anything better than the Eley for this little jewel of a gun.
Yup, I am one happy cowgirl.
