North country gal

When I was a youngster, a friend had an old Ruger Bearcat that we shot just for fun and, oh yes, the Bearcat was fun to shoot, though I never got around to buying a Bearcat for myself, probably because I already had a Single Six. That changed, this week, when I took a blued New Bearcat home with me.

It was definitely out of character for me to buy a New Bearcat, given that i've tended to avoid fixed sight guns like the plague. I'm a range shooter and have little interest in guns that don't lend themselves to accurate shooting and, let's face it, the so-called "sights" on a New Bearcat don't exactly scream accuracy. Otherwise, this New Bearcat is a beautiful little gun and just what I wanted for carrying on our daily walk in the woods.

So just how bad was the New bearcat at the range? Using CCI Mini Mags (good all purpose 22 load) at the 50 foot target (the distance I would most often use the Bearcat) and shooting from a rest, accuracy surprised me. Six shot groups ran 2 +", at first, but after experimenting with different holds and getting to know the little gun, I managed to pull several six shot groups that ran just a tad over an inch and, if I had been able to throw out a flyer, even under an inch. Not bad, considering such a lightweight gun and such crude sights.

Windage was right on the money, too. Elevation was running low, however, but not surprising since the manual states that Ruger sights these at the factory for 25 yards, not the 15 yards where I was shooting. A couple passes with a file on the front sight (scandalous, I know) brought the groups dead on for elevation at the 15 yard mark and that's where I will be shooting this little gun and only rarely beyond. I feel 15 yards is a more practical distance for this little gun - a 25 yard paper puncher this little gun is not. I barely altered the shape of the sight, anyway. You'd be hard pressed to even notice I even did it unless I told you. Small price for making this gun much more useful to me. Besides, I have plenty of other rimfire pistols and revolvers for longer distance work. However, I do understand why some Bearcat owners would never do such a thing. Each to their own.

So, can I live with the way this New Bearcat shoots? Oh, yes, absolutely. For such a tiny little gun, it shoots very well, better than I expected and certainly more than good enough for my uses. Moreover, accuracy is not really what the Bearcat is all about. Just pick up a New Bearcat with its excellent fit and finish and it's unique SA lock work and you know the Bearcat is a very special little gun. Can't imagine any single action lover NOT owning a Bearcat, now. I only wonder why I waited so long to get mine. Love this New Bearcat!

bearcatter

So my posts didn't steer you wrong? I knew you'd love your Bearcat.

My two shoot low basically, but I'll never file the sights. No matter what you do, they're only good at one distance, right? You have to adjust your picture for every other distance. Mine are good at your 15 yards if I cover the bull with the blade, at 25 yards pretty much dead-on and still groups about 2 1/2 inches.

North country gal

You steered me right, Bearcatter, no doubt about it. I thank you. My New Bearcat is already becoming a favorite gun to the point that I'm now thinking about adding another one in stainless. Oh, yeah, I'm hooked.

bearcatter

The stainless is nice, much easier to clean and remove scratches. Both of mine are, I just don't care for blued. Think about those new ejector housings, they are the finishing touch. I can't understand that all of Ruger's SAs have blued or stainless housings except the Bearcat.

Ruger Redhawk

Thanks for the report. You sound real happy with it. Great little guns and designed for a purpose. A fun gun.

North country gal

I like the traditional look of blued guns, but, oh yeah, stainless is hard to beat for practical and durable and now I have a reason to buy another Bearcat, right? See how this works? Love it.

bearcatter

Then when you get the two-gun holster rig, you'll need pairs of both finishes.................(I'll bet you've already got a good gun-slinger hat)

ExArmy11b

I want a Bearcat bad! I'll go for the stainless model, it would be a great "around the property" gun for taking out groundhogs, etc. and it's light enough to be a backup for my larger "predator protection" guns like my .44 Alaskan. We have had Black Bear attacks here, and the .44 is for that, along with any 2-legged idiots........and I need a light .22 just for pest control.

Ruger needs to make the "Super Bearcat" a production gun, the .22 WMR version. I would also love one in .32 H&R magnum.

While we're at it, how about a Birdshead grip frame for the Bearcat?

North country gal

Yes, a 22 mag Bearcat or another Super Bearcat would be sweet. I'd be right in line with you guys to buy either. "Around the property" is a great way to describe where a Bearcat fits in the scheme of things, too.

bearcatter

"Super Bearcat" was the name Ruger used when they switched the OM Bearcat from an aluminum frame to steel. In 1993 when it was reintroduced they did offer a convertible model in .22LR/.22WMR, but it was discontinued and recalled, for what Ruger called a "cylinder timing" issue. Some are still in private hands and worth a large price.

They didn't change the frame, so it will still fit a custom .22WMR cylinder. There are a few custom smiths who will do a .22WMR or .32 conversion, and you can get adjustable sights, too. For a price.

I personally think the New Bearcat is perfect the way it comes, except for the aluminum ejector housings.

North country gal

The only way I would want to see a WMR Bearcat or a Bearcat with adjustable sights would be from the factory. For now, I am perfectly happy with my Bearcat, as is.

Frank V

North country gal

Thanks for the report. That brings back memories!
I carried a Bearcat when I was in the Army stationed in Alaska. Myself & 2 other fellows ran a trapline. I bought a used Bearcat from a pawn shop in Fairbanks. I carried that gun a lot of miles when I was running the trapine. I have no idea how many Martin, Fishers, Showshoe Hares, & Ptomagin I took with that gun.
It served me well & I'm sorry I traded it after I got out of the Army.
Hang onto yours, they are a really nice little gun.
Frank

BRL

Great story NCG, sounds like you really are enjoying your new revolver...

Now where the heck are the pics.?

Oh yea, I would have ground the front sight down to the barrel if that is what it would have taken the regulate the sights to POI.

Would have opened up the rear sight channel on one side or the other to do the same thing if I had to.

I hate guessing where that bullet is going to go.

BRL

OH!

...and in a sheriff's model barrel legnth!

I like the way that man thinks!

North country gal

I helped my brother run a trapline back in high school and we used a Single Six, but a Bearcat would have been just the ticket.