Owners opinion of the stainless Bearcat?

[S.B.]

I am considering buying a new Kit Gun, a Ruger Bearcat in stainless. I would appreciate any owners opinion of this gun. What about the stainless front sight, is there a way to replace it with a blued one? I currently own a S&W model 63 but, never felt like I own enough handguns. The front sight worries me, I had the front sight changed on my S&W model 63 because it was just too hard to pickup and see. How smooth are the actions, from the factory, or will it need attention? I'm locked in on stainless, it will be used for outdoor carry (read may be left in a bailout, survival, rucksack for months at a time) and the weather around here changes every few minutes. The transfer bar setup is very desirable also. Does Pachmayr or any other manufacturer make replacement grips of rubber for these yet? How's the accuracy, from the factory?
If you own one of these, please give me your impressions? Thanks, for any help I can get here.

[olywa]

I definitely have mixed feelings. I thought I'd really enjoy one of these and picked one up new in January. I regretted it almost immediately once I got it home. I don't know how I missed it in the shop, but the action had a real cheap, tinny feel to it. I have had a lot of Ruger revolvers, and they always seem to get better with use. Not so with my Bearcat. The action froze on me and rather than dig in to it I sent it off to Ruger with some feedback about the overall feel. Ruger swapped out the pawl, trigger and base pin and sent it back with no comments. It was starting to feel better but then the transfer bar snapped in two. Back to Ruger and when it came back it finally felt like a higher quality revolver. The action just had a tightness and solidity that it hadn't had before. Cylinder gap is pretty good at .003.

Then the base pin came apart and gummed up the action. Ruger sent me 2 spares and it's finally acting like the revolver I had hoped it would be. It shoots to POA with bulk Federal ammo and the front sight is actually pretty good. The angle on the blade seems to catch the light in a truly useful fashion. It's a pinned blade though and I like your idea of putting a blued blade on as a replacement. Belt Mountain is supposed to be bringing out a replacement base pin and I will probably pick one up when they do. The one thing that really bugs me is the cheesy aluminum extractor housing. The finish on it doesn't match the stainless at all. Also, the transfer bar is stainless but it isn't nearly as solid a casting as the transfer bars on my other Rugers. It just looks cheap/fragile, and I fully expect it to break again someday.

Finally, my overall impression is that it is a handy little bugger, but it isn't nearly the quality that my other Ruger revolvers have been (2 Sec. Sixes, 1 Redhawk, 1 SBH, 2 SP101s). I wouldn't buy another. My .22 handgun needs are actually pretty well met with my 4" 22/45 MKII. I've put a One Ragged Hole rear blade and a Hi-Viz front with a white litepipe on it. I may just end up throwing the Bearcat in my fishing vest or tackle box. Or I may just trade it. Hope this helps, I take no joy in giving a negative review on a Ruger. I know that there's an awful lot of people who love their little Bearcats. Wish I could say the same.

[MS Hitman]

Just some comments from from a once potential owner.  I tried several samples and found them all to have a cheap feel to them.  In fact, one revolver was so poorly assembled, the cylinder would rotate with very little pressure and this with the hammer forward.  I was not, nor am I impressed with the lack of quality in something that could have been a very good revolver.  I have no intention of buying one until the quality takes a severe turn for the better.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got two new model blued ones and both of them have digested many a brick of 22s and lots of cb caps without so much as any hitch. They both will outshoot any single six ive ever owned and other then the one complaint i have with them have been great guns. I just cant see how ruger can sell a gun that aimed at a first gun for a child to learn on and then puts a trigger pull on them that a 300 lb weight lifter couldnt shoot such a light gun with. Both now have trigger jobs and if I parted with them my grandkids would kill me.

[tomcat]

 I'm glad someone started this. I have an old bearcat which has been mistreated before I
got it. It has a very smooth action and is accurate.
 I looked at the "new bearcats" and was not impressed at all. But then again, I didn't shoot
one. My opinion is they are modifing a copy of a classic little handgun to make a bigger profit.
 The first one I bought cost 49.95, new. It had the brass looking trigger guard and I think the frame is
an alloy of some type. It is still in the family, and still going strong..

[Ken ONeill]

I prefer and would recommend a stainless Ruger Single-Six with a 4 5/8" or 5 1/2" barrel.
The sights are black and Pachmayrs are available for them if you choose.

[DanChamberlain]

Can't comment on the stainless models, but my blued version of the new model doesn't feel any cheaper than my new model S&W Mountain Gun!  I wouldn't take a S&W kit gun in trade for it, either.





Dan

[obxmike]

I have a blued one that shaved bullets in three of six chambers. Sent it back, Ruger put a new barrel and cylinder in. Runs perfect now.
I think it's a great kit gun......my kid loves it, and it shoots to POA just fine.
Haven't killed any squirrells with it yet (nice shootin' there, Dan!) but it could do the job.

[Tom C.]

I am considering buying a new Kit Gun, a Ruger Bearcat in stainless. I would appreciate any owners opinion of this gun. What about the stainless front sight, is there a way to replace it with a blued one? I currently own a S&W model 63 but, never felt like I own enough handguns. The front sight worries me, I had the front sight changed on my S&W model 63 because it was just too hard to pickup and see. How smooth are the actions, from the factory, or will it need attention? I'm locked in on stainless, it will be used for outdoor carry (read may be left in a bailout, survival, rucksack for months at a time) and the weather around here changes every few minutes. The transfer bar setup is very desirable also. Does Pachmayr or any other manufacturer make replacement grips of rubber for these yet? How's the accuracy, from the factory?
If you own one of these, please give me your impressions? Thanks, for any help I can get here.

I have two Bearcats, one blued, the other stainless. I have been playing with the stainless one lately. It came with a slightly rough bore. It threw about two rounds out of a group. As I have gotten the bore smoother by lapping it some and shooting a bunch of copper wash bullets through it, it has gotten a lot more accurate. Now no more throwing rds. from the group.

I was concerned about the front sight, but I hit it with a fine checkering file, and then painted it with a black magic marker. That gives me a black sight that works pretty well. It is still pretty narrow. I also open the rear sight notch slightly with a jeweler’s file to improve sight visibility. I have been tempted to have adjustable sights added to the gun, but I have held off so far. If I wanted to put on a different front sight, the easy way would be to dovetail the barrel for a new sight.

I also have a S&W 63-4. It is a very nice gun, too. I like both and don’t plan on selling either.

[beavdha]

I have the stainless bearcat - bought it about 3 years ago.  Works perfect for me. It's a great trapline gun. Puts the bullets where I aim them. I wish the ejector shroud was stainless steel instead of the brushed aluminum.  That's the only complaint.

[WolfTrap]

Bought the 22 SSBC couple years back without problems.
Don't believe it was sold as a target gun, but a start up pistol to get mature youngsters on board so as not to scare them off with the larger pistols/calibers?
Just my take,
WT

[Boge Quinn]

I love all my Bearcats, including my stainless New Bearcat. Still, I prefer the lighter-weight frame of the Old Model Bearcats. With a minimum effort, you can still find nice old Bearcats for about the same money as a new one.

Boge

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

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

[Travis Morgan]

Never cared for 'em. Tried 'em, didn't like 'em.

[S.B.]

Travis, since you seem to be in the minority here, please elaborate about your experiences?
Steve

[Travis Morgan]

    Well, my main gripe is the size; Ever pick up your favorite capgun from when you were a kid, then try to twirl it on your finger, only to realise that either the gun's too small, or your finger's too fat? If so, the bearcat will be familiar.

    I'm also not a fan of the gripframe; on a gun that my not so huge hands pretty much swallows, it always seemed that much harder to line up the sights. I'm sure I could grow accustomed to it, but there are too many guns out there that I don't have to retrain myself to use for me to fart around with one of these.

    As for quality, I have no gripes; it's the usual Ruger good quality. I have no doubt decades and generations of use can be had from the guns. They're just too damned small and odd shaped.

     If you want a .22 revolver to store somewhere, there are several better choices; the Single Six and Double Nine (the latter is my preference) are two quality guns I'd suggest, and they can be had at fair prices. 

[Travis Morgan]

BTW, I also don't like Bisleys, even for long range and hot loads.  I'm not trying to gore anyone's sacred ox here, I just don't like 'em. Or Glocks, or 1911's. Go figure.

[rev22]

I bought my 11 y/o son one for his birthday I specifically wanted the stainless bearcat because I thought it would be the best kid's hand gun i could find he just liked to rock and roll with my mk II and would take his time and aim he does fine with the bearcat.  The one I purchased was test fired at the factory on June 8 and as far as quality goes its a ruger I could not find any thing wrong with it.  shoots to POA at 25 yds.  Timing is right on locks up tight,  I know that they are pretty hard to come by because I tried to get local gun shops in KY to order for about 6 months  one and they could find one.  I bought online.  As far as kit gun go it a good one handy and light.  The trigger is pretty good and breaks clean.  I like the 1/2 cock loading and the cylinder lining up with the ejector rod that is the way a single action is ment to be if I had a single six with out the 1/2 cock I would have it changed.

over all my son and I like it and if find my self often not shooting my 617 and waiting my turn to shoot the bearcat at the range.   

[Travis Morgan]

I'm not a fan of having to half cock to load and unload. It's PITA. Not a big one, but it annoys me.