Ruger Bearcat is a cute gun

[Erich]

Wasn't the Bearcat originally meant for trappers as a finishing pistol on trapped critters?

Most say that for actual hunting, a Single Six is superior. Just more accurate.

Certainly correct, sir! To follow up on what Biggfoot44 said, the Bearcat is a kit gun (not only a cute gun ), and is certainly not as easy for an full-sized adult to shoot with accuracy as the larger Single Six (in the same way that the Single Six is not as practically accurate for most adults as a Winchester 52 target rifle . . . but they fill different needs).

I frankly find the tiny grip frame of the (Remington-derived) Bearcat to be not well proportioned for me to be able shoot the gun as well as many other small guns I own. But I wore my little Bowen custom proudly to a Lincoln County wedding!

 

[schutzen-jager]

carried mine loaded with .22 shorts in my right hip boot when checking traps - also worked to discourage feral dog packs that roamed the meadows + swamps -

 

[MCorps0311]

Cute, nice looking,I like the look of the Bearcat revolver,hope to own one one day.

 

[eveled]

Updated photo with the Sacks Peterson Stags

 

[km101]

The Bearcat was the first gun I ever bought for myself. Bought it in '64 I believe. (I was 15 at the time) IIRC it was $38 and change with the box of .22lr ammo. That little Bearcat made many a mile with me for several years after that in the E. Texas woods.

Great little gun and I still have it. I plan to give it to my grandson for his next birthday. Maybe he will keep it as long as I have!

 

[Harkrader]

I was teaching people to shoot, using the Ruger Single-Six. VERY popular gun. Students became quite attached to "their" gun and often insisted on buying the one they were shooting.

As good as they were, they were still to big for some hands. I got a couple Bearcats and they were instant hits. When given a choice, children often chose them over the Single-Six.

Like the Single Six, I went through a few of them as students bought mine.
Both the Bearcats in this pic are of the early type, from the '60s.

 

[Puller]

Didn't want to start a new thread if there was already one on Ruger Bearcats, but like Faulkner's original post, I recently purchased a used Bearcat and they are cute. Serial number look-up shows it was made in 2004, but it's very clean. After a quick trip to the nearest gravel pit for some target practice I was very surprised at how accurate it is.

I remember someone posted a picture of a cross draw holster for one some time back but I've not been able to find it.

 

[CajunBass]

If you're looking for a nice holster for one, check out the one Ruger sells on their website. You talk about cute. The holster doubles the cute factor at least.

 

[Krogen]

I'd just finished cleaning it up and handed it to her and she said, "I like this one, this a real cute little gun."

I suspect you two have been married long enough to know that translates to "It's mine now."

Since this thread is rather dated, did you ever see it again Faulkner?

 

[BrovoEchoSierra]

wanted one of those for sometime now. Never found one when I had the money in hand to buy.
The closest I came what 4 or 5 years ago, when I was on the hunt for a single six, and found both at a show. Sadly I only had enough money with me to buy one gun, and chose the Single Six over the bearcat.
Probably more practical gun in the S S but I still long for a bearcat, with adjustable sights. Maybe one day...

 

[GaryinOKC]

Bearcats

Fun little guns. I worked an old tired original over for a plinker.

 

[ME94]

Totally agree I bought mine because it fists my sons hands perfectly.

but I found out I really like it.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I had a couple of the original ones over the years and a few years ago bought a new one with adjustable sights. They're great little revolvers but after the novelty wore off I didn't shoot them much. I'm probably going to sell the one I have now before long and get a new toy.

If I shoot 22 SA I gravitate to my convertible stainless Single Six that I've had for thirty years. Fine gun!

 

[diyj98]

I've owned a couple myself including the adjustable sight model, but find them a little too small for accurate shooting even with my thin fingers. The Single Six is the perfect size for me.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The little Bearcat in 22 & Mag, was my first revolver, when I was in high school.

It almost fit my big hand, since I was tall & large for my age.
Shot a lot of long rifle through it and only a few Magnums, since they were
very high in price for this youngster, that tossed newspapers, for money.

I was a lot better with a rifle and it took a long time for me to get "Fair"
with the 6" barrel and cowboy sights.

It was a fun weapon to shot, though.

 

[Sistema1927]

I took my three grandsons to the range along with four .22 pistols/revolvers.

A Ruger Standard Model
A Ruger Mk IV 22/45
A Ruger Single-Six convertible (see a pattern here?), and
A Ruger Bearcat.

They shot all of them, but the one that they wanted to shoot, over, and over, and over again was the Bearcat. The worst sights of the four, the shortest barrel, the least accurate, but I guess that the "cute" factor won out.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

They are cute

Yessir, the term does come up!

3 Ruger .22s Single Six .22 Magnum Old style Bearcat not modified Single Six .22 not modified

I have the original grips for that Bearcat, too.

 

[Muley Gil]

The little Bearcat in 22 & Mag, was my first revolver, when I was in high school.

It almost fit my big hand, since I was tall & large for my age.
Shot a lot of long rifle through it and only a few Magnums, since they were
very high in price for this youngster, that tossed newspapers, for money.

I was a lot better with a rifle and it took a long time for me to get "Fair"
with the 6" barrel and cowboy sights.

It was a fun weapon to shot, though.

Are you sure you had a Bearcat and not a Single Six? The New Model Bearcat was the only one that had a .22 magnum cylinder and until recently, the only barrel length available was 4".

 

[model70hunter]

You're right not the 1st time a Bearcats been called cute. 25 years ago I bought 1. My wife said oh that's cute it's mine.

Them there womens that like guns are tricky.

Right after we got married, a long long time ago, she who had never hunted nor owned a gun asked me to teach her hunter safety, how to shoot and how to hunt. Then she picked my custom Pre 64 M70 and said my this is cute I'll take it. I had a custom 98 Mauser in 6.5-55 I was going to give but no. All of that worked she can hunt, track if needed and bag wall hangers. To keep her thieving fingers off my cute guns I bought her a Browning gold 20 and some years later she said my custom Mosel 70 was a little too heavy I told her heavy was the price you pay for grabbing cute. I bought her a Kimber classic 7mm 08 which she loves killed 2 more big bucks that hang on the wall.

Cute is a 2 edged sword. Years ago my wife grabbed me cause she thought I was cute. Today I'd have to hide her glasses and turndown the lights and pretend the cuteness factor.

 

[Faulkner]

I suspect you two have been married long enough to know that translates to "It's mine now."

Since this thread is rather dated, did you ever see it again Faulkner?

I did get the Bearcat back. She has a Walther P22 that she's pretty fond of and keeps handy for varmints and such when I'm not around.

I've been carrying the little Bearcat around the homestead a good bit in my Nixon Leather cross draw rig.

 

[outta_ammo]

Guys, If you have a "convertible" bearcat DO NOT SHOOT THE MAGNUM CYLINDER!!!

The cylinders were recalled by Ruger and no replacements were issued. The cylinders were out of time and risked a serious over pressure incident. If you have one you have a very rare beast as there were only about a thousand shipped and most of them no longer have their magnum cylinders.

 

[30-30remchester]

A second-year bearcat was the only handgun my dad owned. It was his house- family protection gun. It was kept in his tee shirt drawer in an old sock. When we traveled it would ride in the glovebox. I would sneak it out of the house, jump on my tote goat and go chipmunk hunting.

 

[Alpo]

Well, it's been about 12 hours, and no one else has asked, so I guess it's up to me.


Remchester, what is a "TOTE GOAT"?

 

[s&wchad]

Well, it's been about 12 hours, and no one else has asked, so I guess it's up to me.


Remchester, what is a "TOTE GOAT"?

This is a Tote Gote:

 

[30-30remchester]

Well, it's been about 12 hours, and no one else has asked, so I guess it's up to me.


Remchester, what is a "TOTE GOAT"?

ALPO, a tote goat was a brand of motor scooter built for the outdoors. It usually had a 3 t0 7 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine and made of heavy tubbing for framework. No lights, horn, mirrors or any luxury item. Just one seat, one brake handle and a kick stand. I wore out 3 of them in my youth. We lived in the countryside 6 miles from a small town. It was my only transportation. and lead me on many a grand adventure.

 

[30-30remchester]

This is a Tote Gote:

Aw the elusive luxury model with 2 seats. Me and my friends wanted an extra seat but were too uninspired to build one ourselves. We had as many as 4 people at a time on my tote goat. Always two. I shot my first coyote while riding on the back and my friend driving. Had been out hunting who knows what when a coyote jumped into the road ahead of use. I had a Browning 22 automatic and as my friend chased it down the road, I shot it as we went past it at the blistering speed of @15 MPH. I was about 12 at the time and the first of us to get a coyote. I brought it home thrown over the seat between us. I was beyond proud. My mother not so proud.

 

[Muley Gil]

Guys, If you have a "convertible" bearcat DO NOT SHOOT THE MAGNUM CYLINDER!!!

The cylinders were recalled by Ruger and no replacements were issued. The cylinders were out of time and risked a serious over pressure incident. If you have one you have a very rare beast as there were only about a thousand shipped and most of them no longer have their magnum cylinders.

IIRC, one or two of the New Model Bearcats had timing issues so Ruger recalled all of them. I bought an extra .22 LR cylinder for my Bearcat and re-chambered it myself. I have had no timing issues with it.

I bought the .22 LR cylinder from a Ruger Forum member and it was a drop-in fit.

 

[sceva]

Bearcat's are very nice little Single Actions. I have a friend that has his Grandfathers early Bearcat, Ser B00x. An alphabet gut; They started with 1 - 999, then A001-999, then B001-999 so his is just after the 2000th one.

 

[Heinz]

I had a stainless Ruger bearcat until my wife saw it. Now it travels with her 10/22

 

[DARE]

Here is my Old Model Bearcat, Alpha prefix H293. It was my 1st handgun, given to me by my dad. Think it is from 1958 or 59. Pictured with fast draw holster that my dad made for it.