Wrangler's Bearcat

Status
Not open for further replies.
Geldarr

Geldarr

Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2011
Messages
111
Location
Upstate, SC
Now that the Ruger Wrangler seems to be a hot seller with glowing reviews, how long until we get the same thing based off of the Ruger Bearcat? I've always wanted a Bearcat, but never stumble upon them when the time (or back account) is right.

I understand that they're worth the asking price, but an even lighter, less-expensive version would be great!

Now, to come up with a catchy name... Ruger Pole-cat? Badger? Coy-dog?
 
i got a great deal on a well used bearcat several years ago, and it’s no looker but a favorite and well working piece. i’m no engineer but i worry that, as the size of a handgun diminishes, the importance of tolerances increases, and there is a greater danger of less machined parts becoming less functional. i’ve had this exact problem with a bond arms derringer roughneck.
 
Last edited:
I don't think Ruger needs to branch out to a bearcat version, considering how well they are selling the Wrangler. Just venture to the Ruger-specific forums to see how much interest and demand there is for the already-existing Wrangler. Ruger cannot even keep up with the demand for their brilliant new idea, as it is.
 
I agree that it will most likely be a while until Ruger will have any production capability to spare, but I do think they'd sell a bunch of them (I'd probably pick up two or three - two for the kids, and one for me). I'd also love to see them make a 5 shot .32 version like Alan Harton does (on a steel frame, of course). One can dream, no?

As far as names go, I think animals that don't sound like they'd go together - much like bear and cat - should be what they stick to. Ruger Fish Crow?
 
I recently bought a Bearcat but I find it a mite too small in my hand for good shooting. Haven't reall found a niche for it as yet.

Bob Wright
 
The purpose of the Bearcat when it was made in the 50s was as a small, lightweight "kit gun" for hiking. Originally it had an alloy frame and weighed 17oz, which was fine, but the newer ones got beefed up and weigh more. Would a Zamak Bearcat be as light? Dunno, but if it's not it's not very sensible given the small grip fame doesn't make it easy to shoot for people with big hands or even average hands.

I rarely see people talk about the Bearcat and if they own one, they're not using it for any carrying purposes and I can see why; there are just better .22 handguns available for hiking now. The Phoenix .22 is $120, weighs the same as the modern Bearcat, has better sights, holds 10 rounds, and is smaller.

That's literally the bottom of the barrel and it's a better carry gun than the Bearcat. Get into the SR22, LCRx and they blow the Bearcat away in carrying.
 
Wasn't the Bearcat aluminum framed to begin with? Seem to recall that it was, but they changed it to over to steel at some point due to an issue. Am I remembering this correctly?
 
I’ll own a Wrangler when it has adjustable sights.
I bought a Heritage Arms convertible w/adjustable sights, intending to use it as a magnum. After several hundred rounds of magnum, including a chrono session, I made “mistake” of trying the .22lr cylinder. Haven’t shot a “magnum” round since.

Accuracy exceeds expectations. However, I was favorably impressed with the Wranglers I’ve handled. I expect they will shoot better than the Heritage, but I insist on adjustable sights.

In keeping with the “western ranch” theme, I suggest the “budget bearcat” be called the “drifter”... less than a Wrangler, but still a ranch hand...
 
I bought a Single-Ten just before the Wrangler came out. It cost almost three times what a Wrangler does, but is all SS, has adjustable sights, and thankfully is not "convertible". I replaced the rear sight with a red-dot, which is the cat's meow. I am oh-so glad that I was not in the position to be tempted by the new Wrangler, and possibly make a mistake I might regret. I do think that "Drifter" would be an excellent name for a new Bearcat.
 
Id pay money for a Wrangler version of the Bearcat birdshead shopkeeper 3" - 3.5" barrel.

Call it the Hobo and I'd overpay $30 for it.

The Drifter might have a better chance of getting past the politically correct marketing team, though.
 
The Drifter sounds good though if it wasn't used already (doesn't Marlin still make the Little Buckaroo?), Buckaroo or Drover would be a decent choice too!
 
BobWright said:
I recently bought a Bearcat but I find it a mite too small in my hand for good shooting. Haven't really found a niche for it as yet.

Bob Wright
Click to expand...

Fun. Just fun.

I fired a few cylinders full from my Shopkeeper yesterday. I was actually hitting a 1.5" target at 7 yards yesterday for the first two cylinders full. Then I got all cocky and it went downhill quickly after that. :uhoh:

Still, it was sheer fun. :cool:
 
Kookla said:
Wasn't the Bearcat aluminum framed to begin with? Seem to recall that it was, but they changed it to over to steel at some point due to an issue. Am I remembering this correctly?
Click to expand...

It was changed to steel from aluminum, but not because of any issue that I know of.
Called the Super Bearcat it retained the anodized aluminum trigger guard until it was replaced by blued steel, later in production.
 
TTv2 said:
he purpose of the Bearcat when it was made in the 50s was as a small, lightweight "kit gun" for hiking. Originally it had an alloy frame and weighed 17oz, which was fine, but the newer ones got beefed up and weigh more. Would a Zamak Bearcat be as light? Dunno, but if it's not it's not very sensible given the small grip fame doesn't make it easy to shoot for people with big hands or even average hands.
Click to expand...

I would suggest that this is merely an opinion, and not entirely valid.

The Bearcat frame was originally aluminum, and Ruger would likewise make a new low cost Bearcat from aluminum, just as they do with the Wrangler cylinder frame. And, since the Bearcat has a one-piece cylinder and grip frame, like the Remington 1858 C&B revolver that it is patterned after, there would be no ZA grip frame.

There are many ZA alloys as well anyway, with Zamac (commonly called pot metal) being the cheapest and the worst, and not used in gun making. Lee Valley Tools uses ZA-12 to build high quality tool parts (hand plane lever caps & vise bodies) for premium prices, so it isn't necessarily inferior.

And, I own a New Bearcat and love it. I have average sized hands and have no difficulty gripping it, cocking it, and shooting it accurately. It simply isn't a problem.
 
TTv2 said:
I rarely see people talk about the Bearcat and if they own one, they're not using it for any carrying purposes and I can see why; there are just better .22 handguns available for hiking now. The Phoenix .22 is $120, weighs the same as the modern Bearcat, has better sights, holds 10 rounds, and is smaller.
Click to expand...

This is sort of like comparing apples and oranges. The Ruger Bearcat is a top quality revolver while the Phoenix is an el-cheapo autoloader. And, just because the topic of carrying a .22 pistol when hiking doesn't come up much here, it doesn't mean that people don't carry the Bearcat. I never even heard of the Phoenix until now. Does that mean that nobody uses them?

As for desirability of the Pheonix over the Bearcat (or an aluminum framed low cost version), or another .22 pistol, it might be informative to watch this video.

 
TTv2 said:
The purpose of the Bearcat when it was made in the 50s was as a small, lightweight "kit gun" for hiking. Originally it had an alloy frame and weighed 17oz, which was fine, but the newer ones got beefed up and weigh more. Would a Zamak Bearcat be as light? Dunno, but if it's not it's not very sensible given the small grip fame doesn't make it easy to shoot for people with big hands or even average hands.

I rarely see people talk about the Bearcat and if they own one, they're not using it for any carrying purposes and I can see why; there are just better .22 handguns available for hiking now. The Phoenix .22 is $120, weighs the same as the modern Bearcat, has better sights, holds 10 rounds, and is smaller.

That's literally the bottom of the barrel and it's a better carry gun than the Bearcat. Get into the SR22, LCRx and they blow the Bearcat away in carrying.
Click to expand...

Lol. Carry what you want. I'll carry what I want. 'Cause 'Merica. :cool:
 
I agree, carry what you want. I do and don't really care what anyone else's opinion on what I carry is.

I have to say that the video of the Phoenix had to be scripted to make the gun look awful. I owned one for a time and shot it quite a bit. I never had one minute's problem with it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
Any love for the Ruger Bearcat?
2
Replies
42
Views
4K
Gato Montés
G
<*(((><
  • Locked
Ruger Wrangler .22lr Review (lots of pictures)
2 3
Replies
65
Views
12K
jstert
jstert
ontarget
  • Locked
Honest apples to apples comparison of NIB Wrangler and NIB HRR.
2 3
Replies
61
Views
4K
ontarget
ontarget
P
  • Locked
Why is everyone trying to put lighter springs in their Single Action? (and review)
Replies
8
Views
3K
Red Cent
R
Confederate
  • Locked
Ruger LCR Ruined...New Deal From Cusomer Service
Replies
8
Views
2K
c01
C
Back
Top