I live out west and hike in bear and cat country quite a lot. I carry an appropriate revolver for defense and would like a good lightweight .22 as a companion for fun plinking while out and about. Been looking at discontinued S&W I frame revolvers as well as the older and lighter Ruger Bearcat. What would you recommend?
So, you already have a revolver for defense. Is "survival" needed as brought up by others?
If not, and you're wanting the .22 for plinking (recreational shooting), that sure makes things fun and less serious.
Looks like the old alloy frame Bearcat (or I-frame) is your size and weight goal. What's those old model Bearcats weigh? Less than 20 ounces?
Back in the day, my pocket plinker was my Beretta Bobcat. It sure is light and small, but it has tiny sights on a short barrel and sure takes a lot of Kentucky windage to make it hit a target of opportunity.
Nowadays, my "pocket" plinkers are my Bearcat Shopkeeper and 1st gen CA "Pathfinder". The adjustable sights on the CA are a huge plus, my Bearcat requires remembering what Kentucky windage to hold.
If money was no problem, I'd want a new 8-shot S&W 63 or an adjustable sight Bearcat. But that 3" barrel Ruger LCRx makes a lot of sense too, although just a bit bigger than those other two guns.
If I wanted to spend a lot less money, I'd probably bump up the size to a Ruger Wrangler. But Wranglers are chunky compared to little Bearcats. J-frame sized DA revolvers get closer to Bearcat size than Wranglers.
Both of these pocket plinkers of mine have 3" barrels. 23 oz. on the left, 19 oz. on the right.
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Single Six/Wrangler size versus J-frame size. 33 oz. for this particular 4.6" barrel Single Six.
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