Ruger Bearcat first vs second model ??
- Thread starter racepres
- Start date
- Status
I know that cylinders are not always interchangeable on various Ruger single actions. Don’t know if that carries over to Bearcats.
At the risk of being Captain Obvious I’ll go ahead and mention that Ruger made a Super Bearcat which was/is 22 Mag. So, naturally that cylinder will not fit a regular Bearcat since it is longer.
At the risk of being Captain Obvious I’ll go ahead and mention that Ruger made a Super Bearcat which was/is 22 Mag. So, naturally that cylinder will not fit a regular Bearcat since it is longer.
Thanks... Known.. but, this appears for all purposes to be a good old Bearcat Cylinder.. but no way it goes with this frame.
Knowing that there were two versions from the '60's to the late '70's ( I think). I am wondering if the dimensions changed significantly..
Could be that just MFG tolerances are responsible... but... sure wish I knew a bit more..
Thanks Again, for the response.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Ruger's single action revolvers have the front of the cylinder hand engraved with the last three digits of a particular gun's serial number. For instance, both my Bearcat and Single Six have the front of their cylinders engraved with three numbers that match the last three digits on their frames, respectively.
This is because the cylinder is fit to the frame and barrel of each gun. Which means the length of the cylinder could be a few thousandths off at the center pin mount or the length of the cylinder where it meets the barrel's forcing cone with your friend's Bearcat.
If your friend's Bearcat has a three digit number that does not match the frame number, then a mismatch has occurred sometime after the gun left the Ruger factory.
So, assuming that the cylinder and frame are from the same era Bearcat, perhaps the current cylinder is just a few thousandths too long for that gun. Which should be able to be fixed by a good gunsmith by adjusting the length of the forcing cone or the cylinder's center pin protrusion (called a bushing, I think).
This is because the cylinder is fit to the frame and barrel of each gun. Which means the length of the cylinder could be a few thousandths off at the center pin mount or the length of the cylinder where it meets the barrel's forcing cone with your friend's Bearcat.
If your friend's Bearcat has a three digit number that does not match the frame number, then a mismatch has occurred sometime after the gun left the Ruger factory.
So, assuming that the cylinder and frame are from the same era Bearcat, perhaps the current cylinder is just a few thousandths too long for that gun. Which should be able to be fixed by a good gunsmith by adjusting the length of the forcing cone or the cylinder's center pin protrusion (called a bushing, I think).
Last edited:
chicharrones
needs more ammo
From my limited Bearcat knowledge, the Super is when the frame changed from aluminum alloy to steel and got the longer cylinder. All the currently made New Bearcats also have steel frames and longer cylinders.
Which means the New Bearcat can be converted to .22 magnum essentially by only rechambering the existing cylinder and perhaps some modification to the firing pin.
Last edited:
good info to have chicharrones, thank you much.. I kinda knew about the Number thing... but I guess I didn't thing it was like that that long ago... I am still wondering if the Alloy frame of the original (this is) is a bit Smaller than the steel frames..
Wish we had a pair side by side huh??
Thanks Again.. I am relaying all info to my friend, and maybe I will get him to bring the darn thing over again!!
Wish we had a pair side by side huh??
Thanks Again.. I am relaying all info to my friend, and maybe I will get him to bring the darn thing over again!!
Good catch, I totally forgot that.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I'm always tempted to turn my Shopkeeper into a magnum shooter. I just don't have a real reason to do so.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
