.22lr Single Action choices?

G

gfen

New member
Well, yesterday was a terriffic day, as I took my wife out for her second time shooting. First time was handguns in a local, indoor range. Didn't turn out so hot, actually, she hated everything about it. Partially my fault, partially the indoor range itself (being indoors, plus the range owned eyes and ears).

Yesterday, though, I took her to an outdoor range. Earplugs were far more enjoyable that 'muffs, and I think that a pair of sunglasses suffice for eyes (yes, I'm sure others won't, but, while you can admonish me, that's not the thrust of this thread). She had a great time just shooting the .22lr Savage (she didn't like the AR-15, or the 'killer evil rifle' as she calls it, but that's neither here nor there).

I knew she was hooked when she fired the first shot and I saw her smile. I thank the Shoot'N'C targets for a big part of that.

I sure am wordy, eh? Haven't even gotten to the pont of this yet... She didn't want to shoot either of my pistols (a 1911 in .45 and .22, she's tried before or a 9x18 Mak). She did, however, express interest (after some prodding on my part) in trying out a good .22 pistol.

So, we went out today. She's picking mostly on looks, and likes the lines of a SA revolver. I'm wondering what some people would recommend (ahh, finally, the meat of the post!)...

Now, this isn't just for her (she won't buy it, and I don't mind that its really my revolver for her to use), so ideally I'd like to find something for both of us. Today we took a look at some Ruger Bearcats which I found to be pretty small, but fit her hand pretty well. I'm wondering what else is out there? THe shop we were at didn't have any Ruger Single Sixes, but are they really that much larger than a Bearcat? Do any men with regular sized man-mitts have problems with the diminulative Bearcat in .22lr? If I opted for a Single Six, is there an accuracy difference in shooting .22lr out of it (I seem to remember reading somewhere that .22WMR is slightly larger in diameter than .22LR, ala .38spl and .357mag).

What other nice .22lr revolvers are out there? Nothing esoteric or highly expensive, as I'll be honest, I'm not going to hunt forever to find something. I'm looking for suggestions that might be found, new or used, in reasonable (or better yet, cheap!) price ranges, as well as opinions on the Bearcat and the Single Six.

Yes, I took awhile to get to the point. I like my posts to have character... :D
 
The Single Six is larger than the Bearcat and fits most hands just fine. No home should be without one. :)

Ruger also makes the Bisley in .22LR. Smith and Wesson .22 revolvers can get expensive compared to the Rugers, and they are DA as opposed to SA.
 
a Heritage Rough Rider, is a good SA that cost about $100 or $110 at locla shops and if she finds out she dosnt like it then u'r not out much money. they are good revolvers though, iv shot my freinds rough rider and its accurate, tight and locks up well. it also comes with a 22mag cylinder that's a plus.
 
If I opted for a Single Six, is there an accuracy difference in shooting .22lr out of it (I seem to remember reading somewhere that .22WMR is slightly larger in diameter than .22LR, ala .38spl and .357mag).
Click to expand...

.38spl and .357 Mag are both .357 in in dia. The .357case is 1/10th of an inch longer.

The .22lr and the .22mag are slightly different diameters. (I don't recall the specifics). It's mostly a moot point though. The barrels of .22lr/.22mag are usually sized for the .22lr, and the .22mag is slightly oversized and gets "squeezed down" (swaged) during the firing process. This is a pretty common in just about all calibers.

I use bullets sized to .358 or even .359 In. in diameter in my .38/.357Mags all the time, and bullets of .430 in in dia in my .44Mag's .429 in bore also.

A thousandth here or there usually doesn't make a tremendous difference.

My old H&R convertible shot both .22lr and .22mag pretty much the same.
 
I like my NAA mini-mag revolver in .22mag w/ spare cylinder in .22lr, and it's great for a pocket SA revolver, but it is probably not ideal for a beginner's handgun.

The NAA Mini-Master and Black Widow are a little larger, but they are still smaller than the Ruger Bearcat.
 
I love the single sixes.Heres a few of my .22s
Dscf0358.jpg

And heres my favorite one
Dscf0368.jpg
 
The Bearcast is a wonderful little gun. I enjoy mine and it is a great trainer for women and children also.

Gregg
 
I had an early Bearcat and liked the size and look of it but could never get used to the fixed sights. Fun goes away when you can't hit your target. The Single Six with adjustable sights is easier to learn and is an attractive, reasonably priced and well made single action. I've bought them and sold them and sooner or later always get another. I now have a Centennial. Fancy Single Six for a little more money than a plain one.
 
I had an early Bearcat and liked the size and look of it but could never get used to the fixed sights. Fun goes away when you can't hit your target.
Click to expand...

That _seems_ logical but the vast majority of Bearcat owners will tell you their guns hit right on their sights. I don't know if that is true of the new ones or not but my 1967 model is deadly.

Gregg
 
The NAA jobbies are waaay too small.

I actually looked at a Heritage many moons ago.

I dig the Uberti, but I've never seen one around here, and more to the point, the wife thinks the case-coloured frames are ugly. I've tried to convince she's wrong, but, whatever, some people are just lost. Anyways, since it as much to help usher her into the hobby as for me to shoot, I gotta pass...

Sounds like people don't mind the Bearcats, even those with normal man-hands. I am somewhat leery of the fixed sites, as I would want POI/POA to line up for her. That still points to the Single Six.

Now, if only a local shop had one of each in stock at the same time, or the SS came in the anniversery with adjustable sights. :)

Well, we'll see..the quest goes on..tomorrow we're back to shop #1 for her to take another look.
 
EAA imports the Bounty Hunter Single Action which can be had in .22 LR with a .22 WMR cylinder. I have one and I love it to death. It's a bit bigger than the Bearcat from what I've heard. However, the .22 Lr sounds like a BB gun when you fire the thing.
 
Ruger Bisley .22LR, 4 5/8" (I think), engraved

Well, I found what seems ot make us both happy, I'm just curious to know if this is something special or not.

THere's a Ruger Bisley in .22lr, with I believe a 4.5" (thereabouts) barrel, classic sights, engraved cylinder...Looks like the one Bishop posted up there, which I'm assuming is not a Bearcat.

Now, one store had this, and I can't seem to find it on Ruger's website nor through galleryofguns.com. Is this something I should jump on now, as the shop has one in stock, or is this just something that isn't on their site for another reason?

Price was $363, plus tax and $20 NICS fee. I'd rather buy through a different shop if this is a current production revolver, but I'm not against giving these other folks my money.

Please give me more advice, wise wheelgunners! :D

gfen, giddy for a new purchase.
 
If it looks like the one I poster ita a ruger single six bisley vaquero.It was a special run for Davidson's back in the 90's. Its an uncataloged gun and its no longer offered as a prouduction gun.363 isnt bad at all.I got lucky and ended up with mine for 250.Only other one I found was for 425 pluc shipping.
 
The Single Six is the best teaching gun out there and a whole lot of fun. I've got the 4" and would love to get another soon, but right now, I'm going for a MarkIII6.
 
Bishop, gotta ask, is your favorite the New Bearcat KSBC-4? Believe it or not, I didn't think Ruger made .22s in anything other than the Mark series and Single Six - your gun looks sweet. Does it operate the same way?
 
The one I called my favorite is a KRB-24FW.nIts a stainless 4 5/8 single six with the bisley grip frame and the vaquero sites.It looks like a big bearcat but you can tell the difference from the hammer and grip frame. Ruger offers .22's in the bearcat, single six, mark I II III and the 22/45.
 
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