New Model Bearcat 22WMR conversion

T

thm

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After reading Paco Kelly's reports of the 22WMR in handguns, I have convinced myself that I should be carrying a 22WMR handgun for taking small to medium game. While I already have a Bicentennial Single Six in the safe, I much prefer the handy small size of the Bearcat and the fairly easy care of a stainless steel Bearcat in particular.

I thought I might ream out the cylinder as Paco suggests to have the Bearcat accept the 22WMR round.

Admittedly, the 4" barrel gives up a little FPS to the 6" AutoMag and 5" Single Six, but I imagine it would still be close to 22LR hypervelocity out of a rifle barrel.

Just a few questions:
  1. Is the action/frame strong enough to accept a 22WMR round?
  2. Will I need to grind the sights? I don't like the idea of putting adj sights on a knock-around gun that will be used on game.
  3. Has anyone else tried this on a Bearcat?
 
The 22 mag bullet is very slightly larger in diameter than the standard Long Rifle bullet. Firing the 22 mag into a LR barrel will cause excessive pressures and is unsafe. I can't imagine a competent or knowledgable gunsmith reaming out the chambers of a 22 Long Rifle revolver to accept 22 mag ammo. Asking for a hand grenade with such a conversion. A 22 mag needs a proper 22 mag barrel. This Paco fellow is getting away with it because he is using a 41-frame Colt, not a small gun like the Bearcat. His chamber pressures are off the scale but the gun appears to be taking the abuse.... for now. The 22 mag is a high intensity round and I would not care to shoot Mr. Kelly's revolver. The reason he is getting better acuracy is because his bullets are extremely oversize for the bore and tighter bullets shoot better. His are WAY tight.
 
S & W will not fit a 22 mag cylinder to a M-63 because the 22 LR has a smaller groove & bore diameter than the 22 mag and as mentioned above this would cause pressure problems. however S & W will fit a 22 LR cylinder to a M-651 without much if any loss in accarracy.
I thought at one time Ruger was going to make a convertible Bearcat and for some reason they didn't follow through with it. I never heard a reason for that.
 
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