Old Ruger Bearcat

N

NJ357

Inactive
Good morning everyone. I am new to firearms as well as this forum and would appreciate some advice. I am looking at possibly getting a Ruger Bearcat. It is small enough to fit my wifes tiny hands comfortably and i think it is just a neat little gun. I wasnt in any rush but came across one in my local gun shop. Its an old model with the brass trigger guard. Really that is all i know. They were super busy and i just popped in on my way by and didnt have much time myself. It appeared in good shape from what i could tell. My question is are these older models as good as a new one. The new one goes for $525 here in NJ. This one he had for $325. I know it is not much info to go on but just need a clue if it may be worth that price upon a further inspection. I am not looking at it for collector purposes but a few hundred rounds plinking and paper punching plus taking kids and new shooters a few times a year. Thank you very much for any input you can offer.
 
The Bearcat is a nice little gun. I prefer the older one with the brass trigger guard. If it's in good shape go for it.
 
Welcome to the forum.
Check to see if the store allows returns for a malfunctioning one.
It might be important for an old shootin' iron.
Especially if you are not experienced enough yet to know if it works as it should, until trying it.
New ones, of course, have factory warantees, but for used ones, without the store backing it, you're on your own.
Getting one fixed could cost the difference between used and new.
 
I took a quick look on Gunbroker.com. There are LOTS of Bearcats listed. I saw only one with a price under $400, and a great many (*used) at over $500. The one had just been listed and had no bids, but the "buy it now" price was $484.99, suggesting that the reserve price is somewhere between $475 and $500. $325 is a very good price for a Bearcat IMHO.
 
Many thanks

Thanks for all of your input. I was just a little skeptical because I have never purchased a used handgun. Only a Mosin Nagant which I haven't had an opportunity to shoot yet. I will look it over best I can and ask. Most of the guys at this place seem pretty honest. If its still there and does not appear to be broken I will buy it. Of course i will see if they will let me shoot it first on their range.
 
Just remember that the old model Rugers should not be carried with a live round under the hammer.

Jim
 
Will Ruger install a transfer bar safety on early Bearcats like they will for older Blackhawks and Single-Sixes?
 
Thanks James I will remember that for sure!
Yes I have read on a Ruger safety notice if I were to send them the firearm ( I pay initial shipping to them) Ruger will install the transfer bar for free and ship back free to me and also include the original parts for "collector value" they say.
 
There is a sticky thread about how to check out used revolvers if you need to brush up any. If it checks out well I would consider it a very good buy.
 
It's a good price for an older Bearcat. The obvious checks are to see if cylinder timing is OK and making sure the hammer stays cocked with some thumb pressure applied. You might also want to pull the cylinder pin to remove the cylinder and check the bore to see for any obvious defects, i.e. pitting, bulges, etc. With no obvious abuse, you should be good to go for many years to come.

One word of caution: You may find it so cute and so much fun to shoot, that you will not let your wife shoot it.:D
 
I prefer old models, many do. Please don't mutilate it with a transfer bar. I had a super blackhawk new model that the transfer bar would bind under the firing pin making it inoperable.

Load 1, skip 1, load 4.

My bearcat shoots high so I use hyper velocity ammo which brings down the POI.

Great little guns that fit just right in a blue jean pocket.
 
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Pull hammer to half cock, load 1 chamber, skip 1 chamber, load 4 chambers. Pull hammer to full cock and then down on empty chamber. Bearcats are six shots.

FYI, the trigger guard is not brass but anodized a brass color.
 
Thanks for all of your input. I greatly appreciate it all. As i went to look at it this afternoon I was hoping it would still be there. I was disappointed when I saw the price was $369 not $325 like I had thought. There was another gun in the cabinet that ended in 25 so I guess I just mis remembered the actual price. Upon looking at it and talking with the guy at the counter I was really happy with it. No scratches, the grips were barely showing any signs of wear. The hammer locked back firmly. I pressed on it several times. Cylinder locked up nicely. Other than a little bluing rubed off here and there its in near perfect condition best i could tell. I mentioned it was my first used gun purchase and that I had hoped my friends father in law could come check it out but he was out of town. I mentioned that he worked in that gun shop a few years. The salesman knew him. Knows that he is the owners sons godfather. Guess what? His attitude towards that little gun did not change. Then he informed me it comes with their warranty plus Ruger would stand behind anything within reason. So I put $50 down on it today and picking it up next week on payday. Made me feel very confident in what i was purchasing. The transfer bar has NOT been done to it. Serial number puts it at about 1972-73. Thank you all for your tips and pointers of things to look at. I will put up a pic when i bring her home. :)
 
I've had 4 Bearcats. First an OM which went to my son and then 2 NM models that didn't prove to be very satisfactory. Then I came across this 1960 OM that has turned out to be a fantastic little jewel.
 
Thanks. Makes me feel even better knowing that after going with the old model. Looks just like it. Serial number starts with 91-110
 
bearcat

A little online searching will yield when your pending Bearcat was made. I stumbled up on an older model (well, actually, it found me) a few years ago. Mine needed a cylinder base pin, and again, online yielded an old style model very reasonably.

Ruger WILL do a 6 rd transfer bar conversion, but the WILL NOT, give you your vintage parts back.....or so I've been told by multiple sources. That nixed a conversion for me, and mine will stay original. Though diminutive in size and near toy like in appearance, quality in the older guns is very good and I would think they would hold up to a bunch of shooting.

The little revolvers are a hoot, but the sights are miserable to see for me now. None the less, at the ranges I shoot mine ( a healthy Coke can toss) it is minute of can accurate. Mine actually rides a good bit in the pants pocket of my GI wool pants during bow hunts (legal here) though I see it more as a signal device, than a SD piece or any type of survival plinker.
 
I have an older super Bear Cat - brass, etc. and it is a great little single action. In fact, my wife loves to shoot it. Mine hasn't had the transfer bar installed - but if you send it back to Ruger, they will do it.

Price? I paid I think about $250.00 for mine but that was about 8 years ago - mine was pristine with the box and absolutely no wear. I've seen some listed in my area (MI) ant they seem to be in the $300 - $350 range depending on the wear. You have to look at it this way . . . the price on older used ones will go up over time. Nothing wrong with a used one and if there is, Ruger should fix it. Compare the price of a used one to a new one and it's a no brainer in my opinion. Yes, they are 6 shot compared to some they make now . . . but for target practice or even SD for a woman . . . chances are that six (or even 5 if you don't have the transfer bar installed) is going to be enough. I carry a S & W Model 36 J frame and I'm very comfortable with the 5 shot capacity that revolver has.
 
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