Update - Advice/Opinions on converting a Ruger Bearcat to 22 WMR, please.

[GasGuzzler]

Ruger Single Sixes have been convertible since the early 1960's.

I think the .223 bore (if his gun was made to SAAMI spec) might work better with lead ... but almost all 22WMR is jacketed, right?

 

[Geezer]

Bill Laughridge at Cylinder and Slide will do the Bearcats for $80.

 

[tonelar]

I was just realizing my old bearcat would make a great candidate for converting to 22 magnum

 

[skfullgun]

Bill Laughridge at Cylinder and Slide will do the Bearcats for $80.

This is the news I was looking for!

I'll get in touch with him next week.

 

[skfullgun]

I was prepared to pull the proverbial trigger on buying a shopkeeper model and having it converted to 22wmr.

I just ran across some information that has caused me to pause on that project.

Ballistics by the Inch (BBTI) reports actual performance of the CCI Velocitor (40 gr) 22lr, out of a Bearcat 4.2" barrel, @ 1,044 fps.

The CCI WMR (40 gr) out of a sightly longer Rough Rider 4.62" barrel, the closest comparable plartform, is reported at 1,046 fps.
AND the Shopkeepers shorter barrel might actually translate into less velocity for the same weight bullet in WMR bullet than the Velocitor (22lr) from the 4.2" barrel Bearcat I already have!

I'm going to look again to make sure I didn't miss something before going ahead with the project!

 

[seeker_two]

I was prepared to pull the proverbial trigger on buying a shopkeeper model and having it converted to 22wmr.

I just ran across some information that has caused me to pause on that project.

Ballistics by the Inch (BBTI) reports actual performance of the CCI Velocitor (40 gr) 22lr, out of a Bearcat 4.2" barrel, @ 1,044 fps.

The CCI WMR (40 gr) out of a sightly longer Rough Rider 4.62" barrel, the closest comparable plartform, is reported at 1,046 fps.
AND the Shopkeepers shorter barrel might actually translate into less velocity for the same weight bullet in WMR bullet than the Velocitor (22lr) from the 4.2" barrel Bearcat I already have!

I'm going to look again to make sure I didn't miss something before going ahead with the project!

True....but you're getting a better bullet in the .22WMR. Also, some of the personal defense loads (Gold Dot, Hornady, etc.) are made for shorter barrels and offer better velocity.

 

[skfullgun]

I'm thinking for use as a "woods gun", I'm going to be happy picking up 500 rds of Velocitor and sticking with what I've got. At least until I run across a shopkeeper at a price I can't refuse!

 

[skfullgun]

I just ordered 500 rds of Velocitor. That'll hold me with my dad's OM Bearcat till I figure this out

 

[skfullgun]

NOW...I just need a holster...

 

[tonelar]

so wait… 22 magnum is only going 2 fps faster out of a 4.6” bbl?

 

[skfullgun]

so wait… 22 magnum is only going 2 fps faster out of a 4.6” bbl?

That's the rumor...

And the real life "research" from BBTI supports it.

So I'm sticking with the 40 gr, 22 lr, Velocitors, for now.

 

[tonelar]

funny, i went to the same site

only, i didn bother looking up the ruger bearcat vs heritage roughrider (cause those are two different manufacturers)

i just checked out their 3” bbl data
40grn velocitor 1026fps cci 40grn magnum 1160fps

their 4” bbl data
40grn velocitor 1120fps cci 40grn magnum 1353fps

and 5” bbl data
40grn velocitor 1172fps cci 40grn magnum 1474fps

lastly 6” bbl data
40grn velocitor 1193fps cci 40grn magnum 1575fps

if you’re going with a shopkeeper (shorter bbl) the 140fps difference might not be worth the trouble. but, out of a single six (or standard bearcat) 230- 375 fps increases are more substantial (especially with 40grn bulet weights).

 

[GasGuzzler]

Yeah but it would still be cool.

 

[skfullgun]

The BBTI data is skewed unless you look at their "real world" performance.

The "inch" data is in a test barrel and locked breech (no cylinder gap, etc). You lose velocity in real world applications (in most cases).

 

[1911'S 4 Me]

Just get a Rough Rider Barkeep in .22/.22mag., and not ruin the Bearcat.

 

[skfullgun]

If I wanted to carry a weapon that size (RR) I would carry one of my Single Six Convertibles. The barkeep doesn't even have a front sight, and in that shoty barrel I'm sure the only real difference in the performance of 22 lr and WMR either be the size of the fireball and the ringing in your ears after you pull the trigger.

 

[skfullgun]

When I first saw the RR Barkeep, my response was to giggle at the sheer impracticality of it for anything other than a bartender in the 1880's!

 

[justmax]

When I first saw the RR Barkeep, my response was to giggle at the sheer impracticality of it for anything other than a bartender in the 1880's!

A bartender in the 1880s wouldn't have a 22

 

[skfullgun]

A bartender in the 1880s wouldn't have a 22

I was referring to the concept of a 1" barrel weapon (full-size revolver) sans front sight - no good for any distance farther than the other side of the bar.

And the .22BB (rimfire) was introduced several decades earlier, and the rimfire .22 long was introduced in 1871.

So, I'm quite sure bartenders, gamblers, working girls, and others had weapons like the little Remington derringer in 22 rimfire in the 1880's.

 

[justmax]

I was referring to the concept of a 1" barrel weapon (full-size revolver) sans front sight - no good for any distance farther than the other side of the bar.

And the .22BB (rimfire) was introduced several decades earlier, and the rimfire .22 long was introduced in 1871.

So, I'm quite sure bartenders, gamblers, working girls, and others had weapons like the little Remington derringer in 22 rimfire in the 1880's.

good points. I stand corrected.

PS- Feel free to print this out and I'll even sign it nest time I see you. Times that I am wrong, let alone me admitting it, are so rare that it will be worth some money when I am dead,