Fortunately, it's easier to shoot this baby birdshead, my new Ruger blued Bearcat Shopkeeper with 3 1/2" barrel.
This is the second edition of the Bearcat Shopkeeper, the first being a stainless 3" gun. The extra half inch of barrel on this second edition allows for easier extraction, via the longer ejector rod length. The first edition was a bit of a chore to empty, from reports I've heard. This second edition is also a first for a Bearcat with its traditional fluted cylinder, which I prefer to an unfluted cylinder in a single action.
For those of you not familiar with a Bearcat, it really is a unique little single action, emphasis on little. It's only 8 1/2" long and weighs 22 ounces. Here it is along with my standard length stainless Bearcat with adjustable sights and a 6 1/2" Single Six for comparison.
Or, for another comparison, here it is with my Birdshead Vaquero in 45 auto.
Now, for those of you who might think a New Bearcat is just a trimmed down New Model Single Six, think, again. For one, the action on the Bearcat is different. It uses a half cock hammer position for loading, just as the Old Model Rugers did. For another, the Bearcat is indexed for easier loading and unloading, which a Single Six is not. For another, and perhaps most importantly, the Bearcat - original or New Bearcat, such as this one - uses a standard 22 LR Bore size, not the 22 Mag bore size used on all New Model Single Sixes.
Bottom line is that a Bearcat is an inherently accurate little revolver. That comes as a surprise to many, even some Bearcat owners, but the truth is it's the Bearcat's small size and diminutive fixed sights that trip up shooters, not it's ability to shoot small groups. If you work with the Bearcat and learn its ways, it can be surprisingly accurate. Don't let its toy size dimensions fool you. This is a serious shooter.
Had to file down the front sight on the Shopkeeper just a smudge to move groups up, but windage was perfect.
Here's a group shot with my adjustable sight version of the standard Bearcat for comparison. You can see that the better sights do help, even at this short distance, but still very pleased with the Shopkeeper.
Moving out to 25 yards and beyond, as in this one at 27 yards, you can see those adjustable sights paying off. Now, I don't like the looks of those big sights on this version of the Bearcat, but they do bring out what a Bearcat can do.
For example, shot this one, yesterday, with this adjustable sight version. I can't do this every time, but the Bearcat sure can.
As for the Shopkeeper, again, performance and function was flawless. No trouble at all shucking empties. It's a neat little 22 LR single action in every respect and one that I will be carrying in this custom made holster for this specific edition of the Bearcat, the holster being made by a local craftsman. Welcome home, baby birdshead.
