Ruger Bearcat

sycosean

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Hi everyone. I've come across a Ruger Heard at in 22magnum. The issue is ... It's prohibited and I don't have my 12.6. Is it worth getting and having it re-barrelled?

I like the smaller guns. Do to the curse of genetics I have smaller hands. 😐 . Easier for me to grip. Right now barrel is 102mm, 10.2 cm, 4 inches, 36 thousand whatchamacallit. Etc. 🙄

I would appreciate any thoughts and feedback. Thanks in advance.

Syco Sean
 
Whether it's worth it is a personal decision. I don't believe these are collectible (I could be wrong), so it's not going to effect the value negatively and will make resale in Canada easier. That being said you may not get your total investment out of it when you sell it.

But if you like the gun, and are going to enjoy shooting it, I would say yes, it's worth it.
 
Good luck finding a 4.25" super bearcat barrel in Canada. Super bearcats are not that common in Canada which is why it will be difficult to find a barrel domestically. Though more common in the US , the super bearcat didn't really catch on because the sight radius from a 4" barrel negates the little gain you get from a 22mag being shot though such a short barrel. Yes, there are gains but do the pluses out weigh the negatives and the answer is, no. There is no real improvement in accuracy, 22mag is a bit bulkied, large portion of the power charge is waisted from such a short barrel and the cost of 22mag is what, 5Xs or 6Xs that of 22lr!?!

If you plan to go the barrel reclassification route, I can almost assure you that you will be paying close to double that of a new bearcat in 22lr. Let me do some hypothetical math for you... you get the gun for (say) $200cad. Numrich has a SBC barrel for $350USD, $60 delivery and because a barrel is a controlled part of a firearm according to US law, you get go pay a $200 tax on it. 610USD into CAD, roughly 820. I don't know how much gunsmiths rates are but lets say $200 for the barrel exchange and paper work. So conservatively you will be into it for roughly 1220. A new Bearcat in 22lr is around 710. I picked up a used minty stainless steel one for 350 in a private sale over the winter just to give you an idea of the used market prices.

Don't get me wrong, I love the bearcat and have several in my collection and I love the 22mag for what it is but i my opinion, the combination of the two is not worth the time and energy and defiantly not worth paying twice as much for a used gun. The 22mag is unquestionably first and foremost a rifle round and is most effective as one. Get a 22lr verson would be my suggestion. If you are just considering it because of the size, there are smaller and lighter guns in the restricted category. The 1911-22 comes to mind. And if you want more power which is why you are considerring the 22mag, get the 1911-380ACP black label in a polymer frame. These are 85% the size of a 1911 and even with the 4.25 barrel, they are small. Some times when I am recognizing my vault, I slip my 1911-380 into my front pocket so that I can carry my guns from one shelf to another and to be honest, i really don't know how these are not prohibited. They are smaller and lighter than some of my prohibs. Black labels are around 900 and you can find 22s for under 600 and the grip is smaller than a bearcat. But if you really have to have a bearcat in 22mag...
 
Making a barrel may be the easiest way, from a piece of rifle barrel, Value wise? not really, But your money, or you could buy a german made 22mag SSA for way less money
A p.s, you can't get it and have it done, you can't get it till after you get done, so you have to fine a barrel, a gunsmith that is licenced for 12/6, have them receive the gun and do the work , and then change the paper, than you can receive the gun, there is money involved every step of the way.
 
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