Guys, I like a Ruger Bearcat for this use -- take along on fishing trips, backpacking, woods loafing etc. I always carry a half-dozen Speer .22 shotshells as I have found them utterly reliable one-shot killers on close-range rattlesnakes. But if you found yourself in a situation where that Bearcat was your only choice against something bigger -- even something too big for any .22, which load would you be glad you had in your gun? I lean toward Stingers, but have not run any through this Bearcat yet. And as we all know, some guns won't shoot Stingers worth a hoot.

As a kid I admired the Bearcat when it first came out and wished that my meager budget would allow me to purchase the same. When they were reintroduced around 7-9 years ago? I missed the chance to pick up one of the new models in Stainless. I was lucky enough to buy a blued one later at a great price and even found a holster from the first go around of the Bearcats in a dusty corner of a leather shop. It was a black low slung job that said "Ruger BC" stamped on the back. Anyway I was excited to go out and shoot it and after doing that I wasn't excited any more. It shot patterns at 25 Yards that were around 3-5" and although I still have it and would never sell it, it doesn't get a lot of outings when I need to hit something with a .22 pistol. I have a number of full size .22's that are superbly accurate but haven't found anything on the small size that you can really hit anything with. I currently have a Model 21 Beretta that isn't much good beyond 20' so I'm looking for a compact that is a shooter also. At one time I was thinking about a TPH but heard stories about price, reliability and repairs that scared me off.

Shoot the cheapest bulk ammo you can purchase. The Bearcat is not accurate enough for you to notice the difference and the barrel is too short for you to gain any benefit from shooting Stingers or Velocitors or other high speed ammo. If fact ,you might do better shooting one of the 60 grain loads if the littel Ruger will stabilize the bullet if you are looking for a bit more knockdown from a .22.

Perry

Find an older S&W Model 34 Kit Gun....they shoot better than a Bearcat and are double action if you need it.... adjustable sights...all around better gun!!

I sometimes carry my Browning Challenger ll fishing, it's usually stoked with Winchester Power Points, they're about the hardest hitting .22lr out there....Velocitors are right there too, I haven't shot them yet. Always wanted to try the shot out....no snakes here though!

I like the old Rossi 515/518 revolvers, as they are stainless, have adjustable sights, and you can install the larger grips from a Rossi 720 on them. I have a S&W 651, but find the small J-frame Smiths a little too small for my hand, so they don't point as well as I would like.

I like a 22 Magnum for a kit-gun, as the CCI shot cartridges carry a larger charge of shot and the softpoint/FMJ bullets are better killers on larger pests.

Jeff

Guess it depends upon what you are fishing for...when I was growing up in Florida, my Dad used an M1 Carbine for sharks. When I lived in Homer, AK we used a .410 with #6 shot on Halibut. On the Chesapeake Bay an 18" fish bonker on a leather thong works fine.

If you are looking for protection from 2 legged pests, then a stainless 1911 would be appropriate...or maybe the stainless 22 mag. I'm pretty impressed with those Rem Premiums....after some testing, I have alot of respect for that round!!

sold my 34 kit gun AND model 17 4 ", and later a 617 (too heavy) 4 ".

Miss the 17 4" the most.....damn I could kick myself for all those that I no longer have and let go.........