Ruger Bearcat or Sp-101 in .22lr

[theyoungone]

Once everything settles down I like to buy a .22lr pistol as a trainer for my daughter and eventually pass it on to her when she is an adult.

These are the two options I came up with.

The Ruger Bearcat in stainless is a pretty looking gun that I think a girl would get into. The only concern I have is the fact that its single action.

The SP101 is almost $100 more than the bearcat, but its double action. I wanted to get something a little nicer than the the Taurus 94 I have, but I'm thinking the sp101 will also has a heavy DA trigger. Also with 8 rounds, and a DA trigger it can fill the role as a home defense weapon better than a SA Bearcat, even though I wouldn't recommend a .22lr for that job.

I don't know what do you guys think?

[Finch00]

my wife has a 22 Bearcat and older one. its a great little gun. shoots real nice tigger is very nice.

Never even handled an SP-101 so couldn't help you there

[ScorpioIM]

I've got a Ruger SR22 in the safe. It's a nice little semi auto in 22LR.

I use CCI mini-mags in it, and never have any problems at all using that ammo.

I'd give it a thumbs up for being a first/starter gun.

[harold63]

The SP 101 has DA/SA, which will help her develop her trigger finger much better; holds two more rounds, has an adjustable rear sight, has a grip I'd much rather have in a self defense situation, and doesn't have the 'cowboy' look. It's worth the xtra C-note, to me, no-brainer style. JMHO

[sigarms229]

I have an older Bearcat that was handed down from my father, I gotta tell you I couldn't hit a barn with it if I was 10' away. My brother has fired it many times with the same luck.

I have zero experience with a SP101 in .22lr but I'd lean that way if it was my money.....

[Joe Demko]

The Bearcat is a nice little revolver, but I like single actions. I've always thought the SP-101 was rather heavy and chunky for a .22. YMMV.

[harold63]

I've always thought the SP-101 was rather heavy and chunky for a .22. YMMV.

Yea, but you have the option of doing a two second cylinder dump if you want or need to.

[Joe Demko]

Yea, but you have the option of doing a two second cylinder dump if you want or need to.

No doubt. However, when it comes to .22 revolvers, I always thought the old S&W kit guns were just about a perfect match between size of gun and power of cartridge.

[Just1more]

I have a S&W model 63 22lr (kit gun so it was called ) in a 5 inch barrel. Just love this little revolver! This one will stay with us - other guns would go first.

[harold63]

but I like single actions.

, but he certainly enjoys plinking away with the single action.

For straight up plinking, +1...