SR22s are very neat, but not totally reliable with all Long Rifle, the more so before break-in. It also won't function with rat shot or Shorts. It is mostly plastic and zinc alloy, whereas the Bearcat is steel save for the ejector rod housing (which can be had in steel, however).

We have both, and frankly, were it not for the fact that my 6 year old princess loves the SR22 (it has a raspberry frame) it would be long gone.

It's cute, light, and handy, but I'm willing to bet the Bearcat will outlive it in triplicate.

Otony

I do not think I would get the storekeepers model - love the feel but having a full length ejector rod is a good thing. His shoots to point of aim - I'd almost consider packing it if I were going to pack a 22. A classy little 22 but it has a bit of an extraction issue.

for reasons already stated; and I'd do whatever it took (if anything) to get a 25 yards zero with it. I've got a little Star Model F that I really like so I don't need or want another small .22 auto.

+1

Purpose will decide, I think, for you. I believe the SR22 will be easier to shoot well from the git-go. The Bearcat will shoot well too but may well demand more time to do so.

I've shot Dad's SR22 and it was a decent pistol. It seemed comparable to the Walther P-22 all in all. Sights and ergonomics were quite good.

But, I've a soft spot in my heart for single actions so I would choose the 'Cat.

I shot Boge's custom Bearcats with improved sights and they are dandies. If a feller picked one up and shot it for a bit and found the sights to be challenging, it would be a pretty easy fix.

In the end, what do you want it to be?

I bought one of the first new stainless steel Bearcats. I had nothing but trouble with that gun. It was the only Ruger lemon that I've ever had, or heard of. It kept breaking the transfer bar & the spring loaded plunger in the base pin. It appeared to me that the hammer mounting bore was not square. The hammer was striking hard on one edge & not the other side. After 3 failures & parts breakage, I told the Ruger factory that I no longer could trust the gun due to its poor history. Hell, I don't think I owned it for more than 2-3 months! They offered to trade it out for another. At that point I asked if I could upgrade to one of the new small frame Vaqueros. After sending a check for the difference, I ended up with a very nice Vaquero.

Have you ever tried to shoot a Bearcat much? They are somewhat hard to shoot, with the small grips & even smaller sights.

Good luck
~JM~

light weight, accurate, points well, adjustable sights so you can choose your ammo and not putz around trying to get it to shoot to point of aim.

Not exactly compact, but light and handy anyway - the Colt 1911-22 I bought last year is a fine shooter and I have not been able to MAKE it malfunction.

There is a 4" S&W .22 kit gun on Gunbroke now - Auction # 432018406.

Says it's a "stainless Model 34". Don't think that's the correct model # for a stainless gun, and it looks more like nickel.

Shooting land how much time you want to spend loading and unloading. I love my Single Six but loading it and removing fired shells from a 22 is a slow process.