UPDATE: Rossi Ranch Hand Mares Leg

I'm in full agreement with you on that one. My bear gun is my Belgian
A-5 Browning slugger loaded in similar fashion.
But to make sure we don't totally hijack this thread, we should show
our "real" bear defence guns along with our Ranch Hands and give
Gary the kudos for gettin' them into his shop. :)
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It may be old fashion but 44 magnum has bin used for bear deafence for a long time.
Mares leg with full stock and sight work will work just fine . we all know one shot in the air makes them run but ther is alwase that one bear
When i whas a kid we where not alowed out in the bush with out a sharp knife and a rifle with us, it whas just a 22lr but hell it still a rifle.
 
My reat sight was pretty loose so it looks like i'll have to go that route. Did you have to drill yours? while i have a cheapo Canadian Tire drill press i'm not sure how to set it up to drill a half drill diameter notch on the side of the base without having the drill bit skip all over the place.

I used a punch to mark each side of the sight and then I just used a triangle file and filed a small notch. Worked great.
 
It may be old fashion but 44 magnum has bin used for bear deafence for a long time.
Mares leg with full stock and sight work will work just fine . we all know one shot in the air makes them run but ther is alwase that one bear
When i whas a kid we where not alowed out in the bush with out a sharp knife and a rifle with us, it whas just a 22lr but hell it still a rifle.

Well in all truth, the smooth bore ball and shot gun is the oldest meat getter
and defence weapon since the invention of firearms. Our ancestors used
them for everyday living and survival. The guns have changed due to
advances in technology, but the basic application still holds true.

The ball and shot gun is still the most versatile weapon folks can own
when out in the wilderness...period.
:)
 
Well in all truth, the smooth bore ball and shot gun is the oldest meat getter
and defence weapon since the invention of firearms. Our ancestors used
them for everyday living and survival. The guns have changed due to
advances in technology, but the basic application still holds true.

The ball and shot gun is still the most versatile weapon folks can own
when out in the wilderness...period.
:)

we were not alowed to use shotguns I will awase grab a rifle for the bush
to me a shotgun is more fore HD I know meny hunt with ther shotgun but for me a rifle is king!
 
Having only held my Henry, all I can say is it feels like a $1000 gun.
Hearing all the complaints, and mods, or fixes others have made to their Chiappa, or Rossie's I feel the quality is there in the Henry.

Up to you if it's worth it.
 
Is there a difference in quality and workmanship between the Rossi Ranch Hand and the Henry Mare's Leg?

there is a HUGE difference in the 2 in terms of being able to handle pressure .

is the brass framed henry chambered in anything other than 45 colt ?

rossi uses the same action chambered in 454 casull .

the henry mares leg is also heavier than my full sized rossi with a 20 inch barrel ..... something to think about if your looking for a small light rifle to keep in your backpack .
 
Is there a difference in quality and workmanship between the Rossi Ranch Hand and the Henry Mare's Leg?

my only compant with my chiappa take down ML is the sloppy lever ther is to much play in lever and action I dont know if other have this same problem .
On the pro side my chiappa shoting 38's is only 1 inch high at 20 yards and when Wanstall get my take down carbin with 12"berral I will be able to swich berrals !
The rossi is the sights but I got the ranch hand to put a red dot or reflex sight on it so the sights are not a problem for me
 
My ranch hand is in the mail, and i want to try putting a brownell's .570 front sight and leaving the existing rear stock sight, because I have heard people complain that with the low flat sight, it feels like you are looking too close to the barrel . All you guys who switched out your sights, I have never done this. Is it difficult? Should I wait and get a smith to do it? I am OK with tools, but not a master metap worker by any means. I have never worked on a gun.
 
At the risk of getting a self pitying, negative comment from another reader...no it is not difficult at all. You need a small tip brass punch, a hammer and a block of wood to rest the gun on. The sights are a press fit and you punch out from the left to the right. Installation is the reverse, from the right to the left. You may have to give it a pretty good whack to get it going but as long as you have a piece of wood directly under the barrel where you're smacking it you'll be okay. And place the punch at the thickest part of the base of the sight.
 
At the risk of getting a self pitying, negative comment from another reader...no it is not difficult at all. You need a small tip brass punch, a hammer and a block of wood to rest the gun on. The sights are a press fit and you punch out from the left to the right. Installation is the reverse, from the right to the left. You may have to give it a pretty good whack to get it going but as long as you have a piece of wood directly under the barrel where you're smacking it you'll be okay. And place the punch at the thickest part of the base of the sight.

Hey! I resemble that comment :)

*********************​

About installing your sights ... the owner/machinist at Skinner's Sights (Andy) sent me a gorgeous brass punch that he designed specifically for installing/removing dovetail sights.

A Good Brass Punch Is Hard to Find.

This elegant tool is used to drift Skinner Dovetail Sights for Windage Adjustment and to remove and replace front sights and Dovetail Blanks.

Our punch has a special "FLAT" to glide along the bottom of the dovetail slot and give you a better puchase on the drifted sight. This is the same punch I have used for years and still use today in the Skinner Sight Shop

Shipped with the three sizes Hex Key Wrenches used to mount and adjust SKINNER SIGHTS. (.050", 1/16", 3/32) not shown

Protect the gun and use proper tools to install
and adjust your SKINNER SIGHTS!



(It was a gracious gesture to compensate for a shipping error down in Montana. I'd ordered his great little 24" scabbard for my Ranch Hand, and it was a bit too short.)

h??p://www.skinnersights.com/testimonials_12.html

I have no real need for the punch, and will mail it to you if you think you could use it.

Paying it forward ... :)
 
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My ranch hand is in the mail, and i want to try putting a brownell's .570 front sight and leaving the existing rear stock sight, because I have heard people complain that with the low flat sight, it feels like you are looking too close to the barrel . All you guys who switched out your sights, I have never done this. Is it difficult? Should I wait and get a smith to do it? I am OK with tools, but not a master metap worker by any means. I have never worked on a gun.

Using the .570" front sight should get you into the ballpark with the stock
rear sight at 25 yds.

If you decide later to switch out the rear sight to either the Marbles
Bullseye or Flat Top, you'll need the Marbles .538" front to get you in the zone.
Refer to my test target/sight comparison on page 235.

Put a shot of penetrating oil on the sights and let it soak in a while before
tapping them out. Clean out the dovetail and re-oil before tapping in the new sight. Makes the job go easy.;)
 
JUST GOT MINE.

It looks very good. I was impressed with Wanstalls sales and service on this.

I got the vodoo tactical scabbard and it works perfectly.

I mounted the laser sight I got for it. Need to wait for the remote switch replacement but this looks like it will work. I plan to sight the laser for 25 yards and then replace the sights as everyone else has and sight them for 50 yards. Beyond that I hope I can run faster than my hunting buddies.

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About installing your sights ... the owner/machinist at Skinner's Sights (Andy) sent me a gorgeous brass punch that he designed specifically for installing/removing dovetail sights.

A Good Brass Punch Is Hard to Find.

This elegant tool is used to drift Skinner Dovetail Sights for Windage Adjustment and to remove and replace front sights and Dovetail Blanks.

Our punch has a special "FLAT" to glide along the bottom of the dovetail slot and give you a better puchase on the drifted sight. This is the same punch I have used for years and still use today in the Skinner Sight Shop

Shipped with the three sizes Hex Key Wrenches used to mount and adjust SKINNER SIGHTS. (.050", 1/16", 3/32) not shown

Protect the gun and use proper tools to install
and adjust your SKINNER SIGHTS!



(It was a gracious gesture to compensate for a shipping error down in Montana. I'd ordered his great little 24" scabbard for my Ranch Hand, and it was a bit too short.)

h??p://www.skinnersights.com/testimonials_12.html

I have no real need for the punch, and will mail it to you if you think you could use it.

Paying it forward ... :)

Boomer, could you please post a couple pics of that punch? An end view would be awesome.
I'd like to make one up.
 
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