UPDATE: Rossi Ranch Hand Mares Leg

Reply to John ...

Hello John,

It's a .44 magnum. I purchased that calibre for a few reasons ...

- I live on a very remote 4000 acre mountain ranch, and there are bears here and alongside the nearby rivers where I fish ... usually alone.

- I already have a .357 magnum ... a K-frame (medium) Smith & Wesson Model 66 with a 4" barrel.

- The .44 cartridges are pricey, but ... really now ... life is too short to worry about that stuff :) Maybe I'll get another little $28 Lee Loader like I have for the .357.

- Notice my CGN name ... also my real-life nickname for 30 years during an earlier life:)

I'm curious to know the reasons why the gunsmith decided to go with Skinner's peepsight rather than the Steve's low flat buckhorn that was also available (and which I still have). They both appear to be equally low (a necessity, as you know), but I'm guessing that in a high-adrenaline situation a shooter could "draw a bead" a bit faster with the flat low buckhorn.

I'm a bit more confident as far as tinkering on the gun now, so maybe I'll tap-out the peepsight and give the low buckhorn a try.

Two interesting points ...

- In typical Boomer fashion, I didn't realize/notice that the base of the Skinner's peepsight was secured into the dovetail with a set-screw ... and was tapping away on it for several minutes before I smartened up. The stupid tapping had really jammed the set-screw, and I had to tap for a while in the opposite direction before the screw was relieved and could be turned. I was lucky that I didn't bugger-it-up.

- The green fiber-optic front sight is great ... highly visible.
 
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I didn't use a gunsmith Boomer. did it myself. both front and rear sights are from Steve's gunz. ( I checked with him on compatibility before )The main extra work was having to file a new notch in the peep sight base so the drift pin could hold it tight - also had to peen down the front sight notch a bit so the sight would stay in tight.

Like you, my main reason for the gun is for bear protection as one area I like to go- where our hunting camp is - is crawling with bears ( We identified 6 different ones last year with our trail cams). The gun feels about 2 pounds lighter than the 8 inch Dlask slug gun that I was carrying before, plus the holster is much more convenient. Unfortunately I don't have a wilderness carry permit and since this area is within the Ottawa regional area, chances of getting one are slim to none (and Slim is out of town:) )
 
Oops ...

John,

Sorry ... I didn't mean to give you the impression that I have a Wilderness ATC. I wish I did. I'm certainly a reasonable "poster boy" as far as legitimate qualifications and need, but I am not "Employed In A Job" out here ... I just live here:)

A few years ago I did request and submit all the paperwork, and that "Employed in a Job" requirement seems to be non-negotiable. In addition, there was nobody in southern Alberta who was officially qualified to verify that I was competent with a handgun. Too many roadblocks, so I just abandoned the idea.
 
After reading so many interesting and enthusiastic posts abkut this gun, I need to consider one. I have no commitment to calibre but I am inclined orto .44 magnum. Help me decide please.
KeltecFan

if you reload and are looking for a gun to pack with you in the bush " just in case " you meet up with something that has big teeth and is large and furry ......... and hungry .....

go with the 45 colt .

if you don't reload , go with the 44 mag

if you want a cheap plinking gun go with the 357
 
RH at the Range

I took my .45 Colt RH to the range on Friday and was surprised that after a box of ammo my aim came down (no longer so high), but it was still a bit to the left, with the sights it came with. Now, I was shooting pretty short, 10 m, but the last 3 went pretty much just where I wanted them to.
Sure was fun, those 2 boxes went awful fast. I think I may need to learn how to make my own ....

Jake
 
Cost of reloading depends on the type of bullet and powder used.
My 44 mag target load with a 240 gr plated bullet cost $12/50 using my brass of course.
Hotter loads with jacketed bullets are double that.
There is alot of powder and bullet choices with 44mag so you can find a combo that works for you for both accuracy and cost.
 
Lee Loader

I know that people are gonna laugh, but take a look at the little Lee Loader kit. When I was a kid it cost all of $9.95, and I think that they somehow maintained that price for about thirty years. It's an amazing little bit of ingenious engineering and now costs about $30.

It's fer-sure not fast, but that makes it no less satisfying. :)

I bought one for my first .357 magnum (a S&W Model 19) in 1974.
 
Steve's Gunz peep sight

Has anyone else gotten one of these?
I am very disappointed with the one I got. In my gun it rotates at least 20 degrees and flops around so much I took it back off. A sight needs to sit tightly in its position to be reliable.

Am I the only one who has experienced this?
Steve has a good reputation so I am not prepared to bad mouth him. I am just asking if my experience is unique or if there is a cure already discovered for this issue.

Thanks for your input.
 
Has anyone else gotten one of these?
I am very disappointed with the one I got. In my gun it rotates at least 20 degrees and flops around so much I took it back off. A sight needs to sit tightly in its position to be reliable.

Am I the only one who has experienced this?
Steve has a good reputation so I am not prepared to bad mouth him. I am just asking if my experience is unique or if there is a cure already discovered for this issue.

Thanks for your input.

Mr. Wolf,

Search Kanaima's recent posts on this forum. I seem to remember (although I'm not positive) that he mentioned a similar problem, and had figured-out a way to correct it.

Edit to add - Post 2351 on Page 236.
 
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I know that people are gonna laugh, but take a look at the little Lee Loader kit. When I was a kid it cost all of $9.95, and I think that they somehow maintained that price for about thirty years. It's an amazing little bit of ingenious engineering and now costs about $30.

It's fer-sure not fast, but that makes it no less satisfying. :)

I bought one for my first .357 magnum (a S&W Model 19) in 1974.

Nothing rong with the little lee loaders I know sun guy's that love thers
 
Mr. Wolf,

Search Kanaima's recent posts on this forum. I seem to remember (although I'm not positive) that he mentioned a similar problem, and had figured-out a way to correct it.

Edit to add - Post 2351 on Page 236.

Yep I had the same issue and emailed Steve about it. It's an easy fix. Rotate the sight base 90 degrees from the notch and file a new tiny notch - file,insert, look through the pinhole, test with the pin once you get close. It,s super tight once you get it. The bolt holes that the Rossi safety goes in apparently are all over the place sirzewise. But for me personally, it's easier to file a notch on an undersized sleeve than to try to grind and polish an oversize one. FWIW
 
It wase not easy but I got my Chiappa ML take down a part and grease the thread with hi-temp grease naw I can take it a part no problem.
If Garry would get sum barrels for the Chiappa's take down we can have a swich berral ML/carbine
A Chiappa carbine with 12" barrel in a 44 mag plus a spare berral in 45 colt would make a wicked marre's leg-carbine combo
I have the Chiappa take down Mare's Leg in 357 so Garry if you can get me the 12"Barrel take down carbine and a extra barrel I know you good guys at Wanstall can do it Thanks Garry
 
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So simple ... :)

Yup, what he says is what Kanaima more-or-less suggested. It sounds like a simple 10-minute fix. Piece a cake ...

"Yep I had the same issue and emailed Steve about it. It's an easy fix. Rotate the sight base 90 degrees from the notch and file a new tiny notch - file,insert, look through the pinhole, test with the pin once you get close. It,s super tight once you get it. The bolt holes that the Rossi safety goes in apparently are all over the place sirzewise. But for me personally, it's easier to file a notch on an undersized sleeve than to try to grind and polish an oversize one. FWIW"
 
The rossi scout mount from steves gunz just came in to day so naw I have to get the ranch hand drilled and tapped and decide wether to get a scout scope,red dot or reflex sight
 
new scabbard

I just received my new Voodoo tactical breachers scabbard from Wanstalls today. It fits my Ranch Hand like it was designed for it. The scabbard is going to work well when I pack my Ranch Hand on the tractor and even walking through the field. Thanks Wanstallsfor the awesome service.
 
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