UPDATE: Rossi Ranch Hand Mares Leg

Bro-kin said:
Why would anyone buy this in 44 mag? The 45 seems so much more viable with mild loads up to hot loads.
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Why would anybody bring this argument up...again?

Walk into any sporting goods store...and you'll find the answer on the shelf.
 
Bro-kin said:
I should be there sometime between the 1st of Aug to the 6th. Catch a flt out of Spokane back to Albuquerque on the 7th. Let me know what you want and I'll order them. I should have them in a week or so.
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Thanks for the offer! One of the other posters mentiond bullet barn. Looks like they have a 300gr, so I can order those up here.
 
Kanaima said:
Why would anybody bring this argument up...again?

Walk into any sporting goods store...and you'll find the answer on the shelf.
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Sorry to piss in your coffee. I'm well aware of the price difference as a hot load, it's just not a fun load to plink with, and I''m sure the availability of 44 special is a problem.
 
You didn't piss in my coffee. It's just that any argument or discussion concerning personal choice is endless. What's the best calibre 9mm or 45acp? What's the best colour red or yellow? Chev or ford, marlin or ruger, canada or the u.s.?

It was the way you asked the question (Why would anyone...) For many of us that chose 44 mag the answer is obvious. This is NOT a plinking load, this is a hardcore self defense load. A perusal of this enormous thread will find a huge number of people, myself including, that purchased this rifle as a tool not a toy. No offense taken, none meant, have a great day.
 
Bro-kin said:
Sorry to piss in your coffee. I'm well aware of the price difference as a hot load, it's just not a fun load to plink with, and I''m sure the availability of 44 special is a problem.
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Best plinking time ive ever had ! ... Mind you I seem to not be very recoil sensative.
I have two .22's I "plink" with and 7.62x39,7.62x54,12g and a 44 mag I "Blast" with! Why you pee in coffee?
 
Oooh yah I plink with mine to. This is the most fun rifle I've ever owned but when push comes to shove it's a pretty darn good self defense rifle for those of us that spend a lot of time in Grizzly or Polar Bear country. Or cougar or moose during the rut. I've even been stalked by wolves, so this rifle will be my good friend.
 
Kanaima said:
You didn't piss in my coffee. It's just that any argument or discussion concerning personal choice is endless. What's the best calibre 9mm or 45acp? What's the best colour red or yellow? Chev or ford, marlin or ruger, canada or the u.s.?

It was the way you asked the question (Why would anyone...) For many of us that chose 44 mag the answer is obvious. This is NOT a plinking load, this is a hardcore self defense load. A perusal of this enormous thread will find a huge number of people, myself including, that purchased this rifle as a tool not a toy. No offense taken, none meant, have a great day.
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Back at ya.:)
 
Islandvibe said:
.44 Mag and it's in the bag. That was my preference. Also the rim on the .45LC may cause extraction challenges at exactly the wrong time.
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Ease of carry for bears in the bush seems to be the reason some of you love the mare's leg. I do a lot of hiking and would not feel confident that I could drop a bear in a full frontal charge with any caliber. The heavier powerful cartridges/slugs make me flinch, and that is a recipe for disaster for me in a one shot situation. But any charge is a recipe for disaster.
 
Pepper spray is my go to item in The event of a bear encounter. It works... Plain and simple. That said, the ranch hand locked and loaded should help with the jitters a bit. I find I sleep way better with a firearm at my side. It's strictly a peace of mind thing. Or if the wind is blowing toward me. Which could be the reason for startling a bear in the first place.
 
In the end, a 44 mag is light for a frontal attack from a charging bear, but short of lugging a 11 pound 375 h&h, the penetraion of a 44 mag hardcast is not bad up close. 45/70 and shotgun slugs have not faired a lot better in tests I have seen, however most of these tests are done with foster slug, hollow point or generally soft expanding hunting rounds. The only way to stop a bear in it's tracks is a central nervous system shot. The 44 is still better than a stick.
 
Hungsolo, you're right. 44 mag is light compared to 45-70, but more packable vs my 1895 hence greater likelihood of actually carrying it (backpacking, scouting, etcetera).

Do you really opine pepper spray is better than ranch hand vs bear? I haven't had to try either, fortunately, but yes I do feel safer with a firearm.
 
Hunting, fishing, and work in the bush seem to offer as good a chance of an encounter as any. Sow/cubs and young bear encounters can turn deadly if surprised on the trail or running into them if they develop a taste for homestead food. If the wind is above 20 and swirling, the spray stays on the clip and the RH becomes an option. I carry both, and hope using my head to cut down the percentages of an encounter will always be my first choice. Most deadly encounters happen within 20 feet.....no time to do much of anything but get on the ground.
 
Islandvibe said:
Hungsolo, you're right. 44 mag is light compared to 45-70, but more packable vs my 1895 hence greater likelihood of actually carrying it (backpacking, scouting, etcetera).

Do you really opine pepper spray is better than ranch hand vs bear? I haven't had to try either, fortunately, but yes I do feel safer with a firearm.
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Regarding the 44, from the Alaskan government studies that I have seen, the 44 was at the low end of effective in penetration tests, but this was using soft ammo. The 4570 and shotgun slug did not fair much better, believe it or not. A foster slug or a softer 4570 round did not blow the 44 away with penetration. I can't qhote the numbers but they were not as good as we think. These numbers change with hard cast ammo though. The real performers were the 30 06 and up rifles. 338 and 375 h&h. I will not pack one of these for bear defense, so the 12 guage comes with me in isolated country and the RH comes in areas where I will probably see a lot of people.

Regarding bear spray, yes I do believe it to be more effective at stopping a charging bear. Studies in BC, Alaska, Alberta, Montana have shown it to be 98% effective. The 2% were not harmed, but the bear continued to scare the crap outta them until they left. If the wind is right I go for the bear spray, i worry about my aim in a scary moment like that and my abilty to pull off a perfect shot and disable central nervous system. If the bear is far enough away, my first thought would be to fire a warning shot ten feet in front of him. If he keeps coming fog the bear spray and be ready with the RH. I am a left shot, so I can do it.
 
Great minds think alike ...

Hungsolo said:
Regarding the 44, from the Alaskan government studies that I have seen, the 44 was at the low end of effective in penetration tests, but this was using soft ammo. The 4570 and shotgun slug did not fair much better, believe it or not. A foster slug or a softer 4570 round did not blow the 44 away with penetration. I can't qhote the numbers but they were not as good as we think. These numbers change with hard cast ammo though. The real performers were the 30 06 and up rifles. 338 and 375 h&h. I will not pack one of these for bear defense, so the 12 guage comes with me in isolated country and the RH comes in areas where I will probably see a lot of people.

Regarding bear spray, yes I do believe it to be more effective at stopping a charging bear. Studies in BC, Alaska, Alberta, Montana have shown it to be 98% effective. The 2% were not harmed, but the bear continued to scare the crap outta them until they left. If the wind is right I go for the bear spray, i worry about my aim in a scary moment like that and my abilty to pull off a perfect shot and disable central nervous system. If the bear is far enough away, my first thought would be to fire a warning shot ten feet in front of him. If he keeps coming fog the bear spray and be ready with the RH. I am a left shot, so I can do it.
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Yesterday I was checking-out a couple of trout pools in the Oldman River (at, and just below, The Gap) and had a big can of pepper spray on my gunbelt and my .44 RH in my hand.

However, the best protection was provided by my top-of-the-line Woods Canada "Don't Bug Me Shirt". It's very much like "The Original Bug Shirt" ... another premium bug shirt that's also made in Canada. For all I know, they could be made in the same factory. The deerflies are incredibly thick this year!! It was a super-hot day, and I was able to wear just a tee-shirt and shorts ... with cheapie Coughlan mesh pants.
 
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Spot on, it's the bugs we really gotta worry about!

@Hungsolo: Thx for the info...still I think we both agree that we feel safer with the RH! I think I'll use your method with the fog plus insurance if my hand is ever forced.

Hardcast is definately a better penetrator, I'll be hand-loading some bear-medicine.
 
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