Rossi Ranch Hand oversized-lever fix.

G37

G37

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Well, I'm getting ready to send this off for refinishing, but I have a few more things I want to do first.

Today I took the stripped-lever and placed it in a vice, applied some heat and did some bending followed with file-work and sanding.
Big improvement. Yes?

I finished it off with my attempt at case-hardening it, unsure how well it went.
Either way I am content with it. It'll look great parkerized and painted:

Before & After:
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We're both working on the same concept G37. A proper sized lever
for a gloved hand. Never did like the big looper that much.
Nice job on yours. Now comes the fun bit with the stock.;)

This is the one I done up on my Ranch Hand .45
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Nice job!
I agree... looks and function is so much better with a smaller profile (the original one is a little too obnoxious.)

My Ranch Hand is at Arma-Coat as we speak. If all goes well, once I get it back and re-assemble I'm ordering new wood from Boyds :)
 
My Ranch Hand is at Arma-Coat as we speak. If all goes well, once I get it back and re-assemble I'm ordering new wood from Boyds :)[/QUOTE]

I'll be ordering up another stock from Boyd's as well. (Thanks to the screwing some
of us got from a certain Goof!):mad:
Can't wait to see how your Arma Coat job turns out. They do nice work and the finish is
very durable. Good luck on er'.
:cheers:
 
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I was just looking at a review of the ranch hand and here is a quote: This experience did demonstrate the only practical use I’ve found for the big-loop lever—it allowed a two-hand grip around the wrist of the stock similar to the way a shooter would hold any other big-bore handgun.

So if you intend to make your ranch hand into a short barrel carbine, changing the lever may be beneficial. However if you want to keep it a "handgun" and I do, the big loop can be better.
 
Duffy said:
I was just looking at a review of the ranch hand and here is a quote: This experience did demonstrate the only practical use I’ve found for the big-loop lever—it allowed a two-hand grip around the wrist of the stock similar to the way a shooter would hold any other big-bore handgun.
Click to expand...

Aha! Well that makes sense.
I've been one-handing it, or shooting it like a rifle (minus stock.)

It's funny, it didn't even occur to me to try and two-hand grip it like a pistol.

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I'll definitely post pics when done.
I can hardly wait.
 
How much heat was applied?
I must say the large loop has grown on me with use. I can't really see it being helpful for two handed pistol style shooting but with a stock on the gun you could rest your fingers outside the loop for a more "pistol" grip angle for your strong hand. The one thing I found nice with the bigger loop was the front part or the loop where you push your fingers when working the lever.....the larger rounded shape makes it more comfortable to push your cocking hand forward and down.
I think Henry does a good job with their loop shape. It's a good balance of performance and looks.
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i love shooting my 44 ranch hand.. also tried a few times to shot it like a big handgun and i didn't like the feeling/grip at all (maybe its the 22 grains of Winchester 296).. my question is.. do i understand right that both of you modded lever did not removed the lever at all for the mod ? just left it connected to the ranch hand open and into a vise. ? (i am not well equiped in tools and can't imagine being able to do this kind of job with what i got)

nice job! the big loop have never been unpracticle shooting and all but i do beleve the rossi would be ###ier in smaller size.. and i agree with the glove part.
 
It's pretty easy to remove the lever..... Trace out the original shape and then trace out the desired shape and go to town. A shaping jig wouldn't be crazy either.
 
that might just renew my interest to the RRH as a hicking gun... I was to go for a VZ-58, but it'd be wayyy oversized compared to a RRH modded in 44 magnum...
 
Yeah, got the Steves video, looks like a simple operation to remove the lever.

xOra These guns are a hoot, lotsa bang for the buck. Load light for plinking or heavy for serious s##t. 44 mag is the way to go.
 
I just redone the lever for my Rossi .44 magnum trapper. I had previously
cut and reshaped it but it still looked too big for my liking, and the spot
where my amigo TIG welded it would'nt take the blue very well.
(We were into the whiskey and he grabbed the wrong alloy filler rod.)
Yesterday, I returned to the shop and Zip-Cut the old weld out, then
reshaped the lever over a piece of 1 1/4" solid aluminium round stock
clamped in the vise. I carfully tapped away on it using my nylon faced
body hammer until I got the size and shape I wanted, then zip-cut the
excess bit off.

No heat. No jig, just hand forming was all I needed. The total time
to do this bit was about 10 min. while my buds was oinking lunch.

My amigo then welded it with his MIG welder which was spooled up with
the proper wire for the job. 15 seconds worth of time, not counting stopping
for a shot! I took the lever home and did the grinding, file work & sanding
which killed about 5 hrs. plus a mickey of CC. A touch of Oxpho-Blue
completed the work to this point. So far, I'm pleased with the results and
when I laid the lever overtop of of the one on my Ranch Hand .45, there
was only about a 1/8th" size diffence between the 2. Me happy! :D

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