UPDATE: Rossi Ranch Hand Mares Leg

That would be an option..... I think once you are over a half inch though it might look better and be less snaggy if it had a base of some sort.
 
You might already know based on all the previous comments, but for some reason Rossi ships these guns with front sights that are way to low.
That could be why you couldn't hit where you were aiming.

In stock form these guns require a push-pull technique similar to a pistol grip only shotgun.
Push forward with the front hand and pull back with the rear. I've shot a ranchhand with a bungy sling around my body attached to the sling loop and it helped make it more stable specially when working the lever as the rear of the gun was supported.

Once the sights are regulated I've found these guns accurate out to 100 yards on steel plates. The .44 is a bit more of a handful but the .357 is quite easy to control and in my opinion the best cartridge if you want to leave your ranchand stock.

If you want to spend another $100 on a butt stock it's not hard to unscrew the one bolt and swap out the stock.

Thanks for this Can-down; it didn't occur to me at the time to use a shotgun technique. The .44 offering is what attracted me to it as I already own a 629 {and GP100 in .357}, however on the day in question I was on an action range and the target was a 6" steel plate in a bunker and I was only 10-15 feet away. This target is regularly harassed with my hand guns but with that mares leg I quite literally couldn't shoot to save my life {and working the action was awkward even though I also own a Savage 1899 (lever)}.

There is no doubt that a proper butt stock is in order, and if the sights aren't the proper height, that needs to be addressed as well. With these known short comings why would I spend $1000 + on a rifle/handgun thing knowing I will have to spend more? ("have" being the operative word) Seems to me that the manufacturer needs to pony up an incentive like the option of stock and sights before my interest is piqued!? {pony...mares leg...I kill me.f:P:}
 
My Rossi Ranch Hand in 45 Colt was on sale. I'll happily spend a few more bucks on a spring kit (if needed) and better sights. The factory semi-buckhorn rear sight is annoying and blocks a lot. Bought this knowing I would need a new front post at minimum so I'm not bothered by ordering a few parts.

May order a full length butt stock at some point as well in case I feel like making it a rifle for some reason. However, for my intended use as a backpack gun I like that short stock as is.

Haven't shot it yet, but seems to cycle fine with a firm grip on the forestock and a strong throw of the lever. This design doesn't do well if you handle it gently, you need to get physical with it.

I will be experimenting with different holds, some guys on other forums get a third point of contact for aiming by pressing their cheek up against the tiny stock. Might be a little close for comfort in 44mag however. I'll see if it works with 45 Colt. Definitely requires more engagement from the support hand than a typical rifle. I'm shooting my bow a lot these days, so maybe that helps the "push-pull" approach feel more natural.
 
Last edited:
SO I just picked up a Henry Mares leg .22 and had a question about the length of the rifle.
This may have been covered already but I don't have time to search 300+ pages.

Total length is 25 inches. Where can I find the FRT number to print off so I have it if I get questiond while out having fun with my rifle.?
I did see the FRT that was posted earlier in the thread but that one is for the Rossi, not the Henry. Help?
And on another note, How did they class this a non resticted if it is shorter than the standard 26 inch requirement like other long guns?
Just curious.
 
I think you'll find they'll make you whatever you like. I've seen the 'wanstalls' slings they make, very nice work for the money. I doubt you'll be disappointed with their custom work.

Foxer is back!?

Best thing that could happen to CGN ... ever.
 
Hello fellow mare leg enthusiasts. So I just ordered the .357 ranch hand from wanstalls today. I've been reading of ppl having trouble cycling the .357 cartridges how common is this?
 
Hello fellow mare leg enthusiasts. So I just ordered the .357 ranch hand from wanstalls today. I've been reading of ppl having trouble cycling the .357 cartridges how common is this?

Hard to say as the only people posting about it are usually the ones with issues... By the sounds if it and watching some YouTube videos... It's usually fixed with a bit of filling where the shells are hanging up.
I've had a chan e to try 3 different .357 rossis and they all functioned smoothly.
 
Hello fellow mare leg enthusiasts. So I just ordered the .357 ranch hand from wanstalls today. I've been reading of ppl having trouble cycling the .357 cartridges how common is this?

Just get the dvd from Steve's gunz it will walk you throw slicking up your rossi its not that hard I was half blind wen I did mine
 
I'm not sure which ones you are referring to because the ones I have were not made for Brazilian guns specifically..... I beleive the ones I have were made for winchester 94's but obviously they can be made to work on the rossi's 92's as well.

As for the front sight height, I'm just going from what I see placing the sight on the gun and then looking down the sight line in comparison with the stock iron sights.

It's like the issue with the ranch hand to begin with..... rossi uses the same sights as there longer barreled 92's and they end up shooting to high.
The XS sights are also designed for longer barrels so logic suggests they will also shoot high and that's what my eyeball says when I mock up the rear XS and compare it to my existing sights. It sort of stopped me from drilling and tapping till I figure out a front sight base.

Who sells this set up?
 
I just finished my latest upgrade to my Rossi RH .45 Colt. Finally got around to fitting an XS rear sight to the wee thumper,but I'm happy with the results. Now I have a proper sight radius for the short bugger & a faster target acquisition and very clear sight picture for my eyes. A little fartin' around and tinkerin' has got me to a decent solution to sight selection for a carbine stocked Ranch Hand. I have the XS front sight in case the Marbles .570" height one prints low, but this set-up is far better for adjustability than the other options out there & I've tried them all, except for a tang sight...but that would be dumb.:)

View attachment 11789
View attachment 11790
I whittled the original safety lever down to a near-flush button to allow clearance fit for the XS rear sight.
View attachment 11791
I then cut down & contoured the factory Rossi rear sight to make a sight blank for the barrel slot.
View attachment 11792
A drilling job on the milling machine, followed by hand tapping had the rear sight mounted.
View attachment 11793

Next up will be my .357 RH carbine. For me, XS is the way to fly.:)
 
Back
Top Bottom