Ranch hands?
- Thread starter SRussell
- Start date
Once the fad passed, sales dropped.
A close friend has a .44 Ranch Hand, and... It's just a terrible gun to shoot, from a practical sense. Fun as heck as a range toy/back 40 blaster. But trying to hit things accurately at any distance, with the short sight radius and absolutely appalling ergonomics (the worst aspects of rifle and pistol mixed together), is a skill that would require more arthritis inducing practice than most would want to endure.
Your wrist is at the wrong angle for the recoil for firing without it shouldered, and the lever wants to chew up your middle finger when firing.
I'm not sure we're going to see the big batches getting imported now that the "new cool" factor has subsided.
A close friend has a .44 Ranch Hand, and... It's just a terrible gun to shoot, from a practical sense. Fun as heck as a range toy/back 40 blaster. But trying to hit things accurately at any distance, with the short sight radius and absolutely appalling ergonomics (the worst aspects of rifle and pistol mixed together), is a skill that would require more arthritis inducing practice than most would want to endure.
Your wrist is at the wrong angle for the recoil for firing without it shouldered, and the lever wants to chew up your middle finger when firing.
I'm not sure we're going to see the big batches getting imported now that the "new cool" factor has subsided.
Just put a rifle stock on the action, and you'll have a real carbine.
Ted
That's what I always wanted to do. I've seen some neat magnetic extensions too, a novel idea that may or may not be as functional as they look...
If only funds allowed me to buy more impractical guns like this...
Oh, definitely. Put a full length stock on it, and then you have something shootable. But then you lose the compact "cool" factor.
I have one of the Henry .22 Mares Leg rifles, because... I'm a sucker for "cool" things that go bang. From what I've read, a regular Henry full length stock fits on them just fine, and would make it a lot more usable. But where's the fun in that?
I have one of the Henry .22 Mares Leg rifles, because... I'm a sucker for "cool" things that go bang. From what I've read, a regular Henry full length stock fits on them just fine, and would make it a lot more usable. But where's the fun in that?
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
The fun in that is being able to shoot the rifle, and actually hit the target.
Ted
My Rossi RH carbine in 45 Colt shoots straighter than I do with me mild loads.
Gonna work up some reasonably warm 300+ gr loads in the near future.Old guy wiggly shootin'.
These little guns are very fun to shoot and are potent on big critters at close ranges. You would have fun with one of these Ted fer sure.
Mighty handy rifle to have on ye when takin' a wizz out in the bush.
The top one is the 45 Colt & lower one (Which I sold) is in 357 Mag.)
Attachments
Big bore dinosaur
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- NORT OF COW.TOWN.EH
Like my chiappa , has a heavey barrel and nice case hardening, great wood.
Dont mind shooting it from a rested position.
More fire power then my bow,
Purpose built gun .. packs up nice when taken down..
I like it with a full stock, but not as compact ...
Got some 94's if a want a carbine
Dont mind shooting it from a rested position.
More fire power then my bow,
Purpose built gun .. packs up nice when taken down..
I like it with a full stock, but not as compact ...
Got some 94's if a want a carbine
NZClaybuster
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
i have a Henry Big Boy in .44 mag you could buy.. its longer and prettier, she told me
My Rossi RH carbine in 45 Colt shoots straighter than I do with me mild loads.
Old guy wiggly shootin'.
View attachment 267944
These little guns are very fun to shoot and are potent on big critters at close ranges. You would have fun with one of these Ted fer sure.
Mighty handy rifle to have on ye when takin' a wizz out in the bush.
The top one is the 45 Colt & lower one (Which I sold) is in 357 Mag.)
View attachment 267945
What sorta velocity you figure is reasonable in one of these with 300gr pills?
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I reckon on 1300 fps tops fer me. I use Starline brass which is decently strong enough for the job. Folks can & have run the 45 Colt to much higher pressure levels than I intend to though and ain't died from it, far as I know.
I loved my ranch hand. Can't really think of why I sold it. It has one of the best triggers I've ever had on a rifle. It went off just when I wanted it to. It saved my hide from wild animals, and was on many adventures. Yup, shoulda kept it.
Yea big thing is that it is super compact, what makes for a good carrying around gun for bow hunting elk in grizzly country if it ever came down to my life or one of those beautiful monsters. Has anyone here had better luck with other calibers for accuracy or is it all about the same with that small of a barrel?
Whats wrong with the accuracy? If it's your grizzly defense gun it's not being used at ranges longer than what, 25 yds? 2-4" @100 is plenty in that scenario...
Probably hard to get that kind of accuracy without a full size stock of some sort though...
Maverick22
Regular
- Location
- Interior, BC
I was in at my local Canadian tire a few weeks ago having a look at their Chiappa Scorpio (their newest version of the mares leg). The guy who runs their gun counter (a very friendly knowledgeable man) told me that Rossi is tooling up to reintroduce the puma, but that they likely won’t hit the Canadian market for a long time due to production numbers and demand in the states. He also said that he can’t get any ranch hands, but has no problems getting scorpios into store.
