I missed the boat when everyone else was getting one some time ago. Now I'm thinking I should have bought one. Anyways, back then I would have went for one in 44 mag, but now I'm leaning towards one in 357 mag, probably because I have this reloading stuff left over after foolishly selling my S&W 686. I guess I'm just looking for a little advice from those who own one, whether or not the novelty wears off really quick. I should add it wouldn't be for serious hunting, as I have other normal levers, like 94's. BLR, Marlin. Thanks.
Rossi Ranch Hand, do I really want one?
- Thread starter pastway
- Start date
I just got one in 357 mag a few months ago.i never thought I would like it as much as I do.its fun to shoot and feels kinda good . I did change the sights to a peep type sight and added that magnetic stock and removed the leather ring thing.i seem to shoot 38 specials mostly.Id say just buy one ,you will most likely have fun with it.
I enjoy my ranch hand at the range and it is a great backpack gun. Mine is in 44 mag. I also replaced the sights and with the magnetic stock on I get 2.5" groups at 50 yards (not done dialling it in).
The reason I like 44 mag is that my dad and I go gold panning in the summer and the gun is along for animal defence. Maybe not the most powerful but it fits in the gear we carry.
The reason I like 44 mag is that my dad and I go gold panning in the summer and the gun is along for animal defence. Maybe not the most powerful but it fits in the gear we carry.
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Light and handy is a compromise even if we were free to carry handguns in the bush.
A .44mag or heavy loaded .45 Ranchhand with good sights and a butt stock is a good compromise in my opinion if you are looking for a camping hiking deep wilderness gun.
They are fun to shoot and relatively cheap too.
Also easy to sell if you decide to move in a different direction.
- Location
- Haliburton County, Central Ontario
Most useless looking piece of kit I have ever seen. Unless you are a bona fide ranch hand.....
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Yes, I know that. What I should've said:
"Only seems worthwhile when you fit a full butt stock to it".
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NAA.
I was just ribbin you a bit NAA... I figured you knew what was up.
In the USA it's a bit of a hassle with extra paperwork and cost to put a butt stock on the ranchand, but not for us in Canada.
Shooting ranchhands out of the box is a lot like shooting a PGO shotgun.
Not for everyone and the discussion usually ends with comments like " most useless thing ever" etc .
Have you tried a ranch hand in stock form?
The .357 is pretty easy to handle and shooting 38's is very mild.
.44 mag is more of a handful but doable with some strength and technique .
The best option is to fabricate a quick detachable stock option that is solid when mounted but easy to remove and a few guys have come up with some interesting ideas.
But even with a full stock it's a lightweight,slim and compact carbine that can hold 8 rounds and deliver them fairly quickly when needed.
I figured you knew what was up.In the USA it's a bit of a hassle with extra paperwork and cost to put a butt stock on the ranchand, but not for us in Canada.
Shooting ranchhands out of the box is a lot like shooting a PGO shotgun.
Not for everyone and the discussion usually ends with comments like " most useless thing ever" etc .
Have you tried a ranch hand in stock form?
The .357 is pretty easy to handle and shooting 38's is very mild.
.44 mag is more of a handful but doable with some strength and technique .
The best option is to fabricate a quick detachable stock option that is solid when mounted but easy to remove and a few guys have come up with some interesting ideas.
But even with a full stock it's a lightweight,slim and compact carbine that can hold 8 rounds and deliver them fairly quickly when needed.
My .44 RH goes with me every time I go north. With the full butt, makes a great short carbine. Loaded with 300 gr XTP it would give a serious attitude adjustment if and when necessary. Lots of fun plinking with lower power cast ammo too.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
OP... get one, or better yet,get a couple or more. These make handy and fun little blasters to
tinker on and hunt with when set up proper.
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tinker on and hunt with when set up proper.
View attachment 11794
View attachment 11795
It only took five rounds to determine that for me, personally, the Ranch Hand in stock configuration is pretty useless and most definitely a novelty.
I bough mine for a specific purpose, it's a wilderness carry gun. I went a different route than most on here and adapted ramline tupperware furniture, addressed the inherent problem of a ridiculously short sight radius with a stevesgunz rear peep and did away with the goofy large-loop.
What I have now is a sub 5lb ,12" barreled rifle that when loaded is perfectly balanced with just the right amount of forward weight due to the ammo in the mag tube, firing a .452 diameter 300gr hardcast bullet close to 1600fps from the muzzle yet still grouping 2-3" at 50 yds.
A seriously functional carry gun. Yes you need one!
Only thing missing is the weather resistance of stainless steel, but mine will be parkerized and cerakoated during this coming winter.
I bough mine for a specific purpose, it's a wilderness carry gun. I went a different route than most on here and adapted ramline tupperware furniture, addressed the inherent problem of a ridiculously short sight radius with a stevesgunz rear peep and did away with the goofy large-loop.
What I have now is a sub 5lb ,12" barreled rifle that when loaded is perfectly balanced with just the right amount of forward weight due to the ammo in the mag tube, firing a .452 diameter 300gr hardcast bullet close to 1600fps from the muzzle yet still grouping 2-3" at 50 yds.
A seriously functional carry gun. Yes you need one!
Only thing missing is the weather resistance of stainless steel, but mine will be parkerized and cerakoated during this coming winter.
OP... get one, or better yet,get a couple or more. These make handy and fun little blasters to
tinker on and hunt with when set up proper.
View attachment 11794
View attachment 11795
I like that sight modification. As to the stock change, at best I think I would make one of the magnetically attached extensions. I have a Win. Trapper in 44 mag, so it wouldn't be worth the money to me to gain only a 4 inch loss of barrel length. Shooting the Trapper with full loads, is also one of the reasons I am leaning toward the RH in .357. I know about the recoil the 44 can make.
I've been thinking about one in 45LC, if one comes along that has all the good mods already done to it, I just might buy it, if the price is right. How is the recoil of the 45LC? I understand that one can spice them up to near 44mag specs if needed. I think I like the fancy one that Henry makes the best.
I just recently switched from a .44mag to a .45Colt after reading how strong the rossi '92 action is.
The whole point for me is getting the most horsepower out of the Ranch Hand and since they don't make one in .454 Casull, I traded-up.
I kept adding H110 to a brand new Starline case under a 300gr bullet until I dared add no more with zero pressure signs. Where I stopped was so far above my Speer manuals max charge for ruger/contender loads that I wouldn't dream of posting it on here. I can't endorse the practice, but will simply say that I am NOT the exception to the rule or breaking new ground when it comes to hot-rodding the 45Colt and the Rossi/Puma clones are proven to handle 45-50,000PSI just fine,there are plenty of reliable sources out there to help you decide if you want to load hot.
I wouldn't dream of trying it with a Henry.
