Question for Rossi Ranch Hand owners

I was sorely tempted by a .357 Ranch Hand I found for $430 at the local chain sporting goods store. I don't need it, but I love shooting my .357 Marlin so much I can't get the Rossi off my mind. If I can only choose one gun for a day of shooting steel and blowing up water jugs, I'm going to grab that 1894CSS carbine every time.

So forget practicality. Forget group size, or useful range, or the power of the round.

I just want to know about the Ranch Hand's fun factor. Does it put a grin on your face when you shoot it?

Every gun puts a smile on my face when I shoot it!

I'd wanted one of these since they first came out. I just couldn't justify getting one. I was talking with my son one night and I said man they're cool looking, but I really don't need one. He said "Sometimes the coolness factor is enough." He was right. Don't know where he gets it from, must be from me . Anyway, I decided that "the coolness factor" certainly was a good enough reason to get one but what caliber? I settled on the .44 Magnum. I figured that a long barreled .44 Mag could theoretically be used for hunting. Second choice would have been the .357. Not much use for the .45 Colt. Nothing wrong with it, just no use for it. Picked one up a couple of weeks ago. Still haven't had a chance to shoot it but the action is getting smoother from handling. I could live without the safety but I guess it's not that big a deal. It is very cool, need had nothing to do with it, and the price is great compared to similar style firearms.

I actually do need one. Coyotes and strays are harassing my chickens, and I want an "impact" caliber.

I'm thinking I will go with the .357/.38, but the .44 sounds good too.

This will replace the folding stock SKS in my farm truck.

I have a 357 Ranch Hand and it is both fun and accurate - and after of 1 year of ownership, still enjoy it.

Mine is great fun to shoot with relatively inexpensive 38 loads - note, with mine you can't feed the short target wadcutters, but I generally shoot RNL loads anyway.
357 is hoot to shoot. You can sort of bring it to eye level upon the slight cheek rest as if you were pretending it had a stock. You can get a good sight picture, and reasonable accuracy out of it - not just for hip shooting or playing cowboy (although that could be fun too).

I have on too and really like it. It is fun to shoot, but my Henry Mare's leg in .22lr is more of a blast to shoot, and a good bit cheaper ammo wise.

That's funny, because when I saw one at the local Sporting Goods store, I just couldn't stop looking at it. I went home and it's all I thought about the entire night. I couldn't take it any longer and reported bright and early to the Store the next morning; if I would have showed up 1 second later, the guy that was right behind me would've been the new owner.

That was several months ago and I've yet to find the time to shoot it. But, that's Ok, because it puts a smile on my face each time I hold it...it's just Cool. Since I'm obsessed with all things 45, I opted for the .45Colt. Of course, I'd still be smiling right now if they had it in 45-70 Govt.

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