So, what's wrong with a "Thunder Ranch" 44 special, other than the fact that it's not P&R'd and has a lock? And the ammo is expensive.

I've been ignoring one for weeks at my LGS, but it just will not go away.

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John 3:16 .

I hate that! I just give in anyway, I'd like to find one, so I say go get it!

wrong with the new Model 21s including the TR model. They are round butted which means I have to buy after-market stocks to shoot them....I have a TR with gold logo, a plain blue and a nickel.

I say buy it!

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Other than the kicking a dead horse added parts I would say nothing is wrong with one. I still might pick up the TR .45 ACP version.

I think it is because Clint Smith once made reference to someone on this forum as a **** sucker because of a thread moaning about the IL. Then somebody called him a poopoo-head, then everybody chimed in, then the fighting started, then lines were drawn in the sand, factions formed, families were torn apart, invective filled the air, it was great
Then it all died down and went away.
UNTIL YOU STARTED IT UP AGAIN

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Forum consigliere

Oh Well. I put it on layaway. I'll get it sooner or later.

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John 3:16 .

Good move Cajun -- I have two and both shoot great -- I did replace the grips but then none of my "shooters" have the factory grips on them anyway

The Thunder Ranch guns shoot well, but you might as well have a bar of soap as the stock grips.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Does anyone know what grips work for big hands on the Thunder Ranch? I , like CajunBass, have one at my LGS that has been there forever and torments me when I stop in, in a glass presentation case.....

That's pretty much the way I remember it. He basically killed off the market for his signature gun. Foolish pride on his part. And he pretty much told us we should bow down and honor him because he was so great, effectively sealing the idea we didn't trust a thing he said after that.

We went our separate ways. I'm not sure, but I think I can live happily without one of the guns. I've got the originals it was copied off, and they don't even have any gaudy gold splattered on them. In fact, my Triple Lock 4" and my 3rd Models also with the 4" seem to be better guns to me. And when they fail me, I'll rely on my 1950 Military 4". When I run through all of those, I've still got target models I can live with before moving to 4" magnums. I'm a happy camper without his trophy gun or him.

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Dick Burg

I have one and the ammo is dirt cheap . Yea, I reload .

Had one for a while. Excellent shooting gun.

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Centennial Every Day

They are horrible. I have had 2 of these nasty darn things. I was lucky enough to unload the first on a friend. then I had to order another from Bud's.http://smith-wessonforum.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
All kidding aside. I love it. Mine is a standard model 21-4, without the 'Thunder Ranch' bling. It came with the new style thumb catch and Ahrends stocks. I like the thumb catch but the stocks not so much. Don't get me wrong, they point great, handle recoil fine and fill the hand nicely. BUT, they're just so plain looking. I changed to Magnas and a 3R t-grip.
My only real complaint is the front sight SUCKS. This will be changed.
It's as accurate as any .44 I own, and handles like my favorite .38 M&P>

Attached Images

IMG_0523.jpg (57.5 KB, 106 views)

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Field Researcher. IGC

I have a 21-4 without the TR bling as well, and I love it....without going into what it is made out of, I am going to put a gold bead front sight on mine, those round front sights just throw me off.....
I reload for mine as well.....oh yeah, the factory stocks were replaced with Goodyears....fit my hand a LOT better

I own both a 21-4, and a 22-4, minus the TR bling. Try getting them from me! They're both superb, and a ball to shoot. I put Ahrends on both of them, and they're now perfect, IL and all.

That little bit of gold bling doesn't matter to me, one way or the other. I don't really know or care who Clint Smith is, or what kind of trouble he may have caused here. It's just a 44 special to me.

The grips feel good to me in the shop but they are slick. I can see where they might not be for shooting. I'm sure Pachmyer or somebody makes a set of goodyears for shooting and I can save the factory grips for "pretty."

It sort of reminds me of a big Model 10.

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John 3:16 .

What's wrong with a 22-4? They don't come in 45 Colt..... Other than that, I love mine. Got a 22-4 with gold logo and a 21-4 also. They're both good guns. I prefer the round butt on the 22 to the square one on the 21. The front sights do need help though, especially on the 21. I ended up filing a flat spot on it's face. Better, but still needs some work...

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Now that I think of it, I would add the 58's to this short list of amazing fighting guns that get little or now spotlight time.

They remind me of big Model 10s too....like the Model 58 does, which makes these big fixed sight revolvers my favorites....adjustable sights are great, but for a CARRY gun, the rear sight has always gotten in the way.....

What's wrong? Nothing. Other than I sold mine off last year. But I did pick-up the 22-4 to take it's place (sans the logo).
I'm sure I'll come across another 21-4 someday.

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Watch & Pray