:grin: Well, There are two Ruger .44 semi-autos. The older one is the Model 44 Standard Carbine and was labeled Deerstalker at first until Ithaca sued about the name. It has the gas port and is supposed to not have lead bullets shot as the gas port will clog.. They have a funky trigger (both the ones I have owned). I still have one and it is good for about 2.5 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards and is a good deer rifle to 130 yards with low recoil and a fast follow-up shot.. The newer Ruger Semi looks more like an M1 carbine action. It is called the Model 99/44 Deerfield Carbine and can be fired with cast bullets. I friend of mine had one but could not get it to shoot any loads under 5 inches at 100 yards so they swapped it.. I much prefer the original version.. Both are effective with a 240 grain XTP loading and will shoot it over 1725 FPS according to my chrono..As for the Ranch Carbine, the thing can shoot a 68 or 70 grain bullet pretty well and the .223 caliber can kill deer but most folks think it is too light... A gent who lives next to our shooting range used his to pop three bucks last year at under 40 yards so you can't tell him it's too light... I would be using the Ranch Rifle on varmints, as the ammo is cheap enough and it is accurate, probably to 200 yards.. I have shot the .44 a good bit, but don't think I can shoot it 400 times at one sitting.. I would need reconstructive surgery.. :? So whatever floats your boat...cbagman
