SIL is a farmer and a rancher. I'm bumping eighty and not of much use at heavy work any more. During his planting and harvest times, I am sometimes useful at checking cattle and windmills and feeding either hay or range cubes. The ranch truck is equipped for handeling round bales and he has range cube trailer with a measured dispenser. Sometimes we have to break ice at the water troughs.
For bumming about the ranch, I wear a holstered 4 7/8" stainless .44 Special Flat Top loaded with a 240 Keith type bullet @ about 1000fps. Never can tell when a rattlesnake, hog, coyote, or porcupine or some other varmint might need shooting. It is much handier than a carbine from the truck. Usually have my Mini-14 as well, for those occasions when there is enough time to use it.
Sometimes during the warmer season, I carry a Bearcat with a couple of rat shot up first. That stuff melts snakes of up to moderate size.
My beautifully fitted and finished .44 Anniversary is for admiring and civilized range and plinking. No hard work in it's future. The stainless Super Single Six may get more ranch use when I get a satisfactory holster for it. With the Magnum cylinder installed, it should be up to general ranch work.
Best,
Jack