Just got my Rossi 92 Carbine ....

[Hankster]

Bought it "used" thru Cabela's in Lehi, Utah. They shipped it here to the Missouri store for pick-up. 16" big loop SRC carbine in .357.. just what I wanted. It was just as "cherry" as they said it was over the phone! It's a got to be a fairly new one, says Braztech on the tang. The question is, after reading here and all, it doesn't seem to have ANY of the Issues (except the plastic follower) I was expecting. Trigger is EXCELLENT! Action is easy and smooth as glass. Using a dummy load, just a small hint of resistance as the last 1/4 " closes. With the 158 swc lead in the dummy.. it ejects about 8 inches up, spinning, just to the side. Loading gate tension is spot on what I would have done to it.... .38's feed and cycle perfect, even at FAST cycling! I looked at the screws, they are not buggered, BUT, I could see the possibility someone got in there ahead of me. Has anyone here got a gun "dead on" before from Rossi before?? Or was I lucky enough to have got an "action job" on this one as well??? I'm happy either way, going to shoot it later today.... but was just curious!

Trigger was so good, I gave it the "drop test" just to be sure! (Cocked it, then "drop it" on it's butt from a foot up on floor, several times, hammer did not fall.....(yes, floor had carpet!)

[gak]

Sounds like you're good to go.... Now for that danged safety!
Contrary to a lot of folks' experience, I've had a few older ones (but new then) that with just a bit of levering and shooting were very smooth...but nothing NIB that was quite what I'd describe as feeling like they'd already had an action job. Great you were able to pull this together. You will be a happy Rossi owner!

[kimwcook]

Great. Now get out there and get us a range report.

[Chas.]

Sounds like you got a winner. You may want to change out the sights if they're stock. COSteve gives details on what he used on his Rossi .357 here http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... ls#p310339

[willygene]

mine was very accurate out of the box but did need a little slicking up no spring changes thou, glad you got a good one really no bad ones just some better than others.

[Hankster]

Well, shoot off will have to be tomorrow... had a job to do today(Darn it)... And I agree, the factory sights suck! Definitely going with a type of peep.... now the front sight... I've seen all sorts used... was thinking of using the Dremel on the back of the stock blade, and "drilling" a cup into it, and using the dayglo orange paint in it. Done this before with good results.. looks stock from everywhere, but from the BACK!! Peep sight with orange front....
Also, the stocks got to come off, refinish and the forearm correctly shaped.... square front and edges, YECCH!! We'll fix THAT in short order.....LOL!!
Tell you what, while we were waiting on the feds to process 4473 etc... looked around the "Gun Library" as they call it.. WOW!! some real "artwork" on those double barrels.... a Cased set of 1895 winnie's in 405.. the Teddy Roosevelt special edition.... and the one that had MY tongue hanging out drooling... an Original 1886 Winchester in 50-110!!! SWEET!!! only $16,999 on special.. um, we decided to pass and be happy with the Rossi! LOL!! But they did have some class A stuff in there...

[Pete44ru]

The .357 BrazTech/Rossi 16" Big Loop Model 92, I bought about a year ago, also worked aces right out-of-the-box.

I made a brass magazine follower and a bolt safety replacement plug, a few days after I got it - then D/T'd the receiver top rails for a Williams 5D-94AE receiver sight - which zeroed easily, using the issue front sight blade with a drop of orange sight paint on it's face.

Never satisfied with leaving things as issued, this past Winter I swapped another levergunner my Big Loop lever for his standard lever, then shortened the magazine back to a button mag config - so I think I'm done for awhile.



Apparently, many Rossi purchasers over the years have had issues with their rifles - but I can honestly say that I've had none with either this BrazTech, or it's twin LSI .45 Colt.

It seems you've also gotten a decent specimen - now go and drop something with it !

.

[gak]

Pete44ru said
Apparently, many Rossi purchasers over the years have had issues with their rifles - but I can honestly say that I've had none with either this BrazTech, or it's twin LSI .45 Colt

---
+1 I too have had very few issues over 30 or so years--which have included Interarms and EMF (and one early LSI I sold cause of the dang safety, and back then (initially unbeknownst to me because of the "there's only LSI" folks)-as EMF and Navy Arms still provided them without at the time, so there *were* choices. All have been smooth operators too, or quickly became so on their own. I haven't even had mag follower issues, but am overdue for replacing "just because" and "just in case." I'm also overdue getting some of NKJ's modified factory sights for my Interarms (to make them semi bucks vs the cheap slotted stamped metal ones). The EMFs had nice bucks to begin with.

[Mutt]

I too got a great one right out of the box .................Mutt

[atticus]

I'm new to the site, and new to leverguns. I have a NIB EMF 1892 in .357 with 24" octagon barrel. I've not shot it yet. I have ordered Steve's dvd / follower kit.

I'm a little skittish about ammunition. I am not a re-loader. I understand Hornady leverolution will be safe, and I know to not load fmj in the tube. I plan to shoot .357 in the flatnose lead. But I'm still unsure about lead round nose ammo in .38. What are my options for .38 rounds? Thanks.

[N40W111]

My Rossi 16" stainless .357 mag was pretty good right out of the box. It loves .38 LSWCs. It shoots just a hair to the right of point of aim. I just need to adjust the front sight slightly. I love this gun and I think you will too. I'd like to get that steel mag follower for it from Steve's Guns...that's next.

[N40W111]

Atticus...
Just look for some "cowboy" rounds if you don't expect to reload. They are usually found with a lead round nose flat point (RNFP) bullet. Also, I have had great success with lead semi-wadcutters (LSWC) which are quite plentiful as "remanufactured" shells or "range" shells sold most everywhere. Not all Rossi's like 'em, though...mine loves 'em. You're just gonna have to learn to reload...it'll change your shooting life for the better for sure!
I've also used Wally World Winchester White Box full metal jacket .38 Special shells in my Rossi. They have kind of a flat point on them as well. You don't need to worry too much about .38 Special shells setting each other off in the tube because the recoil is pretty minimal...it's a bit different story with full house .357 mag.
Once you learn to reload, you can shoot for MUCH less than buying factory ammo. I know there is varying opinions on whether it's actually cheaper because you end up shooting more, but I think box to box, it's dramatically cheaper.
There is an article on castbullets.com about reloading on a kitchen table that got me started...
just Google "reloading on a kitchen table" and you'll find it.
When I first started reloading I was so nervous and thought I was gonna blow my hands off or some other calamity by reloading. If you follow the EXACT directions included with a good reloading manual and your reloading dies you can quit worrying and start shooting. I've now reloaded thousands and thousands of rounds just because of the above-mentioned article. Good luck.

[atticus]

Thanks N40W111. Yes, at some point I expect to be hand loading. I'm just not there yet.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

The Rossi made 92's mostly got a bad rap from the earlier guns. Guns made up until about 2000 were quite rough poorly fitted and over sprung. Those earlier gun were very stiff because the parts weren't made as precise as the current guns. Basically Rossi made the parts slightly over-size but rather than fit them they generally just used excessively heavy springs to overcome the poor fit. These heavy springs took the place of many man-hours $$$$ hand fitting those parts. About 2000 Rossi re-tooled with new CNC equipment allowing them to make the parts much more precise requiring less spring pressure to function.
I feel there is still a few areas that can be improved own. The last 1/2" or so of closing the action can be smoother. There are three elements to this. First, the ejector spring does not need to be as stiff as the one Rossi still uses. This spring is still launching the brass into orbit. With some attention to how the ejector is fitted that spring can be eliminated and a lighter spring used. With my spring and a properly fitted ejector the brass will just dribble down at your feet.
Here is the stock spring on the left and my spring on the right. My spring is the same dia. but is made from lighter wire.


Second is the extractor. It's too stiff. It needs to be thinned some so you don't feel it climb the rim to hook it. Some are so stiff they are score the rims. I think the reason Rossi leaves them stiff is because they pin the extractor to the bolt before the top of the bolt is shaped and sanded To keep the machining speeds up they leave them thick so they don't warp from the heat. My DVD shows you how to thin them.
Third is the finger lever friction stud. It needs to be reshape some so it releases the lever easier.

As for the yellow plastic followers, the folks that have the most trouble wit them are the 45lc CAS shooters that put several hundred rounds down range every month. The 45lc gun shot the CAs lever loads tend to smut up the action because of blowby. The plastic follower tend to embed this crud and will hang up.

Folks with the other calibers use my Steel original type followers because they just don't like the idea of plastic parts in a traditional style leveraction.

[brno602]

Congrates I have a 92 I bought a few months ago my first, a 45 colt.
It a very nice smooth gun the trigger is a bit heavy at 5.5 lbs will fix that someday. Since I live in Canada I doubt anyone will want to ship me parts so I will end up making anything I need. Think I will see how a short mag case cut down would work as metal rep for that yellow plastic one on the rossi.

[COSteve]

You have heard it from the source! Steve is the Man! He is THE authority on Rossis, period! His action/trigger job DVD is great and he stands ready to help you if you have a question. Both of my 357mag Rossis benefited greatly from the action jobs, steel followers, new ejector springs, and safety plug (to remove that stupid safety).

[O.S.O.K.]

Congrats on the new Rossi!

But....



And atticus, welcome to the board! When you are ready to start handloading - do a search and you will find several threads about that- and if you still have questions, fire away!

[brno602]

The Rossi made 92's mostly got a bad rap from the earlier guns. Guns made up until about 2000 were quite rough poorly fitted and over sprung. Those earlier gun were very stiff because the parts weren't made as precise as the current guns. Basically Rossi made the parts slightly over-size but rather than fit them they generally just used excessively heavy springs to overcome the poor fit. These heavy springs took the place of many man-hours $$$$ hand fitting those parts. About 2000 Rossi re-tooled with new CNC equipment allowing them to make the parts much more precise requiring less spring pressure to function.
I feel there is still a few areas that can be improved own. The last 1/2" or so of closing the action can be smoother. There are three elements to this. First, the ejector spring does not need to be as stiff as the one Rossi still uses. This spring is still launching the brass into orbit. With some attention to how the ejector is fitted that spring can be eliminated and a lighter spring used. With my spring and a properly fitted ejector the brass will just dribble down at your feet.
Here is the stock spring on the left and my spring on the right. My spring is the same dia. but is made from lighter wire.


Second is the extractor. It's too stiff. It needs to be thinned some so you don't feel it climb the rim to hook it. Some are so stiff they are score the rims. I think the reason Rossi leaves them stiff is because they pin the extractor to the bolt before the top of the bolt is shaped and sanded To keep the machining speeds up they leave them thick so they don't warp from the heat. My DVD shows you how to thin them.
Third is the finger lever friction stud. It needs to be reshape some so it releases the lever easier.

As for the yellow plastic followers, the folks that have the most trouble wit them are the 45lc CAS shooters that put several hundred rounds down range every month. The 45lc gun shot the CAs lever loads tend to smut up the action because of blowby. The plastic follower tend to embed this crud and will hang up.

Folks with the other calibers use my Steel original type followers because they just don't like the idea of plastic parts in a traditional style leveraction.

I don't have to worry about CAS loads my lightest load is 9.5 gr of unique with a 255gr to stop charging Gophers, The rest are warm loads using 296 or little gun and some I have stole off Paco's the 45 colt rifle web page. Yep I am looking for a 45/70 light lol, should get my Moose draw next year. I gave up on the scope got it fitted with a mount but the little gun looked so ugly!But like you said I don't like the plastic mind you my Mosberg 500 is plastic and has shot a lot of Geese and grouse and ducks with no trouble. But it's yellow on the Rossi and has to go.

[atticus]

I'll get some pictures of the EMF to post. Meanwhile, I'm still very interested in your input on whether round nose lead cartridges (eg. Federal) in .38 are suitable for safe shooting. Thanks in advance.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I'll get some pictures of the EMF to post. Meanwhile, I'm still very interested in your input on whether round nose lead cartridges (eg. Federal) in .38 are suitable for safe shooting. Thanks in advance.

You most likely won't have a problem but, let's say you had really pointy bullets loaded with really sensitive primers like federal pistol primers. Now you stand a chance of a mag tube detonation.
FWIW, and I don't know if they still do but Dillon recommends NOT to use Federal primers in their reloaders.

[DPris]

Well, that's just great, Hankster!
Take a nice gun outa my state & 50 miles from where I live!
Thanks a bunch.
Y'know- you coulda shopped a little closer to home....

I was planning another trip down to Cabela's, guess there's not much point, now.

Steve,
Are you getting my emails on that DVD?
Kinda need it tomorrow.

Denis

[Booger Bill]

I took out my new rossi puma in .357 and my browning 92 in .44mag together today. I have had the browning in the back of the safe for a eon. It was a windy day here and I didnt give them a fair test. I didnt have a good target stand and the targets kept blowing down. Not a day to brag about. However both functioned well. I need better sights. I was shooting high at close to 70 yards with the elevators out!
I am going to build a heavy target, and give it another go in a few days. There was a group shooting sharps and hi walls at 800 yards. I stopped and watched. One had me shoot his sharps a few times. I missed, but it sure looks like fun! Where can I get $2,000s ?
I am going to have to get some tang sights I guess. Whats my best bet? I have had a foolproof on my 94 for the last 50 years. I can hit with it, I cant with these open 92s!

[Mutt]

Yes , My Rossi was dead on out of the box . I have not had to do any thing to it so far. 38/357 . Smooth , perfect weight , on the mark . better than I can shoot . Love it. Oh! And NO dumb safety switch .
Enjoy Sir !!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,MUTT

[COSteve]

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