Rossi Leverguns

[azmark]

Does anyone own one of the new Rossi leverguns? I got rid of my 30-30 to get a 1911 and I'm thinking about a Rossi 92 in .357. I just wanted to know what owners think about this rifle.

[rossim92]

I have one! nice shooter. If you get one change out the plastic mag follower for the ss one from stevegunzs. My is a little ammo sensitve, it doesn't like hollow points ! nothing a good slick action job can't fix. It is also a good gun to modify to your tastes.

[Chas.]

I have one. It likes RN, RNFP, and SWC .357 that I've fed it. I don't know if it likes 38 special since I've never tried it.

[two bit okie]

mine is in 44 mag. I did get new wood for it, mine shoots from 200 gr to 320 cast without a hiccup. mine does have by the way the bolt safety. fine little rifle that is going to get the "tactical levergun" treatment.

[Leverluver]

Got a stainless one in 45 Colt. Have to do some sugery as I loaded it with Buffalo Bore +Ps and they won't go through the action. Oh well. Should have checked first I must say that the action is smoother and the sights better than I was led to expect. The innaards sure look a lot more crude than those of my B92 but they are smoother. I didn't expect that.

[Old Savage]

My 45 Colt is as smooth as my B92 but all of them aren't even now and quality has varied overtime. You have to look them over.

[Old Savage]

My 45 Colt is as smooth as my B92 but all of them aren't even now and quality has varied overtime. You have to look them over.

[eric65]

Mine has had no problems with any .357 round that I have put through it, I just love that little critter.

[Jacko]

My Rossi .357 is my go too Rifle, just love it !! I have tried every type of projectile I've been able to get my hands on and all feed faultlessly. It shoots really well with 158 and 180 gr rnfp cast projectiles and Hornady's 158 gr XTP. I found the factory irons ordinary and swapped them out for a Skinner front blade, Marbles folding rear and a Lyman Tang.

regards Jacko

[3leggedturtle]

I really like my Puma 357. But the 16" 45 colt Puma gets more play time. You should buy both and make your own decision

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Even though the current Rossi's are now marketed under the Taurus banner they are the same gun made by the same folks that have always made them. The major difference in the current guns and the older pre-2000 guns is Rossi re-tooled in about 2000 going to better CNC equipment. The older Rossi had a reputation of being really stiff with just but ugly wood. The newer guns are much smoother with much better wood.
With all the reports of the Marlins kinda slipping since Rem got em some say the Rossi is the better buy now.

[Slick]

I got lucky and found an older Rossi 92 SRC in .357 (with no safety) that is in like-new condition for only $250 – so I bagged it.

It fed .357 fine but .38’s (which I mostly shoot) required a rather deliberate cycling of the action to feed properly. I tore it apart and did all of the tricks in the “slicking up the Rossi” article and it’s like having a whole new gun. I also found the hammer-spring rod was bent in every direction imaginable, so I fixed that. Between the slick-up and pruning down some of the over-powered springs, it’s become one sweet-handling rifle. Now it feeds my .38’s just as nice as the .357’s

[Quench]

I like em so much, I got 3, two 44WCF, one 45 colt.
Here's teacher's pet, one of my 44s.

[kenken0269]

Hey Quench,

Love the look of your gun. Is that a blued gun with that much wear or is it a stainless gun that your weathered some how? Looks awesome.

kenken

[Quench]

Thanks. Its blued. What you see there was done with 600, 800. and 1000 grit wet-dry. No chemicals involved. All the sanding done with the gun still assembled. Purposely left some of the blue on. The wood was stripped, sharpened up the top comb, distressed, and stained with minwax english chestnut. Then several coats of Formby's tung oil finish. Finally, rubbed in some kiwi clear shoe polish.

NKJ did an action job on it. He also moved the from sight back, installed saddle ring, large loop lever, and a more decent rear sight. HTH

Quench

[AJMD429]

Mine has had no problems with any .357 round that I have put through it, I just love that little critter.

Same here. A good little 'go-to' gun for most anything other'n grizzly bears. Mine cycles .38 Specials without problems, as well, so it's even reasonably quiet to shoot without hearing protection.

My 45 Colt is as smooth as my B92 but all of them aren't even now and quality has varied overtime. You have to look them over.

. . .
Best to buy TWO of them, then... You can promise your significant other you'll sell the other one once you figure out which shoots better. You'll probably like it enough you'll want a spare, or wind up convincing one of your buddies (or significant other) that they need one, too, and you can sell it to them.

With all the reports of the Marlins kinda slipping since Rem got em some say the Rossi is the better buy now.

That's pretty much my feeling as well.

The ONLY issue I have with the Rossi's is IF I wanted to mount a scope, I'd go with the Marlin, because with the Rossi, I'd have to use either:

• a 'scout' mount (some Rossi guns are already D&T'd for their mount),
  a 'side' mount like the B-Square one, or
  a fancier 'high-and-centered' mount like one of the older Millet ones.

But I'm fine with a peep-sighted levergun for most applications, and the Williams FP 94's are easy to mount on them:

(How-to link > http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=25689)

If you want a really FAST sight, but don't mind the same 'drift-adjustable' setup that the factory-supplied 'open' sights use, you can put on a Marble's Bullseye sight:


A Rossi (this one in .45 Colt) makes a good "things that go bump in the night" gun, too...


The B-Square quick-detach rail mount means you can take off the 'extra' night-use stuff quickly...

...and have your 'regular' configuration back...


BTW - many folks will tell you that you won't be missing your .30-30, given the ballistics of the .357 out of a rifle, especially in the 150-180 grain range of loads. Maybe you need to be a tad better at estimating range/drop in the 100-150 yard range, but it is still effective whitetail medicine with proper bullet placement and selection. Plus, if you get a 'companion handgun' in .357 Mag, you have one cartridge in two firearms that can cover LOTS of situations including recreation, hunting, home protection, and CCW.

[retmech]

I have 2 of the .357's, a 20" round barrel carbine and a 24" octagon rifle. Both are accurate (average 3" groups@100 yds) and feed RN's and SWC's in .38 and .357. The octagon had a really clean 4 lb. trigger that all I had to due was lighten the trigger return spring to get a nice 2.5 lb. trigger (Never touched the sear or hammer hook!). The Round barrel had a 5 lb. trigger which wasn't bad by todays standards and certainly usable but I had to polish the sear and hammer hook along with reducing the trigger return spring to get the 2.5 lb triggers that I like. Both are newer mfgd guns by Taurus and fit& finish is very good. I personally think. they are the best deal out there in pistol caliber lever guns today. Given a choice between a new Marlin and a new Rossi at the same price I'd buy the Rossi.

[Ysabel Kid]

The Rossi '92 I have in .45 Colt, action slicked up by NKJ, is the smoothest lever-action I own. I think these are one of the best buys for the money!

[Pete44ru]

I've had a BrazTech/Rossi M92 Big Loop 16" Carbine in .357, and an LSI M92 Big Loop 16" Carbine in .45 Colt, for a couple of years now, and like them just fine - although they're no replacement for my .30-30 Winchester Model 94 16" Trapper.
They're fine alternatives, though - Mondays gun, Tues gun, etc, etc, etc.

I've modified my .357, swapping out the Big Loop lever to another forum member (Thanks, Hagler ! ) for his standard lever, replacing the bolt-top safety with a self-made plug, both a bolt top (.LSI .45) & receiver top peep sight (Williams 5D-94AE on .357), and shortening the magazine to a button-style, changing the forend band to a forend cap in the process.





.

[Griff]

Although I have 2 .38/.357 Rossi carbines, I much more prefer my EMF imported Rossi "Short Rifle" in .45Colt.

[Old Savage]

Griff that is good to hear because as I mentioned - I tried to get a 357 but ended up twice with a 45 Colt.

[AJMD429]

Griff that is good to hear because as I mentioned - I tried to get a 357 but ended up twice with a 45 Colt.

Too bad; them .45 Colts aren't good for much...

Seriously, I think the .45 Colt really could do it 'all', even though I got into .44 Magnum early on, and most of my handguns/leverguns are .44 Mag. Then again, .357 Mag is one nice and efficient little round - kind of like a .32-20 when 'mild', but better'n a .44 Mag when 'wild'...

[kenken0269]

I like em so much, I got 3, two 44WCF, one 45 colt.
Here's teacher's pet, one of my 44s.

I would like to know where I could get a large loop like Quench has on his. I love that weathered look.

Awesome.

kenken

[gak]

I like em so much, I got 3, two 44WCF, one 45 colt.
Here's teacher's pet, one of my 44s.

I would like to know where I could get a large loop like Quench has on his. I love that weathered look.

Awesome.

kenken

Steve Young (Nate Kiowa Jones) was selling them; maybe he still is. http://www.stevesgunz.com

EDIT: looks like he still is - under a "Rossi 92" search:
http://mobile.auctionarms.com/search/mo ... m=10399168

He is also listing what he calls a "3/4" loop which is more of the John Wayne style, versus the other "Rifleman" (my terms) style, in the listing above and pic in this thread.

[Quench]

John Wayne's large loop levers evolved somewhat through the years. This is probably his first from the movie "Stagecoach". Very similar to Rossi's design. Later on his loop levers were more of a "D" shape or oval, and didn't droop down as much.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

John Wayne's large loop levers evolved somewhat through the years. This is probably his first from the movie "Stagecoach". Very similar to Rossi's design. Later on his loop levers were more of a "D" shape or oval, and didn't droop down as much.

And some of the guns were 20" barreled guns too.
This 16" had the D shaped loop

but I've seen pictures of both loops on the 20" guns as well.

[COSteve]

I've got 2 Rossi '92s in 38/357mag and I absolutely love them both. Steve's DVD, ejector spring, steel mag follower, and safety plug and a bit of work and you'll have a terrific shooter. I also worked on the stock finish and I'm really happy with both of them. They are surprisingly accurate even out to 200 yds with iron sights and my 158grn 357mag handloads. Sitting and supported, a 6" steel plate at 200 yds is not hard at all with either rifle or carbine. Heck, my rifle with the tang sight is pretty darn accurate even out to 300 yds.









Then you can add a SA 38/357mag pistol and holster to your kit and you'll be set!

[rusty gunns]

My 45 Colt is as smooth as my B92 but all of them aren't even now and quality has varied overtime. You have to look them over.

I have a short barreled rifle in 44-40. The action is smooth as silk. I also have an original Winchester from 1900 also in 44-40.

The Rossie is almost as smooth, though it shoots my loads just a touch higher. I think it needs a larger front sight

[Leverdude]

Heres mine. Its a EMF Hartford Rossi, 357 OCT short rifle. Didn't come with that wood, but it did come pretty slick from the factory. All I did was polish the sear a smidge and get new wood.
I'd buy another.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Heres mine. Its a EMF Hartford Rossi, 357 OCT short rifle. Didn't come with that wood, but it did come pretty slick from the factory. All I did was polish the sear a smidge and get new wood.
I'd buy another.

OK Leverdude,
Looking good on the wood. Tell us more, is that replacement for the Rossi or Winchester that was made longer for the rossi forewood? If so who sells it?

[Leverdude]

Heres mine. Its a EMF Hartford Rossi, 357 OCT short rifle. Didn't come with that wood, but it did come pretty slick from the factory. All I did was polish the sear a smidge and get new wood.
I'd buy another.

OK Leverdude,
Looking good on the wood. Tell us more, is that replacement for the Rossi or Winchester that was made longer for the rossi forewood? If so who sells it?

Thanks Steve,
A member on Marlin Owners, Shum8 is his moniker there, made the set for me. He has a duplicator, I sent him the gun, he copied the originals & fit the stock to the gun, I finished them myself after I got it back.
He doesn't post much anymore but I think he still cuts stocks.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Do you have some contact info for him?

[Griff]

Leverdude,

That's gorgeous! Your wood or his?

[Mutt]

I have one and I think it's great..................Mutt

[Leverdude]

Do you have some contact info for him?

Let me look around. At the very least I have his E-mail.

[Leverdude]

Leverdude,

That's gorgeous! Your wood or his?

Thanks Griff, he got the wood. Its a few years back now but if I recall he sent me pictures of different blanks & I chose one I liked. He then went & bought one similar to the one I chose. I'm certain he'd work your own wood if you had it.