And now, for something completely different...410 Leverguns

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:00 pm

Since I'm done with my mock interviews for the day, I've decided to do a review/field test (no patterns) of the Rossi RioGrande .410.

Be back in a couple of hours...

Fit is... well... adequate. Certainly not up to old-school 1895GS standards.

Next up... the Go Bang Time...

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:12 pm

Looking forward to the report. I haven't shot mine yet. Will get a chance next weekend.

Picked up a box of the Win. PDX stuff too. Should be interesting.

How's the loading gate on yours? Mine's really stiff.

jb

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:52 pm

Go Bang Time:

The Target (20yds):

The gun with hulls as ejected:

Extraneous holes in the planet:

10yds POA/POI

3-Ball Buck

#6 shot

1 more of each (4 shots total):

Comments:

Loading gate is stiff, but not unreasonable.
Muzzle mics at .408 - straight "Modified"

This gun NIB is WAAAAY more accurate/reliable than my Cylinder Bore 9410 ever was. Period.
It fed everything I stuffed into it with only one brand-hitch (Centurian buck). The 9410 wouldn't feed certain brands because of the way it used a magnetic follower but the Rossi ate them up...

I wish, (I wish, I wish) I could advocate the Centurian Brand .40/3ball buck load, but it just won't eject/extract reliably (in either of the 2 guns I tried them in). IMO the rim is not sufficiently "sharp" to let the ejector/extractor grab. But Oh My, what an accurate, hard-hitting load... (see the hole @ 15yds)

The included rail is coming off. Don't like it. The Buckhorns are plenty good.

This is going to be a fun gun for bunny/squirrel season. Looking forward to loading up some steel BBs and heavy slugs...

I hope I can replace the cross-bolt safety with a saddle-ring delete. Going to try it with the one on my 1895GS first...

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:13 pm

GREAT report. Thanks!

Oly

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:22 pm

Awesome!

Can't wait to shoot mine. I also had some difficulty cycling the Centurian rounds. Even
After tweaking my extractor.

glad you got a good one!!!!

jb

crs · Post by **crs** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:27 pm

Thanks for the great report.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:00 pm

Cheers OI, I enjoyed that.

Nath.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:24 pm

If I ever buy a .410, that will be the one I'll get.

soon 2 retire · Post by **soon 2 retire** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:39 pm

I bet that would be great gun for hunting rabbits with beagles and you can easily carry an entire box of ammo in one coat pocket.

Bob in Friday Harbor

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:46 pm

soon 2 retire wrote:I bet that would be great gun for hunting rabbits with beagles and you can easily carry an entire box of ammo in one coat pocket.

+1 ...was thinking the same thing...it wasn't until recently that i discovered
that they actually made .410 leverguns...like it more than a pump...by the way
Old Ironsights thank you for the post... :)

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:54 pm

Sa that looks real nice, great report and grats.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:27 pm

Great report OI!

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:17 pm

FWIW:

I took the gun out NIB. Didn't even clean off the factory grease - that comes tonight.

It's been sitting in "Lay Awake" for a couple of months and not having it while I have the time to shoot it/work out the bugs befog fall hunting was making me spare.

The action really isn't too bad, smoothness wise. I'm sure it will get better but it's really pretty decent now.

The trigger is fairly crisp with only a little creep.

The biggest annoyances are purely visual: the Rail (on a .410 shotgun???) And the extra metal on the lever at the pivot.

As the barrel is 20" it really swings/points well - just like my 20" 92 (I wish my GS had a 20" instead of an 18"...)

We'll see how it comes apart.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:18 pm

Enjoyed it... Thanks!

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:22 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:FWIW:

I took the gun out NIB. Didn't even clean off the factory grease - that comes tonight.

It's been sitting in "Lay Awake" for a couple of months and not having it while I have the time to shoot it/work out the bugs befog fall hunting was making me spare.

The action really isn't too bad, smoothness wise. I'm sure it will get better but it's really pretty decent now.

The trigger is fairly crisp with only a little creep.

The biggest annoyances are purely visual: the Rail (on a .410 shotgun???) And the extra metal on the lever at the pivot.

As the barrel is 20" it really swings/points well - just like my 20" 92 (I wish my GS had a 20" instead of an 18"...)

We'll see how it comes apart.

Comes apart just like a 336.

I found a couple of small burrs but they were easily delt with. A small fine file and all is well.
Lots of grease in there but I'd rather have that than none and some rust.

jb

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:36 pm

That gun really looks good!
Man, the results you have shown are spectacular.
You picked a fine weapon!
Congrats!

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:29 pm

Interesting comparisons...

The castings on the Rio Grande are pretty rough on the inside. Not burred rough, just unpolished. You can see the eject detents. Ditto for the hammer.

That SHOULD have been polished, but wasn't.

The top is dead flat. No bevel like on the '95. (I need some stainless grub screws...the ones from the Marlin won't fit...)

Note the difference in LOP between the Guide Gun and the .410.

Next is to see if I can move the Saddle Ring Safety Delete from the Guide Gun to the .410. If it will move, then I've got to order a second set so both guns will be done...

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:52 pm

The Marlin Saddle Ring safety delete fits... ish. The Rossi's hole is .003 smaller. But it can be made to work.

How about that mag tube plug?! Shorts me 2 rounds...

It looks like there was a little "hand fitting" done to ensure feeding... Look at the lifter:

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:20 pm

Heh. Saddle ring Safety delete installed, and the tube now holds a full 7 rounds.

Time to put it in the truck.

1894cfan · Post by **1894cfan** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:45 pm

Is it 2 1/2" only, or 2 1/2 and 3"? TIA, and thanks for the write-up.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:06 pm

1894cfan wrote:Is it 2 1/2" only, or 2 1/2 and 3"? TIA, and thanks for the write-up.

2 1/2" only.

All cleaned up and ready for the truck. Can't wait for small game season...

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:28 pm

Great right up. I'm

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:34 pm

Very nifty OI!

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:53 pm

Didn't have one of these or the Winchester 9410 but I did have one of the Marlin 410's that was made in the last 10 years . Bought it new and it stayed that way for about 4 years after I purchased it .

One day much like yourself I took it outta the box wiped off the outside and went to the skeet field . Shot two rounds with it for a 45 as well as I can remmember . All the targets I missed were the second target on doubles and that was mainly because the thing was stiff as stuff . I shot it again another time and did pretty much the same . Cleaned it up well put it back in the safe and sold it a year or so after that when people first started getting insane about getting no longer made Marlin's . And I DOUBLED the money I had paid for it by selling it on Gunbroker .

Nice enough little gun and all that but I viewed it more as a novelty then anything else .
Never did try any slugs in it either kinda wished I'd done that atleast .

1894cfan · Post by **1894cfan** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:55 am

All cleaned up and ready for the truck. Can't wait for small game season...

[/quote]

Yup, that's a keeper, all right.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:18 pm

I don't want one in blue, I don't want one in blue, I don't want one in blue, I don't want one in blue, I don't want one in blue...

If I keep repeating that, maybe I'll believe it....

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:26 pm

Old Ironsights wrote::1 more of each (4 shots total):

Looks like you'll want a 6:00 POA using that #6.

Very nice.

I think I want one.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:49 pm

Whenever possible when shooting shot I like a 6'oclock hold...

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:50 pm

OI great report at least a 10
ive got some shotguns i dont use, i should sell some & buy one of them
i may not use the 410 for anything, but at least id have a cool shotgun
i like it , Thanks

ollogger

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:19 pm

Superb report and photos, OS - you outdid yourself. Thank you!

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:25 pm

I like that, I would also appreciate the extra LOP.

pmeisel · Post by **pmeisel** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:38 am

I am sorely tempted, and I am going to a gun show tomorrow... but I am looking for a snubby too. We'll see what I find first. I know SWMBO won't let me have two in one day, even if my birthday is coming up.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:24 am

pmeisel wrote:I know SWMBO won't let me have two in one day, even if my birthday is coming up.

OK, here's two solutions to that issue.

Option A:
When she gets mad after you buy the second ask her "Have you ever been mad at me before?". The answer will probably be yes. Then ask her "Do you think you'll ever be mad at me again?" The answer will probably be yes. If so, your final question (so to speak) should be "Then what's the big deal about this time?"

Option 2:
It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:07 pm

OI, here's a little something you might check on yours. I was at a shop today and they had a blued model on the wall behind the counter. If you worked the action while it was horizontal, it was all good. If you tried to work it like you took it out of your shoulder to lever the next round (roughly port arms and the way lots of people do it when they aren't paying attention) the bolt would lock up and not go back in. Position it horizontally again and it worked fine.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:15 pm

Excellent range report. Looks like a fun lever for sure!

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:41 am

awp101 wrote:OI, here's a little something you might check on yours. I was at a shop today and they had a blued model on the wall behind the counter. If you worked the action while it was horizontal, it was all good. If you tried to work it like you took it out of your shoulder to lever the next round (roughly port arms and the way lots of people do it when they aren't paying attention) the bolt would lock up and not go back in. Position it horizontally again and it worked fine.

I'll pull it out of the truck & run it a bit again, but I didn't have any problems when I had it out, or after I had it apart to clean the original grease out of it...

And IIRC when I ran a whole tube of 7 through it after cutting the 5+1 plug out I was running it like an electric guitar rather than at the shoulder, and it didn't hiccough...

But I'll check again.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:04 pm

Try it closer to vertical and see what happens. We may play air guitar a little differently...

The guy said it was the only one they had received and was supposed to have been sent back but hadn't been for some reason. He pointed out the lever locking up and the unfitted buttpad (proud doesn't begin to describe how oversized it was) and I pointed out the cockeyed front sight bead and where they buggered the front of the front sight dovetail when they forced it into place.

A real shame if you ask me, these have some real fun factor potential if Rossi will get their poop in a group....

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:54 pm

Foregrip close to my left chin, lever at the Boys? That's how Homey plays Air Guitar...

Anyway, somehow I think you got a look at a Friday gun. Or mine is a Tuesday gun.

Whichever, mine/my experience does not seem to match yours...

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:09 pm

Yup given the issues with the one I saw, a Friday/Monday assembly is entirely possible.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:17 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:Heh. Saddle ring Safety delete installed, and the tube now holds a full 7 rounds.

Time to put it in the truck.

Did you have to enlarge the safety button holes in the receiver or did you thin the saddle ring pin? Awesome upgrades.

I want one of these stainless Rio Grandes in 45/70 SO bad.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:23 pm

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:Heh. Saddle ring Safety delete installed, and the tube now holds a full 7 rounds.

Time to put it in the truck.
Did you have to enlarge the safety button holes in the receiver or did you thin the saddle ring pin? Awesome upgrades.

I want one of these stainless Rio Grandes in 45/70 SO bad.

A little of both.

The hole wasn't 5/16 all the way through (one high spot/burr) so I reamed it, then I polished the offside screw-head down to match the 5/16 offside hole.

I left the pin itself alone.

I felt more confident reducing the offside screw-cap down than reaming the offside hole larger even though that's how it's designed. I doubt it will move though.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:26 am

Old Ironsights wrote:The Marlin Saddle Ring safety delete fits... ish. The Rossi's hole is .003 smaller. But it can be made to work.

How about that mag tube plug?! Shorts me 2 rounds...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... G_6769.jpg

It looks like there was a little "hand fitting" done to ensure feeding... Look at the lifter:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... G_6774.jpg

Could you please repost the pictures of the safety delete installed on the Rio Grande for this thread? Thank you.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:53 pm

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:The Marlin Saddle Ring safety delete fits... ish. The Rossi's hole is .003 smaller. But it can be made to work.

How about that mag tube plug?! Shorts me 2 rounds...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... G_6769.jpg

It looks like there was a little "hand fitting" done to ensure feeding... Look at the lifter:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... G_6774.jpg
Could you please repost the pictures of the safety delete installed on the Rio Grande for this thread? Thank you.

Sure. Somewhy the links went wonky.

Link to where to buy the delete: http://beartoothmercantile-2.myshopify. ... ety-delete

Installed:

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:40 pm

Good to see your post OI!

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:23 pm

Old Ironsights wrote:
Friends Call Me Ji wrote:
Old Ironsights wrote:The Marlin Saddle Ring safety delete fits... ish. The Rossi's hole is .003 smaller. But it can be made to work.

How about that mag tube plug?! Shorts me 2 rounds...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... G_6769.jpg

It looks like there was a little "hand fitting" done to ensure feeding... Look at the lifter:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... G_6774.jpg
Could you please repost the pictures of the safety delete installed on the Rio Grande for this thread? Thank you.
Sure. Somewhy the links went wonky.

Link to where to buy the delete: http://beartoothmercantile-2.myshopify. ... ety-delete

Installed:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!