Frustrating, yet successful...

[jamesgpobog]

Well that was interesting. Over the last couple days (they've been work days...today starts my weekend) I've been tinkering with the Rossi 92. It's an early Interarms, with the Puma medallion, 16" .357, and bone stock.

First thing I did a couple weeks ago was TruOil the wood and it popped very nice, a combo of tiger stripe and burl/swirl figure in the butt while the forend is nice contrasty straight grain.

As I was saying, last few days it's been learning take-down and assembly. Man, what a PITA, though it's gotten a bit easier each time.

I watched a vid on Youtube by Trey Wall that helped immensely, although his trick with the ejector collar doesn't work on my gun, there's no room for the collar to slip under the stop.

I then went to work deburring/light polishing a few of the items on the "Slick-up" list. Most work I did was on the ejector shaft. Man, was that thing rough. Went at it with a small file for a huge burr, then 1000 and 1500 grit paper. Smooth as a baby's bottom.

Found a spring in a hardware store too. Clipped it to length, bent the end flat, lubed it with white lithium and put it together. It's a closer fit on the shaft, but with the shaft polished, it's pretty sweet. The action is noticeably lighter, but a new mainspring is on Santa's list...

Any tricks for how to replace the mainspring? I read somewhere that some use a Wolff Ruger Redhawk mainspring...

[jamesgpobog]

OK, couldn't wait, so I went spring shopping at the hardware store. Found a good candidate, slightly shorter, slightly smaller wire diameter, slightly closer wound. It works great, nice and smooth. I'm sure a pro action job would be even sweeter, but this seems pretty darn nice to me.

[Blaine]

You're my hero....I'd never have the guts to do something like that

[jamesgpobog]

You're my hero....I'd never have the guts to do something like that

Well ultimately it's not rocket science. I'm freaked out about small parts (I was a boiler tech in the Navy, high mechanical abilities, but not many small parts to a boiler), so I do things like use small, labeled styrofoam bowls to put the parts from each step in.

I don't mess with bending springs, or sears, or anything like that. Just 600/1000/1500 polishing with some oil on the paper. Small needle files for major burrs, some paper wrapped around a small flat file for inside area polishing. Many times, it's not even a full polish, just a knockdown and smoothing of heavy tool marks.

The really hard part is getting the ejector in. The cartridge case trick is the way to go.

The first time I put it back together, it took several hours. Now I can take it down and put it back in probably 15/20 minutes.

[1894c]

I really like the '92, but have never been a fan of all of the smaller parts and multiple screws...make mine a Marlin... :)

[BenT]

Get to the range and make sure you don't have light primer strikes with the different main spring. If it works you should be set. The Win 94 is easier to tear down.