38/44 loads in the rossi 92

[Johnnyjr]

Is the rossi 92 Action strong enough
for 38/44 loads. They are a little lower
Than 357 loads. I want to use it for deer
hunting. Thanks..

[COSteve]

The Rossi 92 is chambered in 454 Casull, a 50,000 CUP peak pressure round, so yes, the Rossi can take a 38/44 at 1/2 the pressure.

[44shooter]

I believe any 357 magnum can take 38/44 loads, but few 38 specials can

[AJMD429]

.
I'm not a gunsmith, but I'd be confident in the Rossi 92 strength vs a 38/44 'chambered' (maybe a better word would be 'rated') - which I think would include a '357 Mag' and even a '38 Special' marked rifle barrel.

I thought they did make some of the hyphenated cartridges too, like 38-40 and 44-40, which would be cool...would LOVE a 32-20...

But like others have said, the action holds up to larger, higher-pressure rounds (the 454 is engineered slightly differently I believe, but the 44 Mag and 357 Mag are high pressure and require large holes in the front of the receiver (where the Marlins seem to fail when hot-rodded), and do fine. Not sure the pressure of either of the 38/44's I've heard of, but the 'common' one as I understand it was essentially a 38 Special +P for the S&W 'Heavy Duty model 20' and 'Outdoorsman model 23' that were 44 Mag Triple-lock framed 38 caliber revolvers, and the other was an obsolete cartridge unique to the S&W Model No. 3, 38-44, but along the same premise - a larger-than-normal frame to facilitate a 'magnum' load before that terminology came into being.

So I can't imagine either stressing a modern lever action 92 clone with a 1930's revolver cartridge that is equal or lesser diameter than a 357 Magnum and of lesser pressure.

[KWK]

Is the Rossi 92 Action strong enough for 38/44 loads.

Yes, of course. Pressures in the 38/44 appear to have been no more than modern 357 pressure levels, in the low to mid 30s. There still exist 357 data (CUP) in the 40s.

Sharpe's book from the era lists 38/44 level loads at only 21,000, but I think that was a lab error. QuickLoad estimates around 26,000.

Why not just shoot 357 in your Rossi? Do you have an old 38/44 revolver and wish to use the same ammo in both?

[Johnnyjr]

I just enjoy the 38/44 so much. It's a real pleasure to shoot out of my s&w 686. Accurate at 50 yards the farthest I have tried. I appreciate your reply. I will be loading up a few 358156 and 358429.. johnny. If it warms up some.