New Rossi R95 Trapper 45/70

[jstanfield103]

Okay guy's
I really like the 45/70 and I have a Rossi Reo Grande SS in 45/70 that shoots great and recently just picked up a 1886 Winchester that I absolutely Love. But I have read so much about the Rio Grande being bad rifles that they quit making them I have been a little nervous about mine. Mine is a fine rifle with no problems and shoots and cycles very well. Never had one problem out of her so far. But I bought a Rossi R95 in 30/30 about two months ago. Really like that rifle, well made and the Trapper model that I bought is just perfect. I did post on it, with pictures. I like it so much I was thinking if I ever see one in 45/70 Trapper I would pick it up. Well went into the LGS Friday to make a payment on a Marlin JM stamped 2001 336 in 30/30 that I have on layaway. To my surprise they had the R95 Trapper in 45/70 on the wall. It was late so I had them set it back and traded a couple guns in that I never use and were not lever rifles in even on it.

I have made it mine and there are things that I did that I wonder how many of you guy's have done or thought about doing. Here is my list of work that took me a lot of time Saturday the first day I had it. Maybe shoot it Sunday for the first time.

1. Cut the LOP down to 12.5" and fitted a new Limbsaver Recoil pad to it. Total LOP 12.5"
2. Wrapped the Lever in leather and Mink oiled it so it will not rust the lever.
3. Drilled the sling stud on butt stock out to have it moved and filled with wooden dowel (walnut) and sanded even
4. I have had a RMR Vortex for a few years that I never used because I did not like the height of it on a rail. So I had some 1/8" brass plate that I mad a mount for it from. See it in the pictures.
5. I replace all my 92's and 95 safety with a Saddle ring safety delete. I was going to buy one when I realized I had a spare drill and tap saddle ring in my parts drawer. I ended up taking the safety out and decided to drill and tap the safety to put the saddle ring on it. That safety was so hard that I burnt up two drill bit before I decided to heat the safety button up with a torch and then it drill easily. I then tapped it cleaned it up and re-blued put it back into the rifle. In stead of using the ball bearing and spring I took a small piece off one of the burnt up drill bits and made a short rod and the Allen screw to securely lock the safety in the fire position. Just like the safety delete does. Anyway Love the way it turned out and saved me $50 counting shipping.
6. Drilled and moved Butt Stock sling swivel.

Guy's like the way she turned out and she is my tyle rifle now. She fits my smaller frame body very well.

[JimT]

Nice work!

[Grizz]

Nice ! ! ! I wish I had the guts to trapperize my guide gun, which is a Great 45/70, I am skeerd of messing it up. I mean, total strangers who've never shot a gun can ring 100 yard steel. Imagine if I start missing the sea shells from the skiff? I'd be trying to weld the fore end back on

Love the Western Bowie BTW . . .

grizz

[jstanfield103]

That's just too funny

I used to be nervous, but after doing so many rifles I don't even think about it. If yours is that good of a shooter why bother her.

[Streetstar]

Nice ! ! ! I wish I had the guts to trapperize my guide gun, which is a Great 45/70, I am skeerd of messing it up. I mean, total strangers who've never shot a gun can ring 100 yard steel. Imagine if I start missing the sea shells from the skiff? I'd be trying to weld the fore end back on

Love the Western Bowie BTW . . .

grizz

The Guide Gun is perfect as it is - i had one , and its another of those "one that got away" stories

[Streetstar]

Okay guy's
I really like the 45/70 and I have a Rossi Reo Grande SS in 45/70 that shoots great and recently just picked up a 1886 Winchester that I absolutely Love. But I have read so much about the Rio Grande being bad rifles that they quit making them I have been a little nervous about mine. Mine is a fine rifle with no problems and shoots and cycles very well. Never had one problem out of her so far. But I bought a Rossi R95 in 30/30 about two months ago. Really like that rifle, well made and the Trapper model that I bought is just perfect. I did post on it, with pictures. I like it so much I was thinking if I ever see one in 45/70 Trapper I would pick it up. Well went into the LGS Friday to make a payment on a Marlin JM stamped 2001 336 in 30/30 that I have on layaway. To my surprise they had the R95 Trapper in 45/70 on the wall. It was late so I had them set it back and traded a couple guns in that I never use and were not lever rifles in even on it.

I have made it mine and there are things that I did that I wonder how many of you guy's have done or thought about doing. Here is my list of work that took me a lot of time Saturday the first day I had it. Maybe shoot it Sunday for the first time.

1. Cut the LOP down to 12.5" and fitted a new Limbsaver Recoil pad to it. Total LOP 12.5"
2. Wrapped the Lever in leather and Mink oiled it so it will not rust the lever.
3. Drilled the sling stud on butt stock out to have it moved and filled with wooden dowel (walnut) and sanded even
4. I have had a RMR Vortex for a few years that I never used because I did not like the height of it on a rail. So I had some 1/8" brass plate that I mad a mount for it from. See it in the pictures.
5. I replace all my 92's and 95 safety with a Saddle ring safety delete. I was going to buy one when I realized I had a spare drill and tap saddle ring in my parts drawer. I ended up taking the safety out and decided to drill and tap the safety to put the saddle ring on it. That safety was so hard that I burnt up two drill bit before I decided to heat the safety button up with a torch and then it drill easily. I then tapped it cleaned it up and re-blued put it back into the rifle. In stead of using the ball bearing and spring I took a small piece off one of the burnt up drill bits and made a short rod and the Allen screw to securely lock the safety in the fire position. Just like the safety delete does. Anyway Love the way it turned out and saved me $50 counting shipping.
6. Drilled and moved Butt Stock sling swivel.

Guy's like the way she turned out and she is my tyle rifle now. She fits my smaller frame body very well.

I like this one too , maybe not as much as your 1886 though - was looking at a laminate stock 336 (in 30-30) and it occurred to me that i should do something similar -- i want to dip a toe in the "tactical" lever gun arena , but dont want to strip down and dive right in.

However, when i was at the gun store today checking on a gunsmith project, i asked the price for one in the rack - expecting him to holler back - $650 , maybe even $750 - nope- $1100 . 20" barrel laminate stock, blued 336 - nothing special at all. Since i had such fun customizing a Ted Williams bird gun (which is a Winchester 1200) , i figured i will keep the trend going and look for a Glenfield on the cheap - if that even exists

[jeepnik]

I know you can tailor the 45/70 for your rifle. I have done so for my GS. But I wonder if anyone has ever tested to see how much velocity is lost from factory rounds as the barrel length drops.

That's a good looking rifle, How is the muzzle flash and blast?

[Streetstar]

I know you can tailor the 45/70 for your rifle. I have done so for my GS. But I wonder if anyone has ever tested to see how much velocity is lost from factory rounds as the barrel length drops.

That's a good looking rifle, How is the muzzle flash and blast?

The 18.5" Guide Gun length has been with us for a while now - but the 16" length is a product of the last 5 years or so (maybe longer) - but most of us have gotten more "suppressor aware" i think and the length of the can needed to tame a 45/70 probably takes it out another 8 or 10" so the 16" barrel length flourishes

I have an Encore with a 16" barrel and the blast is about like my old ported guide gun -- as in - not bad at all compared to something like a 8" or 10" barreled AR pistol or similar contrivance --- almost hard to believe those little .223's can make percussive shock waves like they do- all the while reducing their fps dramatically

But the 16" barrel does still bark a little bit , --- never shot it at dusk to know what the muzzle flash is though

[jstanfield103]

Never fired mine at dusk either to see the muzzle blast. I will never use a suppresser on her I live in the country and no worries about the noise. Just like my wife, I let her bark

[rossim92]

Never fired mine at dusk either to see the muzzle blast. I will never use a suppresser on her I live in the country and no worries about the noise. Just like my wife, I let her bark

roflmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bill in Oregon]

That looks to me like a mighty handy elk, bear and moose-killing tool right there. And I suspect if you showed up with that rig on a leopard hunt in Africa your PH would have a smile on his face.

[wvfarrier]

Dang, I will take two

[Grizz]

I know you can tailor the 45/70 for your rifle. I have done so for my GS. But I wonder if anyone has ever tested to see how much velocity is lost from factory rounds as the barrel length drops.

That's a good looking rifle, How is the muzzle flash and blast?

I have a 525 Gr 45/70 load that is reduced charge. I've shot it from barrels ranging from 10" to 32". The 32 inch barrel has the highest velocity, but it tops out around 1550, maybe more. 14xx from the guide gun, and 1310 from Blaine's 10" BFR. And a couple of Marlins with different length barrels that I didn't chronograph. So it looks like a velocity range of a couple hundred fps.

something like 75 yard range of impact velocities? so the 32" rifle might have a 75 yard range extension over the BFR? Something along those lines, eh?

[jstanfield103]

Guy's

Thanks for the comments and laughs. Love of my life second to my wife and kids is lever guns. I have several and just about all my guns are levers. I have very few that are not.

[ikocher]

Thank you for going with a dedicated red dot mount instead of just doing picatinny rail. I drives me nuts when people do that. There are dedicated mounts if you look long enough on the internet. That's a good looking build.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

That long sweeping pistol grip reminds me of a 71 long tang. Very nice looking setup. Probably swings on target quickly with short barrel and the red dot.

[jstanfield103]

ikocher
Thanks, I had this red dot sitting around for ever. It came with a mount on it but after using a rail with that mount it always set way to high so it always got benched. I know there are mounts out there but I still did not like them as far as height went. I just decided to make my own for it out of the approx.. 1/8 " brass I had laying around. Worked well and sits low where I still get a great cheek weld and it perfect for me. Happy with it, very happy with it.

Rimfire McNutjob

Yes handles and very easy to maneuver, I am a shorter individual 5'5" tall/short so my LOP is only 12.5" from the crease of my elbow to the trigger finger. The shorter 16" barrel and adjusted LOP to 12.5" is a perfect setup for me also. That way I can lever the rifle while still on my shoulder.

Really liking this rifle, it is the only one setup with the red dot out of all my levers that I own. This is also the shortest barrel out of the three 45/70's that I own. Really works and handles well. We will see how that red dot holds up. Right now I am shooting Marlin/1886 loads only out of my three 45/70's (this R95, Rio Grande SS and my Winchester 1886) I am getting ready to load or should I say down load about 50 rounds to a more mild shooting round.