Been looking for one in 357 for a while now. My LGS says he tried 10 different suppliers and can't find one in any finish/model in this cal. Even the big online guys are out of stock. Anybody know the scoop on why there is a shortage?

Wondering if I should wait or move on....
Really not thrilled with the alternatives though.

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Dave

There is something going on with Rossi, shortage wise. Before Christmas, I was looking for a Rossi 92 in .44 Magnum (20" barrel, blue finish}, no dealer near me could order one. I remembered seeing one in a shop probably three hours drive from me several months prior. Called them up, they still had it, they put it aside for me till I was able to get my there.

When I picked it up, the dealer was sort of sad to see it go, said he would not be able to replace it, none available anywhere.

I have seen on Rossi's website they show the 92's with a long, 24" or longer octagonal barrel. Maybe they are tooling up to make a more "Cowboy Action" type carbine. I'm glad I got my 20" barrel carbine when I did, as the octagonal barrel version looks like it weighs at least one pound more, quite a bit for a rifle that starts at 5.5 pounds. For me, light weight is one of the best selling points.

I do see some .44 Magnum and .45 Colt versions on Gun Broker today, and one used stainless .357 starting at $500....

With it's .44 Magnum brothers, Ruger 77/44 carbine, Ruger Redhawk and Super Blackhawk:

Have you tried Steve's Gunz? He's a Rossi specialist. I just checked his site and he currently has several available in different calibers. Here's the link.

Steve's Gunz | "The Rossi 92 Specialist"

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Even if you don't get your 92 from him, keep him in mind if your going to slick your action.

I bought a how-to DVD from him and some upgrade parts to install. I'd never done any firearms mods before, and emailed him with a couple of questions.
He wrote back and asked me to phone when I got to a certain point of disassembly. I did, and he patiently helped me through my issues and suggested a couple of things that worked great.
He's a fine gentleman to do business with.

Good luck in your hunt.

I purchased these Interarms Rossi .357 rifles several years ago. The blue shoots like a dream. Bought it for $300.
Found the nickel on GunBroker a few months later. Lo and behold, it's a local auction, less than 25 miles, private seller, paid a bit more for it.
Maybe you'd be happy with one similar to these.

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The Ranch Hand in 44 and 45 has hit some dealers lately. I've been on the look out for a 16" or 20" .357 for at least 6 months. I check Gallery of Guns weekly if not more often. All .357 revolvers and rifles have been MIA for quite a while.

Unfortunately the alternatives cost considerably more. People must like there .357's because they're even fairly rare on gunbroker and armslist.

Several years back I bought a 24" stainless,octogon in .357. Slicked it up and refinished the stock. Anything with 2400 powder shoots great.

I have an older Stainless 357 M-92. It is before the bolt mounted safety! My F-I-L bought one after using mine for Cowboy Action Shooting, it has the bolt safety. While ugly, it has functioned fine!

I have had a number of 45 Colt M-92's and see 3 or 4 of the 45's for every 357 that come out of the woodwork!

Ivan

Dave,
I got mine from Hunters Trading Post in Weymouth a couple years ago. If you call them, ask for Phil, he will take care of you.
G.

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AKA- Da Plummah
CANCER SUCKS!

Thank You all for your input!
Good and encouraging stuff here.
I handled a Henry big boy yesterday. It is a beautiful gun but felt large and "clunky" to me. I will hold out for the lighter slimmer Rossi. It's just a matter of when I can find a new (or clean used) one. Worse case, I guess I can move to the 44 mag flavor. Those seem to be available here and there. I just already reload allot of 38/357 . It's really all I need.
Tick-Tock.......

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Dave

Wow, the power of forum karma has been exercised!

So within minutes of my last post, I got an email from my FFL friend.
After another scouring of even more distributors, he has located a single 357 Rossi R92 in blue with a 20" barrel. While I was somewhat hoping for a SS or casehardened version, this configuration will admittedly do nicely. Besides, after 3 weeks of coming up empty, it is clear that this gun was meant to come to me. The price is right too!
The order has been placed!
I'll keep you all posted when it arrives.

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Dave

Awesome, enjoy your new gun. I bought the only used Rossi 92 .357 I have ever seen, and it is a handy rifle.

Two or three years ago I decided on one of the stainless Rossi 92s in .454 Casull. I waited for 9 months, finally gave up and got a used Marlin 1895 in .45/70. I think I made out well since the used "Remlins" are cheap and those Rossis tend to go for a premium since they're hard to find.

I've been thinking of getting a 16" stainless .357 for my daughter as her first centerfire rifle. She's deadly with a 10/22 already (8yr old)!

Congrats on the good luck. The stainless of casehardened are quite a bit more rare. Waiting for one of those could mean waiting for a long time. What kind of price did you get quoted? I've seen sellers trying to get $750 for that gun because that's what all the competitor guns cost. I've also seen them for under $450 around Black Friday but at that price you have to get lucky to find one.

I bought a factory blem R92 .357 from Kentucky Gun co a few months ago for about $410 shipped and I didn't see any blems on it but the wood had a very thin top coat. I think all the R92s are that way but I rubbed it with Johnsons Wax and it looks a lot better. The action was stiff but after a few hundred cycles it's now pretty slick and it's a quick handling gun that's a lot of fun.

I attended a gun show in Conway, Arkansas, today and I must have handled at least 5 or 6 in .38/357 and another half dozen in .44.

I have a case hardened saddle ring carbine in .38/357 that I'm fond of. I recently bought the plug kit to remove the ugly bolt safety.

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- Change it back -

First rifle I bought for myself was an Interarms (Rossi) 92 in .357. Bought around 1997, if I remember correctly. The gun is the stainless steel version, has no external safety, and has some real nice figure to the wood. The gun gets a lot of compliments when I drag it out. It shoots real nice, and I've never had a problem with it in my 20 years of owning it. I'll find a picture and post it up if I get a minute...

I've got .357 lever action rifles made by Winchester (New Haven guns, not the new ones...) and Marlin, too, and I like them as well. The Rossi 92 is a bit lighter and handier. One of my .357 Winchesters is a M94 with the octagon barrel. It looks great, but it is a nose heavy thing... It would not be my first choice for cowboy action shooting competitions.

Congrats on finding one, and let us know how it shoots.

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NRA Life Member

Here's some pics of my 92...

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	IMG_2972.jpg (104.1 KB, 25 views)

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NRA Life Member

Very Sweet!! That has some real nice wood.

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Dave