+6+515+6156+1

If I was in the market and action felt tight, I'd buy it at that price.

Ditto.

I have a 971 snub of approximately the same vintage that is a great little revolver. Smooth, accurate, comparable to a K-frame in size weight and features - except that it has a grip frame the size of a square-but j-frame. Same grips as that 885.

For $225 I'd buy it if I was looking for a "truck gun".

Hi GoodSam:

Welcome to the Forum. I think that's certainly a fair price for the piece, but being that I'm a chronic cheap skate, and that the piece has been sitting on the shelf for a while, I'd have to ask the owner if there was a better price. (Personally, I'd offer $185.00 + tax, or $200.00 OTD.)

As far as the older Rossi revolvers go, I bought a Model 720 (.44 Special) several years ago on a whim. It's a 5-shot revolver that J-frame sized grips will fit on - at least some of them will. I think the build quality on them, while not up to the standards of a S&W or Colt, isn't bad. One bit of advice I received from a gunsmith is not to dry fire them. Doing so can result in the fracture of the firing pin, which is mounted to the hammer much like the older S&W revolvers. Because getting parts for your revolver would be difficult to impossible, you might just end up with a paperweight and a sad story, rather than a Brazilian clone of a S&W revolver.

Good luck,

Dave

The Rossi is a **** shoot. You might get a good one and have no problems, you might get one "made on a Monday". A friend was taking the qualifications for CCW and had this Rossi, and it couldn't fire a complete cylinderfull without jamming up. The instructor finally loaned the friend another gun to complete the qualification shooting. Everyone advised him to get rid of it. He brought it to me and I told him the same thing, but he wanted to see if anything could be done. I discovered the rear face of the barrel, and the front face of the cylinder were both out of square. As you cycled the gun, the "high" spot would cause it to jam up against the recoil shield and the barrel. At his request filed both the barrel and cylinder "less un-square", just enough to allow the gun to successfully shoot 2 - 3 cylinderfull's without jamming up. When I gave it back to him I told him to get rid of it and get something "reliable".

Some years ago another close friend gave his Mod 15 to a recent widow and bought a Rossi as replacement, after the third trip back to the factory he sold it and bought another S&W.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

My former mother-in-law has the same little gun you describe as her purse gun. Her Marine gunnery sergeant husband must have bought it for her in the early 80s, and he was a man who I trusted to know what he was doing as far as firearms go. I was able to take it to the range, and as a point and shoot snubbie it functioned flawlessly. An older gentleman explained that during a certain period in South America the Rossi company manufactured under license to S&W. Eventually Rossi moved away from that arrangement but continued manufacturing on the same S&W equipment, making that Rossi potentially a very nice little clone. The point being...an older one from a certain era may be a whole lot better than a newer one. I'm not stating any of this as fact, just that this was the story as it was explained to me.

In a word, YES‼️

I owned and carried a Rossi 88, the M60 clone, for a couple of years, and wish I had kept it as a backup. Fit and finish were nearly equal to S&W, trigger was quite good and smoothed up nicely, and the gun was absolutely reliable.

That was twenty years ago; but everything I've heard since from owners gives me more trust in Rossi revolvers out of the box than in Taurus. I'd like to have one of their .44 special guns.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I once bought one,around 1985 if I recall correctly.The thing was reliable but had a very hard trigger.I didn't then have the experience I have today for I'd have kept it and smoothed down the trigger.
Since you said that the trigger is nice,I'd ask to try a few cylinderfull and if ok I'd buy it.Hey!afterall,the price is right!

about 10 years ago I bought an older one same size as a model 36 for less than $100. It had the Washington DC address on the side it had no finish, and grips were busted. I put a set of Smith grips on it shot, and functioned great sold it after I bought a model 37 wish I had kept it even though I made money on it.

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Randy

The question I always ask myself when considering a used Rossi or Taurus snubby is: couldn't I buy a Charter Arms for about the same price ?? Just sayin'

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John

IF not the Rossi, then a Charter for sure!

Make sure you get a car safe if you are going to keep it in your car. Many of the guns used in crimes are stolen. Ruger makes one that is around $30 and super easy to use.

Please do not leave a gun in your car. You’re running the risk of putting a gun in the hands of someone who cannot get one legally and may hurt or kill an innocent person.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I think it really depends on where you live. Around here there are all kinds of cars and trucks with guns in them, many of them with the keys in the ignition. I seldom take the keys out of my trucks unless I go to a bigger city. Shop is unlocked. During hunting season guns in trucks a lot, with keys. The police report is pretty boring.

I did buy a small cable in your rig gun safe for travel though.

I wouldn't because I think there are better choices for a car gun that don't cost much more.

I keep a Glock in my truck because if I need it it fits the bill. I can easily replace it if I need to. In that circumstance I'd rather have 15 rounds of 9mm than 5 or 6 rounds of 38 Special. Also I feel no love for any Glock. I'd be mad if it was stolen but wouldn't cry over losing it.

I see a truck gun as something for emergency use when I didn't have a more preferred handgun available. Where I live that means a people problem. If I'm in my truck that means other vehicles might be in play. I've shot old cars w a 9mm, a 45 and other cartridges. Until you get to a 44 or 357 using FMJ ammo the 9mm penetrates better. A 9mm is easier to control w 1 hand than either of those two. Also I might have to drive w one hand and shoot with the other. A 9mm is the best BALANCE of effective and easy to shoot w 1 hand. If I'm having to shoot and drive I'm not going to be as accurate as I would be in a solid shooting stance using both hands. Capacity w/o reloading is a factor.

For a truck gun simple is good. Glock is simple. Also reliable trumps pinpoint accuracy. Unmolested Glocks are reliable and have acceptable accuracy even though I shoot other handguns better.

A reliable Rossi is an ok handgun. Unless the cost of a used Glock busts your truck gun budget I'd go w a used Glock.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, between my family and I there are a total of 5 Taurus brand firearms in my household, (Rossi firearms are made by Taurus) so far all of which have been perfectly reliable, so either we have just been extremely lucky or reports of unreliability are dated/exaggerated.

Reputations are easily established, yet not so easily lost.

My 7 have been the same. Guess we're both really lucky.
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, as they say

I would take a Rossi over a Charter Arms any day of the week.This is from past experience with both of them.

I would take a Rossi over a Charter Arms any day of the week.This is from past experience with both of them. Rossi is one of the most underrated revolvers out there.At least from 1994 to present.

Check it out thoroughly first.
Just remember that Rossi and Taurus weren’t always the same company. The Interarms marked are pre Taurus and Taurus offers no support for them, so I am told. I have 2 Taurus revolvers. Ones a 445Ul in 44spl and a Rossi 720C also in .44. My Charter Bulldog feel cheap and gritty compared the the 2 Brazilians. But that being said, none have given me a lick of problems.
FWIW I think Jack First offers hammer noses for Rossi’s.
I’d offer 2 Benjamins. For the money I don’t think you’ll lose.
I passed on a beat up Model 60 a couple years ago for $195. Yeah I know. STUPID!

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

No way would I waste $225 on a used Rossi when my local cop shop is selling used S&W 64’s for $269.

I'm gonna go light, because you just joined the forum. But my feelings on the subject can't be overstated.

You should absolutely not buy this gun.

Every gun you own is your responsibility to secure, whether it's a Colt Python or an Armscor. How are you going to feel when some lowlife steals it out of your car, and kills a cop with it? Probably not as bad as the guy's widow and kids.

That's what happens when you leave guns in your car. They get stolen. You know this, you admitted it, so why are you still thinking about it?

If you can't draw your CCW while seated, that's a sign you either need a new carry position, a holster that doesn't suck, or a different CCW gun.

You "continue to be amazed" ?? Continue after being a member of the forum for less than two weeks ?? Really

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John

In all fairness he could have been lurking here for some time.

I had a really nice little Rossi for a short time. I don't remember what model it was, but it looked like a "clone" of a Colt Diamondback. 4" vent rib and such. I shot it a few times, it shot well, then I sold it when something else caught my eye.

I don't care for J-frames, so it wouldn't interest me, but if I was going to buy it, I'd offer $185 or so. Worst thing they can say is no.

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John 3:16 .

Goodsam.. I would buy the Rossi in question for that money all day.The achilles heal with Rossi is the firing pin as mentioned. The problem lie with the retaining rivot which can become loose causing the pin to strike the side of the frame hole and break. Some owners have replaced their pin and rivot with a S & W K frame pin as a precaution.Rossi has always been a better choice for a poor man S&W revolver.

I wouldn't touch a Rossi revolver with a 10 foot pole. I've owned two. Both had serious issues. Granted, this was a long time ago but once I form an opinion, it's hard to change. I credit those two piece of junk Rossi revolvers with making me an S&W fan.

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'Merica!

I believe he said "forumS" (plural).
From that I take it that this isn't the only gun forum he belongs to or was referring to.

What is going on? Did someone declare it "pick on the new folks" day or something? I'm surprised at some of the replies being made to a new member on this (usually) very civil forum.

FWIW GoodSam, welcome to the forum. Sorry to say that you have struck two discordant topics with one post. "Truck gun" threads usually get a bit, shall we say, contentious around here, and we also have a certain contingent who are very vocal about their disdain for the "clones" from Brazil.

MOST of the time, though, this is a pretty laid back and easy-going bunch, and a great place to be. Hopefully you aren't too put off and you'll stick around.

Yep and if you were serious about a 64 like I spoke of, you would have sent me a private message and asked...I would be happy to provide shop name and location.

Why did the OP kill his original post?

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Release the Kraken

I thought the OP was some kind of Fibonacci test question. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

He deleted ALL of his posts and asked to have his account deleted as well.

He felt like he was being treated in a condescending, rude, and unfriendly manner, so he's not coming back.

He sent me a PM and told me about a nice old model 31 he had inherited and was thinking of listing for sale, but decided not to even bother, based on the responses he received here.

Basically some of the responses by people in this thread drove this new member away. Hope everyone will think twice about their responses to new folks in the future.

Too bad we drove away another new member by answering questions he didn't ask.

I have one Rossi, inherited from Dad. My experience with it has been very good. It is a well-made little gun.

If he was still around I would say so.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

It's reckless behavior. It puts people in danger, and damages our reputation as gun owners. In some jurisdictions, it's illegal. On top of all that, it's completely pointless, especially if one can legally carry.

It deserves to be called out.

So forgive me when I can muster zero sympathy, or even pity, for our departed friend. Especially not when I figure he's just going to go out, buy the dumb gun, and leave it in his car anyway. But hey, maybe somebody else will read the thread and decide not to sprinkle the sidewalks with stolen Sigmas.

I mean, damn, there was some low-wattage bulb on here a few months ago that was on his third or fourth stolen "truck gun".