Opinions on Rossi model 92

[deanodog]

Does anyone have an opinion on a Rossi lever gun in 357/38? I am considering one but don't know much about them. I wish S&W made one with their good warranty and service.

 

[jwalts27]

Does anyone have an opinion on a Rossi lever gun in 357/38? I am considering one but don't know much about them. I wish S&W made one with their good warranty and service.

My buddy owns one in a 454Casull and has nothing but feeding problems with it. He has sent it back numerous times with no fix yet. Other than that it seems like a very solid gun. He did say he wishes that he just waited and bought a Henry instead.

As for the 38/357, hopefully there are no issues with it as far as feeding.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I've owned a Rossi(imported by Interarms) for many years. Never had a problem. It works best when you cycle the lever "smartly" quick.

Also have a Navy Arms 92 with 24" octagon barrel. Action works like butter no matter how you cycle it.

Don't know about the newer on since Taurus bought them out....Hope they are better than typical Taurus junk.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Mine is a 20" round barrel in blue.

I've had zero issues with mine-in my experience it will feed everything but flush-seated 38 wadcutters(no surprises there) and is far more accurate than I am.

The action doesn't have the "feel" of a fine old Winchester, but then it also hasn't had a 100+ years of use to slick things up.

As built, the springs all around are fairly stiff and the ejector will toss your brass into the next county. Due to the way the action works, the stiff ejector also gives a noticeable "hitch" in the last half inch or so of lever travel. I've noticed this in every 92 I've played with, but it seems especially pronounced in the Rossi. There are folks online who sell reduced power spring kits that will both give a smoother lever travel as well as reduced ejection distance. I cut a coil off the ejector spring in mine, which accomplished some of this(although probably not as much as using an actual lower power spring). I've been warned-and I can see from the design-that cutting the spring too short can cause problems, so one of my "to do" projects is to order and install a spring kit.

Someone above commented on cycling the lever "smartly." At least on mine(which is a recent production model) I find that it works equally well regardless of how I cycle it. I've yet to have a jam or any other problem with it.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with mine. I'd wanted a 357 Lever Gun for a while, and came to the conclusion that-for many reasons-the Rossi was the best choice out there for me. Although the Henrys are much smoother, I didn't like the tube loading magazine or the price. Most everything I hear about the Marlins is great, but I haven't seen one in 357(new or used) on the shelf in the 2 years or so I've been looking for one. Of course, new Winchesters are available, but they are pricey when found. Old Winchesters are even harder to find and pricier.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I owned a few of them, mine worked well, shot about like a 50+ year old set of eyes and a pistol cartridge carbine should be expected to shoot. Youngsters got both of the Rossi carbines and did much better than I at the range.

 

[Marine24]

I have a Rossi 92 in 454 Casull that was worked on by Steve Young at Steve's Gunz. Most of it was cosmetic/stock work but also had him do an action job on it.

No complaints about the rifle. It is limited on the OAL of the 454 Cartridge but easily feeds up to 335gr LBTFN ammo from Buffalo Bore and Doubletap but does not like my 360gr and 400gr ammo.

Rossis are decent rifles, but as noted previously work the action briskly to ensure solid feeding.

 

[L Pete]

I own two:

One is an older Interarms version in 357. It is without doubt the biggest P-O-S that I've ever owned. It will not feed,.....period. I've tried many remedies. The only reason I haven't taken a hacksaw to it is because I'm very lazy.......enough said.

The other is a new Braztech/Rossi/Taurus stainless steel version in 45 Colt. It had some minor feeding problems when new, but I was easily able to remedy that problem. Lately, it got to where it would not extract. The problem there was that the extractor had some die stamped numbers on the bottom of the extractor, and they were stamped so hard, that the metal on the side of the extractor was pushed outward at each number making it fit very tightly in the bolt. A little burnt powder and oil was all it needed to bind up. I filed the humps off, polished the sides and bottom of the extractor and re-installed it. Everything now works perfectly mechanically. The gun is a good shooter, and I throw 300 gr. Sierras with a healthy dose of 2400 powder. I plan to hunt with it this year.

With these guns, I've found that "you pays your money and takes you chances".....

If you get one, go to the Rossi Rifleman forum, as there is a lot of good information there.....

 

[model94]

Rossi 44 mag

This is my first reply, hope it works. I own a Rossi 44mag. 16" barrel. Fit and finish is excellent, but the extractor will not extract some mfr. cases. I had to remove the extractor and file the bottom flat so the "hook" that grabs the case rim engaged the case more fully. Seems to work fine now, but have not shot it much. Something to look closely at when buying. I have a Rossi 45Colt model 92 that works flawless, it is an older gun.

 

[deanodog]

Thanks for the above responses....Appreciate

 

[Grayfox]

I have owned two of the Rossi Model 92s in 38/357. Both were older guns. The first one was a 20" carbine that worked perfectly but was extremely ammo sensitive. Full power .357 158gr jacketed bullets were the only thing that would shoot well in it. Everything else produced patterns.
The other is a 16" Trapper model. It shoots well with any ammo I put in it, but had some serious feed issues. I took it apart and did some polishing and slight modifications to the feed ramps and now it works perfectly. I still have and like this rifle.
Bear in mind. as I said, these were both older rifles. I have no experience with the newer Taurus versions.

 

[VictorLouis]

With Marlin .357s being like Platinum-plated-gold icons, the Rossi's the only reasonable cost option. I love the size and weight, and the action on my example smoothed-out like a champ just from cycling it, and holding the hammer spur as I worked the trigger. Knowing how daunting it is to disassemble, however, I sold it off.

 

[holo]

I have a 92 .357 that I bought off a guy 175.00 and it shoot on target and run all kinds of ammo just fine. It is as good a shooter as my 800.00 marlin 1894 .44 mag. I would buy another rossi in a New York minute for the right price.


Mine is a interarms early model with a saddle ring

 

[Marshwheeling]

As built, the springs all around are fairly stiff and the ejector will toss your brass into the next county. Due to the way the action works, the stiff ejector also gives a noticeable "hitch" in the last half inch or so of lever travel. I've noticed this in every 92 I've played with, but it seems especially pronounced in the Rossi. There are folks online who sell reduced power spring kits that will both give a smoother lever travel as well as reduced ejection distance. I cut a coil off the ejector spring in mine, which accomplished some of this(although probably not as much as using an actual lower power spring). I've been warned-and I can see from the design-that cutting the spring too short can cause problems, so one of my "to do" projects is to order and install a spring kit.

I have often wondered about this practice of cutting coils out of a spring in order to soften its action. Cutting coils will reduce the preload of a spring in a given installed length, but at the same time will increase the spring rate, making it stiffer overall. There has to be a very narrow range where cutting coils can reduce the spring's initial resistance to movement. It is hard to think of an application where it wouldn't be better simply to replace the spring.

 

[petepeterson]

I only have around 200 rds through mine, but have no complaints. It's a nice little 50-100 yd rifle. Mine feeds anything I give it (haven't tried full WC's) and is very accurate with .38 +P LSWCHPs. With the 16" barrel, it makes a nice bedside carbine.

 

[Erich]

I've posted about mine here several times before - I like it a great deal.

 

[gregintenn]

Mine isn't a Winchester by any stretch, but it shoot and works great. It is a lot of fun. I would buy one again.

 

[Thuer]

It is a terrible thing to take it apart and ressemble it again. Gives serious headaeck. But it shoots wonderfull well.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I've had several Rossi and a couple Navy Arms 92's in 45 Colt and 357 cartridges. Never a problem, until they need detail cleaned. There is a hold up latch on the lever that gets very stiff. Capture the plunger with a C-clamp then remove the pin (guess how I learned this). Clean and while you're at it remove a coil from the spring. The firing pin hole in the bolt gets very fouled when using light "Cowboy" loads. The only other common issue is the two locking lugs. When these are forged, the often are Banana shaped (warped), These can be stoned flat on the side with the high ends. I use a diamond stone, but wet dry emery paper on a glass smooth surface works too. The side with the high belly would need too much removed, things would get sloppy loose! I don't know what the newer model trigger pull is like. If possible I avoid cutting and replace with a Wolff spring kit. Get a book on take down procedures or on-line, 92's are a little tricky the first few time you take them down. The Browning design is a smaller 1886 action, 128 years old and going strong! I love all of mine. Ivan

 

[Mule Packer]

I've got two of them...both in .45 Colt and both worked on by Steve Young. I couldn't be happier. One has a 24-inch barrel, the other is a 16-inch Trapper that I use as my truck gun.

The Rossi Model 92 is a John Browning design and will shoot hot loads, which really can't be said about the 1873 models.

 

[holo]

snapped a quick pic of my two marlin. 44 on the left rossi .357 on the right