My semi original 1892 in 44 Magnum

[moosedog]

I bought this several years ago when it came into a friend's shop. It was rechambered to 44 Magnum from a 44/40 by Jack Roy of Hamtramck Michigan. My friend/mentor, Jack passed back in the mid 1970s and was one heck of a gun smith. When I found out that Jack had done the work, I had to add it to my stable.
I just added a Marble Tang Sight and took it out back in the snow and wind a few days ago and managed to squeeze out this group at 100 yards from a bench using some 44 Speciall loads that didn't work too good in a 29-2 I have.
I know this gun will really do well with 180gr JSP over 19grs of 2400 which it always groups nicely.
The top shots were first sight in shots with a aperture that was too large. A smaller aperture helped me tighten it up a bit.

 

[hivel37]

Nice '92 and good shootin'!!!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In the early 2000s, I was in a gun shop that only dealt with pre 1898 firearms. I was digging through a junk box and came across an old Marble's tang sight that wouldn't stay standing up. I ask How much? the answer was $5, so I bought it. I stood around a while entering in the conversation about old Lever Action rifles. My fingers were fumbling over the tang sight, and I disassembled it Saw a coil spring wasn't in a retaining notch. I had to reverse the spring to get it in the notch, then put it back together; What do you know, it works now! They offered to double my money. I still have it in my sights to be installed, should fit a 92, or 94.

I love junk boxes!

Ivan

 

[oneoff]

I absolutely love my little 92 in .44 mag!
Yours is quite a lot nicer though.
So is your shooting!

 

[Zoner]

My favorite long gun is a Rossi M92 357 w/16" barrel and a Marbles tang sight.

 

[Pisgah]

Nothing there not to like! Nice.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I currently have two Rossi 92's in 45 Colt (Blue) and one Stainless in 357. Over the years I have had several others! The only 44 Mag I had was a Browning B-92 from 1992, I was the 4th owner from the same gunshop, It kicked like a Moose! I got it right and soon made money on it. About a year ago I was talking with the guy I sold it to, after 30 years he still has it.

I still have the first Rossi 92 I bought (used) it is one of the 45 Colts. I noticed it was getting a little difficult to squeeze the lever all the way shut. So I detailed stripped it down. The 2 locking lugs that com up through the bolt were slightly banana shaped So I used a diamond stone and took a couple 1/1000ths off the high ends. The lever was still difficult to squeeze. I captured the retaining plunger with a small C-Clamp and drifted out the retaining pin and slowly released the tension. The coil spring had about 5 1/2 coils, I cut off 2 coils leaving 3 1/2, that's about minimum! The plunger well was caked full of graphite/powder residue! I used break cleaner and blasted the well clean and reassembled. So much better!

If your locking lugs are warped, only stone the high ends leave the fat belly alone. This way you won't change how the slide into the bolt.

While I was at it, I used the diamond stone to dress the inside surfaces of the bolt and removed the machining marks. The Bolt is blued on all 4 sides, the surfaces that might need stoned will only need the high areas removed, so most of the blue will still be there with "white" curved lines in it when done right. I took one (1) coil from the hammer spring and left the firing pin spring alone but cleaned the channel. Don't mess with the sear engagement!

The first one took an hour and a half for a $60-75 action job. Took about one hour after that first one. Same basically for Model 94 and 86 also.

Ivan

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Very nice! I've settled for an 1894 Marlin SRC, made in 1971. Not as cool as an old Winchester, but it does ok.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

92s, whatever the make, are truly delightful. I've had a Rossi 357/38 Special 16", and still have two original Winnie's, a 32-20 and a 38-40. The later was a basket case when I got it in a trade. Not a whit of original finish, would not feed cartidges reliably, and the barrel had a bore like a sewer pipe. I replaced the loading gate which fixed the feed issue. It took two tries and lots of hand fitting to make it work. Barrel was relined by Bob Hoyt near Gettysburg. That brought accuracy at fifty yards down to under 2" from the original 2 feet. I think recrowing the barrel will tighten the group further.
I'm contemplating having a reblue but am still on the fence. The only saving grace of that rifle originally was that the stocks were in pretty good shape for something made in 1903. It's now a dandy little shooter that's fast on target and wonderfully balanced.
I sold the Rossi to fund a project but will not hesitate to buy another in any caliber.

John

 

[LEO918]

I like the Model '92. Here is a sample of one each in the common calibers.

 

[Borderboss]

Nothing not to like about an old Winchester. It's great to keep those guns humming.

About 30 years ago I opted for a Marlin Cowboy in .357 for Cowboy Action Shooting. I don't shoot that anymore, and the eyes have gotten older, so I added a red dot. Still one of my favorite guns to shoot.

 

[glenwolde]

That's meat in the freezer!

 

[44wheelman]

Rechambered from 44/40? Curious what the bore is. Is it still, or was it .426?

 

[moosedog]

Don't honestly know. Never slugged it. I imagine it could have been rechambered from another caliber?
I know it's not relined, and it shoots great with .429 dia bullets.