Yes, yes, I bought a Rossi...

[scottishclaymore]

After having survived a near car-jacking thanks to a shotgun in the passenger-side seat, I decided I wanted to have something that would be a tad more wieldy inside a Honda Civic. I resolved to purchase a revolver and went to the gun show today to kinda get the lay of the land.

I liked the feel of the Rugers and found one Smith I was particularly pleased with... But all of the above were going to set me farther back in my college tuition than I was ready to do today.

And then I saw it.

A Rossi. *gasp*

Now I know not everybody has very much nice to say about these guns... But I was absolutely thrilled with the heft and feel of the gun. The action was reasonably tight, and the fact that it has 6 shots of .357 in a snubby package is pretty cool to me. I almost feel silly posting it here surrounded by all these much more pricey and probably nicer guns... But this one is mine, and it will do what I need it to do.

If anybody could point me toward a few good holsters and a speedloader for this gun, I'd be much obliged. Because this gun is gonna be doing car duty most of the time for now (not old enough for a CHL, old enough to have one in the car) they aren't as big a priority, but I would like to know what to get in a few weeks.

 

[Onmilo]

I like Rossi revolvers.
You won't ever fire full house .357 Magnums in that revolver again if you do so inside a Civic automobile.

 

[redbandit98]

good luck with your rossi. I am not coming in here to start a rossi "bash", but will give some first hand experience. I bought the same pistol in the 38 special only model. I broke the firing pin after about 150 rounds. I sent it back to rossi, ( 45 bucks overnighted through fed ex) and they fixed it. I got it back and sold it cheap due to the failure and me not being happy with it. The guy I sold it to broke the pin again after about 200 rounds. Just a warning, be careful and dont shoot the crap out of it, may break it.

 

[scottishclaymore]

You won't ever fire full house .357 Magnums in that revolver again if you do so inside a Civic automobile.

That thought had occurred to me. For car duty it'll probably have something of a slightly less potent (and loud) nature. Probably just some good old .38 or .38 + P hollowpoints -- got any recommendations along those lines?

good luck with your rossi. I am not coming in here to start a rossi "bash", but will give some first hand experience. I bought the same pistol in the 38 special only model. I broke the firing pin after about 150 rounds. I sent it back to rossi, ( 45 bucks overnighted through fed ex) and they fixed it. I got it back and sold it cheap due to the failure and me not being happy with it. The guy I sold it to broke the pin again after about 200 rounds. Just a warning, be careful and dont shoot the crap out of it, may break it.

Well, I have a friend who had what is basically a longer-barreled version of this same gun. Nary a problem with it ever. So who knows. Hopefully I got a good one.

 

[The_Shootist]

Nods

Yeah I saw the same revolver for $ 299 at Academy, and being a big fan of snubbies and like the 6 shots. However, it seemed kinda heavy (it was the .357 version) and I had trouble justifying it as I already had an SP 101 with the same weight. Likely higher quality as well and I know my Ruger is rock-solid reliable.

 

[Tamlin]

My mother has that same gun, actually (she is retired now, used to work in bank vaults counting money that the ATM guards brought in - she was required to have a weapon). I've shot it - I don't particularly like it, especially with .357 loads. But it's all about what you intend to use it for. Inside of 3 yards, it will be great. I ran targets out to 7 yards and had trouble hitting them. But I could nail head shots all day long at that distance with my Ruger GP100 with a 4" bbl. Snubbies just aren't for me - it's not that it's a Rossi. Good luck with it - I really hope it serves you well.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Dont forget the Concealed Carry Permit.

 

[Eightball]

Okay, so you bought a Rossi. You didn't break the bank, and now you have a piece that you can rely on, move around, and use if need be in your vehicle.

Whoever faults you for that has problems.

Nice firearm. While personally I would've tried for a Rossi in SS for car duty (if I was stuck in that price range), that's my preference. Just remember---practice, practice, practice!

 

[scottishclaymore]

Inside of 3 yards, it will be great.

As far as handguns go I actually cut my teeth on my Dad's 642. With practice I got to be able to hit a dinner plate at about 20 yards -- so hopefully with some range time I will be able to do as well with this new gun.

Eightball: Good thought about the SS... I actually like that look better and if I'd found something in that I probably would've gotten it instead. Guess I'll have to just give this blued steel job a little extra TLC... Clean it regularly...

There are way worse ways to spend an evening.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

scottishclaymore,
Please keep us updated on how that revolver shoots. I've been looking at one for a while now because I like the sixth round. I'm very curious how well it shoots and holds up to a lot of shooting.

As for ammo, it's my opinion the time tested FBI Load is probably a good choice in that revolver. Not so much because it's so much better than the "new and better" SD ammo out there but because it's a lot cheaper than the stuff from Speer and CorBon without sacrificing quality and performance. I like the Remington 158gr LSWC/HP +P ammo best. (Part #R38S12) It's what I carry in my M642.

 

[scottishclaymore]

I plan on taking it to the range sometime later this week. Once I do I will post my results here.

 

[AirForceShooter]

mine is my var gun.
It's reliable and at 12 yards a 3" group.

for the money it's great.

AFS

 

[mossy141701]

I have a Rossi 38 revolver with thousands of rounds through it with never a problem. It has always been accurate as well. I am a S&W lover and this was a gift from my wife but it has been a great little gun.

 

[Haywood]

I have a older 357 Rossi Mdl.971. I think its a fine gun and rotate it in to the Four 357 Snubs that I carry. I have been watching for a Rossi like yours to come into are shop used. I would like to have the fixed sighted Mdl. to backup the one I have.

 

[jr45]

I have the same model 461 and love it. I think you will be pleased with it...I never had a problem with mine. If you decide to shoot full .357 mag loads out of it, plan on a really big flash, loud, and sharp recoil. As for a speed loader, HKS #10 works fine with mine.

Note: Rossi is owned and made by Taurus.

 

[krs]

OH NO!!! You DIDN'T buy a ROSSI!?!?!

 

[lev83]

Don't worry about others perceptions of your choice of guns. I too own a nice little Rossi 2" 38 special and have found it to be very serviceable and quite accurate out to 15 yds. I realize it will never appreciate greatly in value but the gun is intended as a CCW or tool not a collectors piece or family heirloom. You did well now get out and enjoy that pistol.

 

[MCgunner]

Rossi had some firing pin problems in the early 90s. I had a 971 that busted the firing pin, sent it to Interarms, came back and broke on about the third round. I took it to a gunsmith and he said it just "needed to be properly fitted" and I never had a problem with that gun to the day I traded it off for a Ruger Blackhawk I wanted.

Yes, the SP101 is a better, stronger built firearm, but for the money, the Rossi is an incredibly good gun. I've owned 7 of 'em and only had problems with the 971 and I managed to fix that. I have a very accurate older M68 revolver in my collection now that is amazingly well fitted and finished. It's a 3" gun I bought for my step dad for home security back in 81. I don't carry it a lot, but use it as a .38 kit gun because it's pretty danged accurate and still light on the hip. I think .38 special is a better outdoor caliber than it's given credit for and I'd rather have it along than a .22 if I bumped into a moonshiner or marijuana farmer or something up in the national forests, LOL.

 

[Logos]

I don't like Rossi guns. Probably because they used to be junk.

I understand they are better now.

Can't change my ways. I'll stick with Smith or Ruger or Colt.....and the older ones, for the most part.

 

[MCgunner]

IMHO, they were NEVER junk, but I know late 80s through early 90s they did get lax on fit and finish of the guns. They still worked quite well, though and held up well. I can say I'd rather have that era of Rossi than any Charter Arms of any vintage. I had one version of the Charter, got rid of it. Timing out of the box was poor. That's the gun that taught me about revolver inspections before purchase. LOL It was also pretty crappy put together I thought. The old M68 Rossi's design is M36 Smith and Wesson and my old 81 vintage model rivals the Smith in quality of fit and finish for a lot less money.

The modern guns are excellent buys. Academy has the stainless 462 .357 magnum for about $280, or did a while back. SP101s run around 450. I'd rather own (did for a while) the SP101, but I'm just sayin'.

 

[krs]

I was clowning with my above post.

Far as I know Rossi revolvers get the job done so if one ofthem fits a person's needs there's nothing wrong with saving a buck or two to get 'er done.

 

[Eightball]

Hey, Claymore, I had another thought that could benefit you--

If you're using this thing in your vehicle, potentially you won't have the time/space to be able to get a perfect sight picture, should you have to use it; maybe you should look into one of the laser-type devices for the thing? I know CT lazergrips are more than the firearm, but surely there's some cheaper option for you.

It's just a thought, since it'll allow you to be more accurate than simple "point-shooting."

Other than that, make sure to give us a range report when you get the time.

 

[scottishclaymore]

I have thought about some kind of laser option and may pursue something like that in the future -- though I will probably wait a few months and just buy the SP101 with the CT grips already installed. Meanwhile... Point shooting is actually a viable skill that can be practiced, IMO.

Folks, thanks for all the positive feedback here. I must say I was almost nervous posting it in the midst of all you shooters with more money than me.

Being given a reloading press this week, which is going to mean for lots of cheap practice.

jr45 -- Thanks especially for the speedloader info. Do you carry it in a holster? If so, what kind?