Rossi M92 - How bad/good are they really?

I'd been looking for a while, then got mine by seeing an ad for exactly the one I wanted on a gun sale site, and calling the dealer. He had a buy it now price, and actually reduced the price on the phone when I asked if he could do any better. I think I paid $415 for it 2 years ago.

The one I was looking for was a blue round 20" barrel in .357 that came with a scope mount in the box. Actually had it's own model # just for having the mount. I've got a 4 power Weaver Scout Scope on it and it's quite accurate. Round barrels already have the mounting holes drilled under the rear sight, and there is now an aftermarket company producing the mounts in blue and stainless.

both my rossi 92's are 16in barrels and they shoot great, longer barrels not gonna give you much more!

ShootingIsFun said:

...If they have an extra one I'll let you know

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Fwiw, my LGS only had one - a stainless 16" in 45 Colt... Pretty much the opposite of what we're both after - needless to say, I passed

Over the last ten years I've slicked up five Rossi 92's for casual cowboy action use. They have all been well made internally with the newer ones being better. Exterior fit and finish has gone downhill slightly. One had a poorly made rear sight and one needs some work to a badly made loading gate that is causing some jams when pushed fast.

Funny that with modern steels, modern production methods, and modern engineering, we still can't put the same product together as well as they did it one hundred and twenty five years ago. lol

Speedo66 said:

Funny that with modern steels, modern production methods, and modern engineering, we still can't put the same product together as well as they did it one hundred and twenty five years ago. lol

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Well, they do. But they cost well over $1K....

Speedo66 said:

Funny that with modern steels, modern production methods, and modern engineering, we still can't put the same product together as well as they did it one hundred and twenty five years ago. lol

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Modern computerized machines make the whole gun without much hand fitting needing to be done. (Granted more should be done.) In the old days machines didn't work to as close a tolerances as today's machines do, so the only way the the rifles went together was with a lot of hand fitting.

Hanzo581 said:

Trust me if I'd grab one today if I could.

Does anyone know why the .357 Rossi's are so hard to find? Do they just not make a lot?

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I think the .44/45s share more parts, ive been poking around and i often see stuff listed as .357 then the same part as .44/45

I got a good deal on a stainless rossie 92 in 357. I love that rifle, especially for the price. It did take some work to have it run WELL though... Fit and finish is okay, especially for the price and what it gets used for.

The 16.1" Rossi 92 is a sweet rifle. Just under 5 lbs and the barrel is short enough to carry muzzle-down.

I guess they are scarce in .38/.357 because when you think about it, a lot more people have revolvers in .38/.357 than .44 Mag or .45 Colt.

I picked up a used Rossi 357 4 or 5 years ago. Mine was rough as a cob. My local gunsmith cleaned up the action and drill tapped for older Lyman peep I had for under a $100. Nice little shooter.

I now own my second Rossi M 92 lever rifle. Years ago I found a used short barrel big lever .357 m92 in a gun shop, and bought it on impulse...the old Puma/Interarms. It worked great, shot well, and would feed and extract any .38 Spl or .357 i had laying around, including some old handloads and even mixed loads. No problems with it at all...other than I found I really hated that goofy John Wayne big lever...So I used it as part of a trade. Several years later, I saw my current one in a Bud's Gun Shop ad, 23" round barrel standard lever blued .357. Bought it immediately, still have. it. I did disassemble and clean the mag tube, and smoothed some sharp edges on the forearm. Same result as the old Puma...a great, light, handy rifle, cheap to feed and fun. FWIW, Rossi is OWNED by Taurus, but Rossi makes it's own products including some very solid and smooth .357 revolvers.

I played with a rio grand a bit the other day at the shop. they actually are pretty well made and finished, the on i handled was nicer than my 92

I have one in .357 with 16 inch barrel, was perfect out of the box, no issues at all.

Just the other day I was talking to a friend. He said he has a 24" octagonal barrel. 357 that is NIB. He said he probably was going to sell it. I told him I would take it when he was ready to let go.

I have an original '73 with a 24" octagonal barrel, and it's heavy. But I would think any competent gunsmith could cut and true the barrel of a '92 to any length you'd like.

The 24" octagonals weigh about 7 lbs. while the shorter round barrel models weigh about 5 lbs., so you've got 2 lbs. just hanging off the front. OK for the range, but a bit heavy to be carrying around in the field. The light short one is a joy to carry.

I agree....I have a 16". It is a great walking around gun.

I have the M92 and absolutely love it. It did have to go to Miami for some warranty work, but since then it's run perfectly. The action seized up. They repaired it and it cocked more smoothly than ever, afterward. Absolutely fun rifle.

we have a Marlin and two Rossi's, a 16" large loop and 20" standard loop, all in 357. Our Rossi's have both worked wonderfully, including firing a bit faster than normal with Cowboy Action. The shorter one is around 8 years old I think and the 20" is around 4 years old.