Have a new Rossi M92 in .45 Colt

[Colt46]

never having owned a lever gun before I didn't know what to expect. What a kick in the ass! It's the new stainless carbine(20") and is quite accurate out to fifty yards. I suppose it will go a bit beyond that but I haven't tried yet. The action seems like it needs a little smoothing out. Can anybody help me out with what velocity it might be obtaining with the standard 255 gr loadings?
If you would upgrade anything on it what would it be?
Thanks,

Actually it's a Legacy Puma. I think Rossi makes most of the 92 clones on the market today.

 

[Shooter357]

Colt46, Sound like you've got a nice lever action... I have a Puma M92 .357 octagon barrel, also a LSI.... In my case the action was smooth to start but seems to be improving even more with use. Accuracy is also very good. IMO, the fun factor is 2nd to none, and levergun fever is highly contagious.

The smoothness and overall quality of Puma M92's seem to vary from gun to gun, but if you have one that's accurate, feeds well, and only needs a little smoothing - you've got a winner! I do not know the specific answer to your velocity question, but, someone who knows will reply...

My opinion on upgrades - Consider upgrading to a tang site.....

 

[The_Antibubba]

I have a Puma in .357. The action will smooth out with use. Also, be aware that different ammo will feed, uh, differently-some are jam city, others like butter.

 

[bubbygator]

My gunsmith just got a .357 SS round barrel in that I can get for $425. How's that for price? I've been drooling on it.

 

[Colt46]

got mine from CDNNinvestments.com

They're on special for something like $280. Of course after shipping and FFL transfer it was about seventy more. Good people to deal with too.

 

[MrMurphy]

Add an XSS Ghost Ring sight.

That's it.

Maybe Wild West Guns's M3 or Surefire light mount.

 

[iamkris]

I have one of the Rossi Win92-clones that I shoot in cowboy action shooting (under the alias Thaddeus Muckenfuss). It is a stainless model, 24" octagonal barrel, crescent buttplate, .45 Colt. In a phrase...I love it.

Rossi's are a good value in my opinion. I paid $275 barely used. I originally bought it used because it was cheap and I was already spending a lot to get into the sport. I figured that I'd trade it later for a Marlin or Winchester. I started shooting it and found it well made and VERY accurate. It has NEVER misfed. In fact, I have no intention of getting rid of it.

I did make some changes however. An afternoon of elbow grease, steel wool and stripper got rid of the awful black finish they use on their wood (I think it is a Brazilian hardwood of some kind). I put some walnut stain and an oil finish and got a lovely dark golden hue with a lot of figure. I also swapped out the sights to Marbles full buckhorn rear and Game Getter front blade (total of about $25 from Brownells). The Rossi sights are a little on the cheap side. I also had Steve Young (Rossi gunsmith) remove the stupid bolt safety and fill it with a plug for $40. Slapped a Bunkhouse spring kit ($15) in the rifle and she is GOOD TO GO! That and a few thousand rounds through her have smoothed the action up to be like butter. Even with all that extra, I have only about $360 in the rifle.

Fast, smooth, super accurate. 3 seasons of cowboy shooting on her (over 1000 rounds) and never a hiccup...no failures to feed, fire or eject. No broken parts. BTW, Rossi makes the Win92 clones for Navy Arms and (I believe) EMF also. You can pay a little bit more for those and get some of the modifications I did built in.

Here she is with a few of her friends

 

[roo_ster]

My wife got a Rossi 92 in .44mag for less than $200 used. The original owner had used it for the cowboy shoots. Man Oh Man is it smooooooth!

 

[BluesBear]

Steve Young down in Texas is THE Master when it comes to tuning up the Rossi/LSI Puma M92 . He can also remove that fugly bolt mounted safety.

 

[Domino]

Can anybody help me out with what velocity it might be obtaining with the standard 255 gr loadings?

You could be getting anywhere from 1100-1200 fps out of your Rossi with the 255g loads. I have found the Hornady 230 XTP to shoot quite well in my Rossi, I have gotten velocites around 1300 fps with them. If your interested in handloading powerful ammunition you need not worry about your Rossi not bieng able to handle the abuse. Mine is quite tough and extracts under pretty high pressures.

 

[bubbygator]

Colt46: I had seen the CDNN catalog, but it said "Minor Appearance Blems". Did you get one & it was OK ???