Moved back to the "other 9mm"

Status
Not open for further replies.
9

9mmforMe

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2010
Messages
940
Location
IN
So lately I have been longing for the beautiful lines and heft of a nice 38 special over my wonder-nine. So I sold the S&W 9mm and purchased a new 38 special +P, stainless Rossi 38 special. I got it from Buds, new for 319.00 after taxes, insurance and transfer fee from a local gun shop where I will pick it up in about a week or so.

I cut my teeth on 38 specials, learned how to shoot double and single action which has helped me do well with different trigger systems throughout the last 25 years. I think I was simply missing the all stainless steel construction of a good 38 and it was also a highly emotional but not blind purchase. I gave my mother the same Rossi 38 over 20 years ago and she has had no problems with it at all, though she hardly shoots it. Well, I put a good 1000 rounds through it before sending it her way, all is in good order.

I'm not a collector, so this will be the only gun I have aside from a 12 gauge Rem or Mossy I'll pick up some time later this year. This revolver will be perfect for home and carry and though only 5 rounds, I feel well protected. I plan on loading it with 130 gr FMJ since that's all I found on a cursory search in the area. That should do me fine for right now and the FMJ will provide good penetration, if needed. I know a HP would be preferred, I agree, but I don't have an extra 40 bucks at this moment. Plus I have to have tobacco for my pipe to help me relax and unwind at night. :)

Anyone else out there had much experience with the Rossi revolvers? I think they are quite well made and though part of Braziltech I think they are superior to the Taurus line of revolvers which I have had some bad experiences with in the past. Lifetime warranty too I believe.
 
My 4" Rossi 972 is excellent with .38 special. As it can handle .357, the lighter rounds are very controllable and I've used it in IDPA and IPSC competition.

It isn't as well-made as my S&W 686, but looks almost identical and was modeled after it. I do not recommend going with only one handgun. Better to save up and get another if you need more options.
 
Yeah I would like to have more, as I have in the past, but it simply is cost prohibitive at this point. I might, maybe, get another handgun, or a carbine in .38 or perhaps that shotgun of which I spoke, around Xmas time.

Its not a Smith but with Smith prices, I don't care to own one at this time. I saw a junky .38 Smith model 10 for 400.00 and the new 642s are around 450.00 and just a little too much at this time.
 
9mmforMe

Years ago I had a Rossi Model 88 (stainless with a 3" barrel and an adjustable rear sight), and I thought it was very well made and an excellent buy for the money. It was also a gun the S&W wasn't making at the time and I wanted it for use as an upscale (caliber-wise), Kit Gun. This is it in an old Interarms catalog:

_20150225_094358_zps2nvypsqf.gif
 
Wow, that takes me back. I remember walking down close to the water in Old Town Alexandria, VA and visiting the Interarms building so to get some flat panel wooden grips for my .38 snub. Walked out with a nice pair of wooden grips for just 15 bucks or so and they currently adorn the snub I gave to Mom all those years ago. I think she has it loaded with the old 110gr Silvertip hollow points I gave to her at the time.
 
First of all, people still smoke pipes? Just kidding. I've had several rossi revolvers and they're all very well made and will not match a smith in over all finish a .38 is a .38 it don't care what branded barrel it comes out of.
 
I've never owned a Rossi revolver, but I am old school and I love the old fashioned polished stainless look they still have. Almost like a nickel finish. Seems all the newer made stainless guns from other mfgs go with a matte finish now.
 
That's true the 9mm revolvers were an option...just a little too pricey. :)

And yes, I love my pipe, going out to enjoy a nice full English blend a little later today. :neener:

I like the high polish too and you're right most are matte finish, gotta be tacticool you know!!
 
Bought a Rossi model M88 2" 21 years ago new and have carried it for the last 15. Lost count a long time ago how many rounds I have shot through it including a fair share of +P and its still tight as new. I would buy another if I could. Would love to find this same stainless gun in a 3".
 
To pricey!

9,

I picked up a used S&W model 15 with a 4 inch barrel, also a 6 inch barreled model 15 as well for $275.00 each.

These were Dept. of Corrections trade ins and have a lot of wear on the finish as well as some incredibly bad etching by the former users. However, they both shoot very well.

Look for trade ins!

Jim
 
I've owned 7 Rossis over the years, one's a rifle. I own 4 Taurus revolvers. I much prefer my Taurus revolvers. I've kept one very well finished '81 vintage M68 and one tack driving M511 Sportsman .22LR.

The problems I've had with Rossis concerned firing pins that snapped. These were both early 90s vintage, a 971 .357 and a M88 .38. I sent both guns to Interarms, the 971 firing pin snapped on the second round. I fired a box through the repaired 88, boxed it, and sold it as was. The fit and finish on both these guns left a lot to be desired. They were not even close to my '81 vintage 68 nor my Taurus revolvers. I think Rossi took a dip in quality control in the early 90s, but have bounced back. I don't see the same problems in the Rossis I've looked at in Academy. I think they're decent little guns now days, affordable. BUT, I'd rather shoot my Taurus revolvers or my Rugers or my 60s vintage Smith and Wesson.

Since I had those firing pin problems, I've been hesitant to carry a Rossi. I think that was more a problem with the early 90s guns, but one remembers such things. The fix on that 971 was to take it to a gunsmith and have him fit a K frame firing pin to the hammer. I traded that gun in on a used Ruger stainless 4 5/8" Blackhawk. I tossed in a few bucks, don't remember how much, but I wouldn't take the trade back. :D That Blackhawk is awesome. I own several Blackhawks now, really like 'em for outdoor use and just plinking. I used to carry that Rossi 971 hunting with me, was lighter on the hip than even my K frames and shot rather well. I kinda miss it, but wouldn't go back on the trade. I WOULD, however, consider another one for hiking/hunting, but don't need one for that as I don't hike that much and when I do, I have a favorite Taurus 4" 66 and a 4 5/8" .357 new model Blackhawk if I am in black bear country that are pretty handy and very accurate....not to mention that .45 I traded for.
 
bannockburn....my old M68 is just like that 88 in the pic, windage adjustable sight, 3" barrel, and all. It has been fired very little. When my grandpa died, my step-grandma gave his old Smith and Wesson M10 to my mom to give to me. My step dad wanted it for home protection, but I wanted it, being it was my grandpa's. So, I bought the Rossi for him for a hundred bucks new. He fired a partial box through it, stashed it in the bedroom, and that's all it ever fired until he passed away in '03 and I got it. I've fired a box or two through it. It's pristine. I did put a set of Ajax "pearlite" grips on it, look kinda cool. Didn't like the original grips, anyway. If I were going to carry it, I'd probably put some Pachmayr Compacs on it, but I don't even shoot it that much and the pearlite is cool lookin'.

It's pretty accurate. It DOES make a decent .38 kit gun. That's really the only actual USE I have for it, but I keep it for the memories.
 
You could have purchased a 9mm S&W revolver.

I love my 929
Click to expand...

I'm loving my Blackhawk Convertible. Yeah, a single action, but I love the single actions. I probably paid too much, $600, but I WANTED it. :D I have 2 autos in 9x19 and a Dillon square deal progressive set up for 9. I get tired of chasing brass in the autos. I've taken to shooting brass in the revolver and buying cheap steel cased crap for auto practice. I mean, I can toss out the tarp and all that, but it's just such a hassle and bending over is hard on my old back. I know, I know, I need one of those brass picker uppers that looks like a pecan pcker upper. :D

Other than sighting in with .357 and .38 loads, I haven't fired a round of practice out of the .357 cylinder. That really ain't the cylinder I bought it for. :D
 
Well I certainly hope the firing pin on my R35202 holds up better than the one you mentioned. I had fired hundreds upon hundreds of rounds with the little snub I had years ago before I gifted it to my mother and she has had no problems, though she has not shot it much at all.

I would be hesitant to carry any Taurus revolver due to multiple problems with a pair stainless 85s I had back in 95. They were sent out multiple times due to firing pin retraction problems and finally I told them to keep one, but they sent me a new gun and I sold both of them, eventually buying an SP101 in .357 magnum.

The exposed pins were the standard for many makers for decades and if I remember correctly the transfer bar system has been adopted by so many due to concerns of accidental discharge and not the longevity of the firing pin. But, now that begs a separate question...lol.
 
Last edited:
Back in my young Copper days when we carried round guns it was fairly common in my parts to buy a Rossi snubby for a bug as they were inexpensive which meant a lot on our low pay.

They served the purpose of carried often and shot little.

O.P. Quit smoking for a while and order some good quality ammunition. Hornady Critical Duty is a excellent choice, Remington non-bonded 125 gr. JHP is a good performer and very affordable around $12.00 on the Internet. FMJ is the worst possible choice.
 
The FMJs were all I could find locally and in a pinch they will do fine considering the other option would be to use that snub as a club. :) No need to quit smoking, the pipe tobacco is already purchased. My personal favorite load is the 158gr SJHP and if I can't find them readily I may very well buy one of the "premium" boxes of ammo. The 110 grain Critical Defense rounds do look impressive, but even the older designs have been updated, like the 125grain Nyclads or the Federal Hydrashok. To be honest I think these and many others would do just fine. And in the end none of us will be attacked by 4 layer denim wearing blocks of gelatin.

Oh, and the gun came today. I was surprised how good the trigger was and surprised even more with the excellent overall fit and finish, very pleased indeed. Now some range time will be scheduled and we shall see how this little banger shoots.
 
Last edited:
I've got a Taurus 85 stainless ultralite that I bought in 96 and has had thousands of rounds down its 2" tube. I carry it 24/7 in my right, front pocket of my jeans. Put down a hog in my trap with it just today. It's 17 ounces and not noticeable in my pocket after a full day. It's got the best out of the box trigger I've ever felt, too.

I had an SP101 for a while, nice gun if heavy. Strong little booger and accurate. :D If I were to get another, it'd be a 3". I do have a nice shooting Taurus 66 3", though, that's only a bit heavier and shoots easier, but the Hogue I got on the square butt grip isn't as desirable for carry as that SP101 with the Hogue (a round butt profile) was.

Now, guns like the Rossi have a hammer block just like the Smith and Wessons have had for many decades. My older 3" Model 66 Taurus has a floating frame mounted firing pin, but is a hammer block. The newer early 90s vintage 4" 66 has a transfer bar like Ruger. Apparently Taurus switched systems somewhere around 1990 plus or minus. The newer transfer bar system gun is the better trigger, very smooth and absolutely crisp single action. But, your Rossi will have a hammer block as it will have a hammer mounted firing pin. Nothing wrong with that system, just as safe as a transfer bar.
 
Thanks McGunner! Appreciate the info. Sounds like you have some good shooters. I had a Taurus 66 I loved but sold, bad decision but needed money at the time. I also had an SP101 which just didn't fit my hand well and parting with it was a good thing. This little Rossi looks good so far...the range will be very telling.
 
Last edited:
Barry the Bear said:
First of all, people still smoke pipes? Just kidding. I've had several rossi revolvers and they're all very well made and will not match a smith in over all finish a .38 is a .38 it don't care what branded barrel it comes out of.
Click to expand...
Even a few of us younger folks have learned the art of keeping a pipe lit. And yes I do mean tobacco. I'm a Cavendish man myself, often mixed with a whiskey or cherry blend.

And heck yes on buying a 2nd tier gun. Right now the top tier is Smith and Ruger which both are too expensive for what they are. I'm looking for taurus or rossi in a .357 either 4 or 6 inch, but if I stumble across a 3" you won't see me leave without it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Age and value of....
Replies
1
Views
475
thatguy
T
T
  • Locked
Taurus Revolvers????
Replies
10
Views
594
okespe04
O
S
  • Locked
Ruger SP101...in .38 Special...worth the extra cash??
Replies
6
Views
2K
Landric
Landric
D
  • Locked
Help choosing my first revolver
Replies
14
Views
606
Greek
G
S
  • Locked
Smith & Wesson Mod 36 38 spec ammo
Replies
6
Views
410
SKL
S
Back
Top