I've still got a very accurate little M511 Sportsman 4" .22 kit gun and an old M68 3" that's quite accurate. Neither has the greatest DA trigger in the world..
..but it's usable and the SA is great on both guns. I've traded my old M971 4" .357. It was a good shootin' gun and quite light weight for a medium frame gun, only about 32 ounces on the hip. I liked it, but it wasn't anything special, just a good gun. It was stainless and I used it as an outdoor gun, shot a javelina with it once and a few rabbits for camp meat when I had a hunting lease out in west Texas. I traded it and some cash for a used Ruger .45 Blackhawk that has become my favorite of all handguns, so I guess it was a good trade. I have a more accurate M66 Taurus .357, but it's heavier and nickel plated, rather have stainless. It is VERY accurate and has a better trigger, tighter, so it's a better gun, but I did like the Rossi. I had a M88 stainless .38 I sold to a friend because I wasn't using it. Nothing wrong with the gun, just that my Taurus M85 UL is just as accurate and it's more pocketable, lighter, more compact. It also has a VERY good DA and SA trigger.
On the whole, Rossi is a very functional, no frills, revolver. They are NOT junk and they are VERY affordable. I have two now that I will not sell or trade off and may add another M971 in the future if I see a good buy on one. I'd like to have one with a 2.5" barrel for IWB carry. Another 4" would be fine, though. Ain't like I'm actually LOOKING for one, but I'd pick one up if I found a good buy on one and had the money burning a hole in my pocket.
I can offer this advice, if you find a M511 .22 used somewhere and it's tight and in good shape, BUY it! Mine is one of the most accurate little .22 kit guns I've ever handled. With RWS target, it'll shoot 1" 6 shot 25 yard groups, a little under 2" with cheap Federal Lightening! The SA trigger is very light and crisp. Just ignore the DA pull....ROFLMAO! It's stiff and not very smooth. A kit gun is more about SA shooting anyway IMHO. But, I put quite a few rounds through that little gun DA about every range trip, cheap practice, and if you can control THAT DA trigger, you ain't gonna have a problem with anything else, ROFLMAO!
