My Rossi Experience

I've always wanted a levergun in 45-70 and after reading many positive reviews I decided to get the Rio-Grande. Purchased it NIB on Nov.7 took it home and shot 325 Gr. hornady leverevolution through it at 70 yrds it would not hit the refrigerator my target was attched to. After moving to 50 yrds I came up with 36'' to the left of the regrigerator. Moving into 35yrds I could see it grouping quite well but at 20" to the left of my target. I tapped the front sight over inside the dovetail and that didn't help at all. Took it back to my LGS on Nov.10 (opening day of modern gun season) and had it shipped back to brazil with a note stating it shot 36'' to the left of my target at 50 yrds. It arrived at my LGS on Jan 23 I picked it up yesterday. With my returned rifle I received a target from Rossi of a ragged hole of a 5 shot group but it was 3'' to the left and was only shot at 25yrds. I took it home and shot it at 35yrds and low and behold it still shot roughly 20'' to the left. The rifle would sometimes not even strike the primer at all. Seems to me they kept the rifle for 3 months shot it five times and sent it back.

 

I am sorry to hear that, I am looking at Rossi's in .44mag and this has me concerned.

 

I don't get how it can go from 3" left at 25 yards to 20" left at 35 yards.

 

me either even had it tied down in a vice

 

I'm also sorry to hear it but to be honest never shot mine more than 25 yards on in indoor range just to test out with the iron sights. I've since mounted a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5x32mm scope removing the rear sight.

It could of also been the rear sight slightly out also as it can also be slide right or left. But based on the difference you reported I really have little idea what could cause that.

 

Sorry I forgot to mention I moved the rear sight as well during my first experience with it.

 

I bought a Rossi Tri-Fecta and am left with a similar view of the company. The gun slowly began to fail and then quit working all together.

Attempts at contacting the company were terribly frustrating. In the end I decided it was better to let my $300 purchase go to waste and sit unused until I throw it away rather than try to deal with that company or their bad product.

I will never buy another Rossi...it was easily the worst gun I've ever purchased.

 

We may be in the same boat.

 

I hope you had your Buffalo Classic Handi Rifle as a stand by for deer season.

It would be extremely helpful were you to keep these experiences "handy" for use in the numerous Rossi lever gun threads in which any suggestion that they are less than "finely tuned classic firearms sold at astoundingly low prices given their consistent stellar performance" is shouted down with cries that these are internet rumors and the claims of Marlin and Winchester shills who have no experience with Rossis.

 

Should've went with the buffalo classic in hindsite but no. I did have a Handi in .444 marlin Handy

 

wow I am sorry to hear that, I have been toying with the idea of getting a Rossi M94 in 45LC for a cowboy action. But after reading your experience I just might keep my 300 bucks.

 

Did you try any other ammo besides the Leverevolution? I heard some rifles just don't like that cartridge.

 

So, being 20" off at 35 yards would have to mean that the sights are over 1/4" off axis from one another, of where they should be. I just can't even fathom that you have adjusted your sights as far as they will go and they STILL need another 1/4" movement between them.

 

aven't tried any other ammo and the groups rossi sent me a 25 yrds were the same leverevolution I was using . And yes the sights couldnt have gone much further.

 

My Rossi M92 carbine in 44 mag shoots fine, although very high. I had to install a taller front sight and that fixed it for me. I have no idea how a rifle could shoot that far off horizontally

 

I would suggest that the issue isn't so much with the guns themselves as it is with the US distributor/warranty center. The rifles are simply wood and metal. As I recall Rossi in the US is serviced by Taurus? If that's right then I think we found the problem. I've read so many accounts of poor service and warranty work from Taurus USA that I'm surprised that they are still in business.

There are enough happy Rossi owners to support the idea that the rifles are fine once any bugs are worked out. We owners don't lie to cover up stuff and lure newbies in like the Sirens calling sailors to their doom.

Since a Rossi lever rifle is a clone of the Winchester 92 I would suggest that any issues can be easily corrected by any decent gunsmith. One that handles a lot of repairs and improvements for the local Cowboy Action group will know the insides of these things like you know the back of your hand.

Yeah, I know this means giving up on the warranty. But in the end they are still a low cost option that can be made to work and shoot well for not much more money than the original sale price. And even with the possibility that they require such work the added cost will still keep them well under the cost of an Italian cowboy clone rifle or the cost of the real things from Winchester or Marlin.

 

See, as I suggested earlier Handi, this couldn't possibly have happened with your rifle. Many happy Rossi owners will attest to that fact. The utter crap that I got when I purchased a .22lr / .410 youth combo set last summer for the kids couldn't have happened. And my Brother-in-Law's .357 lever gun that was replaced three times before it would operate in a manner reasonably consistent with one's expectations for a lever gun also could not have happened. Just couldn't.

 

Well its in the process of going back now only time will tell.

 

i will stick to a used marlin to many negative things about the rossi

 

Am I wrong in thinking that the Rio Grande Rossi's are NOT like Winchester 92's?
I have two of the Rossi 92 clones and they both have been good.

 

I too have been burned by rossi, to the tune of a $500+ dollar circuit judge was so abysmal with accuracy using many types of ammo that it went the way of the dodo...

furthermore, my only other real major problem with a gun was a taurus .357 mag, very first shot and my face was pelted with shrapnel, the barrel sleeve or forcing cone cracked open... It was replaced with another brand new one the same day by my dealer, and the new one did fine, but I didn't trust it so it has floated away from me as well, the fella who bought it is still happy with it, but I will never purchase a Taurus or especially ROSSI product again.

 

Sounds like a bent barrel. I would send it back and ask for a new rifle.

 

Sorry to hear that, with your purchase. I own a Rossi rifle. My first box of ammo, out of the box, had all the shots all on "the guy in the grey sweatsuit with his left hand over his heart''s left hand, at 25 yards, with no bench, and my first rifle in over 20 years. Mine is not a .45-70, though. It's only a little .357 Magnum carbine.

 

I never like to hear about bad customer service, I have a .410/22lr combo that I love and have considered the circuit court judge but now I shall reconsider.

 

My new M92 44 mag wouldn't cycle any thing I tried - round nose, RNFP, HP, RNHP - so I found this site: http://www.rossi-rifleman.com/. After a few minutes looking around, I followed one suggestion (flush the action with brake cleaner well, then after drying, spray it with your favorite lube, drain/dry it, and Voila! Functions flawlessly - I would have never believed it! But - there are threads for all of Rossi's models, and the Rio Grande has a very active and informative one. It may be that your rifle is a POS and should go back, but check this out first. Can't hurt...
Good luck