My Rossi Experience
- Thread starter Handi Man
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Sorry to hear of you guys problems. I have a couple of Rossi M92's in 44 mag and 45 colt. They both shot pretty well out of the box. Both shot pretty well right on and about 3 inches high. I replaced the buckhorn sights on both rifles with mid heigth buckhorn sights from Steve Young at Steve's Gunz and the added adjustability made a world of difference. Using my moderate reloads with 240 and 255 grain lead bullets I shoot 25 inch groups at 50 yards. Because of old tired eyes, I am lucky to get 8 inches at 100 yards. I did order Steve's DVD and did some light tuning. I have two other lever action Marlins and the Rossi's go to the range the most.
joecil
Member
As I stated earlier I have a Rossi Rio Grande in 45-70 and a Rossi 92 in 45 Colt. The colt had feeding problems when I got it sent it back with a return time of 7 days and feeding problem gone. Put a 1000 rounds through it then got the Steve Gunz DVD and tune kit. I smoothed out and now serves both cowboy action shoots as well as hunting using 290 - 300 gr cast gas checked bullets loaded with Lil'Gun.
The 45-70 need only the loading gate adjusted a bit to lessen its strength so it could be loaded easily. Other than that it was the best internally finished gun I've ever owned in almost 50 years of having guns. However Rossi guns at their price level are mass produced CNC machined with no custom fitting so if you aren't willing to take it apart and tune it then spend more and get a gun that costs more. I've have dealt with about every major customer service out there from S&W, Colt, Ruger, Winchester, Taurus/Rossi and others. The best I've found it Armscor/RIA bar none with the rest on a par with Taurus/Rossi.
The 45-70 need only the loading gate adjusted a bit to lessen its strength so it could be loaded easily. Other than that it was the best internally finished gun I've ever owned in almost 50 years of having guns. However Rossi guns at their price level are mass produced CNC machined with no custom fitting so if you aren't willing to take it apart and tune it then spend more and get a gun that costs more. I've have dealt with about every major customer service out there from S&W, Colt, Ruger, Winchester, Taurus/Rossi and others. The best I've found it Armscor/RIA bar none with the rest on a par with Taurus/Rossi.
jpwilly
Member
If the deer is running to your left your GTG! 
HoosierQ
Member
I joined the Rossi-Rifleman forum just to learn more. Sounds like the "Rossi Community" pretty much expect a certain amount of tinkering that has to be done. Everything from the basic "take off the buttstock, soak in brake cleaner for 24 hours, blow out, soak in oil for 24 hours then try" to taking them completely apart and removing burrs and whatnot from just about everyplace.
Those guys seem to love them. Sounds like you need to be a tinkerer to be a Rossi Rifleman?
Not sure how I feel about that.
Those guys seem to love them. Sounds like you need to be a tinkerer to be a Rossi Rifleman?
Not sure how I feel about that.
HankR
Member
I'm a Marlin fan, but I had to send my wife's (Marlin) .357 lever gun back for what I found out later was a known flaw. I'm still happy w/ the company. Only concern is that it was back for service during 9-11 and I was concerned that the rules might change for getting it shipped back to me.
My son's first gun was the Rossi "matched pair" in .22lr and 20 gauge, and we've been very happy with it. Not a lot of moving parts, so I'm not sure what could go wrong with them or the trifecta (although, we were shooting at .25 yards with open sights, so long range accuracy was never tested). At some point I wanted to buy a scope base for it, and dealing with them on the phone was a bummer. I forget the details, but not easy to get a hold of and hard to get questions answered.
No real experience with Rossi lever guns yet, but I recently bought a Rossi in .45 Colt. It does cycle fine, even my semi-wadcutter reloads, but I have not fired it yet. I guess I better run some rounds through it when the weather warms up. Most of the snow is gone, I could probably find my brass if we go out this weekend.
Not to be contrary, but I've also had good luck with the Taurus .22 revolvers. I'm not sure the exact current status of the relationship between Taurus and Rossi, but these are guns that everybody loves to hate. I've had three of them over the years and been lucky enough that they all worked well. I'm a huge Ruger fan, but my Ruger SP-101 in .22lr has been back to the factory once already. Ruger's CS was a joy to deal with, which is a big difference.
joecil
Member
I've also had good luck with Taurus pistols and have 3 of them. Mine are the 3rd gen PT 111 Pro, PT 92 and a discontinued PT911. All 3 guns are 9mm, have had well over 4000 rounds through them over the years including +P loads and have never failed to work perfectly. My wife carries either the PT 911 or the PT 111 Pro depending on the cloths for the day. The 92 is my favorite target gun.
soonerfan85
Member
Problem: My rifle is shooting 30 inches to the left. Solution: Move the target 30 inches to the left. 
Next question.
Sounds like they put CIA AK sights on it. Sorry to hear this as like others I've been thinking about buying a Rossi. May still do it but looks like a scope may be necessary to put lead on target. Hope you get it worked out.
Next question. Sounds like they put CIA AK sights on it. Sorry to hear this as like others I've been thinking about buying a Rossi. May still do it but looks like a scope may be necessary to put lead on target. Hope you get it worked out.
HankR
Member
Art's Grammaw
I don't know about Art's Grammaw, but I am offended when someone speaks of scoping a lever gun.
I don't know about Art's Grammaw, but I am offended when someone speaks of scoping a lever gun.
Ed Ames
Member
HankR, this is for you...
One of my Evil Black Rifles...I guess that's not really a scope though...
I guess that picture implies what my experience with these things has been.
One of my Evil Black Rifles...I guess that's not really a scope though...
I guess that picture implies what my experience with these things has been.
HankR
Member
Didn't get the picture Ed (oops, now I see it--just slow to load. Somehow that doesn't look like it would effect the balance as much as a tube)
Handi-
My eyes are 50+ (each) and scopes have found their way onto many of my rifles. Since I'm left eye dominant, that also means I've replaced my deer rifle with a left handed model. The first purchase for the Rossi will be a peep sight. I suspect one day I'll need to scope the lever guns, but it just doesn't seem right.
(Tongue very firmly in cheek, Ed and others. I've got no business telling you what to do with your guns and I think everybody here knows that. I believe that "form follows function" and if I need a scope on my lever gun it'll grow one. I'm just having a little fun)
Handi-
My eyes are 50+ (each) and scopes have found their way onto many of my rifles. Since I'm left eye dominant, that also means I've replaced my deer rifle with a left handed model. The first purchase for the Rossi will be a peep sight. I suspect one day I'll need to scope the lever guns, but it just doesn't seem right.
(Tongue very firmly in cheek, Ed and others. I've got no business telling you what to do with your guns and I think everybody here knows that. I believe that "form follows function" and if I need a scope on my lever gun it'll grow one. I'm just having a little fun)
Ed Ames
Member
Oh I know and took it in the spirit intended.
Honestly I wouldn't have done that if given a good choice. The whole story is that years ago I decided I wanted a .454 carbine and spent about a year and a half looking at gun shows, local shops, and the online sellers for a 20” m92. I think I ordered it from Bud's within a day of it appearing there. I thought I was done with lever guns unless maybe I found a 99 at a great price.
Then I walked into a shop and saw a rack of the blued Braztec 92s, all in .454, all with the cheek piece and scope rail but nothing else (the store said they didn't even have boxes), all heavily discounted - hundreds less than I paid for the stainless. It was one of those "insult to injury" moments life throws my way so regularly. I sorted through and found the best one (some had screws missing and the like) and bought it thinking I could remove the scope mount and cheek atrocity. When I pulled the cheek thing off, though, the holes were ugly messes and I didn't have the tools to plug them properly. I tried a leupold "scout scope" but didn't like it. The 7.5MOA Deltapoint was a bit of a lark at first but it is actually fairly slick and makes for a quick-aiming fun gun.
Honestly I wouldn't have done that if given a good choice. The whole story is that years ago I decided I wanted a .454 carbine and spent about a year and a half looking at gun shows, local shops, and the online sellers for a 20” m92. I think I ordered it from Bud's within a day of it appearing there. I thought I was done with lever guns unless maybe I found a 99 at a great price.
Then I walked into a shop and saw a rack of the blued Braztec 92s, all in .454, all with the cheek piece and scope rail but nothing else (the store said they didn't even have boxes), all heavily discounted - hundreds less than I paid for the stainless. It was one of those "insult to injury" moments life throws my way so regularly. I sorted through and found the best one (some had screws missing and the like) and bought it thinking I could remove the scope mount and cheek atrocity. When I pulled the cheek thing off, though, the holes were ugly messes and I didn't have the tools to plug them properly. I tried a leupold "scout scope" but didn't like it. The 7.5MOA Deltapoint was a bit of a lark at first but it is actually fairly slick and makes for a quick-aiming fun gun.
soonerfan85
Member
Not all lever actions look hideous with glass. The Winchester 88 looks like it's made for glass.
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Some, like a Winchester 94, are just too purty to be add glass.
And some, like my Marlin 336 just NEED to be scoped.
Whatever puts lead on target is ok by me.
Some, like a Winchester 94, are just too purty to be add glass.
And some, like my Marlin 336 just NEED to be scoped.
Whatever puts lead on target is ok by me.
sansone
Member
I have stopped stocking Rossi matched-pair rifles due to the obvious quality issues degrading over the last 3-5 years. The lever guns are more expensive and honestly this is the first time I've heard of quality issues with them.
BCRider
Member
Oh, if we're going to get into the whole LOOKS thing then that's different!
I know when we begin talking what looks right and what just looks wrong that we're getting into a whole personal zone where no one is right and no one is wrong.
For me? Both from a looks and practicality standpoint I don't like to see top eject levers that have straight stocks with scopes. The straight stock is the real key to the vintage look which I feel makes the scope look wrong. Add to this the need for a kludgey looking side to over the top mount needed for the top eject style rifles and I feel that we've got the perfect recipe for something that looks like dog vomit.
Which, oddly enough, means that I'm totally cool with a scope on a pistol grip style Marlin 336. I even think that they look quite "right". Similarly a BLR or Savage 99 with a scope isn't beyond my ability to appreciate. Obviously a smaller and trimmer scope would aid in keeping such combinations a little more packable.
And of course that 88 shown just above looks more than fine with a scope. Oddly enough I'd never seen one until yesterday when I ran into an 88 in the used rifle section when doing the LGS tour while in town. I think it was chamberd in .308.
I know when we begin talking what looks right and what just looks wrong that we're getting into a whole personal zone where no one is right and no one is wrong.
For me? Both from a looks and practicality standpoint I don't like to see top eject levers that have straight stocks with scopes. The straight stock is the real key to the vintage look which I feel makes the scope look wrong. Add to this the need for a kludgey looking side to over the top mount needed for the top eject style rifles and I feel that we've got the perfect recipe for something that looks like dog vomit.
Which, oddly enough, means that I'm totally cool with a scope on a pistol grip style Marlin 336. I even think that they look quite "right". Similarly a BLR or Savage 99 with a scope isn't beyond my ability to appreciate. Obviously a smaller and trimmer scope would aid in keeping such combinations a little more packable.
And of course that 88 shown just above looks more than fine with a scope. Oddly enough I'd never seen one until yesterday when I ran into an 88 in the used rifle section when doing the LGS tour while in town. I think it was chamberd in .308.
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