New Snubby.

[The Goose]

Went to Four Seasons Gun Shop in Woburn, MA today to buy some ammo and spotted a used Rossi Model 68 .38 spl. Appeared to be in mint condition with original cardboard box and manuals. It was well under $200 so I bought it on a whim. Can anyone tell me anythng about this gun. Feels good in the hand, light with good balance and a nice trigger. Did not get it for carry, just a plinker. I like snubbies. Any feedback?

 

[doorgunner]

I've owned a couple of 68's and 88's over the years, and never had a problem with them. All of the ones that I owned were Interarms imported guns. The current production models appear much better constructed. I say shoot the fire out of it, and see what happens. The price was definately right!

 

[armedcitizen]

Did not get it for carry, just a plinker.

For any Rossi I've handled, that is an excellent decision.

 

[AirForceShooter]

you just might wind up carrying the thing

AFS

 

[smooth operator]

I believe that that gun was imported by Interarms. I've got 3 Rossi Revolvers 2 Interarms & 1 Braztech. I think they're OK guns. It sounds like you got a pretty good deal. I wouldn't have pased it up

 

[Ala Dan]

Back in 1994, my wife chose the Rossi 2" model 88 .38 Special as her
every day CCW piece. She has NEVER had a problem with it~! It's
one of the InterArms import models.

 

[doorgunner]

Well, I carry Smith 640-3, .357 as an off-duty weapon, and I honestly don't think that there is any other revolver made anywhere that can compare to it in quality.

I will however admit that I have NEVER gotten a bad Rossi 5-shot, or anything made by Taurus, and I've owned a bunch of each of them over the last 20 years. Not S&W quality, but completely serviceable weapons nonetheless.

Anything mechanical, from Porsche automobiles to Rossi wheelguns, can and sometimes do fail. It doesn't mean that a Porsche is a piece of junk if it craps out. It just means that sometimes a combination of parts decides not to function in unison anymore.

I often times think that people tend to stereotype these cheaper firearms as POS's, when in fact their reliability rate is actually pretty high. I would rather see someone have the opportunity to carry an affordable firearm for protection, rather than not because they couldn't afford a S&W or Colt revolver.

Just my $.02, your mileage may vary.

 

[The Goose]

"Well, I carry Smith 640-3, .357 as an off-duty weapon, and I honestly don't think that there is any other revolver made anywhere that can compare to it in quality."

Doorgunner, I carry a S&W 649 Bodyguard .357 most of the time and occasionally a 342 .38 and I will stick with those. I also have an old Model 60 that I don't carry, but love to shoot. The Rossi will fall into that category. At the price I doubt I can go wrong.

As a side note I am taking the Snubby Revolver class at the S&W Academy with Michael de Bethencourt on Sat. 10/15. I hear this is a great class and since the snubby is my primary carry I think it only prudent to get some specific training. I have taken a few other combat handgun classes, but they centered around the semi auto. Certainly I learned a lot and they were great fun, but in real life I am a businessman and the snubby works for me on a daily basis. My snubby is with me all day every day all year round. I used to swtch up when I got home or on weekends, but now think it is better to stick with the same thing all the time and get better with it. When I received the initial ad for the class it stressed that I should arrive ready to practice with the method of carry that I typically employ, that alone seems like a good start. I'll post a review after the class.

PS. Doorgunner I see that you are from San Antonio. My wife and I spent a week there on vacation this summer and I love it. The Alamo was one of the most moving experiences of my life and I love the Buckhorn. I am so impressed with the pride that Texans take in their state, Compared to MA it is heaven on earth.

 

[doorgunner]

Thanks Goose. Yes, San Antonio, and Texas in general, is a great place to live and raise a family. I've spent the last 40+ years here, and have travelled all over the United States. 9 more years to retirement, and I'm headed north to either Wyoming or Montana. I kind of like winter, and we just don't really have much of one down here.

I've always been partial to S&W j-frames. My first off-duty weapon was a bone stock model 60, and I love it death. It doesn't get carried anymore, but I occasionally shoot it with old lead semi-wadcutters just for fun. My duty weapon is concealed Sig P229 DAK in .357. I've been carrying Sigs and S&W j-frames so long, that both are very comfortable to me.

I've developed so much confidence in my ability to shoot these little 5-shot revolvers, that I don't feel very handicapped with the limited ammo capacity. I always keep a pair of Bianchi Speed Strips in my right front pocket, so I've always got access to 17 rounds of .357 Magnum at my disposal. It pays big dividends to never load by hand at the range. I always reload my 640 with the speed strips, even after cleaning. That way, in a gunfight, you will revert back to what you know. Amazing how your fingers turn to nubs and your brain to mush when the proverbial "defication hit's the Westinghouse".

Good luck on your S&W Academy Course. S&W Academy has been around a long time, and they take a lot of pride in the quality of instruction that they provide. Please be sure to share your experience with us after you return.

Take care and be safe!

 

[The Goose]

Some good advice, thank you.

 

[44Caliber]

the Goose

I patronize the Four Seasons Store for many years. Carl is the proprietor and a very fair and decent trader. I seldom buy a any firearms equipment from anybody else.
Good luck
44Caliber
Swampscott,MA

 

[Moonclip]

I'm not big on Rossis, I always considered them an even cheaper Taurus, kind of like Mossberg and Maverick. However I have shot a decent Rossi revolver here and there, their shotguns are decent, and some like the pump 22 they used to make seem popular though mine was rough.

If the price is cheap enough I would buy another possibbly. I did have a 22lr stainless S&W kit gun clone(mod 511?) Accuracy sucked and I gave it away, gun only cost me like $100. Another guy tried to sell me 3 guns and refused to part them out. I got the one I wanted, 90-95% S&W 15-6 for $150.

I let my friend get a project Moss 500 12ga and a Rossi 68 3" 38spl S&W chiefs special clone both for $50 each from the seller to complete the deal. The Rossi turned out to be fairly accurate and reliable and I should have probably bought it myself though I'm on a quest to keep "second tier" handguns out of the collection and the quest is not working! Can't pass up a deal usually and in this case it was probablya mistake to do so.

 

[TonyB]

I recently bought a Rossi 357 magnum(461)for $150(used)I didn't expect much.I was looking for a 2" mod 10 s/w,but couldn't find any..anyway..turns out this Rossi is a real shooter...I now use it in IDPA(it's a 6 shot 2")and made marksman in the classifier this summer(almost made Sharp shooter)..one thing I like about it is that I feel I can"abuse" it and not worry that I've put tons of money into it...the trigger was heavy but the more I shot it the better it got.......it's not a fancy gun,but it shoots(of course I brive a Buick,not a Cady)
I haven't had any mis fires of any kind...I use it for ccw on occasion too...

 

[jamz]

Goose,

Tell Carl that James from Maine says "hi" and will resume buying guns from him again as soon as the nonresident permit filters down through the MA bureacracy.


-James