Opinions wanted on the Rossi single shot rifles.

[hometheaterman]

I also know if I had started of learning to shoot with a gun that shot 5" groups I would probably have been turned off to shoot. With groups like that you can't hit a squirrel in the head time after time you can't shoot tops off soda bottles you might and that's a might be able to hit a soda bottle but certainly not the top unless you got lucky. 5" is huge for groups. Why not get him something accurate so that he doesn't get frustrated when he can't hit anything.

 

[fireman 9731]

The handirifle apparently doesn't tolerate oil in the action....

That is a fact!

I tried lubing up the action of my H&R Buffalo Classic in 45-70, the same thing would happen, the action would open up all by itself after it fired. I sprayed some Brakeclean on the lock-up mechanism and it fixed it in a jiffy!

I have never owned a Rossi, but I can attest to the handiness of a 22/410 combo, My Savage Model 24-SE is potent for squirrels and pest control, and I would imagine great for a youngster to learn on.

 

[Bud Tugly]

I've got a Rossi with the .22 and .410 barrels. I'm not a serious shooter, but the .22 barrel puts holes in tin cans at 30 yards or so very nicely and is fun and very safe.

The shotgun barrel is modified choke rather than the full choke found on most .410's. It patterns nicely out to about 25-30 yards, which is about the effective range of a .410.

Rather than being loose, the action on mine was a bit tight, but it's loosening up with use. For the price I paid ($109) II don't see how you can go wrong. He'll have fun with it for a few years and want to trade up for seeming else in a few years anyway.

 

[scythefwd]

hometheater - 3 inch groups at 100 y = 3/4 inch groups at 25y. He might not be able to take the bottle cap off a bottle, but I bet he could shoot out the pepsi logo.
At 15y, he is in the bottle cap accuracy range. Again, you are very focused on pin point accuracy. You probably wouldn't like my garand either because it only shoots 2 inch groups (which isn't taking bottle caps off either). I'll look at the savage. If he wants to shoot different rifles when his skill surpasses his beginner rifle, we have an Anschutz, a mossberg 144, a marlin .22lr that will clover leaf at 15y, and others for him to move to. IF he gets into target shooting, we can equip that, but first things first. There is an argument for getting him a gun that is more accurate.. but then again he may not get into shooting that much. I guess I should also pitch my sks as it is a 4 moa gun... oh wait ... I still have fun shooting it as well.

3 inch groups and 5 inch groups mean nothing if you don't have a range to go with them. 3 - 5 inches will be on the paper, and in an 8in bullseye target. The range he will be shooting at only goes out to 100y but it can get as close as he wants. As he gets better, we move him out further, but we start him in at like 15y. I will take a couple of sessions, maybe months before he is shooting even somewhat consistently. With a couple of weeks in between 1-2 hour shooting sessions, it will take a while for things to start to click.

 

[PT1911]

I think the NEF/H&Rs are better built and you can get them in combo's as well... saw a .357mag 12 gauge last week.... would be a cool set.

 

[MAKster]

Dicks regularly sells a Mossberg 22lr bolt action for $99 dollars and the Savage bolt action for $160.

 

[scythefwd]

Makster.. I am leaning that way now. I went and handled the rossi. It'll be fine for a .22, but the shotgun barrel would be brutal. I would be afraid to shoot 20 ga slugs out of it, and I shoot my Mossy 500 with slugs from the prone. Man was that thing light.

Crickets are also off the list. What is the point of having a bolt action if the bolt doesn't cock the rifle?