For years I have equivocated over getting a Marlin 1894 or a Rossi 92 in either .44 or .45. Ideally, I think I would have liked a 1894 in .45 Colt, but I don't see them often, and when I do the price is very high. On the other hand, a stainless 16" Rossi also sounded like a great general purpose rifle for the woods. I ended up somewhere in the middle. Whitaker Guns has 20" blued Rossi 1892s in .44 and .45 Colt for $380 right now. That price pretty much made up my mind for me. I figured I would pass along the deal in case anyone else is in the market.
In honest self-reflection, I spend many more hours a year at the range shooting for offhand accuracy than I do wandering the woods hunting, and the 20" barrel probably will serve me better for that purpose than a 16", as much as I do admire the portability of the smaller package. The 20" Rossi is still only about 5lbs as well. I hope to replace the safety with a peep from Kiowa which ought to make it easy to punch holes in paper at 100yds or so.
In honest self-reflection, I spend many more hours a year at the range shooting for offhand accuracy than I do wandering the woods hunting, and the 20" barrel probably will serve me better for that purpose than a 16", as much as I do admire the portability of the smaller package. The 20" Rossi is still only about 5lbs as well. I hope to replace the safety with a peep from Kiowa which ought to make it easy to punch holes in paper at 100yds or so.