Rossi .357 Magnum Carbine: Yes or No?

[CmdrSlander]

Is the Rossi .357 Magnum Carbine a good rifle? I really want a rifle that I can use at the pistol range (it is much closer and cheaper) and get more practice with offhand shooting with. The ability to shoot .38 Special is also very attractive for low powered and cheap centerfire plinking at the riverbank. It is the only lever action pistol cal carbine in my budget so I am hoping that it is at least acceptable quality (I'm not accustomed to best, most of my guns would be considered budget guns, it just needs to work and not start falling apart/rusting).

 

[Tomcat47]

A friend of mine had one of the Rossi .357...we shot it all the time. Never had a problem with it, and it was accurate.

I have had a few Rossi .38 and .357 wheel guns my self and never had a complaint.

 

[CmdrSlander]

Cool

 

[theicemanmpls]

Rossi firearms are currently imported by Taurus, who also provide the same warranty service that they give their own guns.

I can only assume the QC department is held to the same standards as Taurus.

I suggest you research, form your own opinion, and make an informed purchase decision.

 

[CmdrSlander]

Is that a bad thing or a good thing? Taurus isn't horrible from what I've read. I'd buy American but I simply can't afford to.

 

[snakeman]

I had a rossi 454 casull m92 that was an excellent gun. Got rid of it to pay the bills, miss it every season. I have a rossi 357 revolver that's just an amazing gun in my opinion.

 

[wnycollector]

Like snakeman, I to sold my Rossi. 44 mag lever action in a fit of stupidity, and truly regret doing so! The Rossi .357 is one of my "buy on sight" list when I spot one.

 

[theicemanmpls]

Horrible is a Jimenez Arms JA-9 pistol.

On this and other gun web sites Taurus bashing is common place. I have done some myself. Others claim they got their money's worth, which I don't doubt at all.

Want a fun long gun that uses pistol ammo? Get a Marlin camp rifle, or that ugly one from High point. Get a SKS in 7.62, I have heard that high point carbine, in 9mm, despite appearance, functions.


If you don't reload 9mm is far cheaper then 38.
You won't be hunting deer with the 9, but now you have a reason to buy a deer rifle.

 

[az_imuth]

I have one of their 92's in .357/.38 and it seems to be a pretty nice rifle. Action has smoothed up nicely with use and it hits right where I aim it. No problems to speak of and it was priced right.

 

[BCRider]

I've been using a Rossi .357Mag rifle as my main cowboy action shooting lever rifle for a couple of years now.

Comments;

• It shoots OK right out of the box. But it isn't the smoothest of firearms.
• There is some good info on slicking up the trigger and action to be found on the web with a simple google for "rossi 1892 trigger job".
• If you are comfortable with the work and do the simple things suggested it does make the gun smoother for fast shooting. BUT... it isn't needed at all for casual slower fire plinking. As it comes out of the box it's just fine.

The rifle is somewhat sensitive to the bullet shape. I've by far had the best success with round nose lead or round nose like JHP rounds. It really does not like the stepped cone shape of SWC bullets or the fat nose shape of some flat nose/round point lead rounds I've tried. But in between is a vast array of bullets that fits just fine with no feed issues.

For the money I can't think of a nicer pistol caliber gun if you enjoy lever style actions.

 

[Jeff H]

I have one of their 92's in .357/.38 and it seems to be a pretty nice rifle. Action has smoothed up nicely with use and it hits right where I aim it. No problems to speak of and it was priced right.

This has been my experience as well. I like mine.

There is a vast difference in POI between 357 and 38 spec if you shoot it any distance. It will take a little time to dial the gun in, but you will have that with every rifle you shoot those two callibers in.

 

[ball3006]

I have had one for 18 years. It goes bang every time with any ammo. I did do some light stoning work to slick up the action though. It didn't need it, I just wanted it that way. I also have one in 45 LC. If I did it over again, I would get the rifle with the half octagon barrel....cooler looking.....chris3

 

[Flashcube]

I had one for a little while, but sold it due to reliability issues with .38 Special. It worked fine with .357 Mag, but would actually catapult the shorter .38s up and out of the action when you threw the lever down. It would work okay if I cycled it slowly, but what fun is that? lol Around here the Rossi costs nearly as much as a new Marlin, so I think if I do it again an 1894C might be in my future.

 

[scallop]

My Rossi story here.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=605525

Buy it, shoot it, enjoy it. I would love to find one in .357 and as someone above said it is a buy on sight item for me as well.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

No problems when using 357 brass but 38 was another story. Too many feeding issues so I don't shoot 38 spec out of it.
My favorite Rossi 92 is my big loop trapper model in 45 colt.

Doc

 

[Clark]

I have some rifles in pistol cartridges:
44 mag semi auto carbine
45 Colt 1994 Winchester lever action
45acp 1903 Turkish Mauser
7.62x25mm Tokarev 1903 Turkish Mauser


They are lots of fun to shoot, but not good for anything else.

 

[Water-Man]

I've had mine for three years. It's the .38/.357 with a 20" Octagon barrel. Smooth and accurate out of the box with no problems whatsoever and better than the Marlin I had.

 

[Owen Sparks]

They are simply a copy of the Winchester 92.

 

[7lever]

i have three of them. one in each caliber 357 44 & 45. they are decent guns for the money. never had an issue with any of them

 

[ghitch75]

i have a 357mag and a 45 Colt....actions are a little stiff and will throw brass 2 county's over.....spring kit and a little fine tuning and there great rifle's for the money...

 

[dagger dog]

Another yes vote
My 92 is a 24" rifle in 45 Colt.
It will feed and fire 3 different bullet designs, gets slicker every time it's shot,good wood, nice bluing good fit and finish, but the sights and magazine spring follower SUCK,plan on replacing them. It will pitch your brass into the next county,but lighter ejector springs are availabe.

For under 500 bucks out the door it's a steal.

For what it's worth, if you buy from the Davidsons Gun Genie web site you get a forever warranty from Davidsons.

 

[elano]

Great gun after you spend about 4 or 5 hours fixin it up. There are a few very good websites on the net for this work. Cut the hammer spring for sure right out the box. Mine now has a williams 5d peep to replace the crappy stock sights. I love it! Smooth as butter after the sandpaper/ spring treatment.

 

[greyling22]

I echo most of the guys here. good gun, better with and action job. The 16" barrel version feels and points better for me than the 20". I like an old marlin better than a new rossi, but a new rossi better than a new marlin.

The stock sights are kinda cheap and the wood is plain and dark, some don't like 38's, most don't like semi wadcutters or anything with a rim that will hand on the chamber when feeding. But if you can live with that, a 357 lever gun is a hoot.

 

[Panzercat]

If you can get another brand of .357 lever, go for it. But since you probably can't a rossi is fine. As another person mentioned, they are sensitive to bullet shape as I'm finding out with my .45lc/.454

 

[Bob in MO]

I'm looking for a Rossi M92 Carbine .38/357 Blue 10+1 20" Round Bbl, but dang if I can find one. Anybody know whats going on with that?