Rossi 511 .22LR Kit Gun - bought one today

[MatthewVanitas]

I've been shopping around for a .22LR DA Kit Gun recently, with which to instruct beginners. I also have a Bearcat which was bought for that purpose, but I'm thinking that trying to teach newbies how to thumb-decock the first day out is not the wisest move.

Last time I mentioned any hesitancy about thumb-decocking old-style SA revolvers, my masculinity was immediately questioned. So I'll clarify: I don't have a problem with decocking an SA, but I don't think it simplifies the learning process for newbies.

So I've been keeping an eye out for a S&W 63, and missed all the good deals by a hair. In finally decided to dip my feet rather than dive in, and bought a Rossi at half the price. I know Rossi's centerfire revos have a mixed rep, but the vibe on THR seems very favorable to their rimfires; better than the Taurus.

So I picked up a Rossi 511 today for $220 OTD. It looks almost brand new, SA is great and DA not bad at all. I think I paid a bit more than would be great, but not terrible.

Anybody have any feedback on this piece? Any idea what the difference is between the 511 and 518? I hope to get it out to the range this week, so we'll see...

 

[MCgunner]

I'm on my second 511, first one got ripped off when we were at work and somebody broke into the house. I really missed the little Rossi, found one for 200 at a gun show a while back and bought it. This second one is a lot more accurate! The thing shoots unreal good, a little over an inch off sandbags at 25 yards with RWS ammo and not much bigger with the cheap stuff, still under 2". On mine, the SA is very light and crisp, DA a little stiff, but not bad. With accuracy like that, it's definitely a keeper. It's as accurate as any non-target grade .22 I've ever fired, totally amazing for such a compact, easily carried gun. I've already burned up several thousand rounds out of it. I shoot it every trip to the range.

This is my forth Rossi handgun and I don't have a gripe with any of 'em, though I have sold two of 'em. I had a 2" M88 stainless .38, but never carried it even though it was a little more accurate than my Taurus M85UL. The tiny Taurus weighs just 15 ounces. I bought it for CCW. I also had a M971 .357 mag I wish I still had, actually. It was accurate, though nothing special, but very easy to carry afield at just 30 ounces unloaded. I carried it a lot when hunting. Now, I have a VERY accurate nickeled Taurus M66, but it's a little heavier gun to tote. It's not bad, though, and it's very accurate with both .38s and .357s.

I have a M68 3" Rossi that I bought for my step dad years ago an re-inherited. It shoots about 2" at 25 yards, very good accuracy and to POA. So, I've kept that one just because I keep accurate guns.

My favorite of all of 'em is that little .22, though. I'm not sure why, but my first one shot about 2.5" average groups at 25 yards, not all that spectacular, but it was a fun gun and I wanted another. I hit pay dirt with this second one, a real tack driver, friggin' near target quality accuracy. Put it this way, no rabbit has a chance at .25 yards.

I put a pachmeyer compact grip on mine. Fills the hand a lot better. That stock grip just don't cut it unless you are a tiny person.

 

[Moonclip]

I had one, got it for like $75 or 100 bucks as I had to eat some less desireable guns in an all or nothing gun buy from a guy that was forced to sell due to domestic violence conviction(he came with his wife to sell the guns!)

Anyways, mine was plagued with quite poor accuracy though it worked well and I ended up giving it to a family friend.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

I put a pachmeyer compact grip on mine. Fills the hand a lot better. That stock grip just don't cut it unless you are a tiny person.

I was wondering about that, though I'm a pretty small handed guy. If I did choose to replace it, do I need to get a grip specifically labeled "Rossi 511", or is it compatible with any more common grip? I'd almost like to put a Tyler T-Grip on it, but I'm not sure it would be compatible with any of their current models.

-MV

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Had to return revolver

I took the revo out to shoot, had malfs, took it back to the dealer. Dealer opened up the sideplate and cleaned some gunky old oil out of the lockwork.

Took it out again, for the Winter Austin THR Shoot, had the same problems: light-strikes on ammo that fires great in all my other guns, failure of cylinder to index which causes incredibly heavy/stagey trigger pull, or even seizes up entirely when cocking.

Took it back to the dealer a second time, asked for and received a refund. The shop, Tex Guns, gave me a full refund and all is back to status quo.

It's too bad that this model didn't work out for me, since it's a handy and appealing revolver for half the price of the S&W 63. For the time being, I'll just have to enjoy my Ruger Bearcat.

I know that other folks on the board have Rossi 511/518 and love 'em, but it appears I got a lemon.

-MV