Rossi 720 vs. S&W 696

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357smallbore

357smallbore

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I own a Rossi 720. Born on date 1994. It is a fixed sight model. The "Covert" is the actual model 720. Came hammerless. I put a hammer on mine. It's 27.5 oz empty. 29.8 oz loaded.
It's basically a K frame gun with a J frame grip. Excellent concealability for ccw. The double action trigger is smooth, but the single action is like butter. 3.3 lbs trigger pull with no creep or stacking.
The S&W 696 is a larger copy of the Rossi on a S&W L frame. 48 oz worth of heft. Rossi was made 92-97. S&W 98-2004. I prefer the Rossi to the S&W. Reasons being.
1. Cost to buy one.
2. Lighter by 20oz
3 Easier to carry
4. Better trigger pull.
5. Looks better.
They both are dead nuts reliable. Both are combat accurate.
Anyone have a 720 they love as I love mine?
Keep mine loaded with Underwood 200 gr full wadcutters with a speed strip of Blazer 200 jhps for reserve. M
 
You just had to bring that up. I passed on one with adj sights a year ago. Being an old fart, I felt it was just barely over the line weight wise for everyday carry. If I was younger though and still got out more, I never would have let it get away. The big raised rib and front sight on the adj sight model, I think, detracts from the smooth looks of a classic S&W but it was a great gun to put into production. They have a small but strong following. I wish I'd bought that one just for the fun of it and to carry on occasions. Does your fixed sight model shoot to the sights with those 200 gr Underwoods - windage and elevation? Just curious in case I get the urge again.
 
Grizzly2 said:
You just had to bring that up. I passed on one with adj sights a year ago. Being an old fart, I felt it was just barely over the line weight wise for everyday carry. If I was younger though and still got out more, I never would have let it get away. The big raised rib and front sight on the adj sight model, I think, detracts from the smooth looks of a classic S&W but it was a great gun to put into production. They have a small but strong following. I wish I'd bought that one just for the fun of it and to carry on occasions. Does your fixed sight model shoot to the sights with those 200 gr Underwoods - windage and elevation? Just curious in case I get the urge again.
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Here is mine without the hammer, and with the hammer I installed. I took the factory grips off as well. I prefer the more concealable pachmyer. On the adjustable 720's. You are right. The big raised rib and sight look horrible. My gun is dead on out to 15 yards. After I need to aim a bit higher.
rossi_jpg_thumbnail1.jpg IMAG0991.jpg rossi_jpg_thumbnail1.jpg rossi_jpg_thumbnail1.jpg
 
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357smallbore said:
The S&W 696 is a larger copy of the Rossi on a S&W L frame. 48 oz worth of heft
Click to expand...
The S&W 696 weighs 35-37 oz unloaded depending on the grips, perhaps you are thinking of a S&W 624 with a ? length barrel.
The S&W 696 is a S&W L frame chambered in 44 spl. The Rossi and Taurus revolvers are copies of the S&W revolvers.
 
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I have had several 720’s and 721’s over the yesrs , I remember getting one at a Gunshop in a neighboring town for $200 OTD years ago .. It was my go to revolver for several years .. About 15 years ago I purchased one ANIB .. for under 3 bills .. But the one that got away that I was stupid of letting go was a DAO un-fluted cly model that had a crazy great triggger extremely wonderful action ...
I had oneor two more over the years .. seems like I moved them all for some dumb reason or another
 
joneb said:
The S&W 696 weighs 35-37 oz unloaded depending on the grips, perhaps you are thinking of a S&W 624 with a ? length barrel.
The S&W 696 is a S&W L frame chambered in 44 spl. The Rossi and Taurus revolvers are copies of the S&W revolvers.
Click to expand...
My bad. Finger fudge. Was supposed to say 38oz loaded. The Rossi 720 is not a S&W copy. The 720 was made several years before the 696 was produced. And the 720s are pinned barrel.
 
The 720 and 581 are my two favorite Rossi’s.

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Well of course you like the Rossi better. The 720 is one of Rossi’s best products and they are getting scarce and valuable for better or worse.

And yes, Rossi and Taurus are generally an S&W copy. However, that does not mean that within that general design one company or the other cannot innovate independently of the other with different cartridges, barrel lengths, and frame alterations.

I can’t help but think of the Taurus Judge. Who did the copying there? Judge came out in 2006 and the Governor in 2011.
 
joneb said:
The Rossi and Taurus revolvers are copies of the S&W revolvers do some research.
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The Rossi's are derivatives, not copies. None of the major parts are interchangeable. The earliest Taurus revolvers ha some interchangeable parts with their S&W counterparts but very few and that has not been the case for over two decades, closer to three.

A derivative is not a copy.
 
I've almost bought a 730 or 431 taurus many times but in the end I went with what I think is the best 44 special ever made : the 329pd.

Much more expensive than the 720 or 431.......although I did see 431 going for almost $700 on GunBroker which is insane, but it's quite a gun and can shoot the heaviest 44 specials with ease plus magnums if you want
 
I own three of them, might be four after today LOL, there's one for sale down at my LGS. The 720's were on the market back when Rossi was owned by Interarms, before they got bought out and ruined by Taurus. I really like mine, and I've carried them many times. They shoot great with a 250 gr Keith over 7 gr Unique. I'm good out to 100 yards with either the hammerless or the "target" model....

SgLHHXL.jpg
 
The copy or derivative thing is a rather moot point. They are simply similar looking guns. LOL ! I do like my Rossi M720. Mine has adjustable sights and is DA/SA where the fixed sight version is DA only. If I am wrong please let me know. I did see a DA/SA M720 fixed sight version but that was not a factory feature. I liked mine well enough that at one time I owned three of them. I sold two during an overall downsizing. I am still in the process of that, but my last M720 stays. Rossi made these in the 80's when SS was in its early stages for Rossi. They did them right IMO. I thought about taking one of the ones I had and having that wide rib narrowed and maybe bridged like a Python. Sort of wish I would have done that, but getting to old, and to unhealthy to start on new projects. I have all I need to keep me busy now. At any rate I give two thumbs up for the Rossi Model 720.
 
mnrivrat said:
The copy or derivative thing is a rather moot point. They are simply similar looking guns. LOL ! I do like my Rossi M720. Mine has adjustable sights and is DA/SA where the fixed sight version is DA only. If I am wrong please let me know. I did see a DA/SA M720 fixed sight version but that was not a factory feature. I liked mine well enough that at one time I owned three of them. I sold two during an overall downsizing. I am still in the process of that, but my last M720 stays. Rossi made these in the 80's when SS was in its early stages for Rossi. They did them right IMO. I thought about taking one of the ones I had and having that wide rib narrowed and maybe bridged like a Python. Sort of wish I would have done that, but getting to old, and to unhealthy to start on new projects. I have all I need to keep me busy now. At any rate I give two thumbs up for the Rossi Model 720.
Click to expand...
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I have seen fixed-sight 720's with a hammer spur and DA/SA lockwork. I don't know if it was a different model Rossi put out or something a previous owner did but they were slick. I like the idea of the rib work - kind of like the Model 581 .38Spl Rossi put out at the same time. The lock-work of the 720/581 is more like a Colt's Mk. III/Mk. V than a Smith's in feel, to me. Very little or no stacking and a crisp let-off. Those two will sell through my estate... :)
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
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I have seen fixed-sight 720's with a hammer spur and DA/SA lockwork. I don't know if it was a different model Rossi put out or something a previous owner did but they were slick. I like the idea of the rib work - kind of like the Model 581 .38Spl Rossi put out at the same time. The lock-work of the 720/581 is more like a Colt's Mk. III/Mk. V than a Smith's in feel, to me. Very little or no stacking and a crisp let-off. Those two will sell through my estate... :)
Click to expand...
I have read a post somewhere regarding a person who modified his M720 fixed sight gun in the manner you mentioned. He installed the parts from a DA/SA adjustable sight version into his fixed sight gun. I am pretty sure the factory did not put out this version. I spent nearly 30 years in the gun business as a dealer and/or gunsmith. I have never seen a DA/SA fixed sight version of the M720 but it would not be a problem to do this modification. At times you can find the parts on eBay. You can also use parts from their .357 mag. Model that sports the same frame. I first handled the M720 when a local dealer who I was doing gunsmithing for gave me one to go through and smooth up. when I returned it I asked him how much he was asking for it because I was wanting it. Well it was going to be his personal carry gun so I had to search Gun Broker until one came up. I ended up with three of them as I decided I would buy any that sold for under $300 with shipping. I was pleased with all three. Then others started to find them and the prices went up. I was passing on the fixed sight guns, but now wish I would have grabbed one. There is a guy out on the east coast that worked for Rossi. He still has parts although I only bought a front sight for one of my M720's that I purchased with a broken front sight for under $200.
O Gee wiz I guess the DA modification on a fixed sight gun was done by the OP. I had also seen one on a much earlier posting as well, but the OP reminds us of how easy it can be done.
 
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mnrivrat said:
I have read a post somewhere regarding a person who modified his M720 fixed sight gun in the manner you mentioned. He installed the parts from a DA/SA adjustable sight version into his fixed sight gun. I am pretty sure the factory did not put out this version. I spent nearly 30 years in the gun business as a dealer and/or gunsmith. I have never seen a DA/SA fixed sight version of the M720 but it would not be a problem to do this modification. At times you can find the parts on eBay. You can also use parts from their .357 mag. Model that sports the same frame. I first handled the M720 when a local dealer who I was doing gunsmithing for gave me one to go through and smooth up. when I returned it I asked him how much he was asking for it because I was wanting it. Well it was going to be his personal carry gun so I had to search Gun Broker until one came up. I ended up with three of them as I decided I would buy any that sold for under $300 with shipping. I was pleased with all three. Then others started to find them and the prices went up. I was passing on the fixed sight guns, but now wish I would have grabbed one. There is a guy out on the east coast that worked for Rossi. He still has parts although I only bought a front sight for one of my M720's that I purchased with a broken front sight for under $200.
Click to expand...
I bought my fix sighted 720 (Covert Model) hammerless. It's the one I posted when I started this thread. I bought a Rossi 720 hammer from Numrich Gun Parts for $24.95. Took the side plate off and put the hammer in myself. Took about 25 minutes. Love this gun, love it even more with the hammer installed.
 
357smallbore said:
I bought my fix sighted 720 (Covert Model) hammerless. It's the one I posted when I started this thread. I bought a Rossi 720 hammer from Numrich Gun Parts for $24.95. Took the side plate off and put the hammer in myself. Took about 25 minutes. Love this gun, love it even more with the hammer installed.
Click to expand...

Yes. I missed some of your posting originally. To tired and going to fast. I had seen one modified in that manner some months ago on a different posting. I remember back then my thought of wishing I had picked up a fixed sight version and doing the same. At that time you could generally could find one under $300. Hard to do that today. I owned a couple .357 versions on the same frame. They had the muzzle compensator and Interarms stampings. Nice guns as well. I should have kept one of those. I am in a electric wheel chair however so just don't get a chance to shoot with no local indoor ranges.
 
lack of factory support is my concern for any gun I choose to carry and or shoot regularly.
 
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