Rossi 92 in 45colt as first/only/all purpose rifle

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TennJed

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I grew up hunting on occasion and still do. When I do I have a multitude of family members with land and rifles. I am a handgun fanatic. I love shooting and collecting them. I have just never gotten around to getting a rifle. I have reached to point where I want one and feel I "need" one. (I do have a Ruger 10/22 so the rimfire rifle is covered)

I reload and my favorite caliber is 45 colt. I am considering a Rossi 92 in 45 colt with a 24" barrel. What is everyone's opinon on this as a first rifle. My primary use for all firearms is fun and hobby, but self defense is important. I am pretty sure this gun would be a hoot to shoot, but how do you think it would stack up as an all purpose gun (100-150 yard hunting, self defense, SHTF [ I know those thread are frowned upon, but this would be part of the guns role])

Should I break down and get a AR or AK? I know both of those would have higher capacity and longer ranges.

I am driving myself crazy trying to pick out my christmas present and I keep going back to the Rossi. Already reloading for 45 colt plays a big role in wanting this gun. ARs get a lot of hype and I am sure it is for a good reason.

What are your thoughts?
 
Tenn,

I ran a 45 Colt levergun for YEARS...great cartridge that can be loaded close to 44 mag power factors. You will be well served by it!

Andy
 
For the uses you described, it sounds like an excellent choice to me. I might have a look at the 20" as well or if you ever plan to put optics on it, the 16". You'll sacrifice a little capacity and a little velocity, but it will be much handier. If you plan to keep iron sights on it, the 20" or 24" would probably be easier to shoot accurately.
 
TennJed,

For the purpose you have outlined, it is hard to find fault with your assessment. Like you, I reload for the .45 Colt and it is my favorite cartridge. Wish I had the where with all to buy a .45LC lever action to join my S&W 25-5.

Don
 
For a rifle it will be greatly underpowered. The lowly 30-30 will easily outclass it and most riflemen do not consider the 30-30 to be a powerhouse.

For fun shooting it's great. For defensive purposes at close range it's fine. For hunting large animals (deer?) I think it's marginal at best. Certainly not the best choice.

BTW- There is no "all around rifle." Impossible for one rifle to do everything.
 
It's interesting how hunting deer with a rifle in 45LC is marginal (powerwise), but a great choice with a handgun.

I think the rifle is fine for deer as long as you keep your range under 150 yds, preferably 100 yds. The 30-30 is more powerful and it is mostly considered a 100 yd gun but okay to 150 for sure.

I don't have any experience with the Rossi lever gun. I thought one in 480 Ruger would certainly be an interesting combination.
 
I'm shooting Ranch Dog 290 gr cast bullets over 25.5 gr of Lil'Gun and at up to 100 yards it is hardly a mild load. Ranch Dog developed the bullet for pigs and deer and has taken both with it with a 16" barrel scout version of the 45 Colt by Rossi. I'm shooting them from a 20" octagon barreled Rossi but have not taken any game with them. I prefer ranges inside 100 yards as I don't have a scope but iron sights still on mine. A 30-30 has a bit more range and perhaps power but these are pretty close also. Oh and the bullets are available through http://www.carolinacastbullets.com/45_ACP.html though the mold has been sold out and discontinued but hopefully Lee might pick it up in the future.
 
If your rossi is a good one that works worth a flip it might do well. I took a dive into the rossi 92 pool a while back and the darn thing never worked. It would not feed ammo! I sent it back to rossi and 8 weeks later I picked it up. It still didn't work! The gun store let me swap it for a winchester 94 angle eject in 30-30 that was never fired. I still haven't even shot that gun but it feeds ammo so it's already a better gun.
 
For a rifle it will be greatly underpowered. The lowly 30-30 will easily outclass it and most riflemen do not consider the 30-30 to be a powerhouse.
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Ah, SaxonPig, you've been reading energy tables again.:D A 250+gr .45 caliber bullet traveling at well over 1,000fps kills all out of proportion to the energy table numbers. Personally, I would feel better equipped putting a bigger hole in whatever I am shooting at, since clean through shots on deer-size targets are a given with either the .30-30 or the .45 Colt. While the .30-30 extends the effective range, the OP has limited himself to inside 150 yards which is not a problem with a good .45 Colt rifle. Just MHO.

Don
 
I think that for what you want to use it for you will be well served. I have a Rossi 92 in 357 magnum and I love it. It feeds ANYTHING and has never given me any problems.

If you are ok with keeping your shots at 100 yards or less you will do just fine with 45 Colt. Not to mention 45 Colt is one very easy caliber to reload for. Have you considered the 20'' version? I think it handles the best out of all the configurations.
 
The Rossi 92 is a good choice for your stated purpose. I have used one &found it to be very able to take deer at 150 yards. We don't get many shots that far around here, most are less than 1/2 that range. The .45 colt knocks them down with no problems at all. Good Gun. Good choice. IMO. :)
 
"It's interesting how hunting deer with a rifle in 45LC is marginal (powerwise), but a great choice with a handgun."

I never said the 45 Colt pistol was good for deer. I think it is not. I said the 45 Colt from a rifle is marginal.
 
I never said the 45 Colt pistol was good for deer. I think it is not. I said the 45 Colt from a rifle is marginal.
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Well, I've killed em with 12 gauge slugs, .30-06, and a.357 Magnum (handgun), and nothing outside of a 12 gauge slug put them down so completely as a 265gr LSWCHP out of my S&W 25-5 last year. Empirical data trumps theoretical data every time.;)

Don
 
I have a Rossi 92 in 357 magnum and I love it. It feeds ANYTHING and has never given me any problems.
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Mine has problems feeding .38 Spl wadcutters. No problems feeding conventional roundnose lead, jacketed softpoint, jacketed hollowpoint. But I did not buy it to shoot wadcutter ammo, come to think of it.
 
Great Little Gun

I've shot the Rossi 92 in .45 Colt in CAS for 5 or 6 years now... The speed shooters don't really care for it... But I doubt there is a stronger or more trouble free rifle in this class.

The feeding problems are more prevalent in the .38/.357 rifles and it is caused by case OAL. The rifle is designed to handle .357 length cartridges. If you reload .38spl, you can "long load" the .38spl cases and avoid problems as well.

I've never had a problem with mine in .45 or my wife's in .38/.357. The 92 Rossi is more accurate and faster than I am, so I've never seen a reason to change/upgrade.

I have not hunted with it, but I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Shot placement and discipline on distance would be key. The .45 spits out a good sized chunk of lead at a midrange speed. Terminal ballistics are one thing, the rainbow trajectory is another. Personally, I wouldn't push beyond 50-75 yards...

Tarheel59
 
I have one and am also a .45 fan. The great thing about it is I can hunt with it with LeverEvolution Ammo, buy cheap practice ammo to practice. Take my lee hand loader and the spent brass and, if ammo gets too scarce, I reload with BP or Pyrodex. It makes a great backwoods gun for truck, atv or horse.
 
There's one about the African elephant dropped with one shot from a 22. Empirical proof that the 22 is an elephant gun? IMO at very close range a good 45 Colt load CAN be used for deer. But is it the best choice?
 
I own and shoot a Rossi 92 24" 45 Colt, mine was "usable" out of the box, added Steve'sgunz kit, and it slicked up real nice.

You may want to replace the sights, they are a weak copy of what Rossi thinks lever gun sights should be.

Fit and finish is very good as in poor, fair, good, very good, excellent, function as in reliability excellent, you need to keep the cartridge OAL in spec, some semi wad cutter mould designs can get too long and cause problems.

One word of caution, mine has the feed ramp extended into the bottom of the chamber ahead of the cartridge rim, and bulges the brass from not being supported, I have shot some hotter Ruger only loads with no problems,but the brass takes a beating and won't last long .
 
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SaxonPig said:
There's one about the African elephant dropped with one shot from a 22. Empirical proof that the 22 is an elephant gun? IMO at very close range a good 45 Colt load CAN be used for deer. But is it the best choice?
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The primary purpose of this gun is not to hunt with. I want this gun to be one that could be used for hunting if need be, but this is more of an all purpose gun. If I wanted strictly a deer gun I would look elsewhere. As stated I have family guns to hunt with.

Thanks for all the info guys. As far as the 24" vs the 20", I assumed the 24" would give me better accuracy and a little longer effective range. If it is just a marginal difference I might go with the 20". What is everyone's opinion on the accuracy and reach difference?
 
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I would recommend the 20" over both the 16" and 24".... At 20", you've got a very compact and carry friendly rifle, the magazine will hold 10 rounds, and although I've not chronographed it, I would bet that with most if not all powders - you're getting all available power out of the 45colt. I wouldn't consider the 16" at all and to me the 24" just doesn't balance as well.

BTW, the heavy octagon barrels look nice and swing smooth, but there is a lot of difference in weight and feel. Personally I have a strong preference for the handling characteristics of the round over octagon barrels as well.

Tarheel59
 
It's mostly a matter of preference. Raw accuracy is not affected but you may shoot it a little more accurately a little more easily because of the added weight and sight radius. Even with the hottest loads, the .45Colt will reach maximum velocity in 18-20". I used to believe all the hype about short, light rifles but since spending the last several years hunting with 10lb rifles, I kinda prefer the longer guns. So the 24" octagon appeals to me most. Although I do admit that probably the 20" carbine would be your best compromise.
 
Great gun, the little Rossi model 92 in .45 Colt. I've used one in Cowboy Action Shooting since about 1994. I still use it, now with a 1873 Winchester replica as my main rifle....
I gave one to my grandson in .45 Colt for him to use in Cowboy Shooting, he is 12 years old now. An 1873 Rifle was to long for him to handle at the time.....and the little Rossi never failed me and so far his has worked perfect.
wileyjackhammer
 
Prefer the 20" myself, mine being in .357 magnum.
Should I break down and get a AR or AK? I know both of those would have higher capacity and longer ranges.
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About the crappiest handling rifles in the field, certainly no match for a good lever gun. Just wrap your hand around the balance point of the gun when walking, or cradle it with no magazines poking you. Thumb the hammer back to shoot, completely ambidextrous...important to a lefty like me. Mine doesn't have the hammer safety all of 'em have, now, and I'd take that off the gun if I had one.

Consider getting the .454 Casull. I kinda want one, not for the .454 Cartridge, I'd probably just shoot .45 Colt in it, but it has a screw in magazine tube follower. One gets home, just takes out the magazine spring/follower and dumps the rounds out of the magazine, then jack the one out of the chamber. The one thing that irritates me about my Rossi, all lever guns, is unloading after the hunt....or walk about or whatever. I'd carry the gun more as a walk about gun, but for the pain of unloading when I get back to the truck. I usually wait to get home so I don't lose rounds in the dirt. And, I usually onlly load 5 so I won't have that many to jack out of it when I get back. THIS, though, also allows me to put several .38s in it and jack up the sight if I see or hear squirrel and want to go after it, so loading the magazine short has a couple of advantages for me.
 
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