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

[MCgunner]

Oh, BTW, I prefer the .38/.357 version of the gun to the .45. More versatility. I load a 165 grain keith style SWC over 16.8 grains of Li'l Gun and get nearly 1900 fps. That's light .30-30 territory. The .357 is another beast out of a 20" barrel and I've taken deer at 80 yards quite dead with it. It'll take deer/hog to 100 yards easily and has the accuracy, too. It's making almost 700 ft lbs at 100 yards, so it's like putting the muzzle of my Blackhawk to the hog/deer cause the Blackhawk only makes about 780 ft lbs at the muzzle and I've taken a hog at 60 with that.

Okay, so deer/hog are covered with the .357, I load a 105 grain cast SWC in .38 brass over 2.3 grains of B'eye. It clocks 900 fps and is 1.5" at 50 yards accurate, great squirrel gitter and mimics a .22, little less velocity with more bullet. It also conserves lead and powder when plinking.

The .45 is a might much for squirrel or small game even loaded light. I load .357 and .45 Colt, so that's not an influence, though I load .357 on a progressive and don't have the set up for .45 Colt on a progressive, yet, but I shoot a lot more .38 than anything else.

 

[MCgunner]

double tap

 

[mavracer]

If you handload the '92 action is plenty strong enough to make a 45 Colt enough for any large game out to 75 yards and medium game out to 150 yards easily.
One thing I'll mention is the carbine butt plate on my 16" 44 mag is more comfortable with heavy loads than the cresent rifle butt plate on my 24" 45 Colt..

 

[mgkdrgn]

For your stated purposes you could do a LOT worse, and not a hell of a lot better. Add to that the fact you already reload 45 Colt ...

 

[d2wing]

In my state .357 or .44 mag are the minimums for legal deer hunting if that matters

 

[Walkalong]

Some posts went away.

Please leave the personal stuff out of it and just post your opinions for all to judge for themselves.

No more disparaging remarks aimed at others. Thanks.

 

[cpt-t]

Rossi 92 in 45 lc

TennJed: I have SS ROSSI in 45 LC with a 20 inch barrel. I have been shooting this little rifle for about 10 years now. Bought it to Cowboy Action with to match my pistols. I reload for the 45 LC and it is one of my favorites. I reload 250 to 255 gr RNFP`s, my rifle feeds them better than SWC`s. I have hunted with this little gun quite a bit and have taken 2 small deer, and several pigs, again nothing above 200 lbs. And all of them under 100 yds. My rifle holds 10 rounds of 45 LC`s & a 20 inch barrel I might have bought a 24 inch barrel but the 20 inch was all they had at the time. I have had no problems whats so ever with my Rossi, and would buy another one. My Son shoots a 24 inch barrel 45 LC in a Marlin lever gun Might check both of them out. Both of these rifles carry and handel like a dream, very fast to shoot with, So I would think they would both make a great self defence gun.
ken

 

[CraigC]

Some posts went away.

A lot of good, relevant, technical information went away too.

 

[warnerwh]

I'm also a handgun person but recently purchased a Rossi .357 16" and just traded for a .44 20" barrel. I don't know about you but I like nice light and crisp triggers and with these guns it's fairly easy to do if you are mechanically inclined. A spring kit and a little stoning will make these slick with an excellent trigger pull.

I've not had a chance to check the .44 but with the .357 I am getting 1.25" groups at 50 yards using the stock sights. I was shocked but not because the rifle was accurate but because these days my eyes don't work so well and did not expect much better than 2-3".

I was wary about the Rossi brand but am not anymore. A 92 in .45 colt will do what you want and they are fun guns to use too. Btw the .44 feeds SWC's fine or at least I put in 10 and they fed perfectly. The .357 will only feed SWC's with a bit of stumbling here and there.

I'd get the 20" because you're going to like the handiness of the rifle. Also you won't gain anything ballistically with a 24" barrel.

 

[BSA1]

My question is what type of 45 Colt handguns does the O.P. own?

As pointed out the 92 is a very strong action. Many users of the 45 Colt know it's biggest limitation is the type of guns it is used in, not the strength of brass. With this grand old cartridge over a 125 years old there are lot of firearms designed for different pressure levels with the Colt SAA the weakest and Freedom Arms the strongest. Accidently using high pressure hunting loads in a weaker design such as the SAA could lead to problems.

 

[HoosierQ]

Other than the fact that none of them were chambered for that specific cartridge, pretty much the entire post Civil War western USA was "won" with just such a rifle...I mean that's "the gun that won the west", what we now call a pistol caliber lever action rifle/carbine. I think since you reload that cartridge I'd say you are in an even better position. If you have a lot of brass on hand you're golden.

Knowing what little I do about you, I'd say the answer to your question is "yes" that platform would be perfect for what you want it for. What I cannot do is speak to the pros and cons of the Rossi itself...compare it to Marlin or Henry or any of the other .45 lever guns.

The platform seems perfect.

I want same in .357.

 

[BCRider]

The '92 is certainly strong enough. That fact is abley shown by Rossi offering a '92 chambered in .454Casull as well as .44Mag. So your .45Colt loads even up to "Ruger Only" levels would be fine.

They are also cheap enough that you can invest a few dollars in having a local smith do a one through and slick the action up to something approaching cowboy action smoothness for only a little money if you should so desire. Or if you're reasonably handy there are spring kits and some great information online that you can use as a guide to doing this same work yourself. Most of the work involves lightly stoning off corner burrs and lightly surfaceing the roughness from the machine marks. This general LIGHT smoothening along with replacing the rather strong ejector spring is up around 90% of what is needed to make these rifles as smooth as silk.

The one big issue is the top eject which really makes it hard to install a scope if that is your desire. On the other hand if you fit the rifle with a Skinner rear bolt mount peep/ghost ring and match it to the front sight you can have a fast to use and very light and compact sight setup. This assumes that you don't happen to like the normal iron sights. If you do then great.

I've shot my own Rossi in .357 using both .38Spl and light to strong .357Mag enough to know that it's more than accurate enough for any sort of free style or lightly braced shooting. No lever gun will match a proper bench rest gun but they can get close enough that they are good at the sort of options you mentioned.

Marlins are another good option if you want to mount a small scope. But search for info about the dreaded Marlin Lockup and realize that NO mechanical object is without some risk of mechanical failure or other issues. So while a Marlin could be the better gun for you it won't be due to any weakness with the Rossi that I can see. Instead it'll be a case of options that suit you better.

And finally if you are going to carry it around a lot I'd echo what was said above about going with the 20 inch round barrel over the heavier 24inch octagonal.

 

[TennJed]

Thanks for everything. One more thing. I actually reload for 357, 38sp, & 45 colt. I originally thought I would go for the 45 colt because I thought it would be a little more powerful and maybe have a slightly better effective range. If I did want to try a 50-75 yard deer hunt would the 45 be a better option. I am now considering the 357 because it is cheaper to reload. What kind if power difference am I really looking at.

Thanks again, this thread has been really helpful.

 

[RPRNY]

240 gr Hornady SST, 0.7 grs under max of H110 (Hodgdon Data), Starline Brass, WLP primer, 20" barrel, 1486 fps at 5 yards from the muzzle (in H&R Classic Carbine) COAL 1.787". Perfectly serviceable to 100 yards.

 

[USSR]

TennJed,

I have killed deer with both the .357 Magnum and the .45 Colt. There is simply no comparison between the 2. The .357 Magnum will work, but the .45 Colt puts them down with authority.

Don

 

[Hunter125]

But is it the best choice?

I think the only two questions that you need to ask about a hunting gun is:
1) What is your preference?
2) Is your preference ethical for your chosen game?

If the answer to #2 is yes, there's no reason to criticize someone's choice.

 

[MCgunner]

Thanks for everything. One more thing. I actually reload for 357, 38sp, & 45 colt. I originally thought I would go for the 45 colt because I thought it would be a little more powerful and maybe have a slightly better effective range. If I did want to try a 50-75 yard deer hunt would the 45 be a better option. I am now considering the 357 because it is cheaper to reload. What kind if power difference am I really looking at.

Either will kill deer to 100 yards. I've chronographed a 300 grain XTP over 20 grains 2400 in my SIL's .45 20" Rossi. IIRC, it clocked something under 1600 fps. Quick calculation about 1700 ft lbs. My 165 grain .357/16.8 grains L'il Gun gives me just under 1900 fps. That's around 1300 ft lbs. I didn't run the numbers on the exterior ballistics program for the .45, but did for the .357 (estimated BC) and got 700 ft lbs at 100 yards. I've taken deer at 80 with it quite dead, smallish doe. The .45 has a little more heat to work with, so it should give a little more latitude at extended ranges, but the .357 has enough. I would stretch neither past 100 yards.

What I like about the .357 is the economy and the versatility as I said earlier. A 105 grain SWC (Lee mold) at 900 fps using 2.3 grains B'eye shoots 1.5" at 50 yards with a little more pop than a .22 due to the weight of the bullet. It's around 200 ft lbs. It makes for a great small game and plinking load.

I do have more serious rifles for deer and hog, but I don't really need more power. What I do like is a scope and the Rossi lacks that ability. The Marlin has that, but I sure like the looks of the 92, beautiful lines, beautiful fit, beautiful wood, deep bluing even after 25 years she's a real looker. Lever guns ain't supposed to have scopes on 'em. That's why I own bolt guns and a CVA Wolf. JMHO, though. My eyes ain't gettin' any better and I sure appreciate glass.

 

[BCRider]

That light 105 popgun loading sounds like fun. I might have to try some of those. Thanks McGunner.

For a .357Mag option there are also a number of 180 grain bullets which should carry more energy out farther or ensure a solid strike at the "usual" sort of distances that one would use for 158gn rounds. So there ARE options.

I can't comment on the energy but I know from shooting at one of the local ranges where there's a 200 yard gong that I didn't need to aim much over the top to get a pretty consistent success at hitting it with my Rossi and some .357Mag rounds. So longer distance target shooting is certainly a viable option.

 

[USSR]

When you're talking about hunting with handgun rounds (whether in a handgun or rifle), forget about energy tables. It's all about bullet caliber, weight and construction, and the ability to completely penetrate the game animal. Game animals don't read energy charts and they only respond to either shutting down the CNS or loss of blood pressure.

Don

 

[meef]

What I do like is a scope and the Rossi lacks that ability.

Huh-uh. Nope. Don't neither.

Check out:

http://store.stevesgunz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=76http://store.stevesgunz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=76

 

[Bill_Rights]

meef,

Used be that Rossi shipped the .454 Casull version with a loose scope rail exactly as offerred by Steve's Gunz. Covers the rear sight dovetail slot. Maybe they still do ship with these. I don't know. Apparently the newer .45 LC Rossis do not ship with scope rail.

That said, I agree with MCGunner:

Lever guns ain't supposed to have scopes on 'em.

 

[meef]

It's true, the current 45LC Rossi 92s do not ship with a scope rail - that's how/why I found Steve's Gunz, to correct that situation.

Never was a fan of scopes myself a hundred or so years ago. Now I find I like them more and more.

Eventually I'm going to have to install radar-locking capability on my guns, I suppose.

 

[MCgunner]

For a .357Mag option there are also a number of 180 grain bullets which should carry more energy out farther or ensure a solid strike at the "usual" sort of distances that one would use for 158gn rounds. So there ARE options.

WEEEEELL, the 180s do carry more momentum, but that's all. If you like heavies, they'll work for ya. The XTP is an accurate bullet and good penetrator. I just kinda prefer my cast, gas checked bullet and it ain't broke, works well. Buffalo Bore sells a 158 jacketed bullet that they claim something like 2200 fps out of a rifle. THAT is cookin'! The slightly lighter bullets seem to perform pretty well. There's a guy that posts occasionally here, "goosegestapo" that turned me on to Li'l Gun. He says he gets that sort of velocity out of a 158 and loves it for deer or hog hunting with a .357 rifle.

Previous to Li'l Gun, I'd been using the ol' standby, 2400, and it works okay, but I get a bit more with probably less pressure (I'm below book max) with the Li'l Gun, though. I really like it for the rifle, but it has a rep for eroding forcing cones in revolvers, probably a little too slow for revolvers. I've got one box of it loaded up for the Rossi for use as hunting ammo.

As for scopes, my old eyes never were that good. I turned 60 this year and they're not that great now. But, I did shoot a nice 9 point yesterday with irons and my SKS. I prefer the sights, ghost ring aperture, I have set up on the Rossi. Hey, I still got it, you can ask my wife! Kinda reminds me of John Wayne, think it was "Big Jake", a line about using his Greener (shotgun) as his eyes ain't what they used to be.

 

[mavracer]

If you like heavies, they'll work for ya. The XTP is an accurate bullet and good penetrator. I just kinda prefer my cast, gas checked bullet and it ain't broke, works well.

Rossi's will work fine with cast bullets, but if he gets a Marlin with micro groove rifling they can be problematic with cast. Mine is ok at best with cast bullets although I haven't tried gas checks.
357 will work fine for deer although a 45 Colt loaded to "ruger only" will have a little mor margin for error.