Rossi 972 .357

[floydster]

Anyone have input on the Rossi model no. 972 in .357 mag with 6" barrel?
All comments are welcome, however I don't have the money to buy a S&W or Ruger.
Buds has this gun listed for $345 in stainless.
Thanks, Floyd

 

[weregunner]

I don't own a Rossi 972 or 971, but come from where others do. I do own a Rossi 6 shot 462, in .357 magnum, snub revolver.

Here's what I found for the 971 and 972.
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/rossi-revolvers/49261-rossi-971-4-durability.html

http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/rossi-revolvers/48884-holster-r97104.html
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/rossi-revolvers/21639-rossi-vs-taurus.html

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=513802
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=468476
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=306226

That's all I could find, but there are link within the links about the 971/972 series.

 

[floydster]

weregunner, thanks for the links, much appreciated!!

 

[pazz]

I had the 461 and shot many full house magnum loads through it.

 

[Hondo 60]

Being a disabled vet I can certainly understand not being able to afford "..."
put in what ever item you want.

I also know that you can't afford to make a mistake.
If someone with some coin in their pocket buys the wrong gun, so what.
They can afford to do it over & buy a better one.

If I were you, I'd save up a bit more & get a Ruger Sp101 or GP100.
They're not that expensive (as compared to S&W or Colt) and the quality is very good.
They're built like tanks, so that one of your great grandchildren will think you made a smart decision.

Have you tried gunbroker.com?
I've purchased several used guns off that site & so far (knock on wood) I've been very pleased.

 

[shiftyer1]

Floyd,

Is it going to be a fun gun or do you need to depend on it? If the cash is an issue I KNOW you can find a ruger security or service six for 350-400. Maybe less! I've not owned a taurus revolver but wouldn't mind trying them. I can however vouch for rugers.

 

[weregunner]

Floydster, you're welcome. If you need anything else let me know.

 

[weregunner]

Oh,yes. I also own 18 Taurus revolver in various calibers.

I also own Ruger products,too. GP-100 and a SP-101 in .327 Federal magnum

There are plenty of satisfied Rossi and Taurus owners out there for good reason.

I also own SIG, Beretta, Springfield, and Glock products.

The Rossi will serve you well.

If you get one,fine. If not that's fine as well.

People should celebrate someone else's picks!

 

[Triggernosis]

I've had a Rossi 972 with a 2.5" barrel since 1991 and it's been an outstanding gun. No problems at all.

 

[19-3Ben]

Buds has this gun listed for $345 in stainless.

however I don't have the money to buy a S&W or Ruger.

Correction. You don't have the money for a NEW S&W or Ruger. But with a budget of $345, you could easily buy a Ruger Security Six, maybe a GP100, and possibly even a few S&W's.

The only tricky part would be if you are really stuck on a 6"bbl. If you can be flexible and take a 4" then it'll be easy to get a Ruger within your budget.

Look around though and you might be surprised at what you can afford with a budget in that price range.

 

[BCCL]

I had a 4" 971 about 11 years ago, was just fine, no trouble at all.

Only reason I don't still have it, is that a friend borrowed it, when he had someone stalking his family and making threats, and after he shot it awhile, he liked it so much I sold it to him.

 

[skidder]

I owned a 971 about 10 years ago and it was nice revolver (pre-Taurus model). I would steer clear of anything affiliated with Taurus (I learned the hard way).

I recently found a Security Six for $290 and it has been a great gun. For a low priced new gun I would choose Charter Arms over Taurus any day.

 

[O C]

I got a 971 lately that had the rear sight blade broken off on one side. Interarms, the importer, is out of business, and a replacement sight is not to be found. However a rear sight assembly for a S&W "K" frame will screw right on. It's a little shorter, but works (sight blade is metal, not plastic). I was amazed at the butter smooth action and great trigger on the Rossi. For an "economical" 357 I'm more than satisfied.

 

[floydster]

I have been looking for a long time for a Ruger and not been able to find a revolver in this price range---looked at a Ruger Speed Six at Scheels all sports, 4" barrel, $ 475, i mean, come on now, another $100 i can buy a new GP 100 in .357---so it would still be be $600 with the FFL. Thanks all for the feed back
Can't do it!!!

 

[Jim NE]

Floydster. I DON'T dislike inexpensive or less expensive guns as a matter of principle, I dislike malfunctioning guns as a matter of principle. I have an old Rossi 88 chambered in .38 that's a fine gun.

That being said, you're probably aware that Bud's Gun Shop has it's own comment section for each gun they sell, and they don't edit out negative reviews. Most of the reviews on the 971 and 972 models are good, but there are three reviews (between the two guns) that rate the guns low out of about a dozen reviews or so total. They all seem to deal with generally the same issue - problems with the cylinder. This is a pretty small sample, and you can't characterize all Rossi's from this, but three low ratings out of a dozen would be enough to make me wary, at least when they deal with such a specific problem area.

I saw a new Rossi .38 come back to the local gun store with problems, too. But the other reviews at Buds are good, so chances are you'll get a good one and be happy, it's just that your chances of getting a bad one might be greater than with higher grade makes. Thing is, I had a brand new Smith auto fail on me recently so nothing's ever for sure, but when it comes to revolvers, even the beat up, scratched up, dirty old Smiths seem to work darn well. Good luck.

 

[floydster]

Jim NE, thanks for the interest, still deciding what to do, the used guns in the stores around here are ridiculous in pricing, I guess I'll just have to keep hunting for a reasonable deal.
I hate to buy a cheaper gun and get burned

 

[Triggernosis]

I had a $650 S&W revolver that I had 3 separate issues with...brand new...none of which were ever resolved - sold it at a loss. So, you may get a bad one from ANY mfr.. Myself, I've had excellent results with Rossi.

 

[ArtU]

I just picked up the Rossi 972 6 shot 6" SS at Gander Mountain today. As I walked in they had it on sale as a last minute Christmas special for only $325 while supplies lasted. It was my birthday today, so I said, "let me look at one."

It handled like my S&W 60 which is a 5 shot 3" barrel. I had been looking for a longer barrel model, while the 60 is ok to carry, I wanted a long barrel for point of aim at 25 yards at vermin, Rattin' cans, Wild Pigs, and what ever.

I had just looked at the new Ruger 4" 357 SP100 the weekend before. It was a 5 shot also and felt too much like the S&W 60 I already had, and was $569. It was a very fine gun, but I already had a S&W carry, and 4" was not long enough.

I checked out the action, and stuff and bought the gun. I took it and my Raging Bull 454 Casull to the plunking range about 3 hours ago. I setup three 12 packs in the box to shoot at. I had emptied and reloaded the six pack cartons.

First the 454 Casull to test my point of aim with 300 grain Hordany XTP I plan to use for boar in February. It kicks a little, but that huge gun makes the recoil feel better; at least for the first three rounds

Then I put in 45LC FTX Hordany and it shot to POA at the cardboard Pig Boar. Both the 454 & 45LC to minute of beer can or so. The sights had held since 14 months ago when I last tested.

OK, that was the purposed reason to be at the range and that worked out, so on to my new Rossi 972 for fun.

I loaded up 38sp Wad cutters and they hit POA minute of beer can, right out of the box, no adjustments needed. Wow I said. OK, next the 158 RN 38sp, hitting beer cans and half rounds of clay targets at 25 yards POA.

Ok, then the next test. 357 158 Lead-Semi Jacketed HP. BANG. OK it felt just a tad more recoil then the 454 Casull. Ok, again BANG. It seemed about 2-3" higher POA then the 38special.

OK, that works for me, I had intended to shoot mostly 158 LSW cutters I reload myself with this. This will be a fun gun, and it fit a holster I had for a 38special 6" Single Action Army cowboy gun.

It cleaned up fine, handles fine, the sights worked well with my older eyes.

Art

 

[floydster]

Hey Art and all, I am saving up for a Ruger GP 100 SS, .357 mag I most certainly would not buy a S&W with all problems they are having.
Thanks for everyone's input.
Floyd

 

[ArtU]

Hi Floyd, that GP 100 SS is a fine gun, you should not go wrong there.

Art

 

[broken]

i have a friend with a 6"barrell .357 rossi in stainless,wife bought it for a christmas present 4/5 years ago,only ful blown .357 shot out of it,whole family shoots it,and it never misses a beat,he says i aint shooten no piddly .38"s outa .357.the rossi and a old winchester 30/30 are right by his side and on hip in deer woods every thanksgiving/christmas.its still a tight gun.and hes a ruger revolver man.didnt know his wife bought it.id be a happy camper..

 

[MCgunner]

I had a 4" 971 stainless that I really liked for carry when I was hunting (extra in addition to my rifle) and for hiking. I shot a lot of full power and light .38 in that gun. I took a lot of camp meat with it using wadcutters and shot a Javelina with it once. I really liked its light weight for the purpose. It was a good 6 ounces lighter than my 4" Taurus 66, though the Taurus is more accurate, amazingly accurate.

I had one problem with the 971, busted a firing pin. This has been a recurring Rossi problem. I sent the gun back to Interarms and got it back in a month, the new firing pin broke on the second round. :banghead: Well, I took the gun to a good gunsmith and for not a lot of money, he fitted a Smith and Wesson K frame firing pin to the gun and I never had another problem with it.

The guns since Taurus bought 'em out are much better fitted and finished. That old Interarms gun was finished pretty rough with tooling marks here and there. The underside of the hammer was just sorta rough cut. I polished that out, bugged the heck out of me.

Anyway, the good and the bad of mine. It was 20 years ago and an Interarms gun, and the Taurus buy out has changed the fit and finish problems, I know. I ended up trading that Rossi off on a 4 5/8" Ruger stainless Blackhawk in .45 Colt that I really wanted. Sorta miss the old gal, but not that much. I do have the Taurus and a 3" barreled brother to it that both are fantastic shooters. Ruger just came out with a SP101, 4" adjustable which I think would make a FANTASTIC trail gun. I'm kinda thinkin' about that one. It's a bit lighter than even the Rossi was and built REAL stout. The 2.3" SP101 I had was very accurate, too. But, other than being a little heavier, there's nothing wrong with my two Taurus 66s. I carry the 3" on occasion IWB and OWB in a belt slide and just got a fanny pack holster for it.