Rossi M92 questions.

[Guns&Religion]

I'm in the market for a new rifle. I was looking at a Rossi M92, stainless with a 16" barrel in 44 Magnum. I like the look and feel of it, and the price, but I've heard some disappointing range reports from some shooters on some forums regarding accuracy.

There are some reports that a rifle like this one is not very accurate beyond fifty yards (with the stock sights). Is there any truth to this?

I realize that this rifle is not exactly for winning matches with, but I was hoping I could make shots with it out to 100 yards if possible. I've been able to do that with my .22 Magnum Single Six. (I hit the target about half the time on a good day with the right ammo, from a bench rest anyway).

 

[brainwake]

I will let others weigh in that have more XP. But I would think that is well in range

 

[MCgunner]

Mine is a .357 magnum. I've had it for about 25 years. I did not keep the rear sight which was a might cheesy. I prefer the ghost ring aperture I put on it off an old .22, click adjustable for elevation and quite repeatable. I've not hunted with it a whole lot, but did take a doe at 80 yards with it once. It shoots a 165 cast/gas checked SWC over 16.8 grains Lil Gun into 4" at 100 yards from the bench. With a sight elevation change, the gun will put a 105 cast SWC over 2.3 grains Bullseye into 1.5" at 50 yards, good imitation of a .22 plinker...and reloadable.

I do like the gun, but don't hunt much with it. My eyes are getting to the point that I kinda do better with optics, now days, too.

 

[Jeff H]

With a lead bullet and a moderate charge of 2400 by 357 '92 will hold 3" at 100 yards any day of the week. It would probably do better if my eyes were better.

Note if you shoot lead. The magnums can strip out the rifling when shot through a rifle with high charges. Accuracy sucks then. Just slow them down a little and they are great. Either that or shoot jacketed bullets.

 

[Jackal]

44 mag from a rifle is good out to about 150 yards. I have a 20" rossi 44 and my accuracy is about the same as any other semi buckhorn equipped rifle.

 

[MCgunner]

If shooting lead, stay with gas checked bullets. This will keep the bore clean to the limit of the velocity you can push with a .44 magnum. I've shot some jacketed stuff in my .357, but prefer my own cast, gas checked bullets cast of wheel weight, usually.

 

[Guns&Religion]

Thanks for the input everybody, Here's a related question. Do any of you have a recommendation for factory ammo? for shot's out to a 100 yards and beyond? for this type of rifle?

also, I would love to hear input on putting a tang sight on the stock of a Rossi 92. Here's one I've been looking at

http://www.bing.com/shopping/tang-sights-rossi-65-1892/p/3846AFB8B5A6CAF75003?q=tang+sights+rossi+65+1892

It would look really cool, but I was also hoping it would be functional as well.

 

[brainwake]

Here is another site to look at

http://store.stevesgunz.com/index.ph...&products_id=5

 

[brainwake]

here is also another thread I started a few weeks ago...has some good info

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=719135

 

[brainwake]

I also like this guys sites too
http://www.skinnersights.com/3.html

 

[PRM]

I bought my Rossi 92 (.357) in 1987 and have never been disappointed in any way. I was a Sheriff's Deputy at the time on a rural department. We had to furnish all of our firearms and equipment back then. My side arm was a Model 10 S&W in .38 Special and the the .357 was a good fit for my needs.

Over the years I have used it as a patrol carbine, hunted with it, and shot a lot of targets. Rossi makes great guns for the price.

 

[BCRider]

A lot of folks that post stuff like that don't have the rifle and seem to feel that they can spout off misinformation anyway.

My own Rossi in .357 when shooting honest to gosh actual .357Mag loads manages to hit the 200 yard gong at my club's rifle range 2 out of 3 tries. And it's a 12 inch diameter slug of steel. The only reason it can't do better is the rather poor eyesight of the owner. I could see the big tractor tire used as a surround for the slug but not the actual slug. So I was aiming at the middle of the tire... well sort of because I was also using "Kentucky elevation" instead of adjusting the sights on my cowboy action rifle. So much of the blame for the missed shots stems from not being willing to mess with the sights.

But put a Lyman or Marbles target style peep sight on the tang and a globe front sight and I'm pretty sure this thing would be Hell on Wheels out to 200 yards and even farther. Basically it's not the barrel, which is fine, it's related to the use of handgun bullets which have abysmal aerodynamics compared to "proper" rifle bullets. But the gun itself is pretty darn good for accuracy. It obviously won't win any F class matches but it'll get the job done for most folks' needs for plinking or hunting suitable game out to 100 to 150 yards.

 

[Guns&Religion]

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm also strongly looking at the stainless .357 16 inch barrel instead of the .44. The ammo cost would be cheaper, plus it would be good for introducing my kids to the sport when they get big enough.

 

[George Dickel]

I have a Rossi 92 with the 24" barrel in 357. I haven't shot it much so my experience is a bit limited. It likes 158 gr rounds and doesn't seem to like 110 gr loads. After I installed a Marbles tang sight I sighted it in at 50 yards and shot a 3 shot group at just a bit over 3/4" with 158 gr ammo. A friend who was with me and a better marksman shot a 3 shot group in less than 3/4". I didn't try for a group at 100 as I was running out of time. Just last Saturday I took the rifle out again to sight it in because I had installed a Lyman globe front sight. I was out of 158 gr ammo and had to use some 110 gr I had on hand. The rifle didn't like it at all, was getting 2-3" groups at 50 yards and 4-5" groups at 100 yards. I'm going to get some more of the 158 gr ammo I had and see if I can get the 3/4" groups again. I really like the Marbles tang sight over the factory sights. So far I'm very satisfied with my Rossi considering what it cost vs the more well known brands.

 

[muggia59]

I have a rossi 92 16" 357. I really do enjoy it. Accurate, and even with 357 mild on recoil. Hollow points don't load quite as smoothly, but Remington 125 gr. +p were extremely accurate. Easy to carry around. Rather inexpensive, and I'm sure you will enjoy it.

 

[Jackal]

Remember, the .44mag full power loads will recoil like a 12ga shotgun slug (steel buttplate is unkind), whereas the .357 will have very little felt recoil.

 

[rcmodel]

Remember, the .44mag full power loads will recoil like a 12ga shotgun slug (steel buttplate is unkind),

My 16" Marlin 1894P Guide Gun doesn't.

It is nowhere even close to the recoil of a 12 ga slug load with full power 240 or 300 grain loads.
Or any other 12 ga load.

If it was, I would sell it.

In fact, it is very pleasant compared to a 12 ga slug load in a heavier shotgun.

rc

 

[Jackal]

My 16" Marlin 1894P Guide Gun doesn't.

Thats because it has a recoil pad, like I said, the steel buttplate hurts. The marlin is also spec'd at about 6.5lbs, the Rossi weighs in at only 4.8lbs. Try a 16" Rossi .44mag with the steel buttplate, then offer your opinion.

 

[mike28w]

I seem to be in the minority.... I had a Rossi 92 in 357 ( 10 years ago). Accuracy was acceptable , but jeez it seemed like all of the internal parts were made of cheap, cast metal..... The action and trigger were rough. When parts broke, they looked like cast aluminum ! I never did get the action to operate smoothly.

I like lever actions alot and have ( or had ) a variety. I would love to have a quality '92...... Maybe they've gotten better..... I bought mine in the era before the 92 in 454 Casul...

I hope you have better luck ! mike

 

[rcmodel]

The marlin is also spec'd at about 6.5lbs,

A full size 1892 Marlin might be.

My 1892P Guide Gun probably weighed about 5 pounds before I put a XS Lever-Scout mount with a Leopold LER scope, and a sling on it.

Now it weighs exactly 6 1/2 pounds.

But it didn't kick like a 12 GA slug when it weighed 5 pounds bare.

But it does have a recoil pad on it.

rc

 

[BCRider]

Mike28w, I wasn't playing with guns back then but it sounds like they might have pulled up their socks. Or you got a really bad example.

Granted they are somewhat rough and gritty out of the box. Oh sure, they cycle and shoot. But there's lots of rough edges to hone away. The result in the two cases I've done turned out to be pretty darn silky. And I'm not just blowing my own horn either. I've had quite a few folks tell me I did just fine with the slicking up job on my own rifle.

 

[MCgunner]

I've had ONE problem with my 25 year old 92 Rossi, a broken ejector that a good gunsmith fixed. It's an all steel gun, what ain't wood.