Rossi Model 511

[Tallball]

Irony is a cruel mistress.

I have had an old Interarms era Rossi for 2-3 years now. It is a Model 720 in 44 special. My friends and I have been very impressed by its trigger, accuracy, and moderate recoil. It is one of my favorite revolvers out of many.

At some point earlier this year I realized that Rossi made basically the same revolver in 357 magnum in different barrel lengths. IIRC, it was made in the same years, the early 90's. So I eventually I started keeping my Gunbroker eye open for one. I think that the models are 711, 712, and 713. I already have a good 4" 357, so obviously I need a 2.5" and a 6", right?

At some point one or more of the board members pointed out to me that Rossi also made a very nice 22lr revolver in the Interarms days. Again, IIRC, it was during the same time period. This would be the model 511... and perhaps there was also a Model 512, please forgive my middle-aged memory. They are J-framed size 22's. The 511 has a 4" barrel and adjustable sights. Well, I don't happen to have a j-frame sized revolver with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights, so I OBVIOUSLY need one of those too, right? So I eventually I started keeping my Gunbroker eye open for one, too.

Well, months passed and neither one of them showed up. But I am a middle-aged guy who can spare two minutes a day for something like that, and a couple of weeks ago, both of them showed up for sale at the same time! Murphy's Law, right? The two auctions expired within hours of each other. I won the 4" 22lr for $270, which I thought was a pretty good price. I may have had a couple of beers to celebrate. Later that afternoon I surprised myself by overbidding and won the 6" 357 for a $370 bid. That was really too much to pay and I should have waited for the next one, but our lives are full of regrets...

Today I was just about to pull the '67 Mustang out of the garage to go do an errand, and my LGS sent me an email saying that, "My Rossi had arrived." That was convenient! After my other errand I stopped by the store. It turned out that the 22lr had arrived. My friend the owner complimented me on the revolver itself, its condition, and its price. He has a liking for certain obscure firearms, and some of the Interarms Rossis are on his list. Luckily I had already planned to go to the shooting range tomorrow morning with my FiL to shoot his new 1911 (along with other handguns), so I will very soon get to find out how well it shoots. So far I like the trigger and sights. I am including a poor-quality cell phone picture of it. I expect to get the 357 before the week is out.

Ironically, after I bought the 22 and the 357, but before either one of them arrived, I was at the shooting range with a friend and the firing pin (hammer nose) broke on the Model 720. I certainly hope that it is not a bad omen for the other two!

 

[bannockburn]

Tallbald

Many years ago I had an Interarms Rossi Model 88. It was essentially their version of a S&W J frame .38 Special only this was something that S&W didn't offer at the time. It was stainless steel, had a 3" barrel, and a somewhat adjustable rear sight. I thought of it as being the perfect upscale Kit Gun, at least in terms of it's caliber. I added a Tyler T-Grip adapter to it as the factory grips were a little bit on the skimpy side. I called carried it often on many a backwoods hike as it was relatively lightweight but still packed a decent punch.

 

[Brett Byers AKA Slow]

I have the same 22LR, replaced springs with Wollfe J frame spring kit and it slicked up nicely. One of the cylinders is a little tight and would benefit from a reaming but it's a great shooter. You have IMO a solid kit gun at a good price . Enjoy

 

[mnrivrat]

I have a great respect for at least some of the Interarms Rossi guns.

I have two M720's and a Model 731 comp.

I bought the M731 with a broken firing pin. I bought a new one from M&M Gunsmithing . Mike is at 571-276-7676 and was good to deal with.

Note: When I installed the new FP I noticed its movement was restricked. I had to remove a little metal from the hammer channel the FP sits in to get full movement. I suspect that the restriced FP movement was the cause of the firing pin breakage. Just FYI

 

[aarondhgraham]

Rossi 511 compared to a S&W 63,,,

The Rossi isn't an exact clone of the S&W 63,,,


But it's dang close.

The other Rossi .22 you are thinking of is the model 518,,,
I really don't know what the difference is between the two guns.

There was one at a local pawn shop a few weeks ago,,,
I was tempted at the $275.00 price tag though.

Then my better sense took hold of me and said,,,
"You don't need another .22 revolver."

Mine doesn't have quite as nice a trigger as my model 63,,,
But then again, what other pistol does.

You'll like shooting it though,,,
Mine is as accurate in my hands as any of my rimfire revolvers.

Aarond

.

 

[Tallball]

Well, I got to shoot it this morning. It was humid as could be, and my FiL was ecstatic to shoot his new 1911. He was just KILLING the targets with it. And he also had a very good day with his newish CZ75. All of that was nice, but we stayed until noon and my asthma was really bothering me after a while. My hands were kind of shaky as a result.

I think one cylinder might be just a little bit tight. But I didn't keep track of that, and I was getting rid of some problem ammo. If I find that, indeed, one cylinder needs a little bit of work, I will gently open it up just the tiniest amount.

The sights are nice and large, but as far as I could tell I wasn't able to adjust them properly. I will look it over carefully tomorrow, and if that is the case I will repair or replace them.

The trigger is very, very good. It is clearly superior to the triggers of my other two 22lr DA revolvers. The only malfunction I had was one round which wouldn't fire in two attempts, and it was poor-quality ammo, so I do not blame the revolver. (And no, I was not going to abuse my Buck Mark with it.)

I got decent groups out of it. We were shooting at 15 yards distance and my hands were shaky, but I was able to put 75 rounds or so into a paper sized group without trying very hard. I didn't do any better with my two favorite 1911's, so that is actually pretty good for that distance.

The only handgun I shot well today was my 7.5" Blackhawk. Everything else was kind of meh.

Overall I am pleased. It isn't really a 15 yard handgun, and if the groups were about the same size as my favorite 1911's, its accuracy is good. Doubtless I can repair or replace the adjustable sights if I need to. My daughter will be very pleased to FINALLY have a DA 22lr revolver with a nice trigger, so that problem is finally solved. She really likes shooting my Buck Mark and my Single Six and Grandpa's Ruger mkII target model. If the 511 can work itself into that rotation (which I suspect it will), then it was an excellent purchase.

 

[shootniron]

Nice looking gun.

I like some of the Rossi's...especially the 720...but, as you have learned...they are prone to hammer nose failure.