Rossi R92 45 Colt Chambering Issue

[Barmcd]

I received the Rossi R92 yesterday afternoon. The gun looks great and Rossi has really stepped up their game in the cosmetics department. I ordered a spring kit, safety delete button, and a stainless steel magazine spring and follower to fix a few design issues with the gun.

While the gun's action is smooth, chambering a round takes some effort as the cartridge catches on the two notches at the bottom of the barrel. If I continue and chamber a round it puts parallel gouges on the bottom of the cartridge. If I stop and slightly relieve the pressure on the lever, then continue, it is easier, but it still scratches the brass.

Here's where it gets stuck. Its hard to see, but the cartridge is tilted up slightly and the bullet is all the way in the chamber.



I think its getting stuck on these two notches.



The brass has two parallel gouges on it after chambering. I don't know why the gouges aren't straight - maybe the cartridge spins as it enters the chamber? It shouldn't have encountered the rifling at the point where it gets stuck.



I compared the width from the outside of one notch to the outside of the other notch and its wider than the distance between the marks on the case. It looks like they are being made with the outside edge of one notch and the inside edge of the other. I'm just not sure which ones are involved.



Here's a cartridge I chambered about 20 times. This is unacceptable.



Those two notches at the bottom of the barrel seem like an odd design choice. I wonder why there isn't ramped area for the cartridge to slide on into the chamber. I've contacted both the vendor I bought the rile from and Rossi to see what they say about the issue. I have to take it apart to install the parts I ordered and I could use a small round file to take those sharp edges off those notches, but once I do that, the gun is my problem and not the Vendor's or Rossi's. I'm inclined to just wait to hear what they have to say about the situation. It sure is disappointing.

 

[GRIZ22]

Don't screw with it. Send it to manufacturer with full explanation of problem and photos.

 

[Barmcd]

After doing a search for "Rossi chews up brass" I see there have been a lot of Rossi's with that issue. Fixing the problem seems to be a mixed bag.

 

[Domino]

I just looked at my old Navy Arms 1892 in .45 Colt (made by Rossi) and it doesn't have those notches. Of course it feeds pretty much everything with no issues except MAYBE some types of wadcutters if my memory serves. I honestly can't fathom what the point of those notches are. While a feed ramp isn't really needed in an 1892, a beveled chamber seems to be in order to help with feeding of various rounds. Point is, you shouldn't have any trouble feeding jacketed bullets in an 1892. Send it back and demand an explanation.

That said if you get neither, I'd try filing that notch a bit as it may be bent more upward than it needs to be. I still don't see why they cut metal out instead of just smoothing it out for reliable operation.

 

[Barmcd]

I just looked at my old Navy Arms 1892 in .45 Colt (made by Rossi) and it doesn't have those notches. Of course it feeds pretty much everything with no issues except MAYBE some types of wadcutters if my memory serves. I honestly can't fathom what the point of those notches are. While a feed ramp isn't really needed in an 1892, a beveled chamber seems to be in order to help with feeding of various rounds. Point is, you shouldn't have any trouble feeding jacketed bullets in an 1892. Send it back and demand an explanation.

That said if you get neither, I'd try filing that notch a bit as it may be bent more upward than it needs to be. I still don't see why they cut metal out instead of just smoothing it out for reliable operation.

there are corresponding square protrusions on the bottom of the bolt that fit into those notches. They're hard to see without a flashlight. I don't know what they do though and filing a little off the top shouldn't hurt anything.

 

[Show Me]

I have three rossi r92 and one puma right here. Those bottom notches are a feed ramp on mine. At 12 o'clock is the notch for the extractor. Nothing like what you have. If new DO NOT modify in any way or you'll get your rifle back with a note saying "we don't repair modified firearms" probably a simple explanation but don't try to use it till you find out.

 

[Show Me]

I just looked at my old Navy Arms 1892 in .45 Colt (made by Rossi) and it doesn't have those notches. Of course it feeds pretty much everything with no issues except MAYBE some types of wadcutters if my memory serves. I honestly can't fathom what the point of those notches are. While a feed ramp isn't really needed in an 1892, a beveled chamber seems to be in order to help with feeding of various rounds. Point is, you shouldn't have any trouble feeding jacketed bullets in an 1892. Send it back and demand an explanation.

That said if you get neither, I'd try filing that notch a bit as it may be bent more upward than it needs to be. I still don't see why they cut metal out instead of just smoothing it out for reliable operation.

Wide nose bullets nick on the top of the chamber entrance. That's why cast RNFP and Hornady ftx feed smooth and fast

 

[Barmcd]

Wide nose bullets nick on the top of the chamber entrance. That's why cast RNFP and Hornady ftx feed smooth and fast

Thanks, I'll try that.

 

[Show Me]

Thanks, I'll try that.

R92's lead to good conversations

 

[LoonWulf]

Just did a tune up on one with a friend if mine, qnd noticed those groves. The nose of the ejector aligns with them, and my 357 from 2014-15 didnt have them. On his they dont seem to ding cases, theres probably raised burrs that could be polished out if inclined.

 

[Barmcd]

So, looking at different bullet profiles, I see that the best bullet diameter fit for a 45 Colt chambered gun is 0.454 while jacketed bullets seem to be 0.452 in diameter. I will try 255 grain cowboy lead bullet and a 225 grain Hornady jacketed FTX. Both are available locally so I can try it out today. I already have 250 grain Hornady XTP bullets on hand, but holding them up to the Berry's bullet, they are very similar. The Hornady is more rounded in profile, but the flat point is similar in size.

My original plan was to shoot the same Berry's 250 grain FP plated bullet out of my Uberti Cattleman and the Rossi R92, but also load some hotter rifle loads with Hornady 250 grain XTP bullets using nickel plated cases so I wouldn't inadvertently use one in my pistol. The Hornady manual says to trim the cases to 1.215 when using FTX bullets. Using either a lead or FTX bullet for the rifle would make using the nickel cases redundant, but doing so would provide an additional reminder to not use them in my pistol. Is there any reason not to trim the nickel cases to fit the FTX bullet?

 

[Barmcd]

Just did a tune up on one with a friend if mine, qnd noticed those groves. The nose of the ejector aligns with them, and my 357 from 2014-15 didnt have them. On his they dont seem to ding cases, theres probably raised burrs that could be polished out if inclined.

Assuming a rounder profile bullet feeds better, I'll give the bottom of the barrel, where those lugs reside, a swipe or two with a slip stone if I can get one in there. If not, I have a round file that will do the trick.

 

[Barmcd]

R92's lead to good conversations

I get good information every time I ask a question here, sometimes I learn something even if I don't get my particular problem solved. Other times it takes me down a rabbit hole for weeks while I try out things at the reloading bench.

 

[Alaskamike]

I have three Rossi 92s, all from different eras, and different manufacturers. Not one of them has the notches you show in those photos.

If it were me, I'd send a photo to Steve at Stevesgunz.com and ask him about it.

 

[Frulk]

Following.

 

[Barmcd]

Well, I’ve now tried 6 different bullets and the gun scratches all of them, albeit much less than the Berry’s 250 grain bullet.

From left to right, Remington Wheel Gun 250 gr FP, Winchester Super X 250 grain Cowboy FP, Berry’s Bullet 250 gr FP, Hornady 255 gr Cowboy FP, Hornady 225 gr FTX, Hornady 250 gr XTP JHP. The hand loads COALs are what the manual specifies for the bullet except the Berrys bullet which is the same as the Hornady XTP.



The Berry’s bullet is the only one that gouges the case. All the rest show a light scratch, even the Hornady FTX which has a shorter case.

Remington


Winchester

Hornady lead Cowboy


Hornady FTX

Hornady JHP


I’m thinking it wouldn’t take much to ease the points on those notches to get rid of these scratches. I’m going to wait to hear back from Rossi before I do anything to the gun. I’ll see about emailing Steve at Steve’s guns too.

 

[luv2safari]

Don't screw with it. Send it to manufacturer with full explanation of problem and photos.

Yep

WAIT! and, put pressure on Rossi to remedy this.

 

[LAR V]

Looks like the rim might not be slipping under the extractor and keeping the round from going into the chamber straight. Easy fix on a marlin but not sure with a top extractor.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The 1892 was designed for slightly bottlenecked case rifle rounds like the .38-40 and .44-40.
Back in its day it was not chambered in .45 colt a cylindrical case revolver round.
(I am surprised my Rossi .357 does not have problems feeding.)

Added: Looking at my .357 Rossi 92, the springloaded ejector pushes the cartridge into the chamber and the extractor snaps over the cartridge rim as the bolt closes and the cartridge pushes back against the ejector. The bottom of my .357 chamber is not notched for the two ribs on the ejector. I have to assume that .45 Colt, .44-40 and .38-40 having simiilar cartridge head diameter, their chambers would have to be notched for the ribs on the ejector.

 

[Barmcd]

The offending Rossi. The wood looks good! Still waiting to hear from the company.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Mine chambers fine. But it scratches the brass some. Not real deep at least. It just look pretty.

 

[someguy2800]

I would take it apart and break those edges with a small sanding roll.

 

[Choctaw]

I took delivery yesterday on a R92 just like Barmcd's. The action is very smooth and chambers SWCs flawlessly. However, it does leave a slight scratch mark on some of the brass.

 

[entropy]

The bottom notches are most likely pre cut so the barrel can be indexed when installing every half thread (180 degrees) vs. every whole thread. (360 degrees) Makes barrel installation much easier, and unless there are protruding burrs, shouldn't scratch the brass. Unfortunately, it seems Rossi leaves it to the consumer to test for that.
It shouldn't be that hard to fix for those handy with a small file set and the restraint to not go nuts with it. For those not up to it, it's an easy fix for the gunsmith.

 

[Barmcd]

I figure I'll end up smoothing those edges myself eventually, but I'm going to wait and see what Rossi says about the issue. Just not using 250 gr. Berry's bullets changed it from a gouge to a scratch.