Rossi R95 Came Today

[ThomasT]

Today my new R95 came. What a nice looking gun. I just took it out of the box but haven't cleaned the shipping oil off yet. Its just as smooth in operation as others have said. I like the wood and the "checkering" which is more like "stipling". I really would have been fine with smooth wood. I really like that the writing on the barrel is not deep like some I have seen on Marlin barrels.

The only thing I didn't like was the rear sight. Why such big ears on each side of the sight notch? Its like looking through Bugs Bunnies ears to shoot the gun. Also it didn't come with a hammer spur. I think have a couple of those in my Box-O-Parts so no big deal. Overall I really like it.

I will most likely remove the rear sight and grind down th goofy ears and reblue. Like it is they would interfere with scope mounting. If that doesn't work I may see if I can buy a complete Marlin rear sight from Ruger. Those are hard to find now.

 

[LoonWulf]

Today my new R95 came. What a nice looking gun. I just took it out of the box but haven't cleaned the shipping oil off yet. Its just as smooth in operation as others have said. I like the wood and the "checkering" which is more like "stipling". I really would have been fine with smooth wood. I really like that the writing on the barrel is not deep like some I have seen on Marlin barrels.

The only thing I didn't like was the rear sight. Why such big ears on each side of the sight notch? Its like looking through Bugs Bunnies ears to shoot the gun. Also it didn't come with a hammer spur. I think have a couple of those in my Box-O-Parts so no big deal. Overall I really like it.

I will most likely remove the rear sight and grind down th goofy ears and reblue. Like it is they would interfere with scope mounting. If that doesn't work I may see if I can buy a complete Marlin rear sight from Ruger. Those are hard to find now.

Them buckhorn sights are traditional!

I believe there is a way to use the big gap and ears for sighting quickly, but ive never bothered to figure it out.

Before you grind on it, let me look thru my parts bin, im 99% sure i have a "normal" rear sight off my 99 that will fit if you want it.

I think im going to folders on both guns, i like irons on levers, but they do get in the way of my optics.

 

[ThomasT]

Before you grind on it, let me look thru my parts bin, im 99% sure i have a "normal" rear sight off my 99 that will fit if you want it.

Thanks but I just ordered a Marbles Sporting rear sight with much smaller ears. It looks more like the Marlin rear sight. I wish I could find a Marlin rear sight set with the folding blade. If I don't like the Marbles sight I will see if Ruger will sell me a 336 rear sight. I am going to mount the new Vortex scope I got but I like the idea of having sighted in back up sights.

 

[Riomouse911]

Cool looking rifle.

I am another one who puts folders on my lever guns that get either Lyman peep sights or scopes. Nice to have a back up rear sight option rather than just a slot filling blank.

Can’t wait to see a before-and-after of how it looks with the new sights.

Stay safe.

 

[Show Me]

I'm sure there is a good story from way back about how to use buckhorn sights.
But I've drilled and tapped tangs and receivers, bought from Skinner, tried many Williams and Marble from Midway USA.
Down to my last R92 and have found the marbles glow front matching height to the factory buckhorn is the fastest to the eye of any I have.
Ugly, Odd and ugliest. But that's where I'm at.

 

[ThomasT]

I am another one who puts folders on my lever guns that get either Lyman peep sights or scopes. Nice to have a back up rear sight option rather than just a slot filling blank.

I have an old Glenfield made in 1969 that I put a folding rear sight on so a scope would clear. Its a Marbles IIRC and is similar to the Ruger 10/22 rear sight. If the new Marbles rear leaf sight doesn't work I have either a Marbles or Lyman folding sight that is the proper height and is also windage adjustable.

You would have thought that Rossi had this figured out. And the front sight is so tall that you have to raise the rear sight up enough to move it to the half way point on the sight ladder. The front sight is .375 tall and it needs at most a .360 sight. I have a special sight I made to determine front sight height. A .360 height lets you lower the rear sight all the way down so you can have full adjustment.

If I decided to use a Williams 5D peep the front sight would be perfect. Since the side of the receiver isn't D&T you would have to use one of the new 5D sights that uses the scope mount holes.

 

[Show Me]

So many options is why some have a small tackle box of sights and ect .
My 1895 45-70 ended up with Skinner file to height front and the Ace In The Hole rear rail. Then to actually see live targets a Bushnell longer eye relief 3X9 with warn quick detach rings. Also dovetail blank to fill in.
So l worked at perfict backup open sights and I know that scope hasn't been off since it went on in 2010.
I have kept Skinner, Marbles and Williams funded.

Your pictures didn't show but on Rossi site I can see the front. Truly is an odd combo. Rossi probably has a rail car load of those rear sights for the 92's .
Really like the shorter mag tube. Hope for some sighting in , target blasting , ammo making , deer slaying stories.

 

[Show Me]

Today my new R95 came. What a nice looking gun. I just took it out of the box but haven't cleaned the shipping oil off yet. Its just as smooth in operation as others have said. I like the wood and the "checkering" which is more like "stipling". I really would have been fine with smooth wood. I really like that the writing on the barrel is not deep like some I have seen on Marlin barrels.

The only thing I didn't like was the rear sight. Why such big ears on each side of the sight notch? Its like looking through Bugs Bunnies ears to shoot the gun. Also it didn't come with a hammer spur. I think have a couple of those in my Box-O-Parts so no big deal. Overall I really like it.

I will most likely remove the rear sight and grind down th goofy ears and reblue. Like it is they would interfere with scope mounting. If that doesn't work I may see if I can buy a complete Marlin rear sight from Ruger. Those are hard to find now.

You know , MidwayUsa has the different height marbles folders in stock.

 

[3Crows]

Buckhorns are traditional sights:

Buckhorn sights and Kentucky windage | Blog | Pyramyd AIR

by Tom Gaylord Writing as B.B. Pelletier The history of airguns This report covers: The buckhorn It really works How to use other open sights Aim over Kentucky windage? Summary Adjustable sights have been around for awhile, but they aren't the only way to hit a target. Before sights were...

www.pyramydair.com

The Rossi dovetail may not work with a Marlin (USA) dovetail. I think the Rossi is a metric sized notch, slightly larger. Skinner has Rossi dovetail size parts.

 

[Show Me]

Buckhorns are traditional sights:

Buckhorn sights and Kentucky windage | Blog | Pyramyd AIR

by Tom Gaylord Writing as B.B. Pelletier The history of airguns This report covers: The buckhorn It really works How to use other open sights Aim over Kentucky windage? Summary Adjustable sights have been around for awhile, but they aren't the only way to hit a target. Before sights were...

www.pyramydair.com

The Rossi dovetail may not work with a Marlin (USA) dovetail. I think the Rossi is a metric sized notch, slightly larger. Skinner has Rossi dovetail size parts.

But , buy a set of brass feeler gauges. They cut with snips. Proper thickness home made shim works like a dream. If needed under the sight to tighten then tap both in. Some puma and Rossi are all ready tight enough.
The Rossi factory would be called Simi buckhorn?

 

[3Crows]

But, buy a set of brass feeler gauges. They cut with snips. Proper thickness home made shim works like a dream. If needed under the sight to tighten then tap both in. Some puma and Rossi are all ready tight enough.
The Rossi factory would be called Simi buckhorn?

Sure, you can shim usually. My R92 .44M is my first Rossi so I have not installed sights yet to know for sure it is oversized. But I have shimmed other rifles that had been buggered up by driving the dovetail through and other shenanigans resulting in sometimes grossly oversized dove tails.

I would say, no expert status claimed, that the Rossi is a semi-buckhorn.

 

[ThomasT]

Buckhorns are traditional sights:

Buckhorn sights and Kentucky windage | Blog | Pyramyd AIR

by Tom Gaylord Writing as B.B. Pelletier The history of airguns This report covers: The buckhorn It really works How to use other open sights Aim over Kentucky windage? Summary Adjustable sights have been around for awhile, but they aren't the only way to hit a target. Before sights were...

www.pyramydair.com

The Rossi dovetail may not work with a Marlin (USA) dovetail. I think the Rossi is a metric sized notch, slightly larger. Skinner has Rossi dovetail size parts.

No the Rossi has a .375 dovetail. I found a Marbles shorty flat top sight I had bought a while back and installed that and it fit right in the dovetail. I showed a picture of the rear sight on this gun and it is nothing like that. Frankly a rar sight like that would bug me even more than the sight it came with.

 

[LoonWulf]

A Quick Guide to Buckhorn Sights - The Mag Life

Buckhorn sights are not all that widespread these days. Some people like them and some don’t. That’s why different options exist.

gunmagwarehouse.com

I followed @3Crows picture and found that.....gives a reasonable explanation I think, but again not being an iron sight shooter i sont have a personal frame of reference.

I pulled my rear sight last night and it matches the dovetail sights ive got also.



@ThomasT , im looking forward to hearing what your think if yours after you shoot it!
Also hows your trigger? Im curious if mine was an abnormality or if they generally run around 7lbs.

 

[ThomasT]

Loonwolf I don't have a trigger gauge but my trigger is much better than I expected. Matter of fact it surprised me with how crisp and easy the pull was. I like it and won't be changing it. Of course actually using it from the bench may change my views.

I have my sight problem fixed. I had a Marbles short Carbine style rear sight I had bought a few months ago and installed it. Its the flat top version and sits low on the barrel. Then using a laser bore sight I found the front blade to be too tall. So I replaced it with an old Marlin sight I had on hand that is .300 tall. The factory sight was .375.

Then using a laser bore sight I had the red dot sitting just on top of the front bead at 50 yards with the rear sight in its lowest notch. That gives me all the other notches for adjustment if needed plus the blade for fine tuning. So the sight problem is done. And there is room to mount the scope now without hitting the rear blade.

Now its time to shoot.

 

[ThomasT]

I pulled my rear sight last night and it matches the dovetail sights ive got also.

I forgot to ask. Does your barrel have a drilled and tapped hole just behind the sight notch in the barrel? Mine does and I'm not sur what its for unless its to mount a picatinny rail or a scout scope base.

 

[3Crows]

I forgot to ask. Does your barrel have a drilled and tapped hole just behind the sight notch in the barrel? Mine does and I'm not sur what its for unless its to mount a picatinny rail or a scout scope base.

On a Ruger built Marlin that threaded hole just behind the sight dove tail is for mounting the Ruger/Marlin proprietary pic rail. The JM and Remington built Marlins did not have that threaded hole and the XS Lever rails used as OE on the SBL had instead a piece that inserted into the dove tail slot with a threaded hole for the rail attachment.

My Rossi R92 has four holes hidden under the buckhorn sight for a forward mounted (scout) rail.

Buckhorns type sights always made me crazy until one day it occurred to me they were just a fancy peep sight. Then I was okay.

 

[Old Dog]

I've now got the Skinner peep sights on every one of my lever rifles, but I grew up with the old "buckhorn" sights and don't have a problem with them. However, the peep sight surely does give those of us with geezer eyes a much more clear sight picture. Another thing about Skinner is, the owner of the company (and his wife) are both staunch 2A supporters and dedicated hunters and shooters.

I've been looking hard at the Rossi rifles as I'm planning on getting back into .44 Magnum/Special, but boy, the new R92 prices are now approaching Marlin M94 prices, look to be within $200 in my region.

Now its time to shoot.

I know you'll let us know how it does. I'd be very interested to see if anyone's done any side-by-side comparison shooting of the new Rossis against the new (Ruger) Marlins..

 

[3Crows]

I've now got the Skinner peep sights on every one of my lever rifles, but I grew up with the old "buckhorn" sights and don't have a problem with them. However, the peep sight surely does give those of us with geezer eyes a much more clear sight picture. Another thing about Skinner is, the owner of the company (and his wife) are both staunch 2A supporters and dedicated hunters and shooters.

I've been looking hard at the Rossi rifles as I'm planning on getting back into .44 Magnum/Special, but boy, the new R92 prices are now approaching Marlin M94 prices, look to be within $200 in my region.

I know you'll let us know how it does. I'd be very interested to see if anyone's done any side-by-side comparison shooting of the new Rossis against the new (Ruger) Marlins..

I got my R92 stainless .44 Magnum for right at $700. I also saw the same rifle a few hours after purchasing mine from my favorite LGS for $3.00 less at Academy .

 

[Show Me]

I got my R92 stainless .44 Magnum for right at $700. I also saw the same rifle a few hours after purchasing mine from my favorite LGS for $3.00 less at Academy .

Well what happened to 460$ at buds. They always had plenty. So cheep I was getting one every payday. Back then

 

[LoonWulf]

I forgot to ask. Does your barrel have a drilled and tapped hole just behind the sight notch in the barrel? Mine does and I'm not sur what its for unless its to mount a picatinny rail or a scout scope base.

Mine has that same hole too.

I had my buddy try the trigger on my 95 today, he thinks it's a little on the light side. It could just be me, being used to much lighter triggers.
Mine wasn't heavy enough to disrupted my side picture but originally I had to think about pulling it.

 

[3Crows]

Well what happened to 460$ at buds. They always had plenty. So cheep I was getting one every payday. Back then

The prices I am seeing on R92 rifles is well above the $460 of yore, nevermore, said the Crows .

 

[ThomasT]

The prices I am seeing on R92 rifles is well above the $460 of yore, nevermore, said the Crows .

Yep prices ain't what they used to be. And neither is your money. The dollar has lost so much value I'm surprised you don't need a wheelbarrow full of cash to buy a weeks worth of groceries. But even if a gun seems expensive just remember you are buying a tool that with reasonable care will lasy you the rest of your life. In ten years if you still remember what you paid it won't matter because you bought a lifetime friend.

Thats how I feel about my Marlin 357 rifle. I paid $450 in 2000 for the gun. I gave up finding a used one at a better price. Those that had them didn't sell them. So I had to buy new. And I have never regretted spending the money. Its my favorite firearm of all that I own.

And that $450 I paid in 2000 works out to $816 in todays dollars. Good luck finding even a used one for that price.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I traded for two R 92s, both stainless, one is a 16 inch barrel 38 special/357mag, the other a 20 inch barrel 45 colt/454 casull. I consulted Steves Gunz, traded out the buckhorn sights for his peep sights and have to agree for aging eyes , peeps just work better. I traded out the plastic magazine follower for steel from him, and removed the safetys for pins he sells. I grew up using both Winchesters and Marlins, and do not like the safeties. I also have two Henry rifles, one is the Golden Boy .22 and the other is a brand new brass frame, 22 inch octagon barrel, 8.1 lb empty 45-70. I have always like that caliber. In fact in the past have owned 2 Ruger #1s, a Ruger #3, t3 Marlins, including the guide gun, 2 other Henry''s including the new all weather with the loading gate, 18.5 inch barrel. My experience tells me that all the short barrel rifles recoil to the extreme. Especially that Ruger #3 with heavy loads.
I am keeping my new one though

 

[ThomasT]

The 45-70 is a good round. Do you remember the 2 part article in Rifle Magazine where Brian Pearce took a 45-70 to Africa? He shot one Cape Buffalo and the round penetrated so well it killed a second unseen Cape Buffalo standing behind it. The gun and round made a great close range gun for those very large animals.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

Yes , and there was another person is listed on GARRETT BULLETS, that used GARRETT bullets to kill rhino, hippo, elephant, cape buffalo, and various lions and leopards with a Marlin guide gun in 45-70.
Was a good write up on GARRETT'S WEB SITE.