Found a used 6'' ss 357 from Rossi for $300. I didn't realize Rossi made revolvers. After a little research, it turns out Rossi is a subset of Taurus. Most reviews are positive and it seems to say Rossi quality has gone up since being acquired by Taurus. I've had my heart set on a Taurus 608 in 6'', but looking at the two it doesn't seem to be any different other than the Taurus is much heavier. Anyone have any experience with Rossi?
Rossi Revolvers
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Browns Fan
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In the early '80's, I bought my wife a Rossi 851. Very nice gun, my wife still shoots it well, it still locks up tight.
A friend of mine and I have matching Rossi 971's that we bought back before Taurus took over. We've been quite happy with them. The gun you found is probably a 972, which is the same as the 971 except the 971 has a 4" barrel. At one point I had a Rossi 88 as well and was happy with it. The 971 and 972 are both very close copies of the S&W 19, so a lot of accessories should work with it. If you want to change the grip the S&W square-butt grips should fit.
MCgunner
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DA trigger is a little stiffer than a Smith or Taurus (the older ones, all mine have been pre-Taurus Interarms models). I've owned a M88, 2 M511 .22s (had one get ripped off, missed it so much I replaced it), a M971, briefly a M851, still have a M511 and M68 and a Puma 20" M92 lever carbine. The only problems I ever had was with a firing pin that snapped twice on the 971 and a gunsmith fitted properly and fixed.
I've noticed a lot of tooling marks on the M88 and the M971 that didn't affect function. For instance, on the back side of the hammer, they left it rough. I pulled the hammer off both guns and buffed it out on my bench grinder with a buffing wheel. It just sorta bugged me. My M68 is WELL finished. It was bought in the early 80s, 1981 to be exact. It's perfectly timed, tight as a drum, as good as any Smith, but late 80s, early 90s they seemed to get a little slack in their finish, though fitting was still good. The M971 was really tight and stood up to a lot of .357 shooting, though I never approached five figure round counts with it. It was impressive. The M88 wasn't quite as tight, but not what I'd call loose and end shake was zero. The little 22s are well finished, but end shake seems designed into them, being rimfires I reckon it's no biggy and probably done to cut production costs. Things are super accurate regardless, but the DA is rough and heavy on 'em.
My .38s and .357 were/are decent DA triggers though not Taurus or Smith quality, but the SA is just as good as anything else. They're quite shootable and for the money, a great little gun. My two Taurus M66s, though, are every bit the guns my M19 Smith was. The Rossi's finish and trigger don't come close. The Taurus is a higher quality gun for not a lot more money, but that don't mean the Rossi is a bad gun by any means. The Smith is better, too, but look at the price! If you wanna turn loose of 700 for a Smith, fine, go for it. Not me, though.
$300 seems a little high for a used Rossi, though, even NIB condition. They don't sell much more'n that new and the .38s are less. I got an almost like new nickle Taurus M66, a fantastic medium frame .357, for $197 at a gun show. Prices are regional, down here Smiths are astronomic and Taurus is quite affordable. But, still, for $300 I'd look for a new gun or a used something for less. JMHO of course.
The size of the Rossi is appealing, sort of between a J and K frame in size and weight, but I'd want it in a carriable barrel length for that to matter. I used to tote mine afield, even shot a Javelina with it once out in West Texas. It was about 30 ounces on the hip with a 4" barrel. I took some rabbits with it, too, using .38 wadcutters. Was a really neat outdoor gun. My Taurus M66 is only about 5 ounces heavier on the hip, though, and is a bit more accurate. All in all, I don't miss the Rossi, but it was a good gun.
I've noticed a lot of tooling marks on the M88 and the M971 that didn't affect function. For instance, on the back side of the hammer, they left it rough. I pulled the hammer off both guns and buffed it out on my bench grinder with a buffing wheel. It just sorta bugged me. My M68 is WELL finished. It was bought in the early 80s, 1981 to be exact. It's perfectly timed, tight as a drum, as good as any Smith, but late 80s, early 90s they seemed to get a little slack in their finish, though fitting was still good. The M971 was really tight and stood up to a lot of .357 shooting, though I never approached five figure round counts with it. It was impressive. The M88 wasn't quite as tight, but not what I'd call loose and end shake was zero. The little 22s are well finished, but end shake seems designed into them, being rimfires I reckon it's no biggy and probably done to cut production costs. Things are super accurate regardless, but the DA is rough and heavy on 'em.
My .38s and .357 were/are decent DA triggers though not Taurus or Smith quality, but the SA is just as good as anything else. They're quite shootable and for the money, a great little gun. My two Taurus M66s, though, are every bit the guns my M19 Smith was. The Rossi's finish and trigger don't come close. The Taurus is a higher quality gun for not a lot more money, but that don't mean the Rossi is a bad gun by any means. The Smith is better, too, but look at the price! If you wanna turn loose of 700 for a Smith, fine, go for it. Not me, though.
$300 seems a little high for a used Rossi, though, even NIB condition. They don't sell much more'n that new and the .38s are less. I got an almost like new nickle Taurus M66, a fantastic medium frame .357, for $197 at a gun show. Prices are regional, down here Smiths are astronomic and Taurus is quite affordable. But, still, for $300 I'd look for a new gun or a used something for less. JMHO of course.
The size of the Rossi is appealing, sort of between a J and K frame in size and weight, but I'd want it in a carriable barrel length for that to matter. I used to tote mine afield, even shot a Javelina with it once out in West Texas. It was about 30 ounces on the hip with a 4" barrel. I took some rabbits with it, too, using .38 wadcutters. Was a really neat outdoor gun. My Taurus M66 is only about 5 ounces heavier on the hip, though, and is a bit more accurate. All in all, I don't miss the Rossi, but it was a good gun.
JERRY
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years ago i had a rossi .44spl.
it was stainless steel, nicely fitted and finished, had a 3" barrel, was DAO w/ fixed sights....was a good gun all the way around...looked just like a non locked S&W and functioned perfectly....
i really hate the day i let that one go........
it was stainless steel, nicely fitted and finished, had a 3" barrel, was DAO w/ fixed sights....was a good gun all the way around...looked just like a non locked S&W and functioned perfectly....
i really hate the day i let that one go........
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
As I have stated many times over, my wife CCW's a stainless steel square
butt 2" Rossi model 88 that was manufactuered before the merger with
Taurus; and marketed through INTERARMS. It has been 100% reliable,
fit and finish both are above average, and its very accurate for a snub
nose revolver. Price at the time (Oct. of 1994), was $208 + tax. Heck,
I once offered to trade her a Smith J-frame of her choosing; and she
politely refused~! Go figure?
butt 2" Rossi model 88 that was manufactuered before the merger with
Taurus; and marketed through INTERARMS. It has been 100% reliable,
fit and finish both are above average, and its very accurate for a snub
nose revolver. Price at the time (Oct. of 1994), was $208 + tax. Heck,
I once offered to trade her a Smith J-frame of her choosing; and she
politely refused~! Go figure?
ArchAngelCD
Member.
The people I know who have a Rossi have no complaints but I'm sure a Tauaus is made better and wil last longer. If you have your heart set on a Taurus like you said above, anything else will be a let down. Get the gun you like and don't settle for less.
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