ceestand
Member
I have seen some of these relatively cheap. What is Rossi's reputation? Anyone own one?
Rossi Revolvers
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Tamara
Senior Member
I have owned two; a 6" 971 which was a decently accurate .357, although it timed a little lazily in single-action (hence the small scar under my left eye... 
) and a 3" 720 Covert that was a swell medium-frame 5-shot .44 Special totin' piece.
) and a 3" 720 Covert that was a swell medium-frame 5-shot .44 Special totin' piece.AUTIGER04
member
Rossi 971 357mag. Very accurate revolver. I love mine.
10-Ring
Member
A buddy of mine got one a few years ago from his bro's. My experience w/ it is that it's a very satisfactory revolver.
Didn't Taurus pick up Rossi a few years ago? Has Taurus influenced Rossi's quality?
Didn't Taurus pick up Rossi a few years ago? Has Taurus influenced Rossi's quality?
I have 2 M971 SS .357's. One 2" and one 4" . I bought mine when a
local sporting goods store was closing up a couple of years ago. I paid
about $225.00 a piece for them NIB. I did not know anything about them
at the time. They turned out to be pretty good guns.
I have had great service from both of them. Good grips, adjustable rear sights.
My wife keeps the 2" in her nightstand.
Mike
local sporting goods store was closing up a couple of years ago. I paid
about $225.00 a piece for them NIB. I did not know anything about them
at the time. They turned out to be pretty good guns.
I have had great service from both of them. Good grips, adjustable rear sights.
My wife keeps the 2" in her nightstand.
Mike
Okiecruffler
Member
The Wife carries a Rossi M88 that has been in my collection longer than any other pistol. IIRC I bought it in '91. I learned to reload 38's with that gun, and I have no idea how many thousands of rounds I've run thru it. I taught the wife to shoot with it. She ran 200 rds thru it over the weekend, and it's still just as tight as the day I bought it, and scary accurate. It has a problem now in single action. Trigger pull is best measured in gnat's breath, one touch and the hammer falls. Was going to have it fixed, but she's looking to trade up to a .357.
Arub
Member
I hate to go against the crowd, but my experience with a 462, manufactured after the Taurus take over/merge, was not good.
I bought the revolver because it just felt good in the hand, pointed well and had a real smooth trigger in both DA and SA modes. Price was also very attractive.
Early on, I mainly shot it in SA mode, and occaisionally in a slow fire DA mode. Still very pleased with it at this point.
I started shooting rapid DA mode for IDPA. I immediately experienced timing problems with it. Had some misfires due to pin strike being grossly off set and some jams due to the poor timing in rapid DA firing mode. I sent the gun back to BrazTech twice. Both times it came back unfixed with the same timing issue. At that point, I have used the revolver as a training device for novice shooters, a good example of what to avoid in a revolver.
I bought the revolver because it just felt good in the hand, pointed well and had a real smooth trigger in both DA and SA modes. Price was also very attractive.
Early on, I mainly shot it in SA mode, and occaisionally in a slow fire DA mode. Still very pleased with it at this point.
I started shooting rapid DA mode for IDPA. I immediately experienced timing problems with it. Had some misfires due to pin strike being grossly off set and some jams due to the poor timing in rapid DA firing mode. I sent the gun back to BrazTech twice. Both times it came back unfixed with the same timing issue. At that point, I have used the revolver as a training device for novice shooters, a good example of what to avoid in a revolver.
Rossi quality control was even spottier than that of Taurus. In my limited experience, if you find a Rossi and you know how to check out a revolver, you can get a decent gun at a reasonable price. If you don't know what you are doing and will depend on the maker to do things right, save the shekels and buy S&W or Ruger.
Jim
Jim
V
VictorLouis
Guest
Have had two of their .22s
never again. INACCURATE on the first, and poor mechanicals on the second.
never again. INACCURATE on the first, and poor mechanicals on the second.
Felonious Monk
Member
Good revolvers at a good price.
My Rossi 2" .38spl has been 100% through ~1500 rounds.
Accuracy is okay with iron sights, and was given to me as my first handgun.
I'd buy another one sometime if the price is right!
My Rossi 2" .38spl has been 100% through ~1500 rounds.
Accuracy is okay with iron sights, and was given to me as my first handgun.
I'd buy another one sometime if the price is right!
AUTIGER04
member
Rossi spotty in quailty? I think not. I have owned 3 Rossi revolvers 1st one was a 5 shot 357mag, 2nd was a 5 shot 38spl and my newly aquired 971 Stainless, 6in vented rib ported barrel, adjustable rear sights. Will out shoot any S&W that I had owned. Ill pay $250- $300 any day for a brand new "fully loaded Rossi",(as in features) Than I would a worn out plain jane S&W for the same price.
Ive owned two Taurus revolvers M605 357mag and still own the M44 44mag. I had minor problems with it (M44) Side plate screws came loose.
Smiths that I have owned Model 10 Failed to fire several times. Failures in a revolver? S&W M629 44mag Spit lead out the left side of the cylinder. Nasty scar to prove it.
I traded the two Rossi snubbys for a Semi Auto that also got traded in later on. Still kicking myself for trading the Rossi's. The Taurus M605 got traded for a Peavey Electric guitar. (Peavey Falcon Custom Classic) I really want that guitar.
The S&W revolvers are sitting in the gun shop trying to be sold. (Consignment) 1 year and waiting.
Ive owned two Taurus revolvers M605 357mag and still own the M44 44mag. I had minor problems with it (M44) Side plate screws came loose.
Smiths that I have owned Model 10 Failed to fire several times. Failures in a revolver?
S&W M629 44mag Spit lead out the left side of the cylinder. Nasty scar to prove it. I traded the two Rossi snubbys for a Semi Auto that also got traded in later on. Still kicking myself for trading the Rossi's. The Taurus M605 got traded for a Peavey Electric guitar. (Peavey Falcon Custom Classic) I really want that guitar.
The S&W revolvers are sitting in the gun shop trying to be sold.
(Consignment) 1 year and waiting.Gerald McDonald
Member
I have a 68S and an 885. I probably have 1500 rounds thru both, no problems with either unless shooting dirty ammo, then the 68S will bind after maybe 50-100 rounds. Not a problem to me.
Jim K, I have heard the same thing, if you get a good one, then you have a good shooter, if you get a bad one, your screwed.
Jim K, I have heard the same thing, if you get a good one, then you have a good shooter, if you get a bad one, your screwed.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's All-
My wife also carries a stainless Rossi model 88 with 2"
barrel and square butt. Using Jim March's excellent
revolver check out; its a quality piece for the money.
Granted, its not a Smith & Wesson model 60 .38 Special,
but it didn't cost as much either.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
My wife also carries a stainless Rossi model 88 with 2"
barrel and square butt. Using Jim March's excellent
revolver check out; its a quality piece for the money.
Granted, its not a Smith & Wesson model 60 .38 Special,
but it didn't cost as much either.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Preacherman
Member
I have two 720's in .44 Special. Nice, easy-to-conceal carry guns, and I trust the .44 Special rather more than I do the .38 Special (especially with Cor-Bon 165gr. JHP's at 1150 fps... daddy like! ).
).semf
member
Post Taurus influenced Rossi's have the integral lock. I have owned many Tauri and have no complaints. However my favorite has something wrong with the firing pin and the crane appears to be sprung. It may have to go in for repairs, so I'll have to hold my comments on customer service for awhile.
Fire1
Member
I have an older 720, with the unfluted cylinder. I picked up in a pawn shop for a very good price. When I got it, it did have a small glitch with the trigger pull, but with a quick trip to the local smith it has a sweet trigger now. I have put many rounds through it, includng some rather stiff handloads, and it's never missed a beat. I like it alot.
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WVleo
Member
Hi, Picked up a 2 3/4" M971 SS Rossi for $190 OTD . Gun was in excellent shape and proves to be a great little shooter. My wife keeps it loaded with .38's ,but we both also practice with .357's . ..........WVleo
I didn't make the above statement based on reading books. The shop where I worked sold quite a few Rossis and my boss didn't believe in returning anything to the factory if we could fix it. So I fixed most of the bummers. Like I said, if they were good, they were OK (still not, IMHO, as good as S&W by any stretch, but OK). But when they were bad, they were very bad and some were not fixable. What does a gunsmith do when you have five chambers, each pointing a different direction? Easy. You address the package to "Rossi...."
Autiger04, sounds like you got lucky and got good ones, and that can certainly happen. Like many guns, some people swear by them, others swear at them.
Jim
Autiger04, sounds like you got lucky and got good ones, and that can certainly happen. Like many guns, some people swear by them, others swear at them.
Jim
My wife carries a .38 2" Rossi and just loves the way it fits her hand and shoots. It's too small for my hand, so I don't care for it.
I've offered several times to buy her a Ruger revolver, Glock or "better" gun, but she prefers the little Rossi. I figure it's best to have her carry what she likes and feels confident/comfortable with rather than force her to carry something she is not so sure of. To each his own.
I've offered several times to buy her a Ruger revolver, Glock or "better" gun, but she prefers the little Rossi. I figure it's best to have her carry what she likes and feels confident/comfortable with rather than force her to carry something she is not so sure of. To each his own.
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