The fit and finish of current Rossis is hand over fist better than Interarms guns of 20 years ago! I've owned a bunch of 'em. The OLDER once were quite good, talking early 80s. I kept a 68 that's awesome, as good as any J frame. But, early 90s guns I've owned had many blemishes in the finish, tool marks needing buffed out and such. There were gaps in side plate fit and other irritants. THEN, I had firing pin breakages with early 90s guns and divested myself of them in the end.
The two Rossis I've kept are the 68 I bought in '81 and a .22 caliber kit gun, M511 Sportsman which is a friggin' amazing little tack driver. The DA sux, but the SA is light and crisp and that thing puts Federal Auto Match into 1" groups at 25 yards from the bench. The sights are of great quality and the fit and finish is good. It's far better than the early 90s centerfires I owned.
Looking at them at Academy now days, they are quite good compared to the early 90s Rossis I owned. I've been tempted to get a 461 .357 magnum, but own a nice 3" Taurus 66 and a 605 Poly Protector in .357 magnum as well as other .38s and .357s, don't really wanna spend the money on the new Rossi. It is a handy size and a six shooter, but just don't need it and I still remember the issues I had with the firing pins back when. I sent the 971 back, got it back and the firing pin snapped on the second round. I then had a smith fit a K frame firing pin and that stopped the problems.
All of the Rossis I've owned functioned well, well timed and gap tolerances were good. Only negatives were the firing pin problems.
It was a good trade, put it that way. I'd get another 971 ...or now I thiink the stainless is called the 972, but for I have a Taurus 66 that's a great shooter. It's a little heavier, but not THAT much, better shooting gun, though.
