Speaking of Rossi's........

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22luvr

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There is a 6-year old Rossi .357 mag on consignment at my favorite local gun shop. It is blued and doesn't show much wear, other than the rubber grip. They want $125 for it but I'll bet I can get it for $100.

My old boss had a stainless steel model in .357 mag and put countless rounds through it with nary a hitch. I've heard they're fairly well-made and durable.

I have a hardcopy of Jim March's excellent buyer's guide to used revolvers so will know what I'm getting into if I examine it up close.

Seems like a pretty good deal to me. I'm looking for a good beater or truck gun. What do you think?
 
I know... you are talking apples and I have an orange - but it came from the same grove!

I got a new Rossi 'Puma' 24" SS octagon barreled M1892 in .45 Colt in January for ~$400 delivered. I had gotten tired of waiting for a SS .45 Colt Marlin 'Cowboy'. Good thing... this Puma, my only Rossi, is a keeper. It even came tang sight ready. I love it - it is a great value and I saved more than a C-note off the best sale-priced Marlin Cowboy. If their older revolvers were this good, they'd need at most a little cleaning - perhaps a new spring (or two) to be dependable. Never an S&W, I am sure, as far as smoothness and dependability, and never as rugged as a Ruger.

I have seen some really beat up S&W M&P/M10's around $150-$175... I've never seen anything ~$100. Sounds like a deal, if it works.

Stainz
 
Jeff,

If it passes Jim March's shakedown, buy it.

I've got the same gun, just older, w/wood grips. Nobody wants it (I've tried to sell and trade it multiple times), but the durn thing shoots to POA and has NEVER failed to go bang. Had it out to the range last weekend and put another 100 rds. through it.

Think I'll just keep it as a beater.
Another "sleeper" gun, like the Makarovs and Bersa Thunder.
 
If it's six years old, it's probably a Mdl. 677. Same as the 461, except no safety lock.

Grab it!
 
It's older than I thought.....

I did a close-up and personal inspection of the Rossi and found that it was a lot older than I initially thought. One of the fellows at the gun shop thinks it's a model 771. It does not have a transfer bar system but has the firing pin attached directly to the hammer and a tunnel that it fits into.

It passes Jim March's used revolver inspection with flying colors. There's some wear on the grip, but the important parts are in pristine condition. Locks up tight, barrel is clean, cylinder bores have no ridge on them, cylinder face is smooth, hammer spring has plenty of snap in it, it has a great trigger, probably from plenty of use, good cylinder timing, and it appears to have had no serious maintenance done to it.

It's a six shot and I'll probably buy it anyway and store it with an empty chamber under the hammer.
 
Even a older model rossi should have some type of internal hammer safety.The easy way to check is to cock the hammer,lower it and keep the trigger pulled back.Release the trigger and watch the hammer,if it moves slightly to the rear it does have some type of hammer safety,like S&W revolvers with the hammer mounted firing pin.
 
Go for it :).

It's probably a hammer-block gun versus transfer bar. Not a problem, except that when a transfer bar fails, the gun won't fire. IF a hammer block fails, it WILL (it'll revert to no-safety-at-all).

So you need to check the safety. Here's how:

1) Unload it.

2) Make sure it's unloaded :).

3) Hold it up sideways to a reasonable light source, doesn't need to be extreme. A sun-lit window should do. Watch your muzzle direction out of politeness to the store clerk, etc. The usual thing about "you're trying to show 'em you know *** you're doing" applies.

4) Cock it, then lower the hammer slowly by hand while holding the trigger back. At the bottom of the hammer fall sequence, the tip of the firing pin should poke into the frame area right behind the cylinder. You'll see it poke out, typically around the same distance as a 38/357 shell rim is wide or a bit more. If you can't see it right away, keep holding the trigger and diddle the hammer back and forth a bit until your eye spots the motion.

See it? Good. The gun will at least fire :). A Colt SAA will pass the test to this point, but no further.

5) Now let go the hammer, and ease up on the trigger. The firing pin nose should *retreat* back into the frame.

6) With your finger completely off the trigger, gently push on the hammer to force it "further forward into the frame", and see if the tip of that firing pin makes an encore appearance or not. It shouldn't - with the trigger untouched, the "hammer block" internal device should be stopping all forward motion of the hammer. Don't beat on it and don't go too crazy with the pressure.

Voila. If it passes this (and a transfer-bar gun will too) it's safe to carry with a full payload.

I'll probably add this to the checkout in a bit.
 
I just picked up a small Rossi 22lr in a Pawn Shop for $ 75. I have no idea what the model is but it's in pretty good shape. It holds 7 rounds of .22 long. It seems to function fine but while detail cleaning it I noticed two of the springs seem to be in bad shape so I'll replace them before shooting it any more. I assume it's nickle plated. Cool little gun for $ 75.
 
Jim M: Again thanks for your invaluable suggestions

I did HALF the test; the firing pin indeed protrudes into the area occupied by the cylinder. Being a novice, I was unaware of whether these older type hammer/firing pins had any sort of safety. Now that I understand what to look for and how it works, it should be a fairly simple test. I expect it will have this feature; the gun appears to be a fine specimen - not a speck of rust or any other cosmetic flaws, other than the slight wearing on the molded rubber grips. (Did I mention they're not budging on the price?)

I'll haggle once more on Friday and then just buy it outright because I think it will give me good service and is worth what they're asking.

Again, thanks for the tips; that is why I frequent this forum.....You knowledgeable types are quick to help us novices.

Best wishes.....................
 
I bought it..................

It has a hammer safety that works as Jim March indicated. Holding the trigger down, I let the hammer firing pin protrude into the channel when I lower it with my thumb; when the trigger is slowly re-set, the pin retreats well back into the firing pin tunnel and locks there, minimizing the possibility of an accidental drop-fire.

Don't know when I'll get a chance to shoot it but I expect no surprises and think it will be a great deal.

Thanks for the help.
 
My dealer was telling me the other day that Taurus has acquired Rossi.If that's true it would be a Taussi up which one to buy. LOL.The old Rossi's left allot to be desired. Don't know about the new models.
Ruger Redhawk
 
At one time a Rossi left alot to be desired, but they did major upgrades to stay competive with Taurus. They are pretty decent handguns today. Rossi was aquired by Taurus so they should improve even more now.
 
Wow! $125 for any revolver in halfway decent working condition is good. For a gun in the condition you describe is one heck of a deal.

I don't own and never have owned a Rossi. I am a S&W revolver guy and I also love and have owned a few Taurus revolvers (and have one at my FFL awaiting the waiting period to end). I am starting to think about a couple Rossis myself (a 4" .38, maybe a current .38 snub, the .44spl 720). Anyway, sounds like you did good- I'm looking forward to the range report.
 
Replacement grips......

The grips on this specimen are just worn out. Anyone out there know where I can get an aftermarket wraparound rubber grip for either a Rossi model 461 or M677??

Rossi's very sparse website shows a Florida phone # and I can probably get a stock replacement but I have not yet found a custom grip replacement yet.

I'm going to the range tomorrow to see how this bargain shoots.....
 
Hrmmm. I remember that square-butt J-frame grips fit my Rossi 720 with only a modicum of fitting. Don't know if it shares the same grip dimensions as the smaller .357's or not...
 
That's one problem with having an "unpopular" gun aftermarket accessories like grips can be difficult to come by. I have tried to find some different grips for my Rossi's but haven't been able to yet. Letr us know if you find a source
Jerry
 
I have a "new" Rossi that started out good, but after about 400 rounds, turned into a royal piece of "****".

It's at Braztech now getting fixed, I bought it in April.

I just picked up a new Ruger SP101 to replace it.

If you buy it, good luck.
 
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