I got a new itch: Rossi 92

[jamesjames]

Rossi '92 levers have finally arrived at the local Big 5 here on the Oregon Coast. I've got Marlin and Winnie '94s and really like them. But I saw Hickok45's video on his Winnie '92 and I just got bit by the '92 bug. I've been reading all the reviews and know what to expect in terms of slicking up action parts to get optimal feed and smooth action. Does anybody here have experience with the Rossi '92 that they can share? The pistol caliber levers are really fun, and I have always wanted one in .357.

[Snyd]

I have one in 454 and it's plenty accurate with all my handgun loads from 200gr 45 Colt up to 435gr 454. I've messed around with quite a few loads. I've never had a feeding problem except with a 355gr WFN in 454 brass. Combination of OAL and nose profile. I've shortened up 454 brass a skosh and come up with a load that cycles reliably and is accurate in 2 different guns. 325gr from a Lyman mould in full length 454 brass cycles fine.


Swaged down .458 from an RCBS 405 fn mold. These dropped 422gr. Pretty accurate, jumps crimp in the 454 Redhawk though.


My "go to" dual gun bear load. 50 yds. 355gr wfn




Here's the happy couple

[jamesjames]

Now there's a pair to draw to.

[subsonic]

Snyd,

Have you shot the heavy boolits out past 50yds? Are they stable?

I want one of those rifles, but I'm worried about stabilizing boolits over about 300gr....

[nolongcolt]

I recently purchased a new M92 in .44-40 Win. Neat rifle. Has the color case receiver and buttplate (curved). 24"oct bbl. Shoots very well. Rifling is quite shallow and I worried it might not like lead bullets but it shoots them just fine. Perhaps not as well as jcktd but just fine for govt work.
A couple of things needed doing. Had to change the front site for elevation issues. Rear sight bar needed bending down and ele ramp changed as it was jumping the ramp on recoil (with the peppier loads) and changing POI, most annoying. Extractor needed tuning big time. It took lots of force to close the lever as the face of the extractor tried to bull its way over the rim of the case. I took it out and polished it some and changed the bevel a bit and it now works better, but not wanting to go too far with it called a halt. I have since sent for a spare. BTW dont bother trying to get too many parts from ROSSI in FL, they wont ship them to you. I couldnt even get the extractor and had to find a 'smith to sell me one. That aside it has become a favorite rifle, it looks super neat and shoots like a house a fire.

[ericp]

I have an early stainless 92 in 357. It'll feed any bullet shape in 38 brass and everything but Lyman 358429 in magnum brass. With loads it likes it'll shoot about 2" at 100 yards with a receiver sight. My girlfriend shot her first deer with it a couple of years ago. It mostly gets used as my tractor/truck gun and I have no complaints, very handy little gun. As for slicking it up, I just followed Mr. Taylor's directions in this article: www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/rossi.htm


Eric

[paul105]

I have four Rossi 92s (two .357s, a 16” .44 Mag, and a 20” .454). All are blue except the 16”.357 which is stainless.

Several observations:
1. There’s no real easy way to mount a receiver sight or scope (yes it can be done, but not easily).
2. It is somewhat of a crap shoot as to action smoothness
3. Some are finicky regarding ammo.
4. On my .357s, and .44 the front sight is too short.

With all that said, I really like these little rifles. With the exception of the .44, all of mine were reasonably smooth and were not ammo sensitive right out of the box.

I worked the .44s action SMARTLY (butt on the floor, thumb thru the bottom of lever) a 1000 times or so and it has smoothed out considerably. It’s still ammo sensitive and the front sight is too short but I have worked around these probs.

I have Steve Young’s ( www.stevesgunz.com/ ) video and parts but doubt I will use them.

I did replace the plastic mag tube follower’s with metal ones.

Here are some picts of the .454 and a target w/various loads. It’s currently sighted in 2” high at 100 yds with 300gr Nosler Partitions at a chronoed at 1,840 fps (no picture of this load).

Had to defend myself from the charging gopher (250gr Horn XTP at 1,750 fps):
.

.

Various .45 Colt loads both mild and warm.
.


A lot of good info on the M92s is available here:
www.rossi-rifleman.com/

Paul

[0369]

I have one in 45 Colt with the 20" barrel. I absolutely love it and after a little slicking while it was apart to drilling and tapping it's very smooth. Haven't had it out past 50 yards yet, but it cloverleafs Lee 255-RNs on top of 8.5 grns. of Unique. In this picture it has the Williams FP on it but has since been upgraded to a Redfield. Both works with the factory front sight.

[nolongcolt]

I am really diggin mine. Shot today at 50 yards, put about 12 into a ragged hole about 1 inch wide and 1.5 inch tall. Really shoots. Load is 18 grs of 2400 behind Remington .430 210gr, jktd hollow points. Now if I can just find some more of those. I dont see anybody that has them.

[vonfatman]

I am also a fan of the '92 action. I have a pair of Browning 92s (.357 & .44 Mag) and they are fantastic...they eat anything I load in the magazine ('cept .38 Specials loaded with 148gr. flush-faced bullets). I have heard lots of good comments on the Rossi lever-guns. I've sold off all my Marlin 1894s...they never fed like these '92s...and I was not going to spend a bunch of money with a Marlin 'smith just to get them to do what they are supposed to do from the git-go.

Bob

[Irelander]

I have a Rossi 92 stainless 16" 44MAG. Great gun. I slicked it up a little and refinished the wood. I also installed sling swivels on the left side of the gun.

[magnumwheelman]

I have an early Rossi 92 ( pre safety ) engraved saddle ring carbine with extra grade wood in 38 / 357... I think it was ( at least close to ) unfired when I bought it... had a couple handling dings & no box, but action felt like new... I shot CAS with it my 1st year, & over the course of the season, it slicked up quite nicely... feeds great with lead trunk cone 38 Specials, & really anything I've run through it so far... I decided to switch to classic cowboy class, which requires an upsize in caliber ( my revolvers were already in 45 Colt ) so I bought a newer Rossi 92 in brass & stainless with octagon rifle length barrel in 45 Colt, that I'm sure had not been fired, as it wouldn't dent the primers... had my local guy fix it, & I removed the safety, so it's the same as my 38... works great now... looks awesome with brass receiver, forend cap, & curved butt plate, with stainless lever & barrel,

got another buddy that bought a new blued Rossi 92 in 38/357, & his wouldn't extract the empties... upon examination, it appeared to have a 44 Mag extractor... we picked up an aftermarket 357 extractor, & his has been working fine since

my 2 are the top 2 lever guns in the rack...

[akray]

My complaint about the Browning 92s is that they aren't set up for receiver sights. Mine fed great too, but there was no flexibility in the sight system. With the Marlins, you can put a receiver sight on, or even a scope if you are so inclined.

[nolongcolt]

My only complaint about them is lack of caliber choice. I would have bought one years ago in .44-40!

[hawks]

I have really enjoyed mine. A Navy Arms (Rossi) short rifle, no barrel band. Stainless 20 inch octagon barrel. I added a Lyman tang sight and gold bead front. This has been my ATV, truck, "by the door" rifle for years. Mainly shot lead 158 grain swc. A real thumper has been Remington 180 grain semi-jacked hollow point loaded in 38 special cases(357 cases OAL will not feed) using 12.5 grains of 2400.I only use new cases and load once at that level.