Rossi .44 Mag Model 92

[fn1889m]

I just bought a new 20” Rossi .44 Mag lever action 92. I cannot comfortably shoot magnum cartridges in a handgun, due to arthritis, CTS, and all that stuff. And I am only shooting paper. So I plan to shoot .44 Spl., what I load in my handguns.)

The rifling is a bit shallow. Does anyone know how it does with lead? With copper plated? It looks designed for jacketed. I bought it to shoot with 429421 sized to .430, 250 gn and 7.5 gn Unique. It seems to feeds both plated FP and lead SWC. Have not fired it yet.

The Rossi is actually well finished for what I paid. It is the newest CBC production rifle - this year production, following some reorganization at Rossi/Taurus. It looks like new tooling, CNC on forgings. The metal work is good. The stock is a little blocky and plain, but serviceable. I ended up with the stainless version, because that is what the dealer had in stock. Will replace the safety with a plug, replace the mag follower, and polish the inside parts, some of which appear cast.

I lost interest in ARs after building a few. This would make a good home defense/SHF rifle if my state bans ARs. And fun to shoot at the range with my pistol ammunition.

[matt56]

My 2000s puma 44 mag has shallow rifling and a .432 groove diameter. It is important to slug your bore for cast. Mine wouldn’t shoot until I started using .433 bullets.

A good midrange load I found is 10 grains of unique behind a 240gr plain based bullet.


You want a fun SHTF/home defense gun SBR a ranch hand

[taffin]

This is from my Rossi .44-40. I'm guessing they have the same barrel.

[fn1889m]

Nice group. What year is your rifle? I understand it’s all new tooling after about late 2019.

[taffin]

1980s

[bogusbill]

I own a Puma in .357 and a early Browning 92 in .44 mag. I haven't worked extensively with either one. Except for the Browning's gold trigger they look identical. That said I like the .357 better to shoot. In the real world except for maybe a grizzly I believe the 357 will do the same job the .44 mag will. And it`s a sweetheart as it kicks a lot less.
i.postimg.cc/wvwZ3j3y/35744mag.jpg

[taffin]

ROSSI .357

[fn1889m]

OK. I’ve cycled the rifle to smooth it up, put a small amount of tetra grease on the rails, and some light oil on other parts. Big improvement. Like butter.

But after letting it sit overnight the action is now extremely stiff, and when I pull the trigger, the hammer occasionally only falls to the half cock position. It’s almost as if there’s congealed grease inside the action. I can take it apart and clean it. Any other ideas? I hate to send it in if it’s not necessary.

ETA: OK. I disassembled the damn thing, put the various groups of parts into plastic bags so they’re together, cleaned up the burr on the hammer notch, will lightly hone the sear. There is a little curl on it. And will put it back together after a soak in solvent. All original parts. If this doesn’t solve the problem, I’ll send it to the warranty repair. Damn.

I noticed that the hammer is probably chrome plated. And the screws appear to be carbon, and just polished and exposed parts. Just an observation. If that is the case, I think I will blue the screws. The parts are all highly magnetic.

E2TA: I doubt that anyone waited with bated breath, but took the rifle completely apart, except the cartridge stop. It was not too dirty. But something happened. If not congealed grease, then maybe a stray piece of metal somewhere. But cleaned it well, all parts and receiver, and cleaned up the lifter pin which has a burr, sear and sear notch had burrs. It is smooth and easy to cycle now. Just a thin film of tetra applied to the slide/bolt. Cycles my dummy round of .44 special without a bump.

I think the moral is that, though it’s a neat little rifle in a pistol cartridge, if you buy a Rossi, you better plan on learning how to take it apart and put it back together.

[matt56]

I agree with that. I own 9 Rossi 92s and I think they’re a decent value but they do need tinkered with occasionally. The one 44 I shoot the most has been apart several different times for various internal issues. The biggest improvement however has been a lighter ejector spring

[bagdadjoe]

I bought the octagon barreled rifle version, 24 inch. Superbly accurate with cast, all I ever shot in it, smooth as silk, ran great.
Crescent buttplate ate me alive...bad shoulder anyway. A flat buttplate and I'd still own it. I would have had to have changed out the buckhorn sights though.
Hope it works out for you, I think thet are great little guns.

[needsmostuff]

Jun 7, 2020 8:19:16 GMT -5 bagdadjoe said:

Crescent buttplate ate me alive...bad shoulder anyway. A flat buttplate and I'd still own it. I would have had to have changed out the buckhorn sights though.

Yup and Yup.
Classic levergun good looks , nope. But ya do what ya gotta do.

[dickf]

Needsmostuff: like the looks of your carbine. Does the receiver sight replace that hideous safety? Who makes it? Been looking for another lever gun, we know better than to sell or trade guns we like! Winchesters, Brownings, pre safety Marlins bringing foolish $$. Thinking about trying a Rossi.
RGF

[Aeroscout]

Jun 7, 2020 13:13:56 GMT -5 dickf said:

Needsmostuff: like the looks of your carbine. Does the receiver sight replace that hideous safety? Who makes it? Been looking for another lever gun, we know better than to sell or trade guns we like! Winchesters, Brownings, pre safety Marlins bringing foolish $$. Thinking about trying a Rossi.
RGF

store.stevesgunz.com/

Replaces the ridiculous bolt mounted safety. If you buy the rear sight, go ahead and replace the front sight too.

I have a 44 and that's what we did. It's a fun gun.

[needsmostuff]

Yup , aeroscout nailed it , comes from Steve's guns. A good source for many things good for a Rossi.

[dickf]

Thanks to you both. RGF