Rossi 92 vs Winchester 92 - Page 3

MrMutation · #41 10-08-2012, 06:03 PM

The 357's were jacketed soft points by Federal (from Walmart), the 38's were fmj by Winchester. Maybe the start of the jacket was catching on the edge. Don't know until I try some more types.

mountainmanmoe · #42 12-01-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COSteve

Besides costing a small fortune, the Japchesters also come with their inane tang safety and terrible rebounding hammer setup that's prone to light strikes and missfires. Not so with the Rossis as they have the trigger and action just like Winchester first made them with a half cock and all. Some have a stupid small safety lever on top of the bolt at the rear but that can be plugged simply and inexpensively.

As I posted in another thread, you'll want to take a look at Steve Gunz Rossi tuneup kit and DVD for your Rossi. You get a DVD that walks you through everything you need to do to slick up your Rossi so it will run smoother, have a better trigger, and last longer. The DVD shows you how to lighten many of the springs and where to smooth things out. In addition, it contains both a reduced power ejector spring and a metal magazine follower, two important parts to change for long term trouble free operation. Best of all, the whole kit is only $58.40. If your Rossi has that stupid bolt safety that you'd like to lose as well (both mine did), he's also got a replacement plug for $18.95, that's a 60 second job to swap out without even taking apart the rifle.

If you've got a Rossi and want it to run slick and last a long time, you can't find a better thing to get for it. I slicked up both my 357mag Rossi 24" rifle and 20" carbine and found the process simple to do and rather enjoyable to learn about my leverguns. Further, I added new sights to both, however, in truth the carbine's sights were just fine and on the rifle, I switched over to a globe and tang setup for long range shooting. Those sights don't come on a Japchester either. I also applied some WATCO Danish Oil stain right over the standard Rossi finish to really enhance the look of them.

They aren't safe queens as both have about 4,000 trouble free rounds through them and they are accurate as heck and just a ton of fun to shoot. With the tang/globe setup, I even shoot my rifle out at 300yds. Best of all, the two Rossis together including the all the upgrades, cost me just a bit more than a single Japchester before I had to pay to have the rebounding hammer and tang safety removed and it put back as it should be.

As you can see, the WATCO Danish Oil makes quite a difference and it's easy to add right over the standard finish. In addition, it really brought out the case hardened look of my rifle and made them pop! They are now my favorite rifles to take to the range for some good old fashioned fun. I wouldn't trade or sell them for anything.

Before:

After:

Now I think they both are great. They shoot good, feel good, have great triggers and slick as snot actions and I think that they both turn a head or two at the range.

Steve, where can I find a rear site like the one on your 24'' rosi .357? I would like to try one out. How did it effect your head position or cheek position on the stock?

T

COSteve · #43 12-05-2012, 07:37 AM

24” Rifle:
I got the Marble sights at Brownells:
· Front - Marble 37-W 1/16" Gold Front Sight - Stock no. 579-103-731 (I got the 1/16" wide one for more precision but they also have a 3/32" wide one too)
· Rear - Marble Folding Sporting Rear Sight No. 95 - Stock No. 579-000-082 (you need a folding one so it doesn't block the tang)
· Tang - Marble Rossi 1892 Peep Tang Sight - Stock no. 579-009-807 (made specifically for your Rossi '92)
· Screws - Marble Peep Tang Sight Screw Set (Rossi) - Stock no. 579-000-101 (again, specifically for your Rossi '92)

Note: The Rossi rifles (both 20" short and 24" bbl) are already D&T for the front tang sight screw so all you have to do is screw them on. Use the existing front and rear sight to line the tang sight up, then remove the front sight and use the rear and tang to line the new one up. Finally, remove the rear sight and use the front and tang to line the folding new one up.

I later removed the front and rear sight and replaced them with:
· 1ea Lyman Globe front sight model 17A - Stock no. 539-017-36
· 1ea Fancy Dovetail Slot Blank - Stock no. 080-000-193 that took some work the shorten and widen the dovetail so it would fit tight and low on the barrel.
· 1ea Shaver Insert Set for Lyman 17A combo card – Stock no. 781-100-017 (I used the small aperture so the folding rear sight didn't work well with it)

This is the configuration shown in the pictures. Still later, I switched the front insert to a post so I reinstalled the folding rear No. 95 sight. This is how I've had it for a while and I really like this combo.

BTW, if anyone is curious about the sights I used on the 20" Carbine, here is the information on them too.

20” Carbine:
I got the Marble sights at Brownells:
· Front - Marble 45-W 3/32" Gold Front Sight - Stock no. 579-204-531 (I got the 3/32" wide one but if you want more precision they also have a 1/16" wide one too)
· Rear - Marble #64 Dovetail Semi-Buckhorn Rear, Short Shank- Stock No. 579-064-001

Also, for those who like to shoot both 357mag and 38spl in their Rossis and handload, I've found that if you load the 38spl a bit long at 1.500" OAL (midway between the SAAMI standard 1.460" for 38spl and 1.580" OAL which is the SAAMI standard for 357mag) they will feed slick as snot in a levergun set up for 357mag. Leverguns with angled carriers by their basic design are OAL sensitive. If you get it running with 357mag and 38spl have trouble give the longer OAL versions a try. In addition, because you're loading your 38spl rounds long, you can add a touch more powder if you've selected a slow pistol powder, because the resulting increased effective case volume generates a slightly lower peak pressure. Don't get carried away, but a bit more powder (0.1-0.2grn) than the max listed will give you a bit higher velocities without over stressing the brass. As always, check for pressure signs when working up the loads for your specific rifle.

temmi · #44 12-06-2012, 09:19 AM

So I did have a chance to shoot my R92

From the bench at 50 yrds

Speer 250g HPs at 1100ft/sec (Ruger loads)

Useing Steves upgraded Semi-buckhorn sights

1.5 - 1.75 inch groups...

Never used "V" sights on a rifle before...

Snake

jesse27467 · #45 12-18-2012, 09:39 AM

Friends don't let friends buy Rossi's. I have been shooting Cowboy for thirteen years. I've seen Rossi after Rossi fail. If your budget is tight try a used Marlin. Good solid rifle.

HarryS · #46 12-18-2012, 10:02 AM

Congratulations JL on the a 1892 Chiappa. there quality and finish is first rate.

On getting the corect sight, I'd just contact Chiappa direct first.

The distributor in your neck of the world is:
MIALLS GUN SHOP
E-Mail: John.mialls@mialls.com.au
Miall's Gun Shop
59/61 Playne st
Frankston, Victoria
Australia

Enjoy shooting you have made a good choice.

COSteve · #47 12-20-2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesse27467

Friends don't let friends buy Rossi's. I have been shooting Cowboy for thirteen years. I've seen Rossi after Rossi fail. If your budget is tight try a used Marlin. Good solid rifle.

Steve of Steve's Gunz (AKA Nate Kiowa Jones in the CASS world) used Rossis so much he's become an expert on them and he's posted many times on Leverguns.com and his own sites that Rossis work well in CASS competition once they have been slicked up.

It's true that a '92 action will never be as fast as a short stroked '73 but then for most of us that's a non issue. It's also true that a '73, no matter what you do to it, will never be strong enough to shoot a steady diet of magnum level loads in whatever caliber it's made in, be it 357mag, 45 Colt, or 44 mag but that's a non-issue to CASS shooters who rarely ever shoot even a medium power load. Fact is, a Marlin's action isn't as strong as the Rossi's either so if full power shooting is your interest, the Rossi is the best choice.

The point is that different tools work for different tasks. Jesse is a CASS shooter and I'm betting he has a slicked up '73 with a short stroke kit in it and shoots low power 38spls almost exclusively. Probably shoots them really fast too which is great fun and he's likely good at it.

However, I have no interest in CASS shooting and with my tastes, having a levergun that can't take a full power load so I can shoot longer ranges is a waste of wood and steel. Jesse would disagree and that's great because his shooting tastes are different.

Neither is better, just different so advising against a Rossi generally because of one's CASS experience is short sighted. The OP may want one for CASS and he may have no interest in CASS. It's his choice to decide.

HarryS · #48 12-20-2012, 12:51 PM

Jessee, Welcome to the forum, nice place. Glad you joined and looking forward to seeing yoour future posts.
You nailed it. "Friends don't let friends buy Rossi's."

Notice how this thread has degenerated into ways to "fix" your Rossi. JL will enjoy his Chiappa! But the Rossi guys haven't even noticed...still repairing.

willygene · #49 12-20-2012, 06:24 PM

I love my chiappa and cimarron rifles but I would not trade my rossi rifles for nothing at the price and a little work and I will trut them with my life. Those who hate them have never tried them.

COSteve · #50 12-22-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryS

Jessee, Welcome to the forum, nice place. Glad you joined and looking forward to seeing yoour future posts.
You nailed it. "Friends don't let friends buy Rossi's."

Notice how this thread has degenerated into ways to "fix" your Rossi. JL will enjoy his Chiappa! But the Rossi guys haven't even noticed...still repairing.

You don't get it do ya!?!?

You want to be a hater, be my guest but don't sling BS about something you don't understand. The world isn't about CASS shooting. Most of us want a levergun to have fun and maybe hunt with rather than running around competing with it.

Ain't nothing wrong with either of my Rossis and I've got well over 3,500rds of full power 357mag 158grn handloads that clock over 1,900fps through each one without any issues at all. Never had a dreaded Marlin jam either.

No, my post was about purpose and design. Some designs are better for a given task than others. It doesn't have anything to do with quality, but rather purpose. For instance a Corvette is a great sports car but would make a lousy pickup truck while a Ford F100 is great for hauling by would suck as sports car.

A '92 clone levergun is never going to run in CASS shoots as fast as a '60, '66, or '73 clone because of the design, not who manufacturers it. Similarly, the '60, '66, or '73 clones will never have as strong an action as a '92 clone, again because of their design rather than who manufactures it.

baddad457 · #51 12-22-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesse27467

Friends don't let friends buy Rossi's. I have been shooting Cowboy for thirteen years. I've seen Rossi after Rossi fail. If your budget is tight try a used Marlin. Good solid rifle.

I've got three Rossi 92's, none have failed. Do they have minor problems ? Yes, but nothing that can't be fixed at home without having to send it back to the factory. The only problem I had was with heavy bullet loads (44 mag) and the magazine tube jumping the retainer bolt. I fixed it with a larger diameter roll pin. They're excellant guns for the money. If you don't like em, them don't buy one, but don't sit there behind a keyboard putting them down. Marlin's have their problems too, most notably the "fat" forearm wood, that's about the butt-uggliest thing about a Marlin and the main thing that turns me off to buying one.

MMichaelAK · #52 12-25-2012, 02:51 PM

I've been watching this thread for a while.

I do not shoot CAS. I do however own a Legacy Int'l Puma 92 in .45 Colt. I have for over 4 years. It has digested with ease Cowboy loads, SAAMI spec loads and Ruger Only loads for the .45 Colt.
I have never had one problem. It is as reliable as my 1982 Marlin 94C in .357 Magnum.

pricedo · #53 02-09-2013, 01:56 PM

Rossis certainly aren't perfect (absolutely no quality control in their Brazil factory whatsoever) but if you exercise due diligence and thoroughly inspect your prospective purchase BEFORE you buy it and get "the pick of the litter" of the ones that are on the rack you have the basis of building a great gun with a little commonsense and elbow grease at the workbench.
I have 3 Amadeo Rossi M92s (357M, 44M, 454C) and all it took was a complete strip down, general cleaning of grease, dirt & metal grindings out of the magazine tube and receiver and removal of burrs from metal parts & smoothing to give me 3 slick and very accurate leverguns at 1/3 the price of the Miroku build Winchesters and no extraneous, redundant lawyer safety junk like rebounding hammers & tang safeties.
My M92s are older models manufactured before the Taurus buyout & don't have the safety switch on top of the bolt......another BONUS !