Thoughts on Rossi 92

by Warhawk, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Thursday, November 26, 2015, 16:32 (3288 days ago) @ woody
edited by Warhawk, Thursday, November 26, 2015, 16:35

I have owned several Rossi 92s, currently down to two, both are stainless trappers, 357 and 44. I also own or have owned Marlins and Brownings in these calibers. The Rossis shoot better than the Brownings,, even if they don't look quite as nice. Marlin 357s seem to all shoot pretty well, but I have yet to find a Marlin 44 that met my expectations for accuracy. The Rossi 92 44 that I have is a great shooter.

Both of miy R92s have been to Steve Young for an action job, money well spent. At a minimum I would remove that silly bolt safety and install a steel magazine follower, both available thru Mr Young's shop.

I have owned Rossis in 45 Colt. One was a 20 inch stainless carbine, the other a blued trapper. I had some very stout Ruger only loads that I tried in the trapper. I ran out of recoil tolerance before I found the guns limit. The Rossi 92 trapper is around 5 to 5 1/2 pounds, and with the steel butt plate it can dish out some punishment. 300 and 320 grain heavy hardcast loads were more recoil than I wanted. Also, I ran out of adjustment of the read sight elevator with the heaviest loads.

All that said, I think the Rossi 92 is a dandy little lever gun, and in 357 mag is one of my favorites.

If I wanted to shoot heavy 45 Colt loads in a Rossi 92, I'd try to find one in 454 Casull. The recoil pad alone would be reason enough, but I also like the tube loading feature on the 454.