RANGE REPORT: new Rossi 92' 357 mag "truck" levergun...

[1894c]

I recently bought a stainless steel Rossi 92 .357 Mag. with a 16" bbl. Wasn't sure about accuracy and function, so before I took it shooting today (02.17.2012) I cycled the action some to help break it in and gave it a good cleaning. I bought two boxes of factory stuff (busy week--no time to reload) Fiocchi 357 with a 142 grain bullet (FMJTC) and a box of 158 grain hollow-points (XTPHP).

My distance was only 35 yards and my targets today were clay pigeons and a few soda cans, my goal was to break the gun in and get a feel for accuracy and function. OK--can this rifle shoot, I used the iron sights that came with this gun and was breaking clays all day--hits on the soda cans came easy (accurate at-minute-of-soda can).

I have a Rem-Marlin 1894c which has proven to be a good shooter and this Rossi is right there too. The recoil is nothing, my shooting buddy enjoyed it also. The one thing I did notice is that this gun is short, I once owned a Win.94 Trapper in 30/30 (used it when I hunted in the Adirondacks) and the Rossi seems a little shorter than that.

The action was good, not great, but as I continued shooting it smoothed up allot (no FTF, this gun ate everything). I really like the 92' action and design so I'm thinking I need one more in .44 Mag (yeah one more--right). I don't think I'm going to put a receiver sight on this levergun as I usually do, I may simply up-grade it to Marble's iron sights; WHY--because I think I want to maintain the simplicity of this trapper. Bottom-line: you want a working man's truck-jeep-levergun I would highly recommend a Rossi 92. I also ordered pieces-parts and the CD from Steve Young http://store.stevesgunz.com/, talked to him on the phone--what a wealth of information and a true gentlemen... :)

[gak]

Sounds like you're good to go! Great little gun.

[Rich N]

Thanks for the review. I'd sounds like you have a nice little rifle.

[Old Ranger]

Thank you. You have answered the needs of many I'm sure. Been looking into the blued model with the large finger lever as it reminds me of a Win. 94 I had once in .32Spl. (miss that one!) and the Rossi in .357 was of great interest to me. Now I know it will do the job!

Thanks again for taking the time to provide this report on the weapon.

Wade

[Rusty]

Nice report, thanks. I'm thinkin that for a truck gun a 16-18" barrel would be just about perfect.

[AJMD429]

I really like the 92' action and design so I'm thinking I need one more in .44 Mag (yeah one more--right).

I like the way you think...you'll eventually want a .45 Colt one too, I presume...

That little gun with a Marble's "bullseye" rear sight will be a ton of fast-shootin', accurate, FUN...!

I shot this group right after mounting the sight, so had to drift it left just a bit, but since then the groups are still nice and tight, and centered.



I'm assuming I can find a .357 Mag load it likes as well as the .38 Specials - and I'll have to hunt down that link on 'accurizing the levergun' so I can make sure the barrel heat-up isn't causing the stringing due to magazine-tube binding, but at 40 yards, the Marble's "bullseye" surely lives up to it's name.

You'll love that gun - and I highly recommend the Marble's sights.

[Mescalero]

AJMD429,
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT SIGHT!

[AJMD429]

AJMD429, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT SIGHT!

Here's a link to thread on Bullseye sight.

It's this one for $15.99 at MidwayUSA.com

About the same size as a "full buckhorn" style sight, but way less obstruction of the field-of-view, and way faster (see the thread link above).

[Panzercat]

Wish I could say the same for my Rossi 454. Cycles the 454 all day, but fails with .45lc; half the reason i bought it. Think I'll pay the extra next time and skip Rossi for the time being.

[Hobie]

Wish I could say the same for my Rossi 454. Cycles the 454 all day, but fails with .45lc; half the reason i bought it. Think I'll pay the extra next time and skip Rossi for the time being.

I think you might want to check your own topic on this subject. Nate is THE man on the 92s. Listen to him.

[AJMD429]

Wish I could say the same for my Rossi 454. Cycles the 454 all day, but fails with .45lc; half the reason i bought it. Think I'll pay the extra next time and skip Rossi for the time being.

Not sure what you mean - as far as I know, the ONLY .454 Casull levergun is the Rossi, so 'paying extra' would get you what...?

[JerryB]

I know what you mean about a 92 .357, mine is just about the perfect little carbine for anything I will run onto here in north Arkansaw.