Front Barrel Band and Info on a 44 Mag, Stainless Rossi

tcomer · Post by **tcomer** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:55 pm

A friend of mine has an older model, pre-bolt safety, stainless Rossi in 44 mag. The front barrel band has cracked on the bottom. He wants to get rid of it for 200 bucks. He says the gun shot fine until that barrel band cracked, then it started printing groups erratically. First off, where to get a stainless barrel band? I've looked on the net and don't see a lot of parts for the Rossi's. Second, is cracking the barrel band a common problem? If he remembers, he plans to drop the gun off tomorrow so I can inspect it. He claims very few rounds have been fired through the gun but they have all been Cor-Bon. Is there anything else I should be looking for on this gun? I have the Puma in 357 and absolutely love that gun. Since I reload, I can load up some soft shooting rounds in 44 mag. I'm hoping this gun will be as fun as that one, but I thought I'd check in here to see some opinions so I don't buy a lemon.

gon2shoot · Post by **gon2shoot** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:22 pm

Talk to Steve Young, one of the sponsers here, he'll fix you up and tell you everything you want to know about the Rossi.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:35 pm

$200 is a steal! Get it fixed and shoot the snot out of it!

I have one in 480 Ruger. as well as 357 and 44mag. I don't load any of them light and have not had a problem. Most likely it was a bad part from te factory that let go.

Nate worked over my 357 that wouldn't feed 357s and it has become one of my favorites.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:59 pm

Welcome !

And what the other guys said +1.

tcomer · Post by **tcomer** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:22 pm

I used Mr. Young's parts to replace that stupid safety on my bolt and replaced the plastic plug in my magazine in my Puma. I didn't know what other parts he stocked for the Rossi. Plus, I'm not sure of the model of this gun yet. I want to get the magazine tube out of this gun to make sure it is not damaged where it goes into the receiver. That's why I'm asking about parts. 200 bucks is a steal if I can find the parts and they are not outrageous. A new, plain jane, blued puma is around 500 bucks.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:25 pm

Have it welded!!!

WHY OH WHY are we not looking at pics of this gun in your living room yet?

tcomer · Post by **tcomer** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:21 pm

I'm thinking of that option. I really need to get the gun in my hands. But I'd rather buy a new band if I could find one.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:23 pm

Buy it.

let me repeat.

BUY IT.

Email Steve at stevesguns.com and get the part.

The fix will be pocket change.

Did I mention, BUY IT?

tcomer · Post by **tcomer** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:35 pm

Ok, got the rifle in my hands today. Here are some pics of it: http://www.pixagogo.com/4750554611 Click on a pick to make it bigger, then click on Original at the top to really blow it up. The gun is newer than I thought. It has the safety in the bolt. It's a LSI Puma, just like my 357. Trigger is much better than the 357, even though the 357 has more rounds through it. The hammer is easier to pull and even the loading gate is easier to open. The guy hasn't shot it in 5 years and estimates the gun to be around 7 or 8 years old. I'll take the fore arm stock off just to make sure the mag tube hasn't been damaged, but this gun is clean. I've only had my 357 for about 6 months and it has more scratches on the stainless than this one. That will change. I'll contact Mr. Young to see if he has a stainless plug for that stupid safety and a metal magazine plug. Hopefully, he'll have a barrel band for it also, or might know where to get one. Does anyone think it might harm the gun to test fire it? The guy says it hits high and to the right after that band broke, but it shouldn't hurt it to fire about 5 rounds through it should it? If I can limit myself to 5 rounds. I have some soft loads ready to go. As long as the gun fires, I don't think I did too bad for 200 bucks.

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:56 pm

Well, I suggest you go turn yourself into the authorities before they come to get you for stealing that Rossi! GREAT buy.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:13 pm

jazman wrote:Well, I suggest you go turn yourself into the authorities before they come to get you for stealing that Rossi! GREAT buy.

At least go back and kiss him.

Email or call. I'm probably have a barrel band for it.

As for the tube, you don't need to take it apart. Just push a tight fitting patch through it to see if there is any hangups. If you shoot it with the band broke the tube may jump under recoil. I'd fix that first.

Or I could just sendya $250 and you send me the gun and you won't have to work on it.

tcomer · Post by **tcomer** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:26 am

Ok, I added a pic. You can see it here: http://www.pixagogo.com/4750554611 After removing the stock to check out the mag tube, I found the wood between the mag tube and the stock very thin and some of it missing. Is this a problem? The design of the gun makes me think it's not, but I thought I'd ask. When I put it back together, the mag tube no longer moves around. Not sure what I did. Anyway, if you want to look, here are the other leverguns I have: http://www.pixagogo.com/4750554611 The other Puma is a 357 with Mr Young's replacement safety plug, the '75 Winny 94 and the Golden Spike. This one is the Henry in 22 mag with a (Don't hate me) red dot on it for night time critter duty: http://www.pixagogo.com/9777704129 All these pics were taken on a bench for accuracy tests.

tcomer · Post by **tcomer** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:09 pm

Well now. Fired 5 rounds through it. Magazine slides forward because of the cracked barrel band. This gun is down until the parts come in.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:45 am

tcomer wrote:Well now. Fired 5 rounds through it. Magazine slides forward because of the cracked barrel band. This gun is down until the parts come in.

Hi Tim,
I got those parts and I sent you an email.

tcomer · Post by **tcomer** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:13 am

I got the E-mail and I'll give you a call Monday. You've got to get a little rest.

homefront · Post by **homefront** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:59 am

tcomer,

Welcome!

You're off to a really good start. Excellent buy, beautiful rifle, flexible caliber, and all the friendly help you could hope for, right here!