Preferred length for M92?

[KentuckyBlue]

I'm seriously considering a Rossi M92 in .357. Sort of deliberating what length barrel to get. Can you share your preferences/opinions? I don't hunt. I target shoot and I like to look at my guns. Just got on the kick of lever action rifles and it looks like it could be an expensive hobby. I like the Uberti 1873's; gulp..$$$$$$. I know that the Marlin's are popular too; I just like the thinner, sleeker rifles, but I'm open to all suggestions right now. Maybe I'll get more than one! LOL Thanks. I'm new here and am enjoying the site very much.

Ray

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Personally, I think the smaller 92 frame looks best with a 20" barrel. But if you're target shooting, you might want that extra sight radius that a 24" barrel gets you. The balance point may be better with the shorter barrel but that can depend a lot on other factors as well ... such as whether you'll have a full length magazine or something shorter and/or the contour or weight of the barrel, etc.

Oh, and welcome. I just noticed this is your first post. Other highly opinionated people will be along shortly too.

[J Miller]

My preferred length is 20". To me they look balanced. They feel balanced and will usually just hang there while you have the sights aligned. The longer sight radius also helps with accuracy.

The shorter length Trappers have their uses, and I have two of them, but the 20" guns get more use from me.

Joe

[TriggerPhinger]

I just shot my new Rossi M92 and love it! Mine is a 20 inch octagonal barrel with a case hardened receiver. The gun is nicely balanced and looks great!

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Hi Ray,
Welcome to the fire. I work on, own and sell a lot of the Rossi 92's. for the cowboy action shooters I sell more 20" octagon guns than any other configuration. I think it is because it's a bit more handy than the 24" but retains some forward weight that helps stabilize the barrel for quicker sight.target acquisition.
I also sell to the NRA leveraction Silhouette shooters. Seem many of those folks prefer the 24" oct then the 20" oct.
For the hunters and general shooters I sell more 20" and 16" round barrel carbines.

Myself, I prefer the 20" round barrel.

[JerryB]

Welcome to the forum. All of my Winchesters are 20 inch carbines except an old 1892 32wcf, it is a 24 inch rifle. My Rossi .357 and .45 Colt are both 20 inch carbines. I don't seem to have any sight trouble at longer ranges with the 20 inch and it sure works well for a truck gun. You get a little 20 inch Rossi .357 and it will end up living in your truck, they just seem at home there.

[Griff]

and welcome to the Forum.

If I was to get another Rossi in .357 for target work, I would be getting the 24" octagon barrelled version from EMF with the CCH receiver.

Reasons:
octagon bbl - for stiffness, less flex is better.
24" length - longer sight radius, especially when you add a tang sight.
CCH - 'cause it's puurrrty.
EMF - 'cause I know the owner, their head sales guy & Nate handles 'em!

Well! Now I hafta add another'n to the need list!

[tman]

16" saddle ring carbine. it worked well for JOHN WAYNE

[Hobie]

I'm a carbine guy. I might get a 16" someday but the 20" suits just fine.

[TedH]

Welcome. I'll put in another vote for the 20" tube.

[AJMD429]

If I could only have one, I might consider a 20" as a 'compromise' to be best all-around; after all, it's what most answers have been for THE best length.

On the other hand, if I were allowed TWO, I'd get a 16" round, and 24" octagonal. (Actually, the wife/boss DID allow me two, so I DID get those ones - ).

The 16" is as handy a little near-pistol 'carbine' as you'd ever want, yet can put a full magazine of lead in 4" at 50 yards every time. I put a Marble's "Bullseye" sight on mine, and made a fiber-optic (took a Dremel tool and hand-file to the factory front sight, and inserted a chunk of green fiberoptic in it) front on it, and it is FAST to get on target.
Link - http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=21648



The 24" is to me a 'traditional' looking gun, which I put a tang sight on (the Taurus one for $29 that is a clone of the Marble's) and a Lyman Globe front sight. I think if I do my part with good reloads, and those sights, on that gun, a 1" 50-yard group would be the norm every time.
Link - http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=20359




Love them both...!

[gak]

I have em all lengths, but it's the 20" round-barrel carbine, like many have said, that gets used the most. One thing not specifically mentioned here that I've seen is, to me, it matters greatly what caliber we're talking about. Your .357 selection in a 24" with that small bore hole would get awfully heavy after awhile of toting--and specifically front end heavy. The .44 and .45 bore 20" and 24" octagonals are no lightweights either, but more tolerable. I don't do the CAS competition thing, so even the "short rifle" (20" octagonal) is a bit heavy for my tastes of carrying around. In .357, the 20" round-barreled carbine is the best all around compromise of capacity, portability and shootability, and has plenty (just the right amount) of front end heft.

[ChuteTheMall]

Today I voted with my VISA card for the M92 in 20" length, round barrel, .357 magnum.

It's my first levergun, and this is my first post.

I compared it to the 24" octo which was $489 instead of $419.

I swung them both around a little (at a very large and crowded gunshow) and decided to go with lighter weight, shorter length, and lower price.

There was also a stainless 20" round available, I think it was about $439, and I was briefly tempted by the shiny metal. But only briefly, so I went with the blue.

Anyway, now there's another newbie in this thread and on this board, who's owned only one levergun for less than 3 hours. Glad to see my 20" choice validated by so many, including Nate Kiowa Jones who might someday do an action job on my 92. Let me break it in and shoot it for a year or so first.

[MrMurphy]

I generally stick with a 20" as i'm not a pure target shooter and any rifle will see field time indoors or out, so "short and handy" whenever possible, is good.

[Warhawk]

I prefer the 16 inch Trapper with the 20 inch Saddle Ring Carbine a close second.

[CowboyTutt]

Ditto the 20" round barrel. I have had one in 454 Casull for years and my best friend has a similar one in the 16" variety. There is no meaningful difference in velocity between the two (50 fps) but my 20" is just a little more stable, has good sight radius, and "splits the difference" between long range accuracy and quick handling. If your only looking at short range shooting and how fast a gun comes up to your shoulder, the 16" might be better for you, but the 20" is a very good compromise, looks right, feels right, and shoots well.

-Tutt

[2X22]

Don't care much for carbines, I like rifles. 22" being minimum, 24 or 26" being perfect. I also like 'em with octagon barrels so I have some weight up front and she holds steady.

That being said, I've been putting on a lot of miles this summer with a 20" octagon short rifle that packs might nice 'cept I have to have 8 or 9 in the tube to get 'er to balance right.

2x22

[Old Savage]

I like the 20".

[firefuzz]

I like 'em all, but the 20" carbine is my favorite.

Rob

[COSteve]

Deleted

[Kansas Ed]

I've only kept 24" and longer rifles. Shorter barrels I've sold off, except for 2 with special history.

Ed

[KentuckyBlue]

Hi Ray,
Welcome to the fire. I work on, own and sell a lot of the Rossi 92's. for the cowboy action shooters I sell more 20" octagon guns than any other configuration. I think it is because it's a bit more handy than the 24" but retains some forward weight that helps stabilize the barrel for quicker sight.target acquisition.
I also sell to the NRA leveraction Silhouette shooters. Seem many of those folks prefer the 24" oct then the 20" oct.
For the hunters and general shooters I sell more 20" and 16" round barrel carbines.

Myself, I prefer the 20" round barrel.

Steve: I like the one you are holding in your picture. Is that available on your web site? Also, just curious, what do folks use the 16" carbines for?

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Hi Ray,
Welcome to the fire. I work on, own and sell a lot of the Rossi 92's. for the cowboy action shooters I sell more 20" octagon guns than any other configuration. I think it is because it's a bit more handy than the 24" but retains some forward weight that helps stabilize the barrel for quicker sight.target acquisition.
I also sell to the NRA leveraction Silhouette shooters. Seem many of those folks prefer the 24" oct then the 20" oct.
For the hunters and general shooters I sell more 20" and 16" round barrel carbines.

Myself, I prefer the 20" round barrel.

Steve: I like the one you are holding in your picture. Is that available on your web site? Also, just curious, what do folks use the 16" carbines for?

Hi Ray,
It's on there sorta. It shows up as the;
Rossi 1892 Carbine - The Big Loop "Duke"
But because it's custom built I can configure it as a 20" with the standard lever as well. If you will email me I'll get you some info.
Email is below.
I have sold several of the 16" trapper size guns in 454 Casull cal to the folks that spend time in bear country. The 16" in 454 with sling swivels is handy bear medicine.


Notice the recoil pad. It aint enough.

[CowboyTutt]

Steve is right, without a premium pad on the Casull versions they are bruisers! -Tutt

[rjohns94]

20 inches for me. perfect balance. and mine is in .357 also. Blessings. (though I would not mind 16 inches but I think 20 maximizes the potential of the .357.

[pokey]

hhmmmmm.

P5030080.JPG

this one,

but..... if i ever get my gun fund back up to speed i'll pick up a 20" in 45colt.

[Jacko]

I would not trade my 24"octagonal barrel .357 Rossi for the world. It points and swings beautifully when tracking fast moving game and the long sight radius is appreciated on the target range or in the field when longer shots present.

No matter what Rifle you buy fit a Tang sight, best money I ever spent on a Rifle

regards Jacko

[brno602]

I like my 16'' Barrel have to admit it is my first 92 type gun, My thinking was why get a long barrel for a pistol cal. I really like the 20'' in a 336 or 94 but in a trim little gun like a 92 that 16'' barrel is sweet! I love my 99s too, but to me they are in real rifle cals depends on how you look at it. 45gr of 748 in a 300 savage needs more barrel than 25gr of 296 or little gun in a .45 Colt, the colt is like a 22lr lot's of power in a tiny package.
But I also like long barrels in heavy gun's , So I think you need to buy a bunch of Levers in all types and sizes. I have 5, 99's, 1 Win 250, one Marlin 39, one 94 and one 86 and will soon buy back my 336 I sold.
If your a gun ''nut'' you really do need more than one barrel length in the type of gun you like kinda like golf clubs I guess? Iam looking for a used Rossi in .357 now with a 20 or 24'' barrel just because they don't make a .41 mag, just for the feel lol.
Try a bunch on for size at your local gun shop see what you like.