Rossi .410 lever

[richerich]

I looked for a post on them and didn't see one. Has anyone handled one? I can't seem to locate one to look at it up close. I think it would be a neat little small game gun, and here in Ohio deer slug gun. now only if they come with screw in chokes....

[earlmck]

The new American Rifleman has a nice write-up on just that beast. Makes it sound pretty fine.

[Ysabel Kid]

The new American Rifleman has a nice write-up on just that beast. Makes it sound pretty fine.

Along with the "Ranch Hand". Now, if Rossi would have stuck with the plan to make a .410 Ranch Hand, it would have been a home run!

[AJMD429]

I think it would be a neat little small game gun, and here in Ohio deer slug gun. now only if they come with screw in chokes....

Look up the ballistics on factory .410 slugs, and you'll find they are about like a mild .32-20 load...

Legal for deer, yes, but humane or appropriate for deer (other than in very skilled hands), I don't think so.

Before Indiana got smart and legalized the .357/.44/.45 Colt class guns, I got a breakopen .45 Colt rated for ".45 Colt/.410 Shotshell", and thought I'd give it a try. The slugs were pretty anemic, and I was wanting something for my kids to use for deer, so even though I taught them well, I wanted something that any solid thorax hit would do the job. THEN I got sneaky, and decided I'd use a .45 Colt, which was way more powerful and appropriate for deer. Unfortunately, the 'freebore' using a .45 Colt in a .410-capable gun resulted in groups over 12 inches at 25 yards...! I was going to buy .410 Brass, and load my own slugs, but during that year Indiana got sensible and I had my kids use .44 Mags for their first deer.

I have heard some folks shoot .410 shells in a .444 Marlin, which could be safe, but I doubt the Ohio game wardens would consider such a setup as 'deer-legal', plus you'd still be dealing with a 90-grain projectile around 1200 or maybe 1500 fps or so.

ON THE OTHER HAND - I think the idea of a .410 lever just for it's own sake, as a dandy little fast-firing .410, would be really cool. Just not for deer, even in a place where the game laws don't make sense.

Maybe you guys could research into the background of the Indiana change-over, and try to get a copy of what we did up for a vote; ours isn't perfect, but sure beats what we had before, especially in terms of getting KIDS to start hunting; before they had to use a slug-gun, muzzleloader, or powerful handgun - stuff the average 12 year old isn't able to do well or even safely. Now they can grab a Handi-rifle or Levergun in .357 Mag or .45 Colt or .44 Mag, and be ready to go...

[Old Ironsights]

....
Maybe you guys could research into the background of the Indiana change-over, and try to get a copy of what we did up for a vote; ours isn't perfect, but sure beats what we had before, especially in terms of getting KIDS to start hunting; before they had to use a slug-gun, muzzleloader, or powerful handgun - stuff the average 12 year old isn't able to do well or even safely. Now they can grab a Handi-rifle or Levergun in .357 Mag or .45 Colt or .44 Mag, and be ready to go...

It was a huge PITA and I was in the thick of it.

I'm open for questions on or off line.

[richerich]

Well its a neat gun. As far as killin deer with a .410 we all went to em' where we hunt. If its under 75 yd shot they drop in their tracks.... most of our shots are less than 50yds even 20yds is long shot. I use my sons youth Rossi single shot and 3" shells. We hunt an old apple orchard thats grown up and is thick, The shootin lanes are short. If im hunting an area that I would shoot longer the 12ga or a smoke pole is what I use.

Im not trying to start a argument here about what will and will not kill deer.... .410 slugs works for us.

Now if Ohio would let us use pistol cal. rifles that would be what we would use.

[pwl44m]

As sad as California is, We can use any Handgun as long as it is centerfire.

[Old Ironsights]

Well its a neat gun. As far as killin deer with a .410 we all went to em' where we hunt. If its under 75 yd shot they drop in their tracks.... most of our shots are less than 50yds even 20yds is long shot. I use my sons youth Rossi single shot and 3" shells. We hunt an old apple orchard thats grown up and is thick, The shootin lanes are short. If im hunting an area that I would shoot longer the 12ga or a smoke pole is what I use.

Im not trying to start a argument here about what will and will not kill deer.... .410 slugs works for us.

Now if Ohio would let us use pistol cal. rifles that would be what we would use.

It will most certainly get the job done if you do your part, especially with a rifled tube.

But then, a .22 or .38sp will too.

Like I said, I fought long & hard for Pistol Caliber Rifles for Indiana. It's definitely a winnable fight, but your biggest battles will be with/against the Fudds, not the Antis.

[richerich]

As sad as California is, We can use any Handgun as long as it is centerfire.

We can use,,,, I believe,,,,,, .357 and larger straight wall cartridge pistol but not in a rifle.

[awp101]

I saw one Saturday at the show. I didn't handle it but the receiver looked...chunky/clunky to me. It just didn't look right or seem to flow with the rest of the design IMO.