Rossi Rio Grande article in this issue of American Rifleman

[J Miller]

In the July 2010 issue of the American Rifleman that came today, there's a two and half column article on the Rossi Rio Grande lever gun starting on page 43 and finished on page 77. A couple pics, one in color of the camo stocked version as well as the specs box. What I noticed about the article is how they used the "tear the other guys down to build our gun up" method of writing. Really didn't set too well with me, but I've seen it before, so no surprise.
The rifle itself is a Marlin'ish copy with a few minor differences. Nothing new. It has the cross bolt safety of course, as well as the Taurus key lock in the hammer.
SMRP for blue = $449.00 and for stainless = $499.00.

There is another article in there that really did impress me in a positive way. On page 24 in the Opening Shot section there is an article about Danner boots in Portland, OR. The story tells how they have made a couple hundred thousand pairs of boots for our service men over in the middle east. American made boots for American warriors. I made a decision that when I look for a new pair of boots I'm gonna look them up.

There is an article on page 45 about marksmanship in 1775 and how our citizen soldiers were actually better than the British military we fought. I haven't read it yet, but it should be worth the read.

Just thought I'd give you a heads up on what's to read when you get your AR.

Joe

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

In the July 2010 issue of the American Rifleman that came today, there's a two and half column article on the Rossi Rio Grande lever gun starting on page 43 and finished on page 77. A couple pics, one in color of the camo stocked version as well as the specs box. What I noticed about the article is how they used the "tear the other guys down to build our gun up" method of writing. Really didn't set too well with me, but I've seen it before, so no surprise.
The rifle itself is a Marlin'ish copy with a few minor differences. Nothing new. It has the cross bolt safety of course, as well as the Taurus key lock in the hammer.
SMRP for blue = $449.00 and for stainless = $499.00.

There is another article in there that really did impress me in a positive way. On page 24 in the Opening Shot section there is an article about Danner boots in Portland, OR. The story tells how they have made a couple hundred thousand pairs of boots for our service men over in the middle east. American made boots for American warriors. I made a decision that when I look for a new pair of boots I'm gonna look them up.

There is an article on page 45 about marksmanship in 1775 and how our citizen soldiers were actually better than the British military we fought. I haven't read it yet, but it should be worth the read.

Just thought I'd give you a heads up on what's to read when you get your AR.

Joe

An interesting side note, it will be available in stainless. If they would do an octagon barrel Crescent butstock rifle I think it would sell well.

[J Miller]

I'm thinking it will sell pretty decent as it is. The MSRP is such that the normal in store retail should put it in the price range of normal working folks.

I want to look at one, I'm curious.

Joe

[airedaleman]

Ashamed of AR; all that Rossi/Taurus stuff is obviously Taurus PR Dept's press release boiler plate. Magazine is a sad shadow of what it once was...

[J Miller]

Ashamed of AR; all that Rossi/Taurus stuff is obviously Taurus PR Dept's press release boiler plate. Magazine is a sad shadow of what it once was...

Nothing new about that. There is very few paper magazines published now that anywhere near what they used to be.

Joe

[Hawkeye2]

I just read that blurb a few minutes before I turned the computer on. It's obivous that the person who wrote it had never shot one and probably has never even seen one. Most likely he was told to write something quite positive (to keep the advertising account) and based it on Tarus's material. It was also obvious that the writer was enamoured with rifles with pregnant forearms, thick recoil pads and white plastic. I WAS NOT POSITIVLY IMPRESSED (any AR staff reading this?) rather I had a strong feeling of dissapointment concerning the magazine. Reading about the boots made in the USA and the article on the arms of the revolution will probably mitigate my feelings slightly but not enough for me to get completely over it. I was an NRA member and had my own AR subscription when I was 11 in 1956 and have learned a lot from that magazine over a lifetime but it isn't what it was 30 yeaars ago.

All that said I wonder how much reverse engineering and expired Marlin patents could be found in the rifle.

[J Miller]

I just read that blurb a few minutes before I turned the computer on. It's obivous that the person who wrote it had never shot one and probably has never even seen one. Most likely he was told to write something quite positive (to keep the advertising account) and based it on Tarus's material. It was also obvious that the writer was enamoured with rifles with pregnant forearms, thick recoil pads and white plastic. I WAS NOT POSITIVLY IMPRESSED (any AR staff reading this?) rather I had a strong feeling of dissapointment concerning the magazine. Reading about the boots made in the USA and the article on the arms of the revolution will probably mitigate my feelings slightly but not enough for me to get completely over it. I was an NRA member and had my own AR subscription when I was 11 in 1956 and have learned a lot from that magazine over a lifetime but it isn't what it was 30 yeaars ago.

All that said I wonder how much reverse engineering and expired Marlin patents could be found in the rifle.

It would be fun to take a Rossi and a Marlin apart side by side and find out. I'll bet the differences are so minimal as to be inconsequential.

Joe

[pokey]

be aware when looking at danner boots, that the lower priced models are made in

CHINA

now they do still make some here, but those run more money.
just a heads up.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Danner is expanding the plant in Portland according to Lars Larson (radio talk host and gun guy). Maybe there will be less China junk with American names on it in the future.
I hope!!

[airedaleman]

I just read that blurb a few minutes before I turned the computer on. It's obivous that the person who wrote it had never shot one and probably has never even seen one. Most likely he was told to write something quite positive (to keep the advertising account) and based it on Tarus's material. It was also obvious that the writer was enamoured with rifles with pregnant forearms, thick recoil pads and white plastic. I WAS NOT POSITIVLY IMPRESSED (any AR staff reading this?) rather I had a strong feeling of dissapointment concerning the magazine. Reading about the boots made in the USA and the article on the arms of the revolution will probably mitigate my feelings slightly but not enough for me to get completely over it. I was an NRA member and had my own AR subscription when I was 11 in 1956 and have learned a lot from that magazine over a lifetime but it isn't what it was 30 yeaars ago.

All that said I wonder how much reverse engineering and expired Marlin patents could be found in the rifle.

Maybe COSteve will give us his take on infringement issues viv a vis Henry...

[COSteve]

I'm not familiar with this one, however, anyone can come to agreement with the owner of a patent and/or legally produce a licensed copy. All it takes is an agreement between the parties.

[.45colt]

This is just tooooo funny. I got this AR yesterday and haven't read it all,but in the article about this "new" 30-30 this writer makes this statment...............................................
"the presence of a thick rubber recoil pad with contrasting white-line spacer,rich,hardwood furniture and a glossy-blue finish adds a touch of classic flair to this modern lever action rifle--so much so that,upon first glance,I considered it almost too nice-looking to take afield" .
When is the last time this guy looked at a Marlin with a walnut stock.? So far the best thing about this issue is page 80 where Rick Hacker reviews the Savage 99.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

If I recall, weren't three of the four rifles on the cover of the AR in question Rossi copies of other's designs? I don't have it in front of me but it looked like there was a copy of the H&R interchangeable barrel single shot, there was the obvious Marlin copy, and there was the 1892 based Mare's Leg. The only original gun there was that revolving rifle ... which I must admit has a certain cool factor for me.

I'd like to see them put more effort into original designs versus the knocking off of existing stuff.

[lthardman]

That Taurus Circuit Judge discussed in the same issue got some pretty heavy criticism when it was last discussed in this forum. However, I am still very intrigued by it. I like shooting my (Uberti) Remington Revolving Cylinder Carbine, both as black powder and with a .45LC replacement cylinder. But, you CANNOT put a hand in front of the cylinder on that gun! It will scorch you but good! On my gun, there is not even a forearm, which should give the shooter some hint. But, on the Taurus Circuit Judge, there is a forearm. But not a word in the article about the issue of flash from the front of the cylinder. Not one word that I saw. I think a lot of people who might be serious about that rifle would want some answers on that. Inquiring minds, you know.

I am not going to be the first on my block to buy one. If the first who does shoots a couple hundred cartridges and can still give me BOTH thumbs up and can clap BOTH hands after the national anthem plays, maybe I could be the second.

[Hawkeye2]

I believe you will find the front of the Circuit Judge cylinder to be completely enclosed by a shield.

[willygene]

the only one in the article i liked was the mod 92 ranch hand or mares leg for the price i want one may not be good for much but i bet it is fun and good match to my trapper 92.

[lthardman]

I believe you will find the front of the Circuit Judge cylinder to be completely enclosed by a shield.

Yes, there is a shield, but those gases have to go somewhere. Back into the shooter's face? That would seem to be where the shield is directing them. Someday, maybe someone will do a review after shooting the rifle and can tell us for sure.

[airedaleman]

I believe you will find the front of the Circuit Judge cylinder to be completely enclosed by a shield.

Yes, there is a shield, but those gases have to go somewhere. Back into the shooter's face? That would seem to be where the shield is directing them. Someday, maybe someone will do a review after shooting the rifle and can tell us for sure.

I suspect that all that ejecta will (hopefully) go straight up. Wonder what that will do to your sight picture? What an unmitigated piece of - let me try - dreck...

[Ray]

Deleted.

[AJMD429]

It would be fun to take a Rossi and a Marlin apart side by side and find out. I'll bet the differences are so minimal as to be inconsequential.

Hmmm. . . maybe I could use that as an excuse to buy one. . .


On the revolver/rifle, the gasses look like they are being directed forward (see the groove in the left side of the proximal forearm).

It was interesting that although the Marlin Clone was described as something like 'virtually identical in appearance to an American classic', I don't think they ever actually used the word "Marlin" - do you think this would be due to the insistence of Marlin, or Rossi...?

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

It would be fun to take a Rossi and a Marlin apart side by side and find out. I'll bet the differences are so minimal as to be inconsequential.

Hmmm. . . maybe I could use that as an excuse to buy one. . .


On the revolver/rifle, the gasses look like they are being directed forward (see the groove in the left side of the proximal forearm).

It was interesting that although the Marlin Clone was described as something like 'virtually identical in appearance to an American classic', I don't think they ever actually used the word "Marlin" - do you think this would be due to the insistence of Marlin, or Rossi...?

Could be but I am pretty sure Marlin doesn't own that design any more. Even if they do just a little tweaking and it would problem pass as a new design.

The reason I say that is because the Henry big boy is pretty much a 336/1895 Marlin pattern too.

BTW, I had a chance to hold this gun at the Shot show. It is very much like the marlin but there are some subtle changes in the lines. I don't know about the insides though. I didn't take it apart.

[Noah Zark]

When referring to the Marlin copy, the article on the Rossi 336 clone said to the effect: "No anemic slim fore end or straight grip stock for this one" or words to that effect.

I must prefer anemia in my levers.

Noah

[piller]

Would the term "Rubenesque" apply to the forearm of the Rossi?

[gundownunder]

I'm hanging out to get some reports on these things to see if it's worth buying one instead of a pre 2006 Marlin.

[J Miller]

I don't like the bulbous forearm and clunky pistol grip either. I'm horrible at wood working. Nothing "I" could do to make it better.

I'd rather check out the post-2006 Marlins and see if they are still worth my while first. After that maybe check out the Rossi.
I'm thinking Marlin isn't going to deteriorate too much, and may even bounce back after this move and reorganization is finished.

At least ... I hope so.

Joe

[RSY]

It's a new design, alright. Just like the Tupolev Tu-4 was.

Scott