Changed my brand of leverguns...

[1894c]

Three weeks ago I sold a Win.94AE in 30/30 and used the proceeds to buy a stainless steel Rossi 92 in .357 mag., 16" bbl. After shooting it twice I became hooked. So this week I traded my Rem-Marlin 1894 in .357 mag to buy another Rossi 92 in .44 mag., 20" bbl. (stainless steel).

I have owned and hunted with Winchesters (94's only) and Marlins (336, 1894, 1895) over the years, I have fond memories of both brands. But after hanging with you guys, reading the reports that others have posted, and reading as much info as I could about the Model 92 design, and Rossi's in particular.

I came to the conclusion that I really like the Model 92 design in leverguns. Now I cannot afford to buy an original Win.92 or a new Winchester (Japan) clone, so for me the Rossi is the only option at this point. I know that some Rossi's come with issues, I fully understand that I may have to clean up the action (ordered pieces-parts and the Rossi 92 - DIY Action Job KIT DVD from Steve Young - http://store.stevesgunz.com/ ) and a Rossi is not as finished as a new Winchester, Marlin, or the older offerings of both.

http://store.stevesgunz.com/index.php?m ... r2q4chhsd0

In the end it was the handling qualities and the overall design of the Model 1892 that did it for me... :)

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/rossi.htm

[O.S.O.K.]

I would've kept the Winchester.... but congrats on your new ones!

[rjohns94]

congrats. enjoy.

[Old Ironsights]

Dude!

Welcome to the SRLC (Stainless Rossi Lover's Club)

Oh, I completely agree on the handling issue. I could just never get comfortable with the W94 "gut shucking" action.

I like Win 92 actions and Marlin 336/95 actions, but neither type of 1894...

[1894c]

I would've kept the Winchester.... but congrats on your new ones!

Thought about it, long and hard--but in the end it was a financial decision. I am limiting my reloading to a few cartridges, so I decided to get leverguns in the calibers that I have pistols in--it wasn't personal, just strictly business... :)

[Canuck Bob]

You got a capable pair there. Rabbit or scoundrel or black bear! i have a 94 and a 92. The 92 is just so right in many ways. Let us know how they shoot once you work them up.

[AJMD429]

Now you need one in .45 Colt, to go with those two...

[Pete44ru]

I'da kept both the '94 & the Marlin, then bought the Rossi's fer stablemates - since I'm a non-denominational levergunner.

HEY ! ! Wait a minute ! ................... That's EXACTLY what I DID ! . .

.

[Pitchy]

Rossi 92s are nice guns, i have the rifle version in 44 mag.

[deafrn]

I started out with USRAC 1894 Trappers and gravitated to the Marlin 1894C (which I still consider the overall easiest design to live with), but a "middlin' or better" Rossi 92 in .357 is a nice little gun. I picked up a second one very recently, but it was immediately sent back to Braztech where it is waiting for some fixes which I won't get into at this time.

(Trying to be fair; we shall see how that works out.)

I wish I had picked up on .357 carbines twenty years earlier than I did.

[stickfred]

I'm really glad that you're liking your new rifles. Your post helps me to to be patient waiting for the one I want to show up.

Happy shooting.

[sore shoulder]

I could just never get comfortable with the W94 "gut shucking" action.

I have this discussion with Malamute a LOT. Everytime a Win 94 opens I always think of a junk truck rattling by full of scrap metal.

[Malamute]

I don't get the "guts falling out" comments. I can't figure out what the big difference is between a lever, link and locking bolt being exposed when cycling a 94, and a lever and locking bolt in a Marlin, with it's thicker action and permanentaly protruding lump on the bottom for the lever pivot because it doesn't have a link to allow the lever to make the long stroke and still keep the receiver very thin and trim, or a lever and two locking bolts "falling out" in a 92. I think the 94 Winchester action is fiendishly clever, allowing the length of cartridge it does in such a trim action. I like it far better than a Marlin action or 92 Winchester action. I love the crisp sound of a pre-64 or pre-war 94 cycling.

[Griff]

Good. Ends my confusion. I always wondered why a guy that calls himself 1892m did HAVE a mdl 92!

But, yes;

I would've kept the Winchester.... but congrats on your new ones!

or both!

[sore shoulder]

I don't get the "guts falling out" comments. I can't figure out what the big difference is between a lever, link and locking bolt being exposed when cycling a 94, and a lever and locking bolt in a Marlin, with it's thicker action and permanentaly protruding lump on the bottom for the lever pivot because it doesn't have a link to allow the lever to make the long stroke and still keep the receiver very thin and trim, or a lever and two locking bolts "falling out" in a 92. I think the 94 Winchester action is fiendishly clever, allowing the length of cartridge it does in such a trim action. I like it far better than a Marlin action or 92 Winchester action. I love the crisp sound of a pre-64 or pre-war 94 cycling.

Well let's simplify it to semantics, to whit, how many syllables required to describe the sound of each.

Winchester: Clickety click clackety clack.

Marlin: Click clack.

So, less moving parts, simpler design and takes less work to describe the function.



A room full of Winchesters being cycled must sound like a train yard.

[olyinaz]

The blued Rossis can be very nice too! Their finish varies a bit but some of the older blued Rossi 92s have a nice deep black, near mirror-blue finish that puts many Winchester 94s to shame. Keep your eye peeled for one!

And for the record I've come to LIKE the rattly many-parts-in-motion action of a Winchester 94! Just think it's neat as heck and I'm sticking to that.

Oly

[Mescalero]

My Rossi .44 mag. is like that deep shiny black, good wood really nice.
pre-safety

[earlmck]

In the end it was the handling qualities and the overall design of the Model 1892 that did it for me.

Well yeah, 1892's are the best feeling rifle, but all leverguns are good. And the 30/30 is the best overall levergun cartridge, though they are all good. I know I enjoy whatever I've got hold of at the time. I feel bad that you thought you needed to get rid of anything.

[1894c]

In the end it was the handling qualities and the overall design of the Model 1892 that did it for me.

Well yeah, 1892's are the best feeling rifle, but all leverguns are good. And the 30/30 is the best overall levergun cartridge, though they are all good. I know I enjoy whatever I've got hold of at the time. I feel bad that you thought you needed to get rid of anything.

it all comes down to finances...and limiting myself to a few calibers to reload... :)

[RIHMFIRE]

VERY NICE!
congrats!

[tman]

In the end it was the handling qualities and the overall design of the Model 1892 that did it for me.

Well yeah, 1892's are the best feeling rifle, but all leverguns are good. And the 30/30 is the best overall levergun cartridge, though they are all good. I know I enjoy whatever I've got hold of at the time. I feel bad that you thought you needed to get rid of anything.

I gotta take a .356 WCF over a 30-30. You can usually "clean up a Rossi just by shooting it a lot. Not a bad job at all.

[fred45]

how do 38s cycle the rossi? I have one in 45 colt and love it. looking for a mate to the gp100 and I shoot a lot of 38s so it would be nice if the rossi will digest them.

[Warren Pease]

I have a trapper that is great with .357 but just doesn't like .38 specials.

[damienph]

Well, NO WAY am I getting rid of any of my Marlins, Winchesters, or even my lone Mossberg lever but I would like to have a couple of Rossi's; a long barreled (24"?) octagonal rifle and a 20" round barreled carbine, both blue, I just can't decide on calibers, I am thinking 357 for the carbine and 44 magnum for the rifle (maybe 45 Colt).

1892m, this is a good thread you started, plus my favorite gun show of the year out in Garden City, KS this weekend!! (Show is sponsored by the Sand & Sage Gun Club- free plug)

[gak]

Some Rossis seem to like the .38s more than others. Also, a lot of folks don't know Rossi made a very few "discreet" .38s back in the Interarms days. I've only seen two or three. A friend has one of them.

[JerryB]

I have an Interarms Rossi 92 SRC in .357 and it runs the .38's just fine.

[AJMD429]

how do 38s cycle the rossi? I have one in 45 colt and love it. looking for a mate to the gp100 and I shoot a lot of 38s so it would be nice if the rossi will digest them.

I have a stainless 16" one with Marble's 'Bullseye' sights that just eats .38 Specials like candy; never a hiccup in cycling.

This photo was taken during the sighting-in process, and as you can see, it groups nicely (at 40 yards) with .38 Specials. I think the 'stringing' on the .357 Mag loads was due to not letting the barrel cool, and I've not yet 'accurized' it by un-binding the magazine tube, which helps alleviate that issue. It feeds .357 Mag loads just as well.

[1894c]

The first thing I shot out of my Rossi 357 mag was a box of 135 gr. hollow-point Speer Gold Dot .38+P's. The hollow-point is fairly large, they all cycled and fired with no FTF. I really appreciate everybody's comments--you guys are the best... :)