I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

The Rossi Model R92, a lightweight carbine for Cowboy Action, hunting, or plinking! Includes Rossi manufactured Interarms, Navy Arms, and Puma trade names.
Lostcoast
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I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by Lostcoast »

I recently emailed a fellow who is now retired but who was legendary as a gunsmith with accurizing and rechambering lever action rifles. I asked him about the quality and safety of the Rossi 92 and he warned me away from them. Said that he worked on 5 of them in the past and most had dangerous headspace issues as well as other problems and that after those experiences he decided to never touch one again. He recommended a Marlin 1894 instead.

Then I go to this fine forum today and discover multiple threads where folks with 92's in 357 mag are reporting issues with bulging brass...

Dangit I love the light weight and form factor of the Rossi 92 but I think I am going to pass on getting one. I dont want to have to worry about the safety of using stout hunting loads. I dont want to have to send the darn thing back in to Rossi one or more times for correction. Time to look for a used Marlin 1894, I reckon..
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by Archer »

I have one in .357 that seems fine. I'd consider another although depending on the price might also consider the Marlin. Of course since Marlin doesn't have the best of reputations for: straight barrels/sights or smooth operation or in terms of the 94 strength of the action or parts availability you never know for sure what you are likley to get.

Sort of exactly like the Rossi...

Pick your poison and look it over with a fine tooth comb no matter what it is and that may go double for used guns.

I passed on the Rio Grand because of problem reports.
Passed on a .44 Marlin 1894 because of fit and function problems.
I have an old 444 Marlin and a new Marlin 1895.
Winchester 1895, 1886 and 1885 Mirukos.
Several 1894 30-30 and 44 Winchesters.
3 Rossi 92s.
Several rimfire levers from Winchester, Browning and Henry.

I like lever actions.
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by m-saunoras »

I'm glad people pass on the Rossi 92. Leaves more out there for me, I think I have 8 at the last count. My first 44 mag puma has been fed the hottest hard hitting loads out of all my 44 mags. The gun can take it, my shoulder can't though.

My one newer 357 has a tighter chamber than my 686 S&W. I can't chamber brass that was shot in the 686 in the 92.
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by ver2cal »

Seems ironic mentioning Marlin when complaining about Rossi quality.
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by Sarge »

I get it, Lostcoast. If I wanted a new 357 I'd give serious consideration to one of the Uberti 1873s now chambered for that round.
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by Deleted User 327 »

m-saunoras wrote:I'm glad people pass on the Rossi 92. Leaves more out there for me, I think I have 8 at the last count. My first 44 mag puma has been fed the hottest hard hitting loads out of all my 44 mags. The gun can take it, my shoulder can't though.

My one newer 357 has a tighter chamber than my 686 S&W. I can't chamber brass that was shot in the 686 in the 92.
My sentiments exactly. I've had 2ea .357mag Rossis since I bought them NIB in 2009, a 20" carbine and a 24" rifle, and now, with each one having 5K+ rds through them I couldn't be happier with them.

As to the 'famous gunsmith's' opinion, I'll take the info from Steve Young, the Rossi Specialist gunsmith who's been working on them, a lot of them for decades. He likes them and thinks they are a good, strong action. Before I bought mine I talked at length with him about them and based on his recommendation, got them.

They have been great. But, by all means I encourage more of you to leave them on the shelf as I wouldn't mind picking up a couple in 45 Colt as my Ubertis in 45 Colt (a 19" '66 Yellowboy Carbine and a 24" '73 Special Sporting Rifle) can only take 'standard' level, 14,000psi max loads and are 1.5 lbs heavier.
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by Ohio3Wheels »

I probably wont be buying another lever gun for a while as I pretty much have what I want. My 2 Rossi 92s in 357 and 45 Colt run fine. The 2 J M Marlins are great also, one from 74 in 35 Rem and one from 80 that was a 30/30 but is now a 38-55.

A couple months back I was in a position to finally get a 44 Magnum lever. At the time there were no '92 available locally. On the net I located a Rossi that had a couple of short comings as far as my personal preferences 16" barrel and stainless and by the time I paid for it and the fees it would have come in a little over $600. I walked into my local lever gun guy's store and $600 later walked out with a Henry 20" blued steel receiver and haven't regretted it at all. I find I don't mind that it's a "front loader". Here in Ohio we're limited to a total of 3 rounds in the gun for dear and I don't anticipate the need for rapid reload.

Love 'em all. FUN!!!!!

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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by golfish »

I'd say to look at a new Winchester 92 but I just bought one last month and had to send it back to Browning/Winchester after its first range trip (loose fitted forearm)
They don't make em like they used to.
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by GasGuzzler »

Sarge wrote:I get it, Lostcoast. If I wanted a new 357 ...
I must have missed the OP's use of the word new. I wouldn't buy a new one either...or one made in the last 15-20 years. I would buy another Amedeo Rossi. That opinion of mine is not new and has not changed. I don't buy new guns anyway but if I did I'm not sure which one I'd get.
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Re: I Think I'm Going to Pass on Getting a 92..

Post by Mad Trapper »

If i were to buy a new lever rifle today, i would probably go with a Henry.
And I do not like tube feeding.
But i think they have the best, consistent quality control right now.

I purchased a new ruger blackhawk last month from buds, had it shipped to my LGS.
It is 30 carbine, and had the gunsmith cut and crown the barrel to 4 5/8" and drill and tap a new front sight.
When we inspected the new blackhawk, it had a large ball of solder/flux on the left side of the front sight, about the size of a pencil eraser, no big deal since i was having the barrel cut and crowned.
Asked the guys behind the counter, wonder how this got out of the factory, they had to have seen it when bagging it up and putting in the case for shipment.
They said they were seeing blackhawk revolvers come in with QC issues.
One guy purchased a new blackhawk, came back a few days later and said the front sight fell off after a few rounds.
There are good rossi 92s and marlins out there, just have to look extra hard to find them, they are becoming few and far between seems like.
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