Next I drilled and tapped the receiver for a Williams 94-36. My first home gunsmithing hole error left the sight less than perpendicular. I moved it all forward one hole and made sure the second time everything was lined up. lesson learned , thankfully my lack of judgement hides neatly behind the sight....Added a Skinner front sight from the great guys up there in Polson Montana, and filed it to optimum height for my loads. It took a brass shim to make it set tight, I'll change that to JB Weld if it ever fails. I had the Magazine slide thing going on with heavy/all 44 loads. I had my gunsmith (Rocky at Rocky's Gunworks in Three Forks Montana) fit a Marlin 336 front barrel band to the little Rossi, pretty close fit so not too much fitting involved. The Marlin Band has a much larger diameter screw that secures the magazine tube quite well. Rocky also milled the Magazine cap scre hole in the bottom of the barrel a little deeper so that screw gets a little better grip now.
I was fiddling with some Ranch Dog 265 gr Gas check bullets from Carolina Cast, and some 2400. I was getting pressure signs with less than max loads. I switched to Lil'Gun, 20 grains, WLP primer and the RD 265 with gas check and it seemed to come together well today. The group in the picture measures 1.45" at 50 yards, pretty good for a first attempt with new powder (Actually I knew 20 gr. of little gun worked pretty well with Speer 270 Golddots from experimenting with my Marlin 94 in 44M). After a couple clicks up and over I shot this target today and the little Rossi 44 has become a new favorite, certainly most likely to be grabbed when heading out the door, a part of me.. ..
James
