That's a Rossi model 92 in .357 Magnum/.38 Special. It has a 24" octagonal barrel and a case-hardened receiver. Top-mount safety, straight stock, and 12+1 capacity (yes, it's an eeeevil assault weapon - for the 1890s!). As the name implies, it's a copy of the Winchester model 1892 lever action rifle, and it's imported for Rossi through Braztech International.
Rumors that I squealed like a little girl when I took possession of this rifle are slightly exaggerated...
One funny thing, though. I picked this up at my FFL who - as is pretty much every other FFL in the country - was jam-packed at the time. No less than four clerks came over to ogle the rifle, commenting on the octagonal barrel and case-hardened receiver. In a shop chock-full of evil black rifles, it was a blued steel and walnut lever action rifle gathering all the attention.
Now, I'm a huge fan of the .357 Magnum cartridge, having a good half-dozen revolvers chambered therein across all three major American manufacturers. I'm a huge fan of the versatility of the round and the firearms chambered in it - with full-power 125 grain soft points, you can hunt most intermediate-sized game; with low-power .38 Special rounds you can plink all day long without fatigue. Very few rounds have that kind of range.
The Rossi adds a new dimension to the mix, the first rifle in my favorite caliber. I own two lever action rifles already, a Marlin model 336 in .30-30 I inherited from my grandfather, and a Marlin 39A that's one of my favorite rimfires. One big advantage of the Rossi over the 336 is that, right now, I can bring it to my gun club's pistol range and shoot it at the 25 yard mark - whereas the rifle range is still closed for improvements. Most pistol-only ranges should allow this, at least with .38 Special, and for a backyard plinker (where allowed by law, of course) it's hard to beat light .38s on steel.
Full review to follow, of course; I'm hoping she shoots as good as she looks.
That is all.
16 comments:
Oh Jay,
That's one purty shootin' iron. I'm not a great fan of case hardening . . . however exceptions can be made. Besides, I've got me a whole box of 158 grain .357 magnum rounds that are just calling out to me.
I've got a stainless version with a 20" barrel.
Always a hit at the range.
If you have a friend that reloads, you can do a LOT with that cartridge family. .
As many of you know, my Nephew the Navy EOD Tech is going to HAVE to live in Kalifornia when he comes back from Afghanistan. Due to the Fact that it is the "Home of the Three Witches," (Boxer, Feinstein and Pelosi), what he can use for Home Defense is Extremely Limited.
Which is why he's going to the .357 Magnum Family to do so. He bought a Marlin Lever Gun in .357 already, but I've always like the Winchester 1892.
I'm seriously considering getting one of those Rossi's myself. So give it a Good Workout, Jay. I'm hoping it passes with Flying Colors.
Dagnabbit, I just got done paying the credit card bill for my newest acquisition (Ruger New Blackhawk in .45 Colt), and now you dangle this in front of me.
It's probably just as well that the mag capacity is almost twice the legal limit here.
Like Dave, I can't buy it. Yet. But something along those lines has been on my list for a while.
Interesting that in Mass you cannot buy ammunition for that rifle unless you have a pistol permit. Even though .22 Long Rifle is used in rifles, the clerk said .357 was a pistol round and would not sell it unless a pistol permit was shown. I wonder if that is the case or was just the store policy?
Libertyman: Fed law is ambigous and MA is equally so. They differntiate "rifle ammo" and "pistol ammo" without defining which is which.
Over the past 20 years it has become blurred, now you can buy a handgun in 45-70 an a rifle in .38spl...
"In a shop chock-full of evil black rifles, it was a blued steel and walnut lever action rifle gathering all the attention."
Proof that there's a bit of Cowboy in all of us and any design by JMB (pbuh) is truly timeless.
Purty... can't wait to hear your review!
I'd like one in stainless, myself.
Getting ready to take my .44 Mag Rossi Blued 24" Octagonal for its first range trip. Due to the popularity of this rifle in Cowboy shooting there is an active community on slicking it up and accessorizing.
Check Steves Gunz http://www.stevesgunz.com/
He markets a DVD with complete teardown, repair and tuning instructions complete with a replacement ejector spring and metal magazine follower. Also around a dozen different sights for the R-92.
For a different lever loop look at Mule loops http://www.mulemangunworks.com/mule-loops-custom-levers/.
Local gun store has one of these on the wall this afternoon.
http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine77357/models.html
If I still had a .357 pistol it would have gone home with me ... and I'd have some 'splanin to do to the Smarter Half.
I have a .357 Interarms Rossi with a 16" barrel that has become my favorite shooter. Besides having rifle/pistol ammo compatibility, the little lever action doesn't freak people out like an EBR. Also, from a rifle the .357 is a whole 'nother thing.
Jay,
Feel free to bring that with you to the NRA convention. Just so happens, I've got a bit over 3k rds of .38, Winchester-Western 148 gr. full wadcutter, on hand.
Vintage '70s/80s' stuff, still shoots fine.
Yee. Haw.
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
I had a Rossi .357 carbine some years ago. Sold it to get a Marlin 1894FG in .41 Magnum. The Marlin suits me better,
Had some trouble with .38 Specials with 158 grain FMJs feeding in the
Rossi. Had a hard time hitting
targets at 100 yards with it too.
Part of that was probably a mismatch between the open iron sights and my eyes. I don't think
that was the whole problem, however.
A cowboy action shooter has my old Rossi now.
I have one of those, minus all the nice bits like the octagonal barrel and the case hardening. Shoots damn well with 158 grain SWCs but doesn't like 190 grainers at all, those arrive at the target going sideways.
I'm still thinking about cutting the barrel and stock to make it into a Zoe special...
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