Rossi 92 quality: .44 mag vs .45 Colt

For the most comprehensive info on Rossi's, this is a good place to ask, the site is run by a mold maker/bullet designer, Ranch Dog:

www.rossi-rifleman.com

The .45's are probably going to be like any other .45Colt rifle, with somewhat generous chambers.

I've read and been told that .45Colt has generous chamber dimensions due to its history as a black powder round. And since it's still used that way by some it continues to have a pretty oversize chamber to avoid sticking due to BP fouling.... At least that seems to be the excuse.

The problem occurs when we shoot a lower power load where the fouling blows back between the case and chamber and soots up the brass pretty badly. It also blows back and makes the action get fouled up sooner.

You'd likely avoid a lot of this if you go with the .44Mag option. Or possibly the .454Casull option since it's a "newer" round so it doesn't need to retain the idea of generous chamber clearance. You'd want to check to see what the chamber spec is for the .454 before you make your decision.

I've never checked the chamber or bore on my .45LC Rossi 92, but as to the question of having to load separate for the rifle and a handgun, my Blackhawk and Rossi 92 eat the same diet off my belt. I use slightly warmer than standard loads, but by no means near the top of the Ruger only llist, and have never had any issues with feeding, extracting or accuracy.

I wonder if a .454 Casull might have any tighter dimensions.

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It should.

Most accurate and best functioning Rossi 92 I ever owned6 was in .44/40 caliber and really, if you're going to shoot black powder loads this is the one you need to find.

The fit and finish and chamber on my Rossi 92 .45 Colt is much better than my "JM" Marlin 1894 .45 Colt.
The Marlin has a huge chamber and leaves lopsided brass.
The fired brass out of the Rossi will fit, unsized, into any of my .45 Colt revlovers.
The only thing I don't love about my Rossi is the iron sights.

Joe Meyer said:

The only thing I don't love about my Rossi is the iron sights.

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The first thing I did to my M92 was swap the factory sights. It made a huge improvement in my group sizes.

I know that in a marlin the 45 has a lot of blowback around the bolt and into your face. Based on that I'd get the 44. BUT, I see a lot of 45 brass on the ground. Never see any 44.

I have .45 Colt Marlin Rossi and Ruger. I load more to the top of the ruger only loads. Sometimes at the top. No problems with any of them.