Armedeo Rossi 851 Safety Information Please.

[Matthew Clark]

Hello fellow revolver fans. I would very much appreciate some background information on what is actually safe to fire in this gun. I recently found this one sitting in my LGS in pretty rough appearance. Years ago I had one of these when you could still buy one at Walmart of all places. I resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to be a revolver shooter due to being young and impatient and basically bull headed. I am right handed and lost my sight in my right eye at 24 years young. Taught myself how to shoot long guns lefty but just couldn't get the handgun thing to work for me. So much to the regret of my wife I sold the revolver. Since then I grew up alot and learned patience and perseverance and taught myself to shoot a handgun right handed with my left eye. It wasn't easy but I am now quite proficient with a handgun and have built up a respectable arsenal of revolvers both SA and DA as well as a few semi autos. So when I saw a chance to redeem myself with the wife I took it. $250 + tax and I took it home. Went completely through it cleaning and measuring. Much to my delight the revolver was sound mechanically. Perfect timing and hadn't really been shot much. No end shake and no forcing cone damage. Just pitifully cared for over the years. So I cleaned it up and polished it and worked the grips over and refinished them. Loaded up some 158gr SWC plain base cast bullets over 4.0gr W231, WSP primers and had a blast. Very accurate at 4" barrel range with aluminum can hunting. (25yds)
The 851 is slightly smaller than a K frame Smith and likely not +p rated. No pressure signs at all with that load and cases fall out of the cylinder. No chrono numbers yet but feels about right.
Now I have been told to not shoot jacketed bullets out of it, cast bullets only.
And no +p loads, only standard pressure.
The +p thing I get but what is the deal with no jacketed bullets?
Has anyone load tested handloads to find the limit of these in the past? I think I'm in good shape with the load I'm using but if I'm stressing it please let me know. Thanks for any insight you might be able to give.
Happy shooting all!
Matthew

 

[Speedo66]

You did a great job polishing the gun, grips are beautiful.

Good luck with your new gun!

 

[Jim Watson]

Now I have been told to not shoot jacketed bullets out of it, cast bullets only.

Who told you that and why do you even consider believing him?

The only reason I shoot mostly lead bullets - coated these days - is because they cost less. My defense ammo is jacketed hollow points and even +P in my old S&W Airweight.

 

[Matthew Clark]

Who told you that and why do you even consider believing him?

The only reason I shoot mostly lead bullets - coated these days - is because they cost less. My defense ammo is jacketed hollow points and even +P in my old S&W Airweight.

Don't recall the fellas name but while at the range firing it, he mentioned something about the old owners manuals even mentioned that very statement.
I don't recall reading that in the owner manual the first time I bought one brand new. And for the record, I didn't believe him without documentation.
That is why I am asking if anyone has information that is factual.
I fully intend to shoot cast only out of it for its intended purpose. That being plinking and a trail carry woods gun.
I have my favorite wheel gun that I carry for self defense.
Is it possible that they didn't heat treat the metal in the gun properly as to why that could be in fact true that they stated no jacketed bullets. Cast does slip down the lands easier I guess. It wasn't made in the USA, It was made in Brazil.
I don't know, that's why I'm asking if anyone does know for sure one way or the other. I was hoping someone else might have experience or had an old owners manual to prove what it does say.
They quit importing this gun several years ago and information is scarce on it. The new Rossi's are a different animal.
Thanks,
Matthew

 

[Matthew Clark]

Just to clarify and correct my misspelling:
Since last posting I noticed I had spelled Amadeo Rossi. I apologize for my not proof reading before posting.
As to the use of jacketed bullets, I have checked around and found an older post from the Taurus Armed blog that clearly states that the statement the fellow gave me is indeed a fact supported by documentation. I did not remember seeing it when I bought it new years ago but evidently there was a tag attached to the trigger guard that clearly stated: No reloaded ammunition, No+P ammunition and No Jacketed bullets.
I do find that odd on the jacketed bullet issue but the guys on Taurus Armed did have theories to this. If the forcing cone of the gun was machined to accept cast bullets more uniformly for accuracy sake, and the metallurgy was not heat treated properly, a split or cracked forcing cone condition could arise. This is a legitimate thought but I cannot prove that this was the reason. So for the vast majority of individuals who own the Interarms import version from Amedeo Rossi 851 38spl, I don't think I would shoot jacketed bullets or +P ammo in it. It would be a shame to ruin such a sweet shooter. Just shoot cast as instructed at standard pressure and have fun. Granted I am loading it at the upper end of standard pressure according to the loading manuals. With W231 a little raises pressure real fast so be careful friends!
Happy shooting!
Matthew

 

[tightgroup tiger]

http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/rossi_revolver.pdf

I didn't see that mentioned here, but I may have missed it.

 

[Matthew Clark]

http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/rossi_revolver.pdf

I didn't see that mentioned here, but I may have missed it.

I do believe that manual is for Rossi's that are sold by Taurus. By that time the Amadeo Rossi's were no longer imported by Interarms. Thanks for trying though.
Matthew

 

[Pat Riot]

I know nothing about Rossi’s, but I found this: (see post #7)

Interarms Rossi 851/951 and ammo choices

www.taurusarmed.net

I think you need to figure out what year your gun was made.

 

[Pat Riot]

I forgot to mention that your revolver looks great. Those grips are the nicest looking grips I have seen in a long time. Very nice.

 

[Matthew Clark]

I know nothing about Rossi’s, but I found this: (see post #7)

Interarms Rossi 851/951 and ammo choices

www.taurusarmed.net

I think you need to figure out what year your gun was made.

Thank you! I did find that post but I guess I only saw part of it. It seems that all Rossi revolvers since 1979 were heat treated to withstand +P pressures. Interarms imported the 851 from 1978 to sometime in 1997 when they used Braztech. Mine is a high enough serial number I am confident it will withstand +P loads. Also found info on the production date location and verified mine was produced in 1985. Very good to know. Best information I've come across.
Thanks for your efforts friend!
Happy shooting!
Matthew

 

[Matthew Clark]

I forgot to mention that your revolver looks great. Those grips are the nicest looking grips I have seen in a long time. Very nice.

Hey thanks. They looked horrible to start with. I had to sand all the old finish off.
It took 8 coats of Tru-Oil to get that finish. The driest wood I have ever seen. I'm not sure what it is but when done it is quite eye catching.
Matthew

 

[Pat Riot]

Thank you! I did find that post but I guess I only saw part of it. It seems that all Rossi revolvers since 1979 were heat treated to withstand +P pressures. Interarms imported the 851 from 1978 to sometime in 1997 when they used Braztech. Mine is a high enough serial number I am confident it will withstand +P loads. Also found info on the production date location and verified mine was produced in 1985. Very good to know. Best information I've come across.
Thanks for your efforts friend!
Happy shooting!
Matthew

I am happy to help and I learned something today about Rossi revolvers.

8 coats of Tru Oil. I haven’t used Tru Oil. I will have to keep that in mind for future use. Thank you.