choosing caliber for rossi m92?

[swampcrawler]

I believe I'm going to pick up one of these little lever guns some time soon. I'd like to use it for small southern white tail and pigs as well as range fun. I'm probably going to go with either the 20 or 24 inch barrel.

Originally i was set on 357. I already have dies and components and it's really cheap to load for.

But then I ran into the 454 casull and 45 colt. I know they would be far more effective as a hunting round, but I'd have to set up for a new caliber. Bullets and brass aren't cheap, and they eat more powder.

Do you guys think a properly loaded 357 from a long barrel would be sufficient for deer and hogs? Or should I cough up more money for more power?

I wish I could have both!

 

[js8588]

357 will do you just fine.

 

[DMZ]

Agree with js.

There is a good deal more load options with the .357.

 

[19-3Ben]

I'd like to use it for small southern white tail and pigs as well as range fun.

Well within the wheelhouse of hot loaded .357mag from a 20" bbl. Expect over 2000FPS with 158gr. loads.
I think for the tasks at hand, the .45LC and .454 models would work, but be overkill.

 

[swampcrawler]

Thanks guys. I suppose the fact that I killed my first pig with a .22 should have answered my own question.

But if I get the 357 I need a Ruger sp101 with the 4.2 inch barrel to go with it. (At least that's what I plan to tell the girlfriend)

 

[Kachok]

The 357 is "Enough" for deer and small pigs, but the 454 will kill with alot more authority, and if you come across any larger pigs you won't be undergunned. I don't have the 454 yet but after shooting a 44 mag lever gun I want one. .45cal bullets leave one hellava blood trail, not that we have ever had to track them. I handload for a friend's 450 Marlin and it is a monster with 400gr Speer SPs, the 450 with full house loads does have a little excessive recoil though, and it is HEAVY.

 

[MI2600]

I bought one in 44-40...but that's just me.

 

[rcmodel]

But if I get the 357 I need a Ruger sp101 with the 4.2 inch barrel to go with it.

That sounds like a good plan to me.

Except you need to broaden your options, and get into reloading more calibers & put more guns in the collection, sooner, rather then later.


Before long, the present girlfriend will no longer be able to tell what you have in the gun safe.

Just like you now no longer recognize all the pairs of new shoes, bags, & matching outfits she has in her closet.

Shoes, bags, & outfits all look the same to guys.
Guns & reloading stuff all look the same to girls.

I learned that 50 years ago!

rc

 

[LAGS]

The .357 is plenty of power.
I shoot a marlin in .357 with an 18" barrel and it reaches out to 150 yards with enough authority on Deer.
And I believe the Rossi will feed handloads with the 180 Gr SP bullet from the magazine , where my Marlin, is limited to single loading the longer bullets.
But that is fine with me.
I load a 180 grainer in the pipe, and 158's in the magazine for second shots

 

[Water-Man]

I've been hunting deer and boar for five years with a M92 357 mag.

I have a 20" Octagon barrel on mine and I use Buffalo Bore 180gr. LFN-GC or LeverEvolution 140gr. FTX.

 

[midland man]

I have the 44mag and 45 colt and either one is fine, but the 44mag is stronger medicine!!

 

[mgkdrgn]

cough up a little more $ and get it in stainless (like mine in 454), they are REALLY pretty!

 

[X-Rap]

I'd get the 454, it has plenty of versatility and can be loaded down to the 357 range as well as far exceeding it.
357 will be more than adequate but there are few places in North America you couldn't go that the 454 wouldn't serve well on game in a pinch.

 

[redbullitt]

I got a heck of a deal on a rough one in 357. It took a long time to get it all cleaned up inside, but now that it runs well I really like it. Excellent little rifle once you get any bugs it may have sorted out. Cheap to shoot as well.

 

[Onmilo]

I have owned Rossi's in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .44/40.
Far and away the .44/40 was the most reliable and obscenely accurate of the three.
It is one of those guns I really should have kept.

 

[Ed Ames]

As a .454 1892 owner: I don't think they make a model of the 1892 that wouldn't be suitable for hogs and deer.

I think if you are already in the .45c camp the .454 makes a lot of sense. I have now run three .454 1892s and all have fed .45c smoothly, but it is nice to be able to run 2000+fps vs 1400fps for colt brass. If you already shoot .454 it is a no-brainer. However if you don't currently shoot any .45 caliber revolvers...are you unhappy with what you have? If not, why worry?

 

[Swede]

I had one in .45 colt. It was a sweet shooter One of those guns I wish I hadn't sold it.

 

[mrming]

I have a m92 in 454. I think it was right after the rossi/legend buy out production date.

It's been a bit of a train wreck. 45c loads make for fun plinking with it. Feed lever that shipped with the rifle wouldn't feed 454 so I ended up having to re-mill it as well as slicked up the action. Barrel band screw bends every time I put a decent 454 load to it.

Works and holds together great for heavier 45c loads though. Wish I could figure out how to keep from bending that silly screw..

I should have gotten it in 44 to go with my redhawk. Oh well..

 

[bscott29]

If you get the 45 colt you will need a 5.5" Bisley to go with it. Like this one of mine.

 

[TenDriver]

After a while you're going to experience your mag tube walking itself out of the receiver. I recommend going ahead and having it welded.

 

[chris in va]

I got a chance to shoot a friends Puma 45c with mousefart 700fps loads along with some hotter charged rounds. What an absurdly fun gun it is!

He pointed out that 45c cases tend to split fairly easily and can be a bit irritating when scrounging brass. I'd probably go with 44 mag instead as 44 Special can be used, or just downloaded.

 

[TenDriver]

44 Special may or may not feed in that gun.

 

[BCRider]

If the .44Mag gun is like the .357 version then it'll feed .44Spl just fine. But only if the shooter uses a moderate lever cycle speed. When pushed to cowboy action cycling rates the shorter cases tend to bounce and jam. But at any sort of common sense plinking or hunting duty it would be fine. And in fact it's actually amazing just how fast one can cycle specials without jamming as long as the lever stops at the forward most point for something like a 1/5 of a second before closing it.