Also if you buy buffalo bore+P ammo you'll be in the range of the 44 magnum from a six inch barrel
Need input on rossi 92 availability.
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kmw1954
Member
Going to shoot lead thru it? If so you may need more. I can use a trip to the McMiller berm!
OP
OP
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Yeah, it'll be running on lead. I'd love to go mining with ya, let me know when!
AJC1
Member
I don't like Rossi, but I'd buy it tomorrow. Other than bighorn at 4k Rossi is the only 454 option.
OP
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Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but I'll admit that I was skeptical as I've had Taurus trouble in the past. This one feels significantly better than I was expecting , very smooth action and a good trigger. The catch on these in my opinion is fixing up the odds and ends- I've got a safety delete plug and stainless magazine follower on their way and I want to get a skinner peep sight and maybe a saddle ring if I'm feeling frisky. That's a couple hundred bucks but I think it'll round it out assuming it shoots and cycles before "fixing it up"
This one is going to replace my 45-70 Henry as my do-all if it's reliable. I don't baby anything and I shoot everything I own but this one hits the sweet spot because I'm not going to worry about it getting dinged up. I've got some nice old marlins I do worry about and even my beater Winchester is always wiped down after handling , the rossi is going to be a working gun and we'll see how it holds up.
If it will make a 3 moa group I'll be super happy with that and the icing on the cake will be if it cycles my 360 grain loads and doesn't shake loose in short order. I'll probably atari a fresh thread on this rifle once I've got actual trigger time in and got my fixins on it.
AJC1
Member
I'd be more than satisfied to follow your adventures with this carbine. If marlin ever answers my call, I'll be right there with you in the trenches... curious if the ly go 336 or 94
kmw1954
Member
Email me or PM your work schedule. Range in now open 7day until Dec... I will be working Mon, Tue, Fridays every other week. So we would have to be in and out of the range before 9am.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Not really helpful to the OP but Rossi must've just made a big shipment. Every shop I went in yesterday had several new 92's on the rack. They are really, really nicely made rifles. I think I need a 20" carbine.
OP
OP
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Hey all,
I've finally got updates , impressions and thoughts on the r92.
I'll start by saying I'm impressed with the rossi.
I've made some changes that should be standard but maybe they aren't for everyone.
Pu a saddle ring /stud in place of the standard hammer screw. This one is from bear tooth mercantile, it was a good price, in stock and I used their parts before on a marlin. The 92 is a pita to take apart and I didn't pin the hammer spring when I removed the lower tang, oooops. Not a huge deal but that little thing is strong. Saddle ring is not for everyone but it goes clink clink clink and gives me somewhere to tie a string to if I want to make certain I can't be separated from the rifle. I do plan to use this gun in combination with a 454 super Redhawk for all general purpose camping / hiking . Overkill? I dunno, 45 colt cycles fine in the rossi too, I heard reports of jams but I haven't had an issue or I can just load mild 454 .
Safety delete plug from Steve's guns. The only complaint is that the groove for the pin that retains it is not there , they provide a drill bit and an explanation that production variances over the decades require the groove to be made in place to ensure its tightly retained. I get it, it worked fine but it would be easy to booger up the bolt & plug if you aren't careful . The plug needs to be held hard into the bolt and drill perfectly centered or you'll end up with an elongated hole and that's just ugly. I used a battery powered hand drill (no drill press) and used a padded vise gripe to make sure the plug was completely flush and not wiggling around. I'll never pull that plug out again, I had to beat the pin in with significant force and it was a little sketchy. Not Steve's gunz fault but it was borderline a gunsmith job just because it would be easy to make a mistake. Mine turned out great.
I don't abide safeties on lever guns, I understand it's required for import and this style is easy to get rid of . The safety that comes on these is flimsy little tiny goofy thing. Glad to see it gone.
Skinner rear sight. It's quicker to pickup and easier to use than the semi buckhorns. I haven't shot with this sight yet, I won't be surprised if I need a slightly taller front sight, it looks like I might but I'll find out soon. The skinner sight is extremely well made, sights are never fun to install , I had to run a tiny triangular file in the dovetail on the rifle, it had some burrs a roughness, I also just broke the sharp edge on the sight and it fit tight- really tight. I have a 2 oz hammer I use for stuff like this. I tapped it to get it started and gave it a few whacks then used a little piece of brass punch to drive it home. I should have taken off the forend , I just kissed it with the tiny hammer and it took a little bite out of it. Not the end of the world cause I intend on using this gun and it will take honest wear and damage . It was avoidable but hindsight is 20/20. The first few taps to get the sight started left marks on the sight but a couple strokes with a fine file took them right out and isn't visible at all. Looking forward to getting this sighted in now. I do need to get a couple of stainless theaded plugs to fill the 2 holes still visible behind the sight, no biggie, should have gotten them but I wasn't sure I needed them.
I did buy a stainless magazine follower from Steve's too, I didn't install it yet , I bought it because I was certain this would have a plastic follower but it actually has a blue anodized aluminum follower from the factory. I prefer the stainless one but I'm going to get a different magazine spring so I'll put the follower in when I do that eventually.
When I had it taken apart I used Renaissance wax on everything I could. Did a couple layers and buffed it off . I left it a little thicker on areas that can't easily be wiped and on the interior surfaces of the wood. That should weather proof it some.
As far as the shootin side of things, this carbine is awesome. Quick handling and good manners. I think I mentioned it before, can't remember, I couldn't push 360 grain wfn bullets into the loading gate. Something loosened up or something because they go in ok now. I broke the sharp edge on the outer surface of the extractor hook, it was sharp and putting a small gouge on the back of every case when it rode up and over the rim. That took care of that. That's been about it.
Overall these are great rifles but you need to keep a few things in mind. It's a sub $1000 lever action from south America. It's not a bighorn armory or a vintage Winchester, there are going to be things that are a little rough around the edges and in places you don't see from the outside. These guns are for use , if you want one to look at more than shoot the rossi isn't the best but if you want a gun you don't mind taking out in the elements and bouncing around through the woods I think these are ideal , ya don't feel bad if it gets some scratches and honest wear looks good on a gun anyway. This rifle has no competition due to the chambering (bighorn is 3x the price), it's in a sweet spot for north American critters and walking around with, light enough to not be a burden but powerful enough to settle just about anything down. Good capacity and seems durable. I recommend the r92 in 454 casull to anyone .
I've finally got updates , impressions and thoughts on the r92.
I'll start by saying I'm impressed with the rossi.
I've made some changes that should be standard but maybe they aren't for everyone.
Pu a saddle ring /stud in place of the standard hammer screw. This one is from bear tooth mercantile, it was a good price, in stock and I used their parts before on a marlin. The 92 is a pita to take apart and I didn't pin the hammer spring when I removed the lower tang, oooops. Not a huge deal but that little thing is strong. Saddle ring is not for everyone but it goes clink clink clink and gives me somewhere to tie a string to if I want to make certain I can't be separated from the rifle. I do plan to use this gun in combination with a 454 super Redhawk for all general purpose camping / hiking . Overkill? I dunno, 45 colt cycles fine in the rossi too, I heard reports of jams but I haven't had an issue or I can just load mild 454 .
Safety delete plug from Steve's guns. The only complaint is that the groove for the pin that retains it is not there , they provide a drill bit and an explanation that production variances over the decades require the groove to be made in place to ensure its tightly retained. I get it, it worked fine but it would be easy to booger up the bolt & plug if you aren't careful . The plug needs to be held hard into the bolt and drill perfectly centered or you'll end up with an elongated hole and that's just ugly. I used a battery powered hand drill (no drill press) and used a padded vise gripe to make sure the plug was completely flush and not wiggling around. I'll never pull that plug out again, I had to beat the pin in with significant force and it was a little sketchy. Not Steve's gunz fault but it was borderline a gunsmith job just because it would be easy to make a mistake. Mine turned out great.
I don't abide safeties on lever guns, I understand it's required for import and this style is easy to get rid of . The safety that comes on these is flimsy little tiny goofy thing. Glad to see it gone.
Skinner rear sight. It's quicker to pickup and easier to use than the semi buckhorns. I haven't shot with this sight yet, I won't be surprised if I need a slightly taller front sight, it looks like I might but I'll find out soon. The skinner sight is extremely well made, sights are never fun to install , I had to run a tiny triangular file in the dovetail on the rifle, it had some burrs a roughness, I also just broke the sharp edge on the sight and it fit tight- really tight. I have a 2 oz hammer I use for stuff like this. I tapped it to get it started and gave it a few whacks then used a little piece of brass punch to drive it home. I should have taken off the forend , I just kissed it with the tiny hammer and it took a little bite out of it. Not the end of the world cause I intend on using this gun and it will take honest wear and damage . It was avoidable but hindsight is 20/20. The first few taps to get the sight started left marks on the sight but a couple strokes with a fine file took them right out and isn't visible at all. Looking forward to getting this sighted in now. I do need to get a couple of stainless theaded plugs to fill the 2 holes still visible behind the sight, no biggie, should have gotten them but I wasn't sure I needed them.
I did buy a stainless magazine follower from Steve's too, I didn't install it yet , I bought it because I was certain this would have a plastic follower but it actually has a blue anodized aluminum follower from the factory. I prefer the stainless one but I'm going to get a different magazine spring so I'll put the follower in when I do that eventually.
When I had it taken apart I used Renaissance wax on everything I could. Did a couple layers and buffed it off . I left it a little thicker on areas that can't easily be wiped and on the interior surfaces of the wood. That should weather proof it some.
As far as the shootin side of things, this carbine is awesome. Quick handling and good manners. I think I mentioned it before, can't remember, I couldn't push 360 grain wfn bullets into the loading gate. Something loosened up or something because they go in ok now. I broke the sharp edge on the outer surface of the extractor hook, it was sharp and putting a small gouge on the back of every case when it rode up and over the rim. That took care of that. That's been about it.
Overall these are great rifles but you need to keep a few things in mind. It's a sub $1000 lever action from south America. It's not a bighorn armory or a vintage Winchester, there are going to be things that are a little rough around the edges and in places you don't see from the outside. These guns are for use , if you want one to look at more than shoot the rossi isn't the best but if you want a gun you don't mind taking out in the elements and bouncing around through the woods I think these are ideal , ya don't feel bad if it gets some scratches and honest wear looks good on a gun anyway. This rifle has no competition due to the chambering (bighorn is 3x the price), it's in a sweet spot for north American critters and walking around with, light enough to not be a burden but powerful enough to settle just about anything down. Good capacity and seems durable. I recommend the r92 in 454 casull to anyone .
Speedo66
Member
The clinking of the saddle ring can be fixed with a piece of rawhide shoelace tied in the traditional manner.
How is the accuracy? Is it the 3moa you had hoped for?
Good luck with your new(ly accessorized) gun!
How is the accuracy? Is it the 3moa you had hoped for?
Good luck with your new(ly accessorized) gun!
kmw1954
Member
Looks so Sweet!
OP
OP
Obturation
Member
It's tough to say honestly.
I've only shot it at 50 yards and it did well enough but I haven't settled on a load. 454 is one that shows a large point of impact variation between loads and the velocity range is large even for bullets of the same weight between 45 colt speed and full pressure . I am still testing but I had about a baseball size group with 255 grain swc over a mid charge of 2400, rested . I think it can be improved on and I was more just shaking out the function side of things and all that.
I'll report back when I get some more trigger time, wife's not letting me out much with a 7 week old baby at home.
