Ranch Hand Problem

[Desmond108]

Hello,
I'm new to this site and was wondering if anyone could help me out.
I Just bought a Rossi Ranch hand chambered in .357/.38spl and when using it, it cycles the .38spl cartridges perfectly, but the .357 cartridges get jammed and wont cycle. Has anyone experienced anything like this, or know what could be the cause? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[NavyLCDR]

You might want to try cleaning the chamber very well. Repeated firing of .38 spl can cause a build up of carbon where the 38 spl cartridge ends in the chamber, preventing the larger .357 cartridges from chambering completely.

 

[rcmodel]

the .357 cartridges get jammed

Exactly what kind of .357 ammo is it?

Bullet shape, OAL length, etc, can all affect feeding in a lever-action.

rc

 

[splithoof]

I was wondering how long it would take to hear about this contraption. How does it actually shoot?

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've had mine since November.


I've put a lot of 38 and .357 through it with no problem. I can't tell you why you are having trouble with the .357 but first thing I'd do is try some different .357.

 

[Apple a Day]

Ammo in a salsa jar? Does that mean those rounds are loaded HOT?

 

[M2 Carbine]

Ammo in a salsa jar? Does that mean those rounds are loaded HOT?

Could be...........

........but No, it's just easier to carry a jar or two.............



........instead of a box or two.

 

[Desmond108]

You might want to try cleaning the chamber very well. Repeated firing of .38 spl can cause a build up of carbon where the 38 spl cartridge ends in the chamber, preventing the larger .357 cartridges from chambering completely

I'll give that a try, but I tried to use the .357 first before I fired anything else in it. It looks like the .357 rim gets caught on the
cartridge guide. The rim on the .38 seems to slide right through.

Exactly what kind of .357 ammo is it?

Bullet shape, OAL length, etc, can all affect feeding in a lever-action.

I used Lellier & Bellot soft point ammo in .357, I used the same brand in .38 but it was FMJ.

I was wondering how long it would take to hear about this contraption. How does it actually shoot?

It was fun shooting the .38spl. There's almost no recoil when using them due to the weight of the gun. I haven't shot it enough to give a good report, but as far as function it worked flawlessly with the .38spl ammo.

I've put a lot of 38 and .357 through it with no problem. I can't tell you why you are having trouble with the .357 but first thing I'd do is try some different .357.

Yeah thats what I'll have to try, what kind of ammo have you been using?

 

[M2 Carbine]

what kind of ammo have you been using?

Mostly reloads using Hornady XTP and Remington bullets. Also a few factory .357 I had laying around, but no S&B. Although I have had good luck with S&B ammo in other guns and other calibers.

Right now I am feeding some 158gr Hornady .357. They are feeding with no problem.
This is the round's case rim about to jump up through that slot to line up with the chamber for feeding.
I backed up the bolt so the case can be seen better. As can be seen the .357 round is feeding with no problem.

 

[Desmond108]

That is exactly where mine gets stuck, hope I didn't get a lemon, I been waitin for this gun for a long time :-( I'll have to try some new ammo after the weekend, hopefully it'll make a difference...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It's possible your rifle doesn't like S&B ammo. Sometimes leverguns can be funny with some kinds of factory ammo.

 

[Tomcat47]

I would measure O/All length of those S&B and keep it in a notebook.

Get some other brands and measure them too, see where its at in comparison.

I had a .44 Mag Marlin 1894 that didnt like certain brands, some hollow points wouldnt feed at all! Some would without a hitch.

I been looking at one of them as well, I think it would be a great truck gun myself. Keep a few .357 shot shells and some good magnum, maybe some new Hornady Leverevolution .357's ?

Nice Gun hope you get the kinks figured/worked out.

 

[BlkHawk73]

This is the only gun left really on my "gotta get" list that is realistically obtainable.

 

[M2 Carbine]

As a side note,
Last week I bought the Henry 22 Mare's Leg.


The Red Dot is ugly but it sure helps in the shooting.
I've been shooting it every day. What a fun (inexpensive) gun.
A few days ago a neighbor lady was shooting it from 52 yards, offhand, at that Black and White target, and not missing.
She went to the gun store to put one on order.

 

[leapfrog]

357 feeding in a rossi is a common problem, you can try different ammo but in my case even doing that does not cure the problem, in my case about 10 out of 50 would hang up not matter what brand.
The most effective cure is send it to a guy in south texas to do what is referred to as "slicking it up" he charges about two hundred for the work.
Usually it is the cartridge guides that present the problem.
I have a japchester that feeds any and all 357
I can't see putting that kind of money in a rossi when you can buy a reliable rifle like the Henry right out of the box.
I don't know why rossi hasn't fixed the problem, I had one ten years ago and it was the same then.
The guy that does the slicking says that it is the fact there are so many variations of the 357 rounds, but the japchester does just fine.
I have other calibre rossi's that have no problems, just the 357.
Good luck

 

[buck460XVR]

Go to their website and contact them. I had a feeding problem with my .357 Model 92 and they said send it in. It cost me less than $15 to send it in and it was back within a month working well.

 

[Desmond108]

Hey all, bought a box of Hornady Leverevolution on the way home from work today, and they loaded perfectly, so maybe my ranch hand just doesn't like certain kinds of ammo. I'd like to find a lower priced substitute for the hornady's but in either case, I love this gun