Rossi 518 opinions

[bigtubby]

Never owned a Rossi not sure I want to but would like opinions from those that own or former owners of this older model Rossi. Looks like a copy of a S&W has a 4" barrel 6 shot RR front sight. Are these very accurate? I know probably depends on the gun. I got a 5 screw pre 18 so I don't really need this gun asking price $275.00

 

[bcrowl]

I had one and so did my dad and we both loved them. I shouldn't have sold it.

 

[MIL-DOT]

For what it's worth, going back years, I've heard much more positive stuff about Rossi than negative. I wouldn't be a afraid to get one of their revolvers if it was a deal.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I have a Rossi 518,,,

I have a Rossi 511,,,
Which is very close to the 518,,,
It's almost a copy/clone of my S&W 63.

The older Rossi revolvers were very high quality,,,
My 511 is comparable to my S&W 63 in every fashion,,,
If one is more accurate than the other I can't see the difference.

Your $275 should buy you a nice shooter,,,
I would easily spend that much if the gun was mechanically sound.

Good DA/SA 22 revolvers at a decent price have become scarce,,,
That's one I would snap up in a heartbeat.

Aarond

.

 

[frankiestoys]

I own a Rossi Plinker .22 lr its a new model w/o a track record but I've been happy so far with it ,its no Ruger or Smith but was half the price.

 

[Waveski]

If it is a stainless model of the Interarms era I would take a serious look , given the price. Look for the usual cylinder wobble (esp. fore and aft) , lock-up , etc.

There were some pretty nice Rossi's from that era. Do not expect a great DA trigger , but the SA will probably be fine. That's a nice looking plinker for the money. Stainless w/ walnut ; if it checks out I would buy it.

 

[bigtubby]

It is SS no walnut goodyears, made a offer and going to check it out tomorrow afternoon. Revolvers don't sell real quick around here everybody wants a plastic foor-tay or wonder nine. If it checks out I will probably pick it up tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Waveski]

"no walnut goodyears" ... ?

 

[bigtubby]

Sorry thats my shorthand, No walnut grips comes with Rubber grips.

 

[MCgunner]

I bought a 511 in 1988 from Walmart (they used to sell handguns) and loved it. It got stolen. Found another at a gun show, used, and bought it. Still have it. It's an awesome shooter and higher quality than some of the Rossis I've owned from that time period, better fit and finish. I had a 971 in .357 magnum and a M88 with lots of tooling marks here and there. I still have a 68 3" .38 special M36 clone that is fantastic in finish and accurate, but the 511 seemed to keep its quality right through that period in Rossi production. They're much better finished now days than they were in the early 90s.

Anyway, this 511 shoots 2" groups with most ammo off the bench at 25 yards, quite accurate with most bulk ammo, but LOVES Federal Auto Match. I get 1" 25 yard groups from it off the bags routinely and that's as accurate as I personally can shoot iron sights on a revolver without aid of a Ransom rest.

I consider this model the same as the later model Rossis, at least they look the same. There is no better affordable DA .22 on the market IMHO for the price. Old H&Rs are junky by comparison. Charters don't come close. The revolver compares more closely to a Smith and Wesson kit gun, though the DA trigger is a might rough. I love the thing and shoot it a lot. Lord knows how many rounds have gone through it, but .22LR ain't hard on a revolver.

I put the Pachmayr on it, hated the wood grips with my larger hands. They were plain wood, nothing fancy. Wood is over-rated as a grip material, anyway, IMHO.

 

[bigtubby]

Well I wasn't able to buy the Rossi as I found a S&W 627 prelock V-Comp for sale so that absorbed all my cash I will try to buy it next week when I get some more gun money.

Thanks for the reply's

 

[palmetto99]

I picked up a Rossi 518 about four years ago. I think I paid around $250. I have been VERY pleased. Trigger pull (DA & SA) is very good and it is pretty accurate with just about every thing I have run through it. It doesn't have the exact classic lines of a S&W and I'm not a big fan of the factory rubber grips (they feel fine, just don't like the look), but I like the little revolver a lot. I let an instructor friend borrow it for a class and he liked it so much that he went on the hunt for one and came up with a 511 and he loves his too.