Rossi 951 .357 (pre-taurus)

[novaDAK]

The local shop has a blued Rossi 951 .357, 4" bbl and full shroud, adj sights. They want 199, and I looked it over and it seems to be in decent shape (no obvious scratches or blemeshes in the finish). I don't own a revolver yet, but I do shoot a python frequently which is owned by a family member. I own 6 autos and I'd like to get a revolver added to the mix. I'm basically looking for a revolver that's under 300 bucks, can stand to have a few .357's through it every now and then, and won't fall apart.
It is an older Rossi, because I didn't see taurus anywhere on the gun.

I'm going to the gunshow on Friday and if I find a security six or a S&W I'll probably go with one of them if it's still under 300 bucks, but I'm keeping an open mind to the Rossi just in case I don't come home with one from the show.

Also, can these be dry-fired without snap caps? (newer Taurus made ones say no dry-firing).
So would it be ok with snap caps then?
I'm going to assume that it has the firing pin on the hammer, no transfer bar, so it could fire if the hammer was hit while carrying it fully loaded unless they had gone to the transfer bar before they were bought by taurus, in that case I'd have to go back and look at it (forgot to).

Any other opinions on this gun would be greatly appreciated

 

[MCgunner]

Sure it's not a 971? I had a 971 and it was a good gun, sorta wish I had it back. Well made, DA trigger was a bit rough, but not bad. Fit and finish not close to the more expensive guns, but that didn't affect function. It timed perfect and had no play, was tight. I fired quite a bit of .357 in it and it never loosened up. It had a firing pin issue. Firing pin broke on it one day, sent it back to Interarms, it came back, broke on the first range trip. I took it to a gunsmith. He told me the firing pin needed "proper fitting". Whatever, after he fixed it, it went through a few thousand rounds trouble free, so I guess he was right.

I used to carry it while hunting. It was quite compact and light for a stainless gun, sort of half way between a J and a K frame. It was a 4" gun. My Taurus 66 is more accurate, but it'd generally shoot into about 2"-2.5" at 25 yards off sand bags with its best loads, which ain't bad, but I've had better. My Smith 19 and my Security six would better it with magnums by an inch and my Taurus 66 is as good as the 19 with magnums and shoots my 38s as good, too, but for practical accuracy, the Rossi wasn't inaccurate, just wasn't AS accurate as other revolvers I've owned. One thing, that Ruger Security Six I had was terrible on recoil, lots of muzzle flip and painful to the hand. The Rossi was lighter and felt recoil with the same loads was MUCH less. I guess it was the grip angle or something, but that gun was a pleasure with hot loads, as easy shooting as my 19 and my Taurus 66.

What I liked about the gun was its light weight and easy recoil. The broken firing pin thing made me a little anxious to carry the thing and rely on it and accuracy didn't set the world on fire and I wanted a .45 Colt Blackhawk I found, so I used the Rossi in trade (got a decent deal on it, too) so I traded it off. I often think about the gun's light weight, but now I have a Ruger SP101, so I'm not really missing it. I wouldn't dry fire the Rossi. I don't even dry fire my Rugers without snap caps, but the firing pin issue I had, I wouldn't do it with the Rossi for sure. I think the Rossi is a very good, serviceable gun for the money, but there are better guns out there for not that much more money. I gave $197 for a used 4" Taurus 66 and it's much more well fitted and finished, superbly accurate, and has a smoother trigger. Used Taurus 66s are bargains around here and a better gun than the 971 I had IMHO. that Taurus is tight and the new transfer bar lock work. It'd been fired very little until I got my hands on it. I ain't tradin' it off, can tell ya that, it's a keeper.

 

[novaDAK]

Yeah, now that you mention it it was a 971...I mistyped

Thanks for the info. I figure I'll go to the gunshow and if I see something I like I'll get it (like a ruger or S&W) but I figure if I don't find anything at the show I'll look at the Rossi closer and I know the dealer would most likely come down on the price a little

Thanks again!

 

[Risasi]

I also had a 971 that I bought back in the 90's. If I remember right they were made off of machinery bought from S&W. But made several small changes to the internals, so you couldn't go interchanging parts.

I never had any problems with it, and fit and finish was good. The trigger was less than stellar, but still not horrible. I believe a put some Hogue rubber grips on it and called it good.

If I remember correctly the only reason I sold it was due to the trigger. I just didn't trust I would ever be able to get parts if needed. And the thought of taking a $250 gun to get perhaps a couple hundred bucks worth of work done just didn't suit my fancy. Generally these were unfounded fears I had.



Personally I would seach for a 2 3/4" Security Six if you can find one. It will run you $50 more, but it's worth it in the long run.

 

[novaDAK]

Thanks
The security six is actually my first choice anyways, and I can afford an extra 50-100 if it will buy me a better (more solid) gun.

But I'm still going to keep the Rossi in mind if I don't find anything at the show...and before making the final decision on the Rossi I'd check out their used S&W revolvers the same store had...I just don't know the model numbers of SWs that well besides the different frame sizes.

 

[MCgunner]

I had a Security Six. It was a good gun, accurate as heck with .357s, but mediocre with .38 specials. And, felt recoil on the thing was terrible. It's the gun that taught me not to finch, though. I worked my way through it. Bought it in '78 new for about 180 bucks. For 20 more I coulda got a new M19, but the SS was stainless and I liked that. I eventually bought and sold a 19 before they were so expensive on the used market.

I traded that security six for a friends Blackhawk 6.5" even swap. the Blackhawk was nearly new and I wanted it for hunting and outdoor carry. I replaced the DA 4" .357 hole the security six left with the Rossi. Now, that niche in my gun cabinet is filled by a couple of Taurus M66s (one of 'em is a three inch gun) and I couldn't be happier with 'em, more accurate than the SS or 19 were with the .38s I shoot the most, much more accurate, though with magnums they're equal. Felt recoil is no worse than the Smith was. They are well fitted guns with good triggers. I got 'em used for under 200 bucks at gun shows. They are Taurus M66s, so don't discount those on you watch list if you can't find a Smith or Ruger you want. If you want something a little smaller and more carryable, my SP101 is a fantastic little 357, too. The Ruger's main advantage is they're super strong. You ain't gonna break one in your lifetime. Used security sixes are a little safer purchase. A M19 might be ragged out and still demand more price. Some of 'em come from police arsenals and lord knows how many rounds have been through 'em. Round count is less worry with a Ruger.

JMHO and thoughts on the subject. I've owned all four brands here and settled on the Taurus 66 as a favorite mostly due to unreal accuracy. It's no better gun than any of the others, otherwise, and not as strong a design as the Ruger. I think it's a step above the Rossi, though, more on par with the others in quality, fit, finish, etc, but all four brands were good shooters and serviceable.

On, used Smiths, look for M19 (blued K frame with adjustable sights) or M13 (blued K frame with fixed sights) or M65 (stainless M13) or M66 (stainless M19). All the new stuff confuses me, to, because I have little interest in the newer guns. Price, really, is what puts 'em out of my range of interest. I rarely buy revolvers new anymore, anyway.

 

[novaDAK]

ended up with a stainless security six at the show since it was a decent price (lower than what I've seen them go for on gunbroker).

 

[Risasi]

Good deal, now shoot the heck out of it to smooth out the trigger.

And consider a spring kit:http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/productview?saleitemid=734104&t=11082005