Rossi M88 Great Gun...But?

[Confederate]

...Every now and again we ask if it's rated to take +P. Since the answer, officially, is...in moderation, the real question is, is a S&W 60? Years ago, people asked the folks at Interarms, but they were only the importers; they had no clue. I have no problems with carrying these fine guns with +P, but I don't want problems with occasionally practicing with them.



Another thing is the firing pins. Although I've heard you can dry fire a .38 Spc Model 60 with no worry, it was a big no-no with the Rossi, and a look at their respective firing pins offers a clue. The Rossi has a long pin that extends down and to the hammer nose piece. The S&W hammer nose doesn't extend like the Rossi's, but is stubby. Just looking at the two, I'd most likely be more careful with the Rossi.

BTW, if anyone needs spare parts for their Rossis, the Jack First Gun Shop (do an internet search). They have many obsolete parts for old guns.

 

[bannockburn]

Confederate

Nice Model 88; looks like you did a bit of a polishing job on it! This was the gun I thought S&W should have been making at the time but wasn't. Mine was great, well made and nicely finished and served as my backwoods trail gun for a number of years. I never used +P ammo in it as I didn't think it would hold up well over the long run if I did. Thanks for the info on spare parts.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Here's another good source for parts and smithing.


M&M Gunsmithing
2423 Carter Grove Rd
Unit B
Hazel Green AL 35750

571-276-7676 8:00am-4:00 pm CST

www.mmgunsmithing.com

Mike was a smith for Interarms for many years,,,
He has the knowledge and many parts.

He installed a new cylinder for my Rossi 511 revolver,,,
And did a bit of work on the trigger.

Total cost was only $150.00,,,
That was parts, labor, and return shipping.

Aarond

.

 

[Confederate]

Yes, I wish Mike was still in Alexandria, Virginia. In my neck of the woods things never change for the better. All the good restaurants are closing and they're making high-rises. Taxes are so high that range new restaurants coming in are those types that sell four sticks of asparagus as an appetizer for $6.95!

It all began when they closed Chi-Chis in my area. From then on it's been horrible.

Anyway, since the Rossi M88 is steel (and stainless steel at that), I don't see why it couldn't take +P ammo.

It's a great gun.

 

[lastofthebreed]

Great looking gun, maybe I can find a nice used one.

 

[RealGun]

Here is another take on the Interarms Rossi 88. It weighs 25 ounces and shoots a lot better than a lightweight. Mine has had an action job and runs really smoothly.

 

[Confederate]

www.mmgunsmithing.com
Mike was a smith for Interarms for many years....
He has the knowledge and many parts.

Aarond, if you see Mike, ask him what he thinks about dry firing these guns. I seem to remember him telling me it wouldn't hurt them, but as I get older my memory gets a bit addled. Also, if you have a photo of your 511, please post it if you can.

I always like pictures.



Beautiful gun and nice grips, RealGun. My firing pin seems fine, but I just ordered a spare firing pin from Jack First for $18. Theirs is made from a very strong tool steel, while the Rossi firing pins are made from stainless steel. The Jack First firing pins look a bit Spartan and look like they've been blackened with a match, but they should be much tougher.

 

[RealGun]

Notice what a 38 looks like when the cylinder window is not scaled for 357 Magnum? I don't like all these compromises that we are supposed to ignore. If I want a 38, give me a true 38.

 

[Drail]

As a retired pistolsmith I would advise that you do not use any ammo loaded to pressures or velocities above standard .38 Spl. in a Rossi. There is very little chance you will blow the cylinder but I can assure you that use of +P ammo WILL shorten the usable life of the gun and you will gain nothing by using +P loads. If you demand higher performance than a standard .38 Spl. - buy a .357. Dry firing the gun will not damage it. Any part that breaks while dry firing is just as liable to fail in live fire. In my opinion the .38 Spl. makes a fine defensive cartridge if you can place the shot where it needs to go. If you cannot do that then caliber or load level isn't going to make any difference.

 

[RealGun]

As a retired pistolsmith I would advise that you do not use any ammo loaded to pressures or velocities above standard .38 Spl. in a Rossi. There is very little chance you will blow the cylinder but I can assure you that use of +P ammo WILL shorten the usable life of the gun and you will gain nothing by using +P loads. If you demand higher performance than a standard .38 Spl. - buy a .357. Dry firing the gun will not damage it. Any part that breaks while dry firing is just as liable to fail in live fire. In my opinion the .38 Spl. makes a fine defensive cartridge if you can place the shot where it needs to go. If you cannot do that then caliber or load level isn't going to make any difference.

Why would the useful life of a Rossi, especially an Interarms vintage, be shortened any differently than any other comparable brand/model? Steel grade...what?

 

[Drail]

I never said it would be shortened differently than any other comparable brand/model? Use of +P loads stresses any gun more than the cartridge it was designed for - assuming the load is actually +P and not simply marketed as such.

 

[RealGun]

I never said it would be shortened differently than any other comparable brand/model? Use of +P loads stresses any gun more than the cartridge it was designed for - assuming the load is actually +P and not simply marketed as such.

As a retired pistolsmith I would advise that you do not use any ammo loaded to pressures or velocities above standard .38 Spl. in a Rossi.

I inferred this was stating the Rossi was somehow inferior. The 88 gun is actually pretty stout (from a non-gunsmith perspective).

 

[Drail]

Opinions vary......

 

[RealGun]

Opinions vary......

Again I have to infer you don't think Rossi's are "stout". Why not be direct and make this easier?

 

[Drail]

"stout" is not the issue IMO. +P ammo is. Rossis are sufficiently "stout" for the standard cartridge designation stamped on the barrel. My "inference" is simply that there is no good reason to go above that level (with any brand). My opinion - no more - no less - based on the observation that fairly old guns I have seen that were fed only standard loads are still in very good condition and guns that were fed +P loads - not so much. But it's your gun - if you consider it to be an expendable item then load it up with anything you can shove in it.

 

[RealGun]

"stout" is not the issue IMO. +P ammo is. Rossis are sufficiently "stout" for the standard cartridge designation stamped on the barrel. My "inference" is simply that there is no good reason to go above that level (with any brand). My opinion - no more - no less - based on the observation that fairly old guns I have seen that were fed only standard loads are still in very good condition and guns that were fed +P loads - not so much. But it's your gun - if you consider it to be an expendable item then load it up with anything you can shove in it.

I would not use +p unless the gun was rated as such, but clearly it was fair to infer from your wording that you thought Rossi's were less durable or capable of firing +p than other guns not rated as such. I was wondering if you could back that up with more than your own credibility, citing experience as a gunsmith. Now I think we understand that Rossis are no less capable than other brands of comparable models. Just defending my pride in my collection of Interarms Rossi.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Excellent little revolving belt pistol!

 

[aarondhgraham]

Hey Confederate:
Here's that picture you asked for.
It shows a comparison of the Rossi 511 against my S&W 63.

I actually don't know Mike,,,
I found him through a Google search.

But he communicated with me very openly,,,
And fixed my Rossi very well,,,
And quickly to boot.

That's why I reccommend him,,,
I got good service for my money.

Aarond

.

 

[Drail]

RealGun, sir, I have nothing against Rossi firearms. My wife carried one for 6 or 7 years until we could afford to get her a S&W. I sold it to a friend and she is still carrying it last I heard. I never had any problems whatsoever with that gun. It was kind of rough inside but still quite serviceable and very reliable. I think it's a great thing that we have guns available to us at affordable prices. Ruger has pretty much taken over that title. Sorry my posts led you to believe I was trashing Rossi. I guess what I was actually trying to convey was my belief that the fad today for everybody wanting to shoot/carry +P ammo in everything is just silly and unnecessary. I just wish people would spend more time developing their skills and less time worrying about if their ammo is "hot" enough.

 

[RealGun]

RealGun, sir, I have nothing against Rossi firearms. My wife carried one for 6 or 7 years until we could afford to get her a S&W. I sold it to a friend and she is still carrying it last I heard. I never had any problems whatsoever with that gun. It was kind of rough inside but still quite serviceable and very reliable. I think it's a great thing that we have guns available to us at affordable prices. Ruger has pretty much taken over that title. Sorry my posts led you to believe I was trashing Rossi. I guess what I was actually trying to convey was my belief that the fad today for everybody wanting to shoot/carry +P ammo in everything is just silly and unnecessary. I just wish people would spend more time developing their skills and less time worrying about if their ammo is "hot" enough.

Yes, actually the 88 snub I pictured improved a lot with the action job I had done on it.

 

[Drail]

Yes, they respond to judicious tuning fairly well. I try to keep the factory springs if possible though.

 

[the Black Spot]

I acquired a M68 recently. I like it! Wanna get a t-grip for it though

 

[boom boom]

One of the potential issues with using +p ammo is that the parts that lockup the cylinder--the hand, bolt, etc. can take a beating. The second is the forcing cone depending on the barrel design may prematurely wear which can require the barrel to be setback. Thus, you get timing issues which can result in unpleasantness such as spitting bullet fragments, uneven wear or cracking the forcing cone, etc. which can require expensive gunsmithing work if you can find one to work on it. I do know that some smiths refuse to work on Taurus or Rossi because the lockwork is a bit different than Smiths but don't remember the specifics.

Instead, try the new high tech bullets like http://www.federalpremium.com/ammun...al-defense/personal-defense-hydra-shok/p38hs1 or the xtp based Hornady Critical Defense round. Another option is using the old soft swaged 158 gr. lead hollowpoints if you reload or Federal's Nyclad 38 special hollowpoint rounds if you can find them. You'll also get less recoil from these and close to the same performance as +p without the wear and tear on the revolver.

 

[RealGun]

One of the potential issues with using +p ammo is that the parts that lockup the cylinder--the hand, bolt, etc. can take a beating. The second is the forcing cone depending on the barrel design may prematurely wear which can require the barrel to be setback. Thus, you get timing issues which can result in unpleasantness such as spitting bullet fragments, uneven wear or cracking the forcing cone, etc. which can require expensive gunsmithing work if you can find one to work on it. I do know that some smiths refuse to work on Taurus or Rossi because the lockwork is a bit different than Smiths but don't remember the specifics.

Instead, try the new high tech bullets like http://www.federalpremium.com/ammun...al-defense/personal-defense-hydra-shok/p38hs1 or the xtp based Hornady Critical Defense round. Another option is using the old soft swaged 158 gr. lead hollowpoints if you reload or Federal's Nyclad 38 special hollowpoint rounds if you can find them. You'll also get less recoil from these and close to the same performance as +p without the wear and tear on the revolver.

In terms of getting beat up, since the K is the same gun that shoots 357 Magnum, is the grade of steel the difference, making the "+p" the badge of the magnum-capable gun?

I do know that some smiths refuse to work on Taurus or Rossi because the lockwork is a bit different than Smiths but don't remember the specifics.

But in terms of the Interarms vintage model 88, when I had my action job done, my gunsmith commented, somewhat amused, that the interior was identical to an S&W, presumably a Model 36.

 

[bannockburn]

J.B. Wood's review of the Model 88 in "Combat Handguns" way back in 1983 stated that occasional use of +P ammo was not going to damage the gun but that continued use would certainly accelerate wear and tear on it. His advice was that standard velocity .38 Special ammo should be used most of time, reserving +P ammo for initial testing and sighting in to see how the gun does with it.