Rossi M92 in 357 - Magazine Loading Help

[marb4]

I've been on the hunt so to speak for a while now for a 357 lever action carbine and finally came across a NIB Rossi 92 last week. Took it out for the first time last night and it shot very well. 357 and 38's cycled with no problem and the rifle was at least as accurate as I am. The action was not the horrible gritty mess that I've read many of these Rossi's can be but actually pretty smooth.

The only issue I've run into is actually loading any round with a flat soft nose (like many commercial 357 rounds are). They seem to bind up as they are being loaded through the loading gate. Like they're physically hitting something that's hindering loading. With some manipulation, I can eventually get them to load but it just seems like they should load into the magazine smoother than this. I shot around 150 rounds yesterday and my fingers are blistered just from loading the rifle. I know there's a $50+ DVD out there for slicking up the action but I'm really not interested in getting that involved as the action itself seems pretty good out of the box. Anyone ever come across a fix for this issue?

 

[joecil]

In most cases the loading gate can be lightened such as in the pictures I've attached. Now if when you dismantle the rifle which will be required to remove the loading gate you should notice how the loading gate slides over the carrier and it might be hitting at the very back of the carrier also. There are a number of sights on how to dismantle it though the Steve Gunz DVD is great and worth having that is my opinion. The biggest problem is not taking it apart but getting the bolt back in and best to use a snap cap/dummy round/or empty case.

Take it off slow and if using a grinder or dremel dip often in water to keep it from over heating taking the temper out of the spring as that is what the loading gate is.

 

[VA27]

On a lot of side-loaders I've dealt with, the inside edge of the loading port is razor sharp and lead will snag on it. A way around that is to start your loading with the cartridge perpendicular to the gate and sort of 'scoop' the cartridge in so that the bullet doesn't make contact with the forward edge of the port. Short of tearing the gun down and polishing the inside edge of the port that's all I can think of.

Port= the hole in the frame

Gate= the cover of the hole in the frame.

Hope this helps.

 

[az_imuth]

Also, try pulling the lever up snugly toward the receiver as you load the magazine. I've found that this helps a lot on my Rossi. If my lever drops down even a small amount then the rounds start binding up.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I used to tear or split my thumbnail just about every cowboy action match. Eventually I got a "rifle speedloader" which is a piece of PVC pipe with a dowel inside. It looks like the offspring of a syringe and a slide whistle but it sure makes loading the rifle easier. Don't leave home without it!

 

[35 Whelen]

I bought a 357 Rossi to use in CAS. Before I got a RN bullet mould I used SWC's exclusively and like you, had them hang up while loading. When I eventually disassembled the rifle to slick it up, I sought and found the problem. There was a ridge on the left side of the receiver where the magazine tube enters the receiver. With the rifle completely disassembled I was able to use my Dremel with a stove to knock the ridge down. After knocking it down and shaping it with the stone, I smoothed it up with a polishing bit.

Make SURE the rifle is completely disassembled because you're going to get grit everywhere inside the rifle.

35W