Rossi Model 68

[dmxx9900]

I picked up a old Rossi model 68 with a 3 inch barrel in 38 special for $130 at a pawn shop.
Its in 90% condition only has a little surface rust on a few areas and the lock is tight and has a weird circle cylinder release.I put 100 rounds through it and had no issues I was getting 1-2 inch groups at 5-10 yards had a stout amount of recoil and I was shooting it with a wooden grip not as comfortable as a rubber grip would be otherwise a very good revolver for what I paid.

I put Remington 130 grain FMJ's through it and it was very good ammo.
Every person on a budget should pick up one of these revolvers over a Jennings or a Lorcin. Its reliable and reasonably accurate even with the short barrel and makes a good car and home defense gun for the money.

I would not buy a new Taurus or New Rossi there are gunshops in my area that stop carrying them because they have a high return rate and are losing money from it.If I see another one for sale at that price range I would buy it again since its a good quality revolver at a "saturday night special" price.In this economy I thought I got a good deal and any of you that own one of these chime in and tell me your experience with them.

 

[Confederate]

Yep, grab them if you can find them. Finding them is more of a hassle than buying them. They just aren't widely available. I love mine!



S&W 60 .38 (top) and a Rossi stainless 88. I wouldn't sell my Rossi because
1) I love it and 2) I couldn't get anywhere near what it's worth.




This Rossi 511 also ain't too shabby. I bought two of these and recently
gave one to a friend.

 

[bannockburn]

I had a Rossi Model 88 years ago and was surprised at how well it was made and how accurate it was. With its 3" barrel, semi-adjustable rear sight, and stainless steel construction, it was the perfect Kit Gun for me. The only thing I added was a Tyler T-Grip adapter for a better grip fit.

 

[MCgunner]

I gave 100 even for my 68 3" in 1981 brand new. Great shooter and well fitted and finished which not all the Rossis I've owned were. This one looks like Smith and Wesson made it.

Also got a 511 Sportsman 22.

 

[MCgunner]

I had a Rossi Model 88 years ago and was surprised at how well it was made and how accurate it was. With its 3" barrel, semi-adjustable rear sight, and stainless steel construction, it was the perfect Kit Gun for me. The only thing I added was a Tyler T-Grip adapter for a better grip fit.

Mine has that "semi adjustable" sight, too, though it shot POA when I bought it with 148 wadcutters and 158 SWCs. I've never tried to adjust windage on it. The early 90s 88 I had for a while had a fixed sight, no screws holding a blade like the old one. I filed the front sight down on it as it shot low, but windage was OK. Fit and finish on that gun was sub par compared to my older 68.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I bought a like new 68 twenty years ago for about $100. The firing pin cracked in less than a box of shells. It was only about a 5 buck fix, though. It shot pretty darn good for a cheap gun.

 

[MCgunner]

Firing pins are a traditional problem with Rossi. I had a early 90s (seemed to be a little problem with fit and finish in that time frame) 971 that busted a firing pin. I sent it back to Interarms and it came back in less than a month. New pin busted on the second shot. SO, I took it to a good gunsmith and he fitted a K frame firing pin to it and it was shooting great when I traded it for a .45 Blackhawk. I never had a problem with the 68, but it doesn't have a high round count. Overall fit and finish on THAT gun seem fantastic, though, compared to those early 90s Rossis. The new ones are pretty nice, too. I've looked 'em over at Academy a few times, but if I got another 2" .357, I'd get another SP101. I sorta miss that one, but I was obligated to sell it back to my SIL when he got back from Iraq. He was going to pawn it before he left and I went nuts, gave him 250 for it with the promise he could buy it back, which he did.

Anyway, I found a pic of my old 68. The stocks are pearlite and look much better, but the lighting is bad on this pic. I was a little too close to the gun when I shot it, too. Hey, I'm not a photographer.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yep, I used a Smith firing pin in mine, but a good gunsmith didn't put it in. A hack did....I just used a punch to knock out the cross pin and stuck the new firing pin in...LOL.

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, don't look like a big job, but I didn't think it would go without some dremel work. Good to know it will. Gives me options if I buy a new Rossi .357. I don't think I'd trust the firing pin if I'm going to carry it as a PDW. The 68 I have now, I mostly just shoot steel at the range and I have carried it afield as a .38 kit gun. It's really accurate and has more power than the .22.

 

[Confederate]

Well, I had two 88s and neither one has had any pin problems. But what pin in the S&W lineup fits? The Model 60 .38? I might like to have one on hand...just in case.

The stainless model is a good way to go. The hammer and trigger are both stainless. S&W opted to use chromed parts (at least on their older guns).

I sure miss the old S&Ws, the ones with beautiful wood grips and chromed hammers/triggers. But what the hey, I liked the counterbored chambers.

Has anyone noticed that every time S&W cuts corners on their guns, they always make it sound like advantages? And the gun hacks are only too happy to oblige! Or maybe it's just me!

 

[oldfool]

cannot comment on the 68s, don't have one (just one Interarms 851)
but Rossi used to make some darn decent revolvers, undervalued then, still are when found
(the new ones I can live without.. pretty much the antithesis of Kitchen-Aid "for the way it's made", so sez milday)

mighty nice pictures, Confederate
(that S&W60 be 'mine' without the Tyler)

all these comments on the 511s sure make me regret I never came up with one, when I was lookin' for a 511 or 515 - did make an offer on one that went nowhere
(seller knew what he had, it happens)

 

[outerlimit]

I have an old Interarms imported Rossi M68 snub j-frame clone that I paid $169 NIB back in 2006 or so and it looks way better than any current S&W and looks as nice as vintage ones. It has a sweet trigger, polished blue finish and nice wood grips. In single action the trigger breaks like a glass rod and double action is a very light smooth pull. I wouldn't mind one in stainless at all, especially a 3" model. I got about 40rds through it so far, just fired it for the first time a couple of weeks ago with some 158gr. SWC loads. Funny this thread was up I just made a thread asking about defensive ammo for it. Was considering the Hornady 158gr. XTP.

If I'm not mistaken I believe these Rossi's from the Interarms times were made on S&W equipment in Brazil. It was also around the S&W Bangor Punta days I believe.

The firing pin is hammer mounted on mine, I don't see it being an issue, but I'm going to get some snap caps for it regardless in case I do a little dry firing.

I had an SP101 as well in .357 with 3" barrel. I don't miss that gun though, it was so heavy for the size and still managed to recoil like an S.o.b. and the DA trigger sucked.

 

[MCgunner]

I had an early 90s 2" 88 (stainless). After getting my Taurus 85SSUL ultralite, I sold the Rossi to a friend. I could get it back from him. He's asked if I wanted it back because his wife gives him grief over a gun in the house. I don't need it, though. The little Taurus is a great shooter, much better DA trigger, and a lot lighter to pocket carry.

My 68 I bought for my step-dad. My Grandpa died in 81, wanted me to have his Smith M10. I wanted it, but the old man wanted a gun to have around the house. So, I bought the Rossi for 100 bucks and got my Grandpa's M10 back which I still have and will never part with, of course, along with my Grandpa's old Remington M722 in .257 Roberts which is my favorite deer rifle to this day, but that's another subject for another forum. Anyway, my step-dad died a few years back and now I have the Rossi, won't sell it, either, but it is a very good shooter! It's a 3" gun, my old 88 was a 2" gun. The all steel is heavy enough I'd rather belt carry, anyway, so I prefer 3" barrels on 'em. The little 88 was quite accurate, too, though. They're a LOT of gun for the miniscule amount they cost, new ones or old.

And, yeah, if you find a 511 .22 in good shape, DON'T pass it up! I see lots of guys on "cheap .22 revolver" threads touting old H&Rs or Iver Johnsons and such. Those were good shooters, but not nearly as well designed or made as the Rossis which are pretty much Smith and Wesson copies as far as design goes. The little 511 I have can shoot near 1" at 25 yards off the bench with RWS Target. It's around 2" with Federal bulk pack which is what I mostly feed it. It's eaten boxes and boxes of that stuff and killed many a steel falling plate at the range.

 

[MCgunner]

If I'm not mistaken I believe these Rossi's from the Interarms times were made on S&W equipment in Brazil. It was also around the S&W Bangor Punta days I believe.

Rossi had no connection with Taurus until Taurus bought 'em out, recently. I do NOT think they had connection with Bangor Punta, either. I don't know what machinery they were built on or how they got it, but I'm pretty sure Smith and Wesson had no connection with the company, which they did with Taurus.

I could be wrong, though. I have just heard all this over the years, never really cared enough to thoroughly research the subject.