Rossi Plinker .22 - Good, Bad, Ugly?

[montanaoffroader]

Ran across a Rossi Plinker .22 for sale today at a reasonable price. It's the later model with the matte finish and a 4" barrel, and seems to be in good condition with no obvious flaws.

Anyone here have experience with one of these? Trying to decide if I should lay my hard earned cash out for it - I have a tendency to impulse buy at times and I figured I would get some of your opinions on it before I open my wallet.

 

[sean m]

I bought one a year ago that was catalogued as 22lr, but was chambered 22 magnum. I ended up taking it back to the dealer since I was wanting a Long Rifle. Seemed like a good "plinker" would have be happy if it was.

 

[sean m]

I also believe that the public defender grips will fit it too....

 

[MedWheeler]

If I found one around here with a good finish, tight lockup, a clean bore, and no dry-fire marks, for under $200, I'd probably pick it up. I like "knock-around" .22 caliber handguns, and already have among them a stainless Taurus 94. I missed out on another identical 94 marked $200 at a local pawn shop recently. The Rossi would make a good one to stow in my truck (currently a role likely to be filled by one of my Heritage Rough Riders.)

 

[bikerdoc]

I picked up an old N E F 22 revolver for $150 to fill that role.

 

[Waveski]

I am not a great fan of Rossi , but I admit it would be a step up from Heritage.
What I don't get is - why a 2" barrel for a plinker? I would think that a 4" barrel is still easy to carry and stow while providing a workable sight radius.
2" Snubs are for concealment and close range defense.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I own a 4" Rossi Plinker that I purchased new just under 2 years ago,,,
It's a decent enough shooter and has performed flawlessly for me.

I hit as well with it as my S&W Model 18 or 63.

I paired it with a Savage Mk-IIF rifle,,,
It's a favorite among the young folk I take shooting,,,
By young people I mean college aged young men and women.



My only regret is not buying a 6" version as well as the 4" version,,,
I own another .22 rifle that the 6" would have paired up with very nicely.

Aarond

.

 

[Waveski]

Excuse me , I reread the OP and now realize that the gun in question has a 4" barrel. Disregard my comment about 2".

 

[maxxhavoc]

The Bad:
-I hate Ribber grips. They soak up recoil well, but why would they put them on a .22?

The good:
-Trigger pull is lighter and smoother than most 22lr revolvers.
-Great sights, good accuracy.

Mine had sticky extraction when new, but a combination of polishing and shooting smoothed that out.


As far as why a 2" .22- because it is great for training if you carry a 2" revolver.

 

[montanaoffroader]

I'm going back for another look tonight.
I probably shouldn't, but I have the cash and prices are really good right now.
Thanks for the replies, I'll let you know if I decide to pick it up.

 

[montanaoffroader]

Well, here is the new member of the family. As Aarond would say, "The Evil Pawn Shop Guy" got me. A little wear on the edges and what appears to be some dirt trapped in the ribs on the grips, nothing I can't deal with.



And here it is with rest of the family.............

 

[MedWheeler]

Glad it's got a home and family now.

 

[CajunBass]

The Bad:
-I hate Ribber grips. They soak up recoil well, but why would they put them on a .22?

Why put rubber grips on a 22? Because rubber grips are inexpensive. When you're selling a gun for $200.00 retail, shaving pennies counts.

You know. That's a pretty neat looking little gun. I might have to check around and see if I can find one.

 

[bannockburn]

montanaoffroader

A good addition to your collection of .22 revolvers! Is that an Astra Cadix second one down on the right? Let us know how the Rossi does at the range.

 

[maxxhavoc]

Why put rubber grips on a 22? Because rubber grips are inexpensive. When you're selling a gun for $200.00 retail, shaving pennies counts.

I don't have a problem with rubber grips. Just the Taurus "ribber" grips. The grips on the model 85 in the picture are fine. Wish they worked on the plinker.

And it is pretty neat. Except now that I see the pictures, I want a longer one too.

 

[montanaoffroader]

Yes, it is an Astra Cadix, the others are a Ruger Bearcat and an H&R 922. I'm a .22 guy, just can't afford as many as I'd like to have.....
A range report may take a while, as right now the range is buried in deep snow. I may have to check out the new indoor range that just opened.

 

[gotboostvr]

I don't need one at all, I'm very happy with my Ruger MKIII for my 22 needs.

But I could very easily see me picking up one of these and making some wood grips just to scratch that 22 revolver itch

 

[CajunBass]

I don't have a problem with rubber grips. Just the Taurus "ribber" grips. The grips on the model 85 in the picture are fine. Wish they worked on the plinker.

And it is pretty neat. Except now that I see the pictures, I want a longer one too.

I gotta admit that those "ribber" grips are pretty funky.

I didn't see one at the LGS today, so I guess I'll settle for the Smith and Wesson Model 18 they had instead. It was only a "little" more expensive.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I didn't see one at the LGS today, so I guess I'll settle for the Smith and Wesson Model 18 they had instead. It was only a "little" more expensive.

Probably just a dollar or 2.

 

[montanaoffroader]

Hah, only a LITTLE more. Is that what you told the significant other?

One of these days I will add a S&W or Colt rimfire revolver to the "accumulation"........Maybe after I get a Garand........

 

[montanaoffroader]

The jury is still out on the Ribber grips. Once I've actually taken the gun to the range a few times I will decide whether they stay or go.

I got a good price on this one so I can afford to drop a few bucks on grips if need be.

 

[ms6852]

My Rossi plinker is a 38 snub nose revolver my father in law gave me. He had bought this gun about 25 years ago when he had a business. It was brand new and never fired. So I took him to the range so he would have the honors of shooting it for the first time. Long story short I was truly impressed. I like it better than the 642 airweight my wife insisted on buying for herself and only shot once because recoil is too severe for her. She now carries the Rossi. So my take on your 22 would be to try it.