Stainless 1892s

[Nightcrawler]

Anybody have one of these Stainless Steel 1892 carbines running around? I believe they're probably all made by the same Italian company, but are imported by various firms, including Navy Arms.

I love leverguns, but am currently without. I think one of these 1892s would just be super-cool. Winchester is currenly doing a limited run of 1892s, including a 16" Trapper in .45 Colt (DROOL), but they're almost in the $1K range. Nicely, though, they don't have the spring-loaded trigger-slack of the two Trappers I've owned (you can tell just by looking at a picture) and probably have nicer walnut.

Additionally, there's a 20" Winchester 92 carbine in .44 Mag in a local Gander Mountain, that's been modified with a Williams peep sight. Very nice rifle, but I don't want a .44 mag.

So, who has and shoots one of these .45 Colt lever carbines? According to the ammo companies, they're strong enough (being MODERN 1892s) for the +P .45 Colt hunting loads, something that can NOT be said for the 1873 rifles. (Don't hold me to that if you blow your rifle up, though if they can make an 1892 in .454...)

Still, for hunting load type stuff, perhaps I'd be better off with one of the Puma 92 rifles imported by Legacy Sports. Anybody have one of these? How much did you pay, and how does it shoot?

 

[SADshooter]

I got a fancy Rossi 92 for $200 in a trade deal. I say fancy because its got a heavy octagonal barrel and the receiver has an antiqued finish. This was probably marketed to the SASS types, as its a bit heavy for a walking-around carbine. Its finicky with feeding handloads, but was accurate to 100 yds with Cowboy loads.

 

[MrAcheson]

Most of the 1892s out there are brazilian Rossis in various grades. EMF, Navy Arms, and Legacy all sell Rossi '92s (as opposed to the italian Uberti '73s). The differences between the various guns is price and finish.

 

[iamkris]

I bought a near-new Rossi stainless 92 in 45 Colt with a 24" octagonal barrel to use for Cowboy Action Shooting last year. Got it for a good deal on Auction Arms.

The Good: It is utterly reliable (never a miss-feed as is a common complaint in cowboy circles with the Win 94 Trapper), is dead nuts accurate, quick to cycle and the stainless is a breeze to clean / maintain.

The Bad: The Rossi's come with some non-descript Brazilian hardwood stained almost black, the sights are really terrible and they now have the ridiculous safety on the top of the bolt to meet import regs.

The Ugly (?): I stripped the stocks and hand-rub oiled them with multiple coats of Tru-Oil ($0 but afternoon of elbow grease). The stocks now have a nice golden glow to them and some nice figured wood. Had a gunsmith remove the safety and fill the hole with a stainless plug ($40). Replaced the sights with Marbles full buckhorn rear -- used as ghost ring -- and blade front with brass bead ($25 from Brownells). Swapped springs with Bunkhouse spring kit ($20).

The result? SwEEEEEEt gun. Very smooth, extremely accurate, slick trigger pull, very attractive and I have less than $350 in it. I love it. It has >1000 round through it, some heavy hunting loads, and is as tight as the day I bought it. I will eventually use it for hogs or deer and feel confident of it and my capabilities.

To my knowledge, Rossi makes all the 92 for Navy Arms and EMF. They have the advantage of walnut stocks and having all the work I put in mine already done (except for the spring kit).

 

[Nightcrawler]

Sweet...really want one now...