Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Rossi 454 Casull

Just saw an Ad for a Rossi lever gun in 454 casull.
Sounds like a good big bore hitter , any one got one? or know what the performance / accuracys like?

Haven't got one or shot one, but I did just handle one the other week, and I liked it.

The action is based on the Winchester 1892 action, which is smaller, more compact, and much slicker than the 94 action. The carbine handled well; came up quickly, pointed naturally, and cycled well from the shoulder.

However, the safety, which on this one was a rather flimsy-looking little pinned/fin affair on top of the action was, IMHO, ugly, ridiculous in design, and cheap. The carbine itself had the old-style half-cock safety of the old Winchester 1892s and 94s, so if the safety-thing on top could be ignored (or removed?), the rifle itself seemed worth a try.

Also, given that the 1892 actioned carbines that I've tried in .44 Mag and .357 mag seemed much more amenable to cycling and feeding the special cartridges in the magnum chambers (.44 Spl, and .38 Spl), I would suspect that the Rossi might do well with the .45 Colt rounds in the .454 carbine. Cheaper, less punishing practice, with ability to go up to the big boomers at will.

Seems like an interesting carbine, and one that I've got my eye on in a local shop. I, too, will be interested to here what others think and how yours works, if you get it.

Rossi is also chambering this carbine for 480 ruger, i saw one on gunbroker that was stainless with black synthetic stocks, a nice little packing rifle for anyone who spends a lot of time a field. I would imagine both calibers with hard cast would shoot through a tank <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My son bought one last week. So far only shot it about 20 times with .45LC Cowboy loads. Seems very well made, balances well, and light recoil. Accuracy was good for offhand plinking, but a bench session is in order. Reloading components are on the way so a range report will be coming.
This rifle was bought by my son strictly as a CAS plinker, but the fact that it will handle .454s will make it a close range woods rifle for me. (Ain't it grand when the offspring spend their dough on stuff I have a liking for.)
Leon

HeHe, yeah almost makes all years of heartache, worry and money seem worth while, I ended up getting a Winchester in .44 mag, ammo down here and weather I could get it was a major factor, very pleased with the .44 though

Just got one ($210 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> !)

Mucho nice (although used and the finish is a bit rough). Seems plenty sturdy. Feeds .45LCs with no problems; next to no recoil; holds plenty (10 rds of .45LC), and cycles quick. Points fast, carries light.

I like it much. If you can find one, get one.

Range report on the .454 Rossi, if any are interested.

Cycles and fires the .45LCs with no problem. Used Remington 255 LRNs. Shoots them into very good little clusters at 50 yards with the factory iron sights, BUT the ramp has to be pushed ALL the way up to put the .45LCs on target. Recoil is quite tame.

The .454s are the exact opposite, except for the decent accuracy. Magtech 300 gr. JSPs. Accuracy is the same, roughly, as for the .45LCs; good enough for the gun and use.

BUT, the sight ramp has to be taken OUT to put the .454s on target.

Also, the recoil is PRONOUNCED. Two 5 shot strings is all I could deal with off the bench with the little light Rossi and that "ought to work better than that" recoil pad on the rear of that flat-topped buttstock (cheekbone took a bashing, too.)

Still, the little gun handles very well, and 10+1 of .45LCs ought to do for general plinking and close in deer hunting. For a bit more range, black bear, or hogs, the 9+1 .454s should do nicely, and simply taking the sight ramp from all the way up to all the way off is not that hard to remember.

For what it's worth, here's a review of the Rossi/Legacy .454, Legacy .454

My very informal firing of my Rossi/Legacy .454 confirms what Paco Kelly wrote. Now, this fall, we shall see how the deer rate this little cannon... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thats a hell of a price! I just checked Davidsons thru my local dealer and they have them in stock for $400.53. I didn't think that was too bad. I like the removable tube with the loading port in the tube itself. Like the Marlin rimfires have. I wish more lever gun makers offered this. billt