I think I have given up finding a Marlin 1894css for a fair price, so I am looking at alternatives. Has anyone tried the Rossi R92 in 357 Magnum? Can a scope be mounted? Are there any pitfalls to this model?

They are a little rough in the action,but can be smoothed up.The 92 is a top ejection so scoping would be a problem. Mine is just as accurate as any Marlin or Winchester.

+1 Saddlesore, my experience is the same as yours. Wish they were drilled and tapped for receiver sights, but that's a cheap easy fix. I own both Winchester levers and Marlins and if your not going to scope it, 92/94 levers just handle so well without a scope.

Saddlesore and Mike S,

How long is your length of pull? I read Rossi's website and it said 12.5". I need 13 3/4" on most bolt rifles, does it feel short?

Also, I am looking at either the 20" or 24" barrel, do you guys have a preference? I am looking to use it as a plinker and for hunting.

barm, while I've never owned a Rossi '92 in that caliber, I've owned three of them in others, a 44 Mag., a 44-40, and currently a rifle in 44 Mag. The first two were carbines. They are a good, serviceable piece and a great way to own the '92 if an original Winchester ain't in the cards for whatever reason. As was said, they lack configuration for a scope. I've owned an 1894C in .357 Mag. and it was a great little gun. Comparatively, you've got the scope issue which goes to the Marlin and you have the smoothness issue which also goes to the Marlin. Were it me, if I didn't need the scope and the Rossi was more available, I'd go that route. If I needed a scope though, I'd wait and find the Marlin. Be advised that some Rossis are smoother than others. The current ones after Taurus has taken over, seem to me anyway, to have smoothed up a tad. I dunno.

My Rossi LOP is 12 7/8". I measured all my levers and they average 13" + or -

They don't seem short for a typiacl lever gun.

I had the carbine version of the Rossi in 45 Colt. Decent little rifle that wasn't uncomfortable to shoot and I generally settle for a 14" LOP though 14 1/4 is what my gunsmith suggested years ago thanks to 37" sleeves. The Rossi was no problem to shoot with the factory iron sights for me though is was a bit shorter than most of my leverguns.

Ethan Edwards, Saddlesore, and Ward:

Great information concerning the Rossi. Did anyone find the metal but plate uncomfortable to shoot?

Not enough recoil to even notice. MY wife likes to use mine. It's hard to get away from her. It makes a dandy scabbard gun.

Dont leave out a Browning 92.Just in case you stumble across one.May be the best of the bunch.

I would like one, but it may be cost prohibitive.

Hey guys,

Do you think the 24" barrel would be muzzle heavy or offer good balance?

I have an old Marlin 94, 38-40 made in 1902 with a 24 " octagon barrel. Very easy to shoot and balanced well.I prefer it to other levers I have.

I have some older Marlins...also a Rossi 45 Colt Trapper....not near as slick as the 30 yr old Marlin...but very usable...the Rossi 45 is on the list though for a Steve Young tune up...maybe then it will be as slick as a Marlin...I've seen the 'CS'...but what's the CSS ? Here's a 1984CS I have..1984 mfg...

The CSS is like the C but it is in stainless steel.

I'm leaning more toward the 24" barrel. Thank you.

Good luck in finding one of those......

The one in my pic is F/S.....I have two......

Quick check:

1920s M94SRC 32 Spl., curved steel butt: 13"

1906 M92 38 WCF, curved steel butt: 12 and 3/4"

1951 M336SC 35 Rem., plastic butt: 13 and 1/2"

M92 Rossi 44 mag, curved steel butt: 13 and 1/2"

Both of the M92s (real and clone) are 24" barrel rifles, not carbines.

Thanks dubePA.

Are some Rossis considered better than others, based on where and when manufactured?

Paul

I've handled much older "Pumas" some years ago and some were not very smooth, but my fairly new Rossi M92 is very slick. 24" oct. barrel in 44 mag. BTW, the Puma brand is now owned by someone else (Legacy Arms, I think?), so Rossi (Taurus) rifles from South America, are no longer called that.

To the question of comfortable to shoot, ya know it went off shooting fairly stout 200gr XTP loads, but it certainly isn't objectionable.

Considered buying a Puma carbine in 44 mag many years ago, at a small local shop, but since I've been spoiled by the actions in my old M94 and the 336SC Marlin, put it back down. My Rossi M92 doesn't even come close to the action on my 1906 vintage M92 Winchester, but I didn't expect it to. I like them both.

My Rossi is about 15 years old.It was rough when I bought it,but I took it apart and stoned all the rough edges in the action andit is very smooth now.

How is the 92 for feeding .357? How about .38 Special?

What's the trigger like?

Paul

Some feed 38 ,but most won't feed 38swc. Some will not feed .357swc. Trigger is average. Nothing to brag about,but not too bad.

Fair enuf. Thanks.

So what is a good bullet for the .357, emphasis on feeding and accuracy potential, as well as cost? I'm not looking for power or to kill stuff, just targets.

Paul

If you are just shooting at targets,load up some 158 gr round Nose Flat Points. Buy from Missouri Bullet as they only charge a flat rate USPS box for up to 70#'s, about $13.

My load in .357 case is 4.5 gr of either Universal Clays or W231. Unique would be close to that also. Winchester LP primers. I have probably loaded about 15K rounds with that load. I used it for Action Pistol and Cowboy SASS matches.
My Rossi was most accurate at 4.6 gr of Universal Clays.

For more serious work,I load 14 gr of Alliant 2400 with a 158 GR Hornady XTP.

I found a little Brazilian Rossi in .357 and fell in love with it. Someone had shortened the mag-tube to the end of the forearm, then replaced the steel butt-plate with a recoil-pad. I was going to do the same thing, so I was ahead of the game.
Why a recoil-pad? When ya place it behind the kitchen door, it won't "skitter" across the linolium floor. (I can just "see" some of the guys cringe when they read of placing a loaded rifle against the wall, and having linolium floors, lol) AND... the chamber isn't loaded.
Anyway, when it's needed, it's there.
My .357 feeds anything, and smoothly. I only load handloads, and only use Lyman SWCs and only in Magnum cases...Flawless!
I installed a Lyman tang-mounted peepsight, and the LOP is 13 1/2". It works just great in the pickup, or from horseback.
Now...the kicker. I carried it for about three years, but for the last two it's been a 24" .256 Mag. It's mostly been shot with a Lyman 64gr LFPGC, but RP 86gr jacketed, Speer 75gr FP, and Hornady 60gr FPs slide down the tube with alacrity.
I really enjoy it, you will, too.
Have fun,
Gene

I have both a Rossi and Marlin both recent production. I only plink with them, don't really take them hunting and I really like both. The Marlin is a much nicer gun, but I find myself grabbing the Rossi most of the time, it is a really fun gun, cycles everything I've tried in it .38's and .357's.

If you want harder bullets ,order from Dardas Cast bullets in Michigan.Nice folks and they also only ship USPS flat rate boxes.

+1 on the Browning. That may be the best 92 ever.

I wouldn't want a Rossi unless Steve Young had worked it over.

DF


Edited to add, the 92 isn't held in very high esteem in cowboy action circles, as it has a bad rep for stove piping and not being that good at running fast. It's also COAL sensitive and tolerates some bullet shapes better than others. You gotta work with it to find the optimal COAL and bullet type.

OTOH, the 92 is the strongest of it's kind, stronger than the Marlin and others. Ever see a Marlin chambered in .454 Cassul? Not likely, but you'll find 92's so chambered.

DF

Love my Rossi 357 , it has a 16inch barrel.....and is as handy as sliced bread....a great short range Deer gun and a even greater SD carbine ....!!!

i have a puma 92 its chambered in .45 colt one of my favorite guns there great shooters i did the action job from steve young its smooth cycles better than my marlin 336 i like the metal curved butt plate fits in my shoulder well i shoot fiocchi cowboy loads out of it and it has almost no kick at all ive been lookin into gettin a new rossi in .357 as well to plink with since .45 is a little expensive to play with since i dont hand load

I have Rossi Pumas (Amadeo Rossi M92s) in .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .454 Casull.

I was lucky to get my Pumas before the new company "Braztech" bought the Rossi company and added the stupid safety on top of the bolt.

They can be rough cycling NIB but clean up & smooth out nice.
My Rossis are the most accurate leveguns I have & I own Marlins & real Winchesters. The Rossis may not be as purty but they are MORE accurate.

They can be mounted with Scout scopes.

Google "Rossi Rifleman Forum" and there you'll find lotsa information about Rossi 92s.