Friend of mine in high school had one. We sure ran a bunch of 38 specials through it. Love lever action 38/357 rifles with my wheelguns. If I had to have only one handgun and rifle it would be that combo!
I love my Rossi R92's. I have three, chambered in three calibers. All of mine are blued. All have the flip safety replaced with a button (2) and an aperture sight on one. They are all super accurate.
I remember when Winchester levers in .357 were cheap back in the 90s and didn’t manage to buy one (.357 Magnum and .38 Special was a lot cheaper too). I like your straight forward review.
Boa noite meu amigo. Voltei novamente no tempo, 1992. Obrigado pelo vídeo. Um bom domingo e excelente semana ao Sr e sua família. Deus abençoe as Américas 🇧🇷🤝🇺🇲🙏🏻
@@LionquestFitness aqui no Brasil as originais hoje são relíquias,difíceis de encontrar ,as novas são Taurus,com boa qualidade, mas a minha nostalgia fala mais alto 😂
Hi Marc. I'm giving the 20 inch model a go at deer hunting. It's not ideal, but I doubt I'll be trying any shots more than 50 yards. Most of the terrain I'm hunting in is thick brush and hills.
@LionquestFitness Greg, the .357 is just as capable as the 30-30 out to about 150 yards. The only issue is the .30-30 may shoot slightly more flat. Good luck in the field. God bless, Rob
Recently bought a 90's made R92 Rossi 45 Colt for 429.00, could not believe the price. It is not beat up, I cleaned alot of old shipping grease/cosmoline out of it. The action is pretty smooth and trigger is 3.5 lbs
I have the Rossi .357 with a 16 inch barrel and large lever action loop. I trimmed the magazine spring, replaced the plastic magazine follower with a steel one, and polished the feed ramp ensure trouble-free cartridge feeding. As a bonus for trimming the spring, I can now get 9+1 rounds into the rifle.
thank you for the great review. i've always been interested in rossi's pistol caliber lever actions. i hope everything's getting back to normal that way after helene.
Those are nice looking lever action rifles Greg, but I'm not handy so I'll stay with my old school model 99 .300 savage and Browning '71 BLR in .308 as my lever action rifles. Good video Greg.
Hi Greg, I have that same Rossi in 20" 357/38. I like it a lot but the buckhorn sights give me a fit. Do you use the buckhorn like a open top peep putting the front blade of the imaginary aperture? Thanks for all your hard work and time Sir.
If I understand your question, no I don't. I can see the bead and blade first and lower it into the notch, much like I do for a handgun. This seems to work best for my not the greatest eyesight.
Midway has a Marble "bullseye" rear sight to replace the buckhorn. It functions like a peep and blocks less of the peripheral vision. I bought them for $20, now they're $25. Incredibly well made. I think you want the longer model of the two available lengths.
I got a taurus made 16” one used but basically unfired for a good price years ago. Replaced the plastic follower with a metal one from coyote cap from sass and trimmed a coil or two off the mag spring and it became very reliable, the action was rough at first, greased it up and worked it a whole bunch of times and it smoothed out.
I really like my Rossi 92 carbine, and it's one firearm I could never bring myself to part with. In hindsight, I would have preferred it to be chambered in .327 Federal Magnum, but whatever. Still a good rifle regardless, in my opinion. The loading gate on mine smoothed out over time. It also initially had issues feeding certain .357 ammo (feeding as in they would get stuck when you try to load them into the chamber), but that went away over time. I also had a gunsmith replace the plastic magazine follower with a brass one, as well as replace the rear semi-buckhorn sight with a Skinner aperture sight. As for the bolt safety, well I didn't remove it, it just broke part of itself off on its own, heh.
@@languagesource355 That''s true. It doesn't have a loading gate, however that's not as big a deal for me as it would've been in the past. The biggest problem with the Henry is that it is expensive, and I cannot afford it. My Rossi 92 may not be in .327, but it's what I have, so I have to make do.
@@CyborgZeta I didn't realize they don't yet make a 327 with a loading gate. I don't pay attention to it, no my caliber. For us who managed to score a Rossi at the old prices, it's a good value. Currently getting into a Henry is only a couple hundred more, from what I've seen. And it's more than that in terms of quality and support, IMHO.
Thanks for the honest review. I had a wear in period with my Marlin 1894CB, but it is almost 40 now, so it runs smooth. I added Skinner sights, some like them, some do not, true for all sights and optics. Lever guns are fun.
Completely understand the attraction of a lever gun. Long after I gave up hunting, the one rifle that's still in my safe is an early '80's Winchester Trapper .30-30 with a 16" barrel. Thanks for the information on the Rossi's.
Thanks Greg ! I have never owned a Rossi, but I looked hard at one a couple of years ago. Wanted something for pig hunting, and I looked at the R92 all black with a 16" barrel. I ended up buying a Chiappa 1892, also cerakoated with a 16" barrel. I put a red dot on it, and it has become my favorite rifle (kind of a Jeff Cooper Scout rifle, only with lever action.) But I too like things traditional, and have kept the buckhorn sights on my Marlin, and Skinner Peep sights on my Henry. (oops, forgot to mention I bought the Chiappa over the Rossi because it was one pound lighter, and was a takedown model. I did to have to pay several hundred dollars more for it though 🙂
If money wasn't a thing, I would certainly like a Winchester 1873. I'm not familiar with the R92. Looks nice though. As far as project guns go... Well I tend to do that with the AR-10/15 platforms. I like to build my own. It's a different kind of thing though. Those early lever guns were the ARs of their day though. Light, handy, fast, and low recoil.
Personally, I prefer my Marlin, but, necessity is the mother of invention. And most assuredly there is a need, and Rossi has stepped to fill in the void. A man so armed can solve much of the calculus that life may throw at him, if he knows himself and his rifle. Paired with a proper handgun, one can certainly make worse choices for a self defense duo.
I like the look.of the stainless one.😊 Wow, if i had one of them, a bandana and a pair of moccasins i think id buy a horse and ride off into the sunset. (Better get sunglass too in case there are any cliffs around😅)
@tylermorrison7051 That is true Tyler...see how I am incorporating the sunglasses (your suggestion 😎) and moccasins (Greg's idea 💡)into the dress code 😀. The horse and sunset (or was it sunrise?), I think, is from the after effects of the Barcelona 4 v Real Madrid 0 celebration. 😀😃🙂
Good to know. That just strikes me as irresponsible to run the longer spring in the shorter feed tube. And the other problems. FYI anyone in the market Grab A Gun has been running deals on a Henry getting close to the Rossi price range, without all the problems.
Hi Greg, the DVD can be found at steves gunz store. Basically, what the DVD does is show you how to take them apart, refit the appropriate parts and then add the minimum amount of spring to make the gun operate smoothly. Not only do the guns now operate smoothly, they aren't wearing themselves out. We've all heard about how these guns are made with soft metal and on occasion you will find a soft part, but the majority of the problems will be the result of the heavy springs eating away at these poorly fitted parts. Most of the issues with these guns is more ammo relate than the gun it's self. The thing to keep in mind is these modern straight wall pistol caliber ammo leverguns (all, not just the 92’s) are a lot like semi-auto handguns. There’s just some ammo they aren’t going to work well with. All leveraction, pump action and semi-auto guns (long guns or handguns) are ammo length and bullet shape sensitive. Some more than other. For example, you don't think about it much if you are dealing with a rifle cal. like 3006, 308 or 223 and even 30-30. Those are bottleneck calibers. Bottlenecks always feed better than straightwall ammo, whether it is a rifle cal or a pistol cal. That's because you have a small diameter bullet going into a really big hole by comparison, the bottleneck chamber being much like a funnel. The original Winchester 92's were designed to work with bottleneck ammo in the 1.5" to 1.6" OAL with round nose flat point bullets. Ammo like 44-40, 38-40, 32-20 and 25-20. Then you throw in the fact that there so many 38's and 357's available there is no way these gun will cover them all.
Nice talk Greg. I bought a 20" blued in .45 Colt several years ago when there was a run on guns and sold it a couple years ago without shooting it. That because .45 Colt ammo was expensive and I figured the gun would keep its value better if it remained unfired. I plan to get a 16" in .357/.38 and it will get shot...it's what I wanted to brgin with but couldn't find. I agree that the .357 92 and revolver of matching caliber, a K frame for example, would be good for most hunting and social situations. I could put a 12 or 20 twice beside or single shot such as an H&R and a J frame .38 with it all and call it done. But actually these days depending on where you live and what the future may bring, a good basic AR or similarly capable peice is a good idea. However training is key and being skilled with a lever is better than being unskilled with an AR in my book. God Bless America and Godspeed to all here.
@@LionquestFitness I saw it up there on the rail. Thought maybe you just had it out. The AR talk and maybe later the type of shotguns I mentioned. Many a man and family has stood tall behind only a single or double barrel shotgun and nothing else but fortitude. I talked to a more to than couple of people during the riotous times a few years ago and some stated thing like "I'm good...I got my .38 and a whole box of shells." 👍
I have stainless 20" barrel R92's in ..357 and .45 Colt. The safety is a great thing for me, since I can unload the rifle, then put it on safe, and then dry fire to my heart's content without damage to weapon. This "breaks in" the lever action as well as smooths out the trigger pull. It makes for cheap practice, in my living room. Oh yeah, and it works as a safety too.
Both of mine are polished stainless. 1 357 and 1 44mag. New in boxes. I heard that with the shorter specail cartridges if you arent careful the round may fall out if the rifles arent level when you rack the lever.
@@LionquestFitnessI also heard there are aftermarket springs to allow for easier loading and unloading. Don't know much about those. But the 357 with 357 handgun makes a really good combo!
So that is why the magazine spring is tight on the models under 24 in. I have been hesitant to cut the spring down thinking that Rossi knows best. Ok, so they know best where to cuts costs. I can live with that.
One thing that can potentially happen on 357 versions - inability to cycle 38 specials. And with all of them there's a potential that they won't cycle "bear loads" - heavy hardcast bullets. They can handle the pressure just fine, but the OAL is a bit too long to cycle. Always test before you rely on it.
I have two Rossi 92 in 480 Ruger reworked them to my liking ; reshaped the stocks and used a grit paint , got rid of the safety buttons and put a scout scope mount on the 20” and a peep on the carbine. Awesome hunting rifles for easy carry and accurate.
Thanks for the honest review. For me, it's hard to justify paying so much for a gun that needs work. As far as a carbine goes, the lever action is pretty sweet. However, the elephant in the room is that an AR15 is usually the same price or less. A much better choice if you have that option.
Absolutely true. Considerations that may foul that though are local laws and ordinances that prohibit an AR-15. Also, a lever action rifle in a substantial caliber may be a better bet for hunting medium size game if you are going to hunt. But, that is for another video and time.
Being perfectly honest my only experience with levers has been with the marlin 336 30/30 & their 1894 .357 . The older marlins we have a pristine 1968 30/30 are like glass.. The two were have each bought in the late single digit 2000s were noticeably ruff especially the 1894 model. So much so it was almost send back to marlin. The molybdenum paste was applied honda motorcycle sells molybdenum for their final drive motorcycles it is so good that BMW riders use the product over Factory paste. This helped and probably would've done more had the treatment been longer. The 1894 still doesn't like SWCL. It prefers the full round nose bullets. Which is understandable SWCl were most likely unheard of in 1894. In closing just about any firearm today will need tweaking no matter what the price or company. Long gone are the bench file men doing all the hand fitting. Today they only hit the high spots...if it works,.... packaged & out the door. My friend has a rossi he like it. I like the action better than a marlin...but need a scope or peep so it was marlin... Thanx for the review...good one.
Another simple and cheap upgrade is to replace the yellow plastic magazine follower with metal. Plastic may eventually swell or degrade from lubricants. Many places online offer aluminum or brass machined followers. Kind of silly of them, they could've included a stamped steel follower for an extra buck added to the cost.
Hi Greg, judging from what I see, it can properly hit whatever game you would shoot with a .357 at 40-50 yards, had it been a .22, small game up to 25 yards. Looks good to me.
Sounds like a good candidate for Moly paste treatment. I've done this with a several pistols and my Browning BL-22 and they are slick....I do mean slick! Coat the internals and all moving parts liberally with a good Molybdenum Disulfide Paste and you cycle the action endlessly. I did mine each time over the winter months when my shooting slowed and while watching tv downstairs. You'll want to wear old tshirts as it does splatter and stain. There is no set number of cycles. you'll just feel the action over time get smoother but you will be embedding moly into the wear surfaces. I did this 20 yrs ago on a race pistol and 2 months of it, it literally feels like its on glass bearings but it has not lost any frame to slide fit tightness. When others handle it they are shocked. There is no fast way to get this done it just takes time and endless cycles. I've told many people about this and gotten so many replies back of how much it improved their action. Guys are even doing this to older guns to improve action feel.
I file the horns off the buckhorn sight for a better view downrange, and just use jacketed bullets because it does tend to deform lead in the loading process. Cut 3” off the spring. On the “someday” list is replacing the safety with a brass button and refinishing the too-glossy stock. A problem with the stock refinishing is that the wood and metal match up so nicely (you hear that, higher end manufacturers?) that there is no proud wood to sand. Will have to be all chemical strip.
I bid on Jeff Quinn’s Rossi model 92 which was up for auction after he passed I backed out when it went over $1000 believe it sold for about 1100 One of my great opportunities missed
Hello Greg, I have one, in those calibres, .38/.357, I customized it, solving some of those issues, specifically loading. I really enjoyed it. Take care, thank you for the videos, they have helped me. More videos on fitness. I am your age, and need to improve.
High Marcos! Thanks for your comment. I've been trying to figure out how the best to present fitness strategies more often. I think fitness is critical as you age.
Thank you very much for this nice video. My own R92 (a 20" stainless model) is also very fun. A non magnifying prismatic sight is aslso very useful. But I notice reliability problems with some .38 Spal ammo.
I used to watch it as a kid. That was a Saturday night popcorn or Bugles sit down in front of the TV for the family. I liked Ely's sophisticated, intelligent take on Tarzan. He also did his own stunts.
@LionquestFitness That's a good memory. It seems you and Ron Ely have stunts in common. I can see it now...Greg Newton stars as Tarzan...As you've never seen him before! I'm sure Les would agree that it's time for Tarzan in his early 60s. Who wouldn't watch that?
@LionquestFitness It's funny that you mention disliking chimpanzees. Originally, football player Mike Henry was cast in the role. While filming the pilot, Henry was attacked by a chimpanzee. His jaw was injured, and Ely took over. Good call, Greg. Never work with chimps.
@tylermorrison7051 Did you see the spoof movie about Tzrzan, with I think Brandon Frazier playing Tarzan and John Cleese doing the Voice over of the Gorilla? Funny.as hell 🎉
I have a Rossi R92 Saddle Ring Carbine, 45 Colt, stainless steel. No tang safety. Mine is stamped “ Interarms Alexandria, VA. The wood, fit and finish and attention to detail are all very good.
Should look at replacement ejector spring and main spring. Strong ejector spring will frequently break the ejector. Crazy how they put mag spring for 24" bbl in my 16" carbine.
I have the 16 inch saddle ring carbine. I have done all the deburring and parts replacement there is to do on these and I really like it. It's just too much fun but what isn't fun is that with hotter .357 hand loads (Nothing above max) it does bulge the base of the brass near the head of the case. I have read about this on other forums as well. I have not encountered this with .38 Special or even +P loads. If you do not reload then this isn't an issue but if you do reload then it is something to consider. I have addressed this issue by taking some material off of my shell holder for .357 which allows the case to enter the die farther and remove the bulge but this will still shorten the life of the cases. If I had known of this issue before I bought the carbine, I think I would still have bought it because it really is that much fun. As for the spring, I cut 8 inches off of mine and I'm able to fit 9 .357 cartridges into the tube (just barely) but they do fit. So the 16 inch carbine can hold 9 + 1.
I've watched your videos a lot and a three shot group you can cover with a hand i very sensible and reasonable. the old rule of the bow hunters here in north carolina was shoot as far as youy arrows would stay in the 9 in circle. I'm much older now many health issues so hitting pop cans 20_30 yds i fell like the king of my county. i could tell of my shooting feats of long agoand deadly accurate. but only few people actually witnessed them. i personality believe one of the greatest self defense/hunting firearms is a good lever action. papa 😊
I've reloaded over 45years many calibers and soft cast lower prices by the 500 bullets per box online can be purchased at reasonable prices to load for your 357mag/38special pistols and rifles for target shooting and small to medium game hunting , many,many years ago I loaded lead round ball loads for 44sp,38special, 357mag. even low speed 560 to 600 fps is quite deadly. I commented on another video that I think I'll test 9mm and 380acp and update the outhers. I have a cronygraph now but didn't back then. I even had gallery loads to shoot in the house and my wife put a stop on that real quick. basement loads instead, lol. Papa wishing you well 😊
I own two in .357 a 16" and a Stainless in 20" I also have a .44 20". All three are excelent I bought a DVD that shows you how to slick them up and make them more reliable.
These days it's not that much more money to get into a Henry, unless you absolutely want a Win92 style form factor, for which there are valid reasons. Henry actually has customer support and has caliber and finish choices, even threaded models. Rossi were a good buy when they were cheaper. It's like buying a used gun - you're on your own. I like them, but hesitate to recommend them after experiencing Henry.
I certainly agree with your assessment of this rifle. It appears that the primary person who talks badly about this weapon are what I label as Gun Snobs. If the weapon is a Rossi or Taurus, then they'll turn their noses up at anything built by them. They must have high dollar big name items mainly to impress others. Not that's just sad really. Personally, I own a Rossi R92 357 rifle with a 20" octagonal barrel with a case hardened nose cap, frame, and curved butt cap. Bought new in 2016, and used quite often. And though a retired professional gunsmith, you know what I did to it? Nothing. I simply broke it in. And in my 70s, I shoot it better than any AR weapon my neighbors have, and continually drop hogs, coyotes, and feral dogs with it almost on a weekly basis. Reckon I didn't get the memo from the Gun Snobs that it's a piece of junk. Too bad I saved a lot of money while they bought their high end stuff to impress their friends. 😂
I never tried a Rossi. But I am a fan of lever guns. Particularly the newer Henry Big Boys with picatinny rails. Nothing wrong with brass and wood versions. I just want a rifle I can abuse a bit without guilt. It’s utterly subjective opinion but to me it seems the more mature a gun person gets the more they appreciates revolvers and lever guns. The smart ones still rely on automatic pistols and ARs/AKs as their “go to” but they appreciate the Old School weapons of years past for what they can do. As a hunting or self defense weapon the lever gun should NOT be underestimated.
Unless it is custom, the short barrel stainless should be 16 inch barrel. I have two short barrels , a blue 45 Colt, and a large loop 357. Both came with 16 inch barrels
You are right. I misspoke. I do these videos extemporaneously, and sometimes I say things not entirely correct, although in editing the video I do try to correct errors. In this case I missed it.
No big deal . I have several of these. An early Interarms 357 20 incher, a 20 inch later BrazTrch Rossi 45 Colt , as well as the two 16 inchers. They all function , and are as accurate asa 20 inch Browning 92 in 357, and a 24 inch Winchester 45 Colt. The pistol caliber lever rifles are a must have. Deliver fun, but more importantly, if you know how to use one , you are more than minimally armed. They deliver fast and hard hitting self defense, superior to pretty much any pistol. They can legally be possessed and traveled with pretty much anywhere. Paired with a same caliber handgun , you will be quite capable of defending yourself from predators. The cowboys of the old west figured this out pronto like.
Bought one new 5 years ago -- was kinda rough & didnt feed everything real good -- cleaned it up & rubbed some places with steel wool -- and since i relaod everything i found the lengths it liked in 38 & 357 with what bullet & it runs like a singer sewing machine now -- no complaints at all -- it is now my behind the door home defense stooge cannon
Friend of mine in high school had one. We sure ran a bunch of 38 specials through it. Love lever action 38/357 rifles with my wheelguns. If I had to have only one handgun and rifle it would be that combo!
I love my Rossi R92's. I have three, chambered in three calibers. All of mine are blued. All have the flip safety replaced with a button (2) and an aperture sight on one. They are all super accurate.
Did u replace the safety yourself and if so how difficult was it?
I remember when Winchester levers in .357 were cheap back in the 90s and didn’t manage to buy one (.357 Magnum and .38 Special was a lot cheaper too). I like your straight forward review.
Thank you.
Good looking guns greg. Thank you for sharing 🇺🇸
Boa noite meu amigo. Voltei novamente no tempo, 1992. Obrigado pelo vídeo. Um bom domingo e excelente semana ao Sr e sua família. Deus abençoe as Américas 🇧🇷🤝🇺🇲🙏🏻
Os Pumas originais!
@@LionquestFitness aqui no Brasil as originais hoje são relíquias,difíceis de encontrar ,as novas são Taurus,com boa qualidade, mas a minha nostalgia fala mais alto 😂
Great and handy little rifle!
Hi Marc. I'm giving the 20 inch model a go at deer hunting. It's not ideal, but I doubt I'll be trying any shots more than 50 yards. Most of the terrain I'm hunting in is thick brush and hills.
@LionquestFitness Greg, the .357 is just as capable as the 30-30 out to about 150 yards. The only issue is the .30-30 may shoot slightly more flat. Good luck in the field. God bless, Rob
@@la_old_salt2241 Thanks Rob!
Recently bought a 90's made R92 Rossi 45 Colt for 429.00, could not believe the price. It is not beat up, I cleaned alot of old shipping grease/cosmoline out of it. The action is pretty smooth and trigger is 3.5 lbs
Nice find.
thank you sir this is a change very nice rifles i have a rossi in 45=70 love it
I have the Rossi .357 with a 16 inch barrel and large lever action loop. I trimmed the magazine spring, replaced the plastic magazine follower with a steel one, and polished the feed ramp ensure trouble-free cartridge feeding. As a bonus for trimming the spring, I can now get 9+1 rounds into the rifle.
thank you for the great review. i've always been interested in rossi's pistol caliber lever actions. i hope everything's getting back to normal that way after helene.
Those are nice looking lever action rifles Greg, but I'm not handy so I'll stay with my old school model 99 .300 savage and Browning '71 BLR in .308 as my lever action rifles. Good video Greg.
the mechanisms are fun in lever actions.
I love them!
Hi Greg, I have that same Rossi in 20" 357/38. I like it a lot but the buckhorn sights give me a fit. Do you use the buckhorn like a open top peep putting the front blade of the imaginary aperture? Thanks for all your hard work and time Sir.
If I understand your question, no I don't. I can see the bead and blade first and lower it into the notch, much like I do for a handgun. This seems to work best for my not the greatest eyesight.
@@LionquestFitness thanks Greg. Same here with old eyes. I just don't know why sometimes those buckhorn sights give me fits!
Midway has a Marble "bullseye" rear sight to replace the buckhorn. It functions like a peep and blocks less of the peripheral vision. I bought them for $20, now they're $25. Incredibly well made. I think you want the longer model of the two available lengths.
@@languagesource355 thank you. Will they fit the Rossi 92 and do you have to replace the front sight also? Thanks again
@@languagesource355 thanks. Will it fit the Rossi 92? And do you also have to replace the front sight? Thanks again
Good info. Never shot one, but the ones I’ve held in stores have seemed solid.
I got a taurus made 16” one used but basically unfired for a good price years ago. Replaced the plastic follower with a metal one from coyote cap from sass and trimmed a coil or two off the mag spring and it became very reliable, the action was rough at first, greased it up and worked it a whole bunch of times and it smoothed out.
I really like my Rossi 92 carbine, and it's one firearm I could never bring myself to part with. In hindsight, I would have preferred it to be chambered in .327 Federal Magnum, but whatever. Still a good rifle regardless, in my opinion.
The loading gate on mine smoothed out over time. It also initially had issues feeding certain .357 ammo (feeding as in they would get stuck when you try to load them into the chamber), but that went away over time. I also had a gunsmith replace the plastic magazine follower with a brass one, as well as replace the rear semi-buckhorn sight with a Skinner aperture sight. As for the bolt safety, well I didn't remove it, it just broke part of itself off on its own, heh.
Henry makes a 327, though it's more of a Marlin-style action.
@@languagesource355 That''s true. It doesn't have a loading gate, however that's not as big a deal for me as it would've been in the past. The biggest problem with the Henry is that it is expensive, and I cannot afford it. My Rossi 92 may not be in .327, but it's what I have, so I have to make do.
@@CyborgZeta I didn't realize they don't yet make a 327 with a loading gate. I don't pay attention to it, no my caliber. For us who managed to score a Rossi at the old prices, it's a good value. Currently getting into a Henry is only a couple hundred more, from what I've seen. And it's more than that in terms of quality and support, IMHO.
Thanks for the honest review. I had a wear in period with my Marlin 1894CB, but it is almost 40 now, so it runs smooth. I added Skinner sights, some like them, some do not, true for all sights and optics. Lever guns are fun.
Yes I love that sound. 😁
Both nice looking rifles especially the blued with the beautiful wood. 👍🫡🇺🇸
Completely understand the attraction of a lever gun. Long after I gave up hunting, the one rifle that's still in my safe is an early '80's Winchester Trapper .30-30 with a 16" barrel. Thanks for the information on the Rossi's.
Cool.
Thanks Greg ! I have never owned a Rossi, but I looked hard at one a couple of years ago. Wanted something for pig hunting, and I looked at the R92 all black with a 16" barrel. I ended up buying a Chiappa 1892, also cerakoated with a 16" barrel. I put a red dot on it, and it has become my favorite rifle (kind of a Jeff Cooper Scout rifle, only with lever action.) But I too like things traditional, and have kept the buckhorn sights on my Marlin, and Skinner Peep sights on my Henry. (oops, forgot to mention I bought the Chiappa over the Rossi because it was one pound lighter, and was a takedown model. I did to have to pay several hundred dollars more for it though 🙂
Jeff Cooper's Scout Rifle. Now that is a classic concept.
If money wasn't a thing, I would certainly like a Winchester 1873. I'm not familiar with the R92. Looks nice though. As far as project guns go... Well I tend to do that with the AR-10/15 platforms. I like to build my own. It's a different kind of thing though. Those early lever guns were the ARs of their day though. Light, handy, fast, and low recoil.
Personally, I prefer my Marlin, but, necessity is the mother of invention. And most assuredly there is a need, and Rossi has stepped to fill in the void. A man so armed can solve much of the calculus that life may throw at him, if he knows himself and his rifle. Paired with a proper handgun, one can certainly make worse choices for a self defense duo.
Well, I definitely would prefer my stepdad's Marlin made in the 1960's. It is of a quality not seen today.
@@LionquestFitness Agreed! Quality that we will never see again.
I like the look.of the stainless one.😊
Wow, if i had one of them, a bandana and a pair of moccasins i think id buy a horse and ride off into the sunset.
(Better get sunglass too in case there are any cliffs around😅)
Another week, another bandana reference. 😄
@tylermorrison7051 That is true Tyler...see how I am incorporating the sunglasses (your suggestion 😎) and
moccasins (Greg's idea 💡)into the dress code 😀.
The horse and sunset (or was it sunrise?), I think, is from the after effects of the Barcelona 4 v Real Madrid 0 celebration. 😀😃🙂
@@lesgillard985 I suppose it could be. A British friend (who lives here in the U.S.) is a football fan. His team is Chelsea.
@tylermorrison7051 The Poms know how to celebrate 🍾
They seem like very nice rifles.
Good to know. That just strikes me as irresponsible to run the longer spring in the shorter feed tube. And the other problems. FYI anyone in the market Grab A Gun has been running deals on a Henry getting close to the Rossi price range, without all the problems.
Hi Greg,
the DVD can be found at steves gunz store. Basically, what the DVD does is show you how to take them apart, refit the appropriate parts and then add the minimum amount of spring to make the gun operate smoothly. Not only do the guns now operate smoothly, they aren't wearing themselves out. We've all heard about how these guns are made with soft metal and on occasion you will find a soft part, but the majority of the problems will be the result of the heavy springs eating away at these poorly fitted parts.
Most of the issues with these guns is more ammo relate than the gun it's self. The thing to keep in mind is these modern straight wall pistol caliber ammo leverguns (all, not just the 92’s) are a lot like semi-auto handguns. There’s just some ammo they aren’t going to work well with.
All leveraction, pump action and semi-auto guns (long guns or handguns) are ammo length and bullet shape sensitive. Some more than other. For example, you don't think about it much if you are dealing with a rifle cal. like 3006, 308 or 223 and even 30-30. Those are bottleneck calibers. Bottlenecks always feed better than straightwall ammo, whether it is a rifle cal or a pistol cal. That's because you have a small diameter bullet going into a really big hole by comparison, the bottleneck chamber being much like a funnel. The original Winchester 92's were designed to work with bottleneck ammo in the 1.5" to 1.6" OAL with round nose flat point bullets. Ammo like 44-40, 38-40, 32-20 and 25-20.
Then you throw in the fact that there so many 38's and 357's available there is no way these gun will cover them all.
Nice talk Greg. I bought a 20" blued in .45 Colt several years ago when there was a run on guns and sold it a couple years ago without shooting it. That because .45 Colt ammo was expensive and I figured the gun would keep its value better if it remained unfired. I plan to get a 16" in .357/.38 and it will get shot...it's what I wanted to brgin with but couldn't find. I agree that the .357 92 and revolver of matching caliber, a K frame for example, would be good for most hunting and social situations. I could put a 12 or 20 twice beside or single shot such as an H&R and a J frame .38 with it all and call it done. But actually these days depending on where you live and what the future may bring, a good basic AR or similarly capable peice is a good idea. However training is key and being skilled with a lever is better than being unskilled with an AR in my book. God Bless America and Godspeed to all here.
Hi my friend. I was going to talk about some of those very important points; hence the AR on the rail, but I decided to keep it simple.
@@LionquestFitness I saw it up there on the rail. Thought maybe you just had it out. The AR talk and maybe later the type of shotguns I mentioned. Many a man and family has stood tall behind only a single or double barrel shotgun and nothing else but fortitude. I talked to a more to than couple of people during the riotous times a few years ago and some stated thing like "I'm good...I got my .38 and a whole box of shells." 👍
I have stainless 20" barrel R92's in ..357 and .45 Colt. The safety is a great thing for me, since I can unload the rifle, then put it on safe, and then dry fire to my heart's content without damage to weapon. This "breaks in" the lever action as well as smooths out the trigger pull. It makes for cheap practice, in my living room. Oh yeah, and it works as a safety too.
Another excellent video Greg,very informative.
Thanks Marc!
One other perk of shortening the oversized magazine spring is restoring to full capacity. You can gain 1 or 2 in the mag :)
Both of mine are polished stainless. 1 357 and 1 44mag. New in boxes. I heard that with the shorter specail cartridges if you arent careful the round may fall out if the rifles arent level when you rack the lever.
I could see that happening.
@@LionquestFitnessI also heard there are aftermarket springs to allow for easier loading and unloading. Don't know much about those. But the 357 with 357 handgun makes a really good combo!
So that is why the magazine spring is tight on the models under 24 in. I have been hesitant to cut the spring down thinking that Rossi knows best. Ok, so they know best where to cuts costs. I can live with that.
Nice.
Nice review. I have a couple of these R92's.
One thing that can potentially happen on 357 versions - inability to cycle 38 specials. And with all of them there's a potential that they won't cycle "bear loads" - heavy hardcast bullets. They can handle the pressure just fine, but the OAL is a bit too long to cycle. Always test before you rely on it.
@@languagesource355 Good advice.
I have two Rossi 92 in 480 Ruger reworked them to my liking ; reshaped the stocks and used a grit paint , got rid of the safety buttons and put a scout scope mount on the 20” and a peep on the carbine. Awesome hunting rifles for easy carry and accurate.
That scope sounds interesting.
@@LionquestFitness red dot on it right now 480 Ruger is nice short range affair with hard cast WFN GC boolits
Thanks for the honest review. For me, it's hard to justify paying so much for a gun that needs work. As far as a carbine goes, the lever action is pretty sweet. However, the elephant in the room is that an AR15 is usually the same price or less. A much better choice if you have that option.
Absolutely true. Considerations that may foul that though are local laws and ordinances that prohibit an AR-15. Also, a lever action rifle in a substantial caliber may be a better bet for hunting medium size game if you are going to hunt. But, that is for another video and time.
Being perfectly honest my only experience with levers has been with the marlin 336 30/30 & their 1894 .357 . The older marlins we have a pristine 1968 30/30 are like glass..
The two were have each bought in the late single digit 2000s were noticeably ruff especially the 1894 model. So much so it was almost send back to marlin. The molybdenum paste was applied honda motorcycle sells molybdenum for their final drive motorcycles it is so good that BMW riders use the product over Factory paste. This helped and probably would've done more had the treatment been longer. The 1894 still doesn't like SWCL. It prefers the full round nose bullets. Which is understandable SWCl were most likely unheard of in 1894. In closing just about any firearm today will need tweaking no matter what the price or company.
Long gone are the bench file men doing all the hand fitting. Today they only hit the high spots...if it works,.... packaged & out the door. My friend has a rossi he like it. I like the action better than a marlin...but need a scope or peep so it was marlin...
Thanx for the review...good one.
Another simple and cheap upgrade is to replace the yellow plastic magazine follower with metal. Plastic may eventually swell or degrade from lubricants. Many places online offer aluminum or brass machined followers. Kind of silly of them, they could've included a stamped steel follower for an extra buck added to the cost.
Hi Greg, judging from what I see, it can properly hit whatever game you would shoot with a .357 at 40-50 yards, had it been a .22, small game up to 25 yards. Looks good to me.
Hi Carlo, I haven't shot anything yet, but I started carrying it with me for deer hunting.
I didn't know about the long springs. Maybe I should shorten the springs in my 16" carbines.
The FFL who sold me mine advised me to do so. He'd done it to his.
@@LionquestFitness How much should I remove?
Very Nice Rifles always liked the Lever action,Good video...
I love it when comments turn into videos :) That stainless looks like a 16", unless it's some rare variant. The handiest non-SBR lever carbine :)
I think I said 18 in the video, but you are right, sixteen inches.
Sounds like a good candidate for Moly paste treatment. I've done this with a several pistols and my Browning BL-22 and they are slick....I do mean slick! Coat the internals and all moving parts liberally with a good Molybdenum Disulfide Paste and you cycle the action endlessly. I did mine each time over the winter months when my shooting slowed and while watching tv downstairs. You'll want to wear old tshirts as it does splatter and stain. There is no set number of cycles. you'll just feel the action over time get smoother but you will be embedding moly into the wear surfaces. I did this 20 yrs ago on a race pistol and 2 months of it, it literally feels like its on glass bearings but it has not lost any frame to slide fit tightness. When others handle it they are shocked. There is no fast way to get this done it just takes time and endless cycles. I've told many people about this and gotten so many replies back of how much it improved their action. Guys are even doing this to older guns to improve action feel.
I like my R92 just as it came from the box.
I file the horns off the buckhorn sight for a better view downrange, and just use jacketed bullets because it does tend to deform lead in the loading process. Cut 3” off the spring. On the “someday” list is replacing the safety with a brass button and refinishing the too-glossy stock. A problem with the stock refinishing is that the wood and metal match up so nicely (you hear that, higher end manufacturers?) that there is no proud wood to sand. Will have to be all chemical strip.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I bid on Jeff Quinn’s Rossi model 92 which was up for auction after he passed
I backed out when it went over $1000 believe it sold for about 1100
One of my great opportunities missed
Hello Greg, I have one, in those calibres, .38/.357, I customized it, solving some of those issues, specifically loading. I really enjoyed it. Take care, thank you for the videos, they have helped me. More videos on fitness. I am your age, and need to improve.
High Marcos! Thanks for your comment. I've been trying to figure out how the best to present fitness strategies more often. I think fitness is critical as you age.
Have owned one for maybe 40 years. My only Gripe/Problem was having to replace 2 broken firing pins .. Other than that , fine little rifle.
Thank you very much for this nice video. My own R92 (a 20" stainless model) is also very fun. A non magnifying prismatic sight is aslso very useful. But I notice reliability problems with some .38 Spal ammo.
Greg, I'm not sure if you were a fan of the 1960s Tarzan series, but Ron Ely has died at 86. I remember watching the reruns in the 1970s.
I used to watch it as a kid. That was a Saturday night popcorn or Bugles sit down in front of the TV for the family. I liked Ely's sophisticated, intelligent take on Tarzan. He also did his own stunts.
@LionquestFitness That's a good memory. It seems you and Ron Ely have stunts in common. I can see it now...Greg Newton stars as Tarzan...As you've never seen him before! I'm sure Les would agree that it's time for Tarzan in his early 60s. Who wouldn't watch that?
@@tylermorrison7051 😂 Not tall enough or athletic enough and I hate heights and chimpanzees!
@LionquestFitness It's funny that you mention disliking chimpanzees. Originally, football player Mike Henry was cast in the role. While filming the pilot, Henry was attacked by a chimpanzee. His jaw was injured, and Ely took over. Good call, Greg. Never work with chimps.
@tylermorrison7051 Did you see the spoof movie about Tzrzan, with I think Brandon Frazier playing Tarzan and John Cleese doing the Voice over of the Gorilla?
Funny.as hell 🎉
I have a Rossi R92 Saddle Ring Carbine, 45 Colt, stainless steel. No tang safety. Mine is stamped “ Interarms Alexandria, VA. The wood, fit and finish and attention to detail are all very good.
Should look at replacement ejector spring and main spring. Strong ejector spring will frequently break the ejector. Crazy how they put mag spring for 24" bbl in my 16" carbine.
It's easy enough to snip off a few coils on the mag spring.
Yes it is. Just has to make you wonder why the factory doesn't do it.
I have the 16 inch saddle ring carbine. I have done all the deburring and parts replacement there is to do on these and I really like it. It's just too much fun but what isn't fun is that with hotter .357 hand loads (Nothing above max) it does bulge the base of the brass near the head of the case. I have read about this on other forums as well. I have not encountered this with .38 Special or even +P loads. If you do not reload then this isn't an issue but if you do reload then it is something to consider. I have addressed this issue by taking some material off of my shell holder for .357 which allows the case to enter the die farther and remove the bulge but this will still shorten the life of the cases. If I had known of this issue before I bought the carbine, I think I would still have bought it because it really is that much fun. As for the spring, I cut 8 inches off of mine and I'm able to fit 9 .357 cartridges into the tube (just barely) but they do fit. So the 16 inch carbine can hold 9 + 1.
I've watched your videos a lot and a three shot group you can cover with a hand i very sensible and reasonable. the old rule of the bow hunters here in north carolina was shoot as far as youy arrows would stay in the 9 in circle. I'm much older now many health issues so hitting pop cans 20_30 yds i fell like the king of my county. i could tell of my shooting feats of long agoand deadly accurate. but only few people actually witnessed them. i personality believe one of the greatest self defense/hunting firearms is a good lever action. papa 😊
Soda cans at 20-30 yards with a bow? I'd say that is outstanding.
I've reloaded over 45years many calibers and soft cast lower prices by the 500 bullets per box online can be purchased at reasonable prices to load for your 357mag/38special pistols and rifles for target shooting and small to medium game hunting , many,many years ago I loaded lead round ball loads for 44sp,38special, 357mag. even low speed 560 to 600 fps is quite deadly. I commented on another video that I think I'll test 9mm and 380acp and update the outhers. I have a cronygraph now but didn't back then. I even had gallery loads to shoot in the house and my wife put a stop on that real quick. basement loads instead, lol. Papa wishing you well 😊
Good shootin’, great video Gregg.
Thank you, I appreciate your comments!
I own two in .357 a 16" and a Stainless in 20" I also have a .44 20". All three are excelent I bought a DVD that shows you how to slick them up and make them more reliable.
What is the title of the DVD?
Very nice
These days it's not that much more money to get into a Henry, unless you absolutely want a Win92 style form factor, for which there are valid reasons. Henry actually has customer support and has caliber and finish choices, even threaded models. Rossi were a good buy when they were cheaper. It's like buying a used gun - you're on your own. I like them, but hesitate to recommend them after experiencing Henry.
I certainly agree with your assessment of this rifle. It appears that the primary person who talks badly about this weapon are what I label as Gun Snobs. If the weapon is a Rossi or Taurus, then they'll turn their noses up at anything built by them. They must have high dollar big name items mainly to impress others. Not that's just sad really.
Personally, I own a Rossi R92 357 rifle with a 20" octagonal barrel with a case hardened nose cap, frame, and curved butt cap. Bought new in 2016, and used quite often. And though a retired professional gunsmith, you know what I did to it? Nothing. I simply broke it in. And in my 70s, I shoot it better than any AR weapon my neighbors have, and continually drop hogs, coyotes, and feral dogs with it almost on a weekly basis. Reckon I didn't get the memo from the Gun Snobs that it's a piece of junk. Too bad I saved a lot of money while they bought their high end stuff to impress their friends. 😂
🤣 A very good summation.
Very nice rifles!👍🏽😊❤️🇺🇸
I dunno if they still manufacture the 44 WCF, no recoil at all😊
I never tried a Rossi. But I am a fan of lever guns. Particularly the newer Henry Big Boys with picatinny rails. Nothing wrong with brass and wood versions. I just want a rifle I can abuse a bit without guilt. It’s utterly subjective opinion but to me it seems the more mature a gun person gets the more they appreciates revolvers and lever guns. The smart ones still rely on automatic pistols and ARs/AKs as their “go to” but they appreciate the Old School weapons of years past for what they can do. As a hunting or self defense weapon the lever gun should NOT be underestimated.
Good points.
Good video , what diameter and brand of target is that . Thanks
@@markchambers2812 It's a six inch target. You can find them at Walmart, Academy Sports and Sportsman's Warehouse.
I like that rifle Greg. Have a safe week buddy.
You too my friend!
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎
Did you ever have a Ted Williams 30-30? Kinda regret passing on one for $460 bones
No I haven't, but that definitely hearkens back to when Pennys, Sears, Western Auto and other stores sold firearms.
@@LionquestFitness yeah I just picked up a hi standard deluxe 22 lr 6’ barrel. Very high quality gun
Love me a lever action
Unless it is custom, the short barrel stainless should be 16 inch barrel. I have two short barrels , a blue 45 Colt, and a large loop 357. Both came with 16 inch barrels
You are right. I misspoke. I do these videos extemporaneously, and sometimes I say things not entirely correct, although in editing the video I do try to correct errors. In this case I missed it.
No big deal . I have several of these. An early Interarms 357 20 incher, a 20 inch later BrazTrch Rossi 45 Colt , as well as the two 16 inchers. They all function , and are as accurate asa 20 inch Browning 92 in 357, and a 24 inch Winchester 45 Colt. The pistol caliber lever rifles are a must have. Deliver fun, but more importantly, if you know how to use one , you are more than minimally armed. They deliver fast and hard hitting self defense, superior to pretty much any pistol. They can legally be possessed and traveled with pretty much anywhere. Paired with a same caliber handgun , you will be quite capable of defending yourself from predators. The cowboys of the old west figured this out pronto like.
Hard to beat a lever gun
Bought one new 5 years ago -- was kinda rough & didnt feed everything real good -- cleaned it up & rubbed some places with steel wool -- and since i relaod everything i found the lengths it liked in 38 & 357 with what bullet & it runs like a singer sewing machine now -- no complaints at all -- it is now my behind the door home defense stooge cannon
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOOD SERVICEABLE GUNS