I just noticed in a gun store a "new in box" Rossi 971. I asked if it was NOS, and he said no...and sure enough on the frame was "Braztech - Made by Taurus in Brazil" or some such, indicating it was a recent model. Looks like Taurus/Rossi resurrected Rossi's fine 971 model recently, at least to me it had appeared gone from the catalog for at least a few if not several years now. The beauty of the 971 was/is the medium-small frame in a 4" format with full 6 shots (rare to find these days)--that'll still shoot decent .357 loads (and of course .38 + P) all day long.
I lost my old Rossi 971 stainless while hunting in heavy brush years ago and have missed it for its basic goodness ever since: an affordable smallish-framed 6 shot .357. Perfect size. Sadly, the only way to get the 6 shot Rossi (Braztech) .357 now in stainless is the 972 6" model (I'm sure Taurus' way of pushing you to the Taurus line for the 4"!); the 971 4" is relegated to standard blue duty (and to me maybe not quite the finish of the yesteryear Rossi -- but that may be just because I had the nice stainless model before). In any event, for about $279, a great buy in a Taurus lifetime warranty-backed and "safetied" .357 4"--decent Hogue type grips too!
I lost my old Rossi 971 stainless while hunting in heavy brush years ago and have missed it for its basic goodness ever since: an affordable smallish-framed 6 shot .357. Perfect size. Sadly, the only way to get the 6 shot Rossi (Braztech) .357 now in stainless is the 972 6" model (I'm sure Taurus' way of pushing you to the Taurus line for the 4"!); the 971 4" is relegated to standard blue duty (and to me maybe not quite the finish of the yesteryear Rossi -- but that may be just because I had the nice stainless model before). In any event, for about $279, a great buy in a Taurus lifetime warranty-backed and "safetied" .357 4"--decent Hogue type grips too!
Last edited:
I love my 971 comp gun! best shooter I own!