Finally Found a that Special 44

T

tallball

New member
I've been looking for a Rossi Model 720 for almost a year, and kicking myself for "the one that got away". Finally found one on Gun(MakeMe)Broker that has virtually no drag line and doesn't seem to have been shot much. It came in yesterday. I might be able to shoot it this weekend. There are rumors of a couple hundred rounds of 44 Special stashed around here somewhere...

You can see that it's the most common version: adjustable sights and normal hammer spur. I like the size - I would call it a medium frame with smallish grip area. But the Pachmayr style grips give my extra-large hands enough to hold. It has a full lug 3" barrel and I like the way it balances. Single action and double action both feel good. The large sights are nice. It feels heavy enough to take 44 Special recoil easily.


Rossi44_zps16ad2875-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
That's a nice revolver, TallBall, but isn't is kinda large for CC? Me personally, I might want one with a little less barrel and weight, and maybe without the hammer spur.

Good points. Just in case my coat pocket feels lonesome, I have this one:


CharterArmsBulldog_zps00d12af0.jpg
 
Last edited:
But what if you wanted one that was sort of in between? You know, maybe something with a lighter frame and slightly shorter barrel that does have a hammer spur...


Taurus44_zpsba8282b8.jpg
 
Them's all awful cute, but what if you wanted to shoot your 44's out of something more substantial? Maybe something bigger with a long barrel and some real weight to it...


635332f7-b983-4e9b-831d-50c510c6e646_zpsd4563298.jpg
 
Congrats on your "new" Rossi 720, I also have one and it is a pleasure to shoot at the range and with a good holster ti carries like a champ. I compare it to a S&W K frame for size and for the holsters. As a 44spl fan myself this gun is what started me on the 44spl and from then on I also picked up a S&W 296 and just in the last 2 years finally found one of my grail guns a S&W 696 :D. Make no mistake that the Rossi is going to stay as its a fun shooter but these dang things get expensive. I even got a S&W 629MG and Marlin 336 44 to shoot specials out of lol. Again congrats and be sure to post a range report when you get it out.
 
Very cool stocked revolver Hartcreek! Is it yours?

Smee, I love 44 Special also! As soon as I shot a 44 snubbie I knew that I had a new favorite!

Saxon, those are awesome! You have some beautiful pieces there!

I hope to have a range report tomorrow afternoon. :-)
 
1873 Colt Shoulder Stock .44

@hartcreek

tallball

You mean like this
Click to expand...

Traditions%201873%20BP%20Shoulder%20Stock_zpsw92xgzvq.jpg


I got quite a kick out of this photo.

IMHO, hatcreek has evidently done his homework insofar as BATFE legalities.

The barrel appears to be at least 16" (where in the hell did you find that!), so with the shoulder stock combined with the metallic cartridge cylinder, this is not a SBR (short-barreled-rifle).

To me, this definitely appears to be a repro 1851 Navy (Uberti or Pietta) steel frame, possibly fitted to an 1873 solid frame top end of some sort. No 1873 Colt had a provision for a shoulder stock unless the bottom of the back strap was milled for it.

http://www.ubertireplicas.com/interno.php?idpaginaprincipale=5&idpagina=23&idarticolo=38

Unless some manufacturer marketed this as a firearm (BATFE considers repro BP revolvers as non-firearms), this is quite a feat of basement/garage engineering in my mind.

IIRC, Thompson Center once had problems with BATFE concerning the interchange ability with their pistol/rifle parts and it seems T/C won out.

That does not mean that homegrown firearms are covered by this decision.

I would very much like to convert my Pietta 1851 Navy .36 to a .44 8" barrel and a .44 conversion cylinder (.45 Colt) with a shoulder stock. However, I think BATFE would frown upon that as an illegal SBR (short-barreled-rifle).

I do not want to go to prison for such an infraction just because it would be fun to create and shoot.

hartcreek, please elaborate about this very nice firearm! I am very curious.

Jim
 
Last edited:
I've had the exact same model 720 as pictured at the top for several years and have run a bunch of ammo through it and have never had any problems with it whatsoever.

They made them with a fluted cylinder and also a hammerless model but I liked the looks of the non-fluted better.

I'm getting older and I've sold off quite a few of my guns in the past couple of years but the 720, along with a few others, ain't going nowhere...it's been my nightstand gun for the past few years.
 
I had have had a mixture of good and bad news with the 720.

Good: it looked barely used when I got it.

Bad: it locked up and malfunctioned after only five rounds.

Good: the gunsmith kept it for a few days and chuckled when I came to pick it up. It was used so little that the original packing grease was still inside and had stiffened enough to gum up the works. He congratulated me on finding a 20 year old revolver that was essentially brand new.
 
I'm very fond of mine, here she is with some of the loads I use for different stuff.
240 gr. LSWC, 200 gr. STHP, 180 gr.XTP, 165 gr.FTX.
 
Sadly it filled a niche that is currently lacking in today's market

What I wouldn't give for a quality, 5 shot, .44 special
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top