Is a Rossi 357 worth buying?

I'm generally in the "for that kind of money....S&W or Ruger" group, but I'm not an automatic Rossi naysayer. I owned an older (pre Taurus/Braztech) 971 stainless for several years that was a great gun - just right (near K) size and no issues, but it went missing in a rough country/off trail hunting trek several years ago (probably still out there!). Because I could afford it later, I "replaced" with a 65 Lady Smith--best of the bunch IMO but scarce/pricey--but still sort of miss that 4" Rossi for its attributes too, cost being just one. Also, consider the Rossi snubbie .357 is one of the very few if not only small frame (a sort of "J+" or Colt D frame) 6-shot .357s out there any more (there are two or three .38-only 6 shot "D" frames out there--Armscor and Taurus come to mind)...and reviews have generally been good on. In a direct A-B at LGS with a later-model Detective Special, they were nearly identical, the Rossi sllightly beefier ahead of the cylinder as might befit a mag--it was obvious what Rossi was emulating. If you "need" new, then one of those close to $300 is one of the better buys out there. Good old-school hammer-mounted firing pin and Taurus "lifetime" warranty too, FWIW.
(Opposite experience with the one gent on the Rossi lever too, having had nearly a dozen of them--mostly pre 2006--over their 30+ years - zero issues. As someone said, YMMV - and apparently does in this case).
 
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nothing wrong with a rossi just because of a rossi. now as to the price being high or low or ok.... well


its always averaged differently by geographic area. ive had to deal with that issue all my life. here i have to pay the manufacturers retail price plus sales tax. yeah if the sw website says 900, thats what i have to pay for it.
yet everyone else only seems to pay 600 for the same gun, after tax...

get it, be happy, use it. however dontreally uese heavy magnums in it. feed it like a k frame.
 
I had two Rossi revolvers, really liked them both, quality guns of S&W style, but they don't very high on monetary value so I'd pass unless that price came down a lot.
 
My 1980s Rossi works great, is smooth and accurate. I inherited it.

Again, you have two questions going.

1: is a Rossi worth buying.
2: Is $375 appropriate for THIS Rossi.

I think a gun is better than no gun.
I think a good gun is better than an average gun.
I am happy with my Rossi .38.
I shoot my Ruger more.


As to the price, it is higher than what I would pay for a used Rossi.
Is this a BrazTech Rossi? Or Interarms imported?

BrazTech is (i believe) the new parent company, which also owns Taurus. If it is Braztech, i believe it has the same lifetime warranty.

Interarms ones are no longer supported by warranty or parts.

My 80s Rossi is interarms. Take the warranty issue into consideration on any used Rossi purchase.

sent from tapatalk on Evo3G
 
I owned a Rossi 357 once, it was a decent little gun but I only paid $125 for it from a pawn shop. I think the others are correct, your buddy wants way too much for that gun. and I've personally never found a decent price on gunbroker either. I can get a bnib at the local gun store for $100 less than they want on gunbroker. good luck on whatever you decide.
 
My buddy has a .357mag Rossi with a 4" barrel. He's a confirmed Smith and Wesson revolver nut and owns several so he knows a great revolver when he sees it. That was why I was surprised when he told me he had bought the Rossi. It was used and if I recall he spent about $250 for it, private sale.
I've shot it and it preformed flawlessly, decent trigger and as accurate as I am. He told me he was impressed with the revolver for the price so he picked it up a a "bang around" gun.
 
I haven't spoken to my friend yet about the price but he did tell me that his dad paid 375.00 for the gun. I guess the 357 was a little to much for his dad so he went & bought a ruger single six. He's trying to sale it for what he paid for it. I don't even know how old the gun is but it sounds like you can pick a rossi up for a lot less. I guess was thinking about it because I love the looks of a S&W model 10 & the rossi looks a lot like it.
 
you can hold it in your hand,,, that beats "out of stock, not backordered' on a gunstore shelf or a website.

theres a few discontinued rossis that i wish i had.
 
I wouldn't necessarily pass on the gun, I'd just pass on it at that price. He's on crack if he thinks he's gonna get NIB price for it. Find a book value or check gunbroker and go from there. Explain it to him and make a reasonable offer if you like it.

Don't low ball him, be reasonable, be fair. No sense riskin a friendship by insulting him even if he's the one with crazy expectations.
 
Thanks guys I really do appreciate the input. He is a good friend but I would rather put the money towards a S&W unless he drops the price to make it worth while.
 
I haven't spoken to my friend yet about the price but he did tell me that his dad paid 375.00 for the gun. I guess the 357 was a little to much for his dad so he went & bought a ruger single six. He's trying to sale it for what he paid for it. I don't even know how old the gun is but it sounds like you can pick a rossi up for a lot less. I guess was thinking about it because I love the looks of a S&W model 10 & the rossi looks a lot like it.
Click to expand...

Then what are you waiting for? S&W model 10s are out there and I am sure you can pickup a use one in good condition for around $375.
Good luck,
Howard
 
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