Woke up this morning to heavy rain. As a mason this could mean only one thing. First real full day off after 2 long break-less weeks of trying to cram everyone in before the holiday.... time to go SHOOTING! I packed up my new .44 mag Rossi 92, targets, a meager assortment of ammo and headed to the range.
By the time I got to the closest of three ranges (45min drive) The rain had pretty much stopped and the temp came up to a warm 53*. Still pretty breezy with a 17mph R-L diagonal crosswind even in the baffles.
I Just picked up this Rossi last Friday. It's the 24" octagon barreled model with the plain blued receive in .44 Magnum. It's a group of firsts for me. It's my first true pistol caliber lever action, first Rossi and first .44 mag in either pistols or rifle.
This was my first time really getting to sit down and go over the rifle. I had previously fired 6 shots, the day I bought the rifle I shot a 25yard 5 round group to make sure the sight were on. The sixth shot I fired the next morning to take my first deer of the season on opening day.
First impression of the rifle, seems very well built and fitted, bluing and metal finish is nice. The action is slicker than my early 80s Marlin. I brought a box of 240gr fiocchi .44 mag LNFP, 180gr PMC bronze JHP .44 mag and a box of 165gr critical defense FTX .44 special.
first 5 rounds with the fiocchi
75yard 3 round string with the fiocchi after sight adjustment
Accuracy wise the critical defense was the most accurate with average groups 1.5" at 50 and 75 yards. the best was 1.25 widest 2"
The Fiocchi came in second with the tightest group measuring 2.25" @ 50 yards.
Now the pmc bronze was the odd one. I've always found it to be very high quality and consistent in every caliber I've used it in. But the little rossi didn't seem to care for it much. Even off a rest this was about par at 50 yards.
Felt recoil with the PMC was MUCH heavier than the fiocchi, and after the 2nd or 3rd magazine tube full with that crescent butt plate with the larger width of my shoulder ...somewhat painful. The fiocchi was downright pleasant and the .44 specials? A total BLAST...after squeezing the trigger on the first .44 special, I literally had a big goofy grin on my face as the cycled and fired the other 11. The specials reminded me of shooting a .22 mag but with more boom. The rifle Flew through the .44 specials with no hang-ups. With the full .44 mags it loaded just fine, but cycling out a spent case, it was very stiff with more than 6 rounds in the magazine. I'll chock that up to being not broke in yet.
I only have one gripe, the rear sight elevator latter isnt cut well. With the heavy hitting PMCs every round knocked the ramp down a notch. Not Really an issue as I have several others in my "gun box" but it did cause a few "flyers" during the groupings
All in all, having it for less than a week with 220 rounds down and a whitetail already under it's belt. I'm pretty impressed with the rifle.
By the time I got to the closest of three ranges (45min drive) The rain had pretty much stopped and the temp came up to a warm 53*. Still pretty breezy with a 17mph R-L diagonal crosswind even in the baffles.
I Just picked up this Rossi last Friday. It's the 24" octagon barreled model with the plain blued receive in .44 Magnum. It's a group of firsts for me. It's my first true pistol caliber lever action, first Rossi and first .44 mag in either pistols or rifle.
This was my first time really getting to sit down and go over the rifle. I had previously fired 6 shots, the day I bought the rifle I shot a 25yard 5 round group to make sure the sight were on. The sixth shot I fired the next morning to take my first deer of the season on opening day.
First impression of the rifle, seems very well built and fitted, bluing and metal finish is nice. The action is slicker than my early 80s Marlin. I brought a box of 240gr fiocchi .44 mag LNFP, 180gr PMC bronze JHP .44 mag and a box of 165gr critical defense FTX .44 special.
first 5 rounds with the fiocchi
75yard 3 round string with the fiocchi after sight adjustment
Accuracy wise the critical defense was the most accurate with average groups 1.5" at 50 and 75 yards. the best was 1.25 widest 2"
The Fiocchi came in second with the tightest group measuring 2.25" @ 50 yards.
Now the pmc bronze was the odd one. I've always found it to be very high quality and consistent in every caliber I've used it in. But the little rossi didn't seem to care for it much. Even off a rest this was about par at 50 yards.
Felt recoil with the PMC was MUCH heavier than the fiocchi, and after the 2nd or 3rd magazine tube full with that crescent butt plate with the larger width of my shoulder ...somewhat painful. The fiocchi was downright pleasant and the .44 specials? A total BLAST...after squeezing the trigger on the first .44 special, I literally had a big goofy grin on my face as the cycled and fired the other 11. The specials reminded me of shooting a .22 mag but with more boom. The rifle Flew through the .44 specials with no hang-ups. With the full .44 mags it loaded just fine, but cycling out a spent case, it was very stiff with more than 6 rounds in the magazine. I'll chock that up to being not broke in yet.
I only have one gripe, the rear sight elevator latter isnt cut well. With the heavy hitting PMCs every round knocked the ramp down a notch. Not Really an issue as I have several others in my "gun box" but it did cause a few "flyers" during the groupings
All in all, having it for less than a week with 220 rounds down and a whitetail already under it's belt. I'm pretty impressed with the rifle.
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By far my favorite shooter now.