Rossi 92 in 16, 20 or 24 inch?

C

candlejackstraw

New member
Thinking about picking up a rossi 92.
Trying to decide between the 16 inch barrel, 20 inch or 24 inch.

This gun will be for target shooting at 100 yards and potentially for hunting. any opinions or experiences?
 
I've also been eyeing the Rossi 92's, (in .357 Mag). Here are some things to consider.

According to http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/, most pistol calibers run out of steam by about 16". Longer than that doesn't increase velocity much, and for some loads you actually loose velocity over 16". Of course, these tests were with brand-name factory ammo -- you might get different results with hand loads or hot-rod rounds from Buffalo Bore, et al.

On the upside, a longer barrel means more capacity due to a longer magazine, and the extra weight would reduce felt recoil.

Personally, I've about settled on a 16" barrel. A shorter, handier rifle appeals to me. I wish they made an 18" model.
 
I'm looking at the 44 magnum personally, I reload my own 44 special and mag and figure that the ballistics might be better then a 45 colt. If I do any hog hunting it seems like you can easily take a hog at 75 ft with a 44 magnum. I'm tempted to look into the 357....why do you want to go with that round?
 
I'm looking at the 44 magnum personally, I reload my own 44 special
and mag and figure that the ballistics might be better then a 45 colt.
Click to expand...
If you're reloading to action strength, the 45Colt in a `92 action can
edge out the 44Mag -- and do it with very heavy (340+gr) bullets.
 
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I'm tempted to look into the 357....why do you want to go with that round?
Click to expand...

To go with my .357 Blackhawk.

I also want a Henry in .22 WMR to partner with my Single Six.

I'm thinking about buying my buddy's .45 Colt Blackhawk. If I do, the lever wish list will get another entry:D.
 
Sounds like we both watched too much John Wayne growing up. :rolleyes:

A .44 Mag Rossi ought to take care of just about anything in the lower 48, out to 100 - 150 yards, with the right bullets.

If I was looking at a .44, I'd probably bump my barrel preference up to 20" to help reduce the recoil of the .44. That's what I'm considering for a .45, should I get to that point.
 
"Rossi uses the same size barrel blank for all calibers in the octagon barrels. Which makes for a front heavy rifle in 357. But darn are those heavy barrels accurate. Mine is a 24" octagon in 357 and it's a tack driver. "

Figured you'd appreciate this for your 357 hunt.

The only difference now is deciding if 60 dollars more is worth the decrease in recoil. Lol as a school teacher I have to nickel and dime things unfortunately :P
 
I have a Rossi 92 in both 357 mag and 454 Casull. Both are 20 inch. I think the 20 inch is better because of the longer sight radius, the bump in velocity (however slight) and the looks. I think a 20 inch looks more balanced than a 16. The 24 inch octagon barrels are awesome but HEAVY. If you are getting this for hunting I don't recommend because they are too heavy to tote all over creation.
 
Thanks for the info.

A friend has a Winchester 1892 with an octagon barrel, chambered in .25-20. Talk about front-heavy! That little .25 cal. hole leaves a LOT of metal.

It was his granddad's, I think, and he doesn't want to shoot it, afraid it might "blow up". Seems he doesn't trust the old metallurgy, or something. I don't see how that little .25-20 would ever stress that huge chunk of steel regardless of age, but it's his gun.

He also has a .25-35 that's over 100 years old (great-granddad's?). Also octagon, but longer (thus heavier) barrel, IIRC. He won't shoot it, either.
 
I went on a "cowboy" side trip a few years back. Since I have Ruger single actions in 357 & 44 mags, I found a matched pair of Win 94 trappers to go with them. 16" of barrel is plenty but doesn't give much front to rear sight separation so I opted for a peep on the 44 mags for hunting. Killed a deer with it first shot the only day I hunted it and put it away.
 
16

I have had a Rossi 92 with the 16" barrel for a couple of decades now. It is a fine shooter and, possibly, the handiest gun that I own ( and I own a few). The new leverevolution bullets add another dimension to my hand loads in that gun.


Pete
 
Any of you considering the Rossi 92, know of experience with this rifle with .38 special loads, using, say, a 148 wadcutter over about 2.8 grains of Bullseye? How do the rounds cycle?

I have a private, one lane in-door range, where I shoot mostly .22's, but occasionally my Model 19 using the above noted .38 load, but never anything heavier, but would like a lever action, other than my .22's to shoot.
 
I looked at both the 16 and 20. The 24 didn't interest me as the pistol calibers don't benefit by that barrel length and I wanted something handy. I finally decided on the 20" based on the added magazine capacity.

Some days I think it needs a sibling in 16".
 
I have the .44 Rossi with a 16" barrel and I really like it but if I had it to do again I would have gone with the 20".
 
16" Rossi Puma:
Plinking load

2qxq1r7.jpg
 
I have the 24", and it still feels amazingly small and light. After purchasing, I was a bit disappointed to see that Ballastics By The Inch shows it slowing down past 20", but the "real world" guns show it depends. Either way I have no regrets with the 24" due to the increased capacity and longer sight radius, and it doesn't seem to give up it's handiness. Mine is the 357/38 and has been a flawless runner so long as there is some type of angle to the bullet profile.

My 24" does not have an octagon barrel.
 
Rossi 92's

I have a 357 in a 20in holds 10 357 mags or 11 38 spl's.One thing that is a problem with it is when loading 38's feeding is not always as good as it should be.Happens when using loads that have a short C.O.A.L.I have seen ways of fixing it by replacing the factory plastic follower in the mag tube with a metal one but have not tried this.With 38's recoil is not much more than a 22 lr.Would be very good at teaching a new shooter or someone who is recoil shy.
 
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