Rossi 92 Quality?

I've had ten or so over the past thirty plus years--90% of them pre safety Interarms or pre 2006/pre safety EMF "Hartfords"...all ran great. They've gone through some eras, at the end of the Interarms run in the early 90s as CAS gained in popularity they cheapified the finish (a sort of black mystery stain) and other superficial cost cutting measures. They rectified such things when Legacy (LSI) took over as Rossi's main US distributor, but LSI brought us the fukakata safety. It's been said in 2000 Rossi retooled and internal workings smoothed out, etc, but I've had no problems with mine whether pre or post 2000. In the late 2000s, LSI took its "Puma" name it'd inherited from Interarms and jumped ship to Chiappa for its now pricier 92s (sans Puma name, Chiappa also builds 92s for Cimarron and Taylors) now Rossis are marketed by Rossi itself and EMF after a couple year hiatus. EMF at least used to distribute a bit better finished and sighted Rossi 92. If/when in the market, if you can find a pre '06 (pre safety) EMF "Hartford," buy it. Navy Arms also distributed a few Rossi 92s up to 2006 and are pretty rare now. They uniquely sported real walnut stocks. Current Rossis are said to mechanically be pretty good--some say because of the new(ish) Taurus-Braztech ownersip, others say in spite of. To me the finish is lacking a step, but that's fixable-as is the still fukakata safety.
 
I bought a Taurus-Braztech Rossi 92 about a year ago for $459.95 . It worked ok right out of the box with both 38 & 357 but was a little stiff. I replaced the safety with a button. Put Marble sights both front & rear, a metal mag. follower, Gunslinger spring kit, clean, debur and polish the action. And last refinish the stock & forearm. that added another $100.00 to the price. But for $560.00 I now have a very slick, nice looking, dependable and accurate little carbine. That I can shoot for about the same cost as shooting my .22 rimfire. I feel It was money well spent.
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This is what I shoot in It most of the time .38 158gr. swc about 8 cents a rd.
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While many run just fine, out-of-the-box, it's best to think of Rossi M92's as an assembled kit gun that may need some fit/finish work - most probably in the "fit".

At 50% the cost of an Italian M92 (Puma, etc) and 30% the cost of a Japanese M92 (Miroku/Winchester), the Rossi M92's give good value (bang for your buck ;) ).



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I've got the stainless, 20" in .45

Has the accursed safety that I don't love, but it shoots and functions fine. They are a bargain at their price point.
 
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The lawyer bolt-top safety is easily removed w/o disassembling the rifle (Just open the lever/bolt & tap out the retaining pin).

Once that's done, it's easily replaced with either a smooth-top plug (I made/turned one down from an old Remington crossbolt safety button, below).

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Or a drop-in bolt peep from www/stevesgunz.com - although I cobbled one together from the plug I made and a Skinner LoPro peep sight (below).

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wjhat is the quality of the current Rossi 92 ? Or would a henry be better ? I am thinking 357 mag cal.
 
Bought one in 45 colt...last year and liked it out of the box...worked and performed well... this year bought the 38/357....SAME... works great... very pleased...both new guns with safety's on top.
 
rebs said:
wjhat is the quality of the current Rossi 92 ? Or would a henry be better ? I am thinking 357 mag cal.
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I recently sold mine it was a great rifle was a little picky with ammo at the start but after a hundred rounds or so it ran everything available in 38spl and 357 magnum.
 
I have the 20 inch stainless 357 and love it. Was a little stiff at first but smoothed out. Works flawlessly with 38 specials, 357's you gotta work it hard and fast or it binds up. My only real complaint is my sights (and I have heard/found a couple other examples of this) are canted. The dovetails were milled slightly offcenter to the left. Not much difference at 15-25 yards but farther out it gets really noticeable.
 
The Henry is a better gun

The price discrepancy reflects that. I'd argue all day that the '92 Rossi is a better value.
 
The Henry is heavier and doesn't have a cartridge loading gate.

I bought a Rossi a year ago, OK out of the box, but not great. Smoothed out the action following the instructional video available from Steve's Gunz and it is very slick now.
 
I loved mine, it was a Interarms pre safety in 45LC. I sold it to a good friend after I found a Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited 45LC.:rolleyes:
 
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