Rossi 44 Magnum

ratshooter · March 5, 2013, 10:56 PM

I was looking around at Academy Sports today and they had a Rossi 44 mag revolver with a 2" barrel. It looked for all the world to be a Taurus Tracker revolver but without the silly ported barrel. I have owned several Taurus guns and never had any real problems with them. And I know Taurus now owns Rossi.

So I was wondering if anyone here has had any real experience with the new Taurus made Rossi's and what you thought of them? To me this is more of a strong 44 special than a magnum gun. That how treated the 44 Tracker I used to own.

The price was a reasonable $369.00. I need a new gun like I need a second wife but the idea of a new gun is just so much fun. ( a second wife not so much). Plus I already have the ammo. Opinions please.

kahrguy · March 6, 2013, 08:07 PM

Atleast buy a 4" barrel. You loss most of the "magnum" when a barrel it only 2" long regaurdless of the brand.

ratshooter · March 6, 2013, 11:51 PM

Thanks Kahrguy. I am aware of the velocity loss from a shorter barrel and like I stated in the first post I would treat this more like a 44 special anyway. Just like the Taurus Tracker I had the frame at the crane area looks a little small for much full bore mag load shooting. I just like the idea of a small sized 44 handgun without going to a charter arms.

I looked on the Rossi site and they don't even have this gun listed that I could find so I don't know if they even offer a 4" barreled version.

shootniron · March 7, 2013, 12:04 AM

Do yourself and the gun a favor...shoot .44spec loads. Unless you are in brown bear country and using this for potential self defense, the .44spec loads will do the trick and not abuse the gun or you. These guns will not take a steady diet of full power mag loads despite what some of the faithful may tell you. As a matter of fact, I have the M44 and it will not stand up to the .44spec loads...it has been relegated to permanent safe duty now.

Dan-O · March 7, 2013, 10:02 AM

If I was in the market for a 5 shot .44 Special snubbie, I'd probably be all over this gun myself. I already have a Taurus 431 and two Charter Bulldogs, otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. There's a couple of guys on Taurus Armed that have one and they seem to like theirs.

And I would agree with you ratshooter, I'd only shoot .44 Specials out of it, even though it's chambered in .44 mag.

It looks like there's a Taurus stainless version of it....but I don't think it's worth the extra bucks.

http://www.impactguns.com/taurus-m44...327605379.aspx

psyfly · March 7, 2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

shootniron: "I have the M44 and it will not stand up to the .44spec loads"

I just bought a used M44 Tracker and have only fired a few rounds through it as a function check.

I am very interested in how yours didn't stand up and what kinds of repairs were required.

I'm always interested in hearing about how good their warranty service is. I've only owned two or three Tauri and none has, so far, given me any problem.

Now I'm worried about the M44

; it's a very handy-sized .44 magnum and so far, I really like it.

Oh, please accept my apologies, ratshooter, I think I've contributed to your thread derailment.

OTOH, I'd like your reasons for thinking the porting is "silly" (I don't have a real opinion of it, as yet).

Thanks,

Will

Nanuk · March 7, 2013, 01:10 PM

It cracks me up when people continually say that you lose all the velocity of a magnum with a short barrel. Admittedly, a snub nose revolver is not efficient, you do still maintain about 400-500 fps velocity over a corresponding special load in 357 or 44. In my mind that makes it just fine. A 180 grain magnum JHP will still be travelling @ around 1200 FPS from a 2 1/2" barrel VS 700 or so from a 44 special.

Yes it kicks, the question is; Are you up to the task? Me? I love the big boomers.

kahrguy · March 7, 2013, 01:44 PM

ratshooter If you want it buy it. You can read reviews and not need an opinion here. I am one that sees to many faults with a 2" 44 mag from recovery between shoots to the short sight radius and added barrel flash. . Atleast with a 4 to 5 1/2' barrel you can gain some control, with handloads reduce magnum flash and have along enought sight radius to make a more accurate shot if needed. But agian if a 2" barrel is what you want just take the time to look the rossi over well like any revolver today and take it home if it checks out.

ratshooter · March 7, 2013, 03:19 PM

psyfly there is no need to apologize. Thread drift is normal and sometimes brings up thoughts that I and others may not have thought of.

As for porting I have just never liked it. Plus if you pull a gun in close to your body to keep from getting it snatched from you, you may get a face full of muzzle blast if you have to fire it. Plus you can't shoot shot capsules from most ported barrels.

The 44 Tracker I bought so I could carry it with shot loads on a snakey deer lease I was on and then found out shot loads were a big no no in that gun.

I did shoot my Tracker with full power loads a few times but most were 44SP equivelent or light 44 mag loads. It was fun to shoot and I never had any problems with it. I suspect the Rossi would be just as good.

Dano that SS Tracker would do the trick too. Not in stock though. Plus a couple hundred bucks more than the blued one I found. Thanks for the link.

Did anyone see Rossi is making 30-30s, 45-70 and 410 lever actions? I saw those when I went to their site yesterday. They look like copies of the Marlin guns.

Texshooter · March 10, 2013, 02:11 AM

My understanding is, due to import restrictions, Taurus has to cut the barrel to 2".

shootniron · March 10, 2013, 02:42 AM

Quote:

I am very interested in how yours didn't stand up and what kinds of repairs were required.

My gun will begin to fail to lock up after about 500rds...have jumped through this hoop before and will not do it again. I will not sell it to someone else and I will not pay for shipping to have it fixed again.

As far as customer service is concerned...the newer the gun is, the better the service. I am not sure as to the quality of the repair...it seems as though it is no better than it was when new. This is just my experience. and it has been the same with a 970 .22lr...in my opinion they are substandard and I will not buy another. I hope that you have the service from yours that others have had with theirs...maybe it will be better than either of mine.

I really like the M44,not a Tracker, it is a great shooting gun...just not much quality there.

9mm · March 10, 2013, 02:57 AM

Quote:

The price was a reasonable $369.00

and the price for a S&W or Ruger 44 mag $600-$900, double, no the price of $369 is not reasonable, I question the quality.

roaddog28 · March 10, 2013, 11:29 AM

Be very careful and check the revolver out carefully. Dealing with Taurus customer service is a nightmare. I had the pleasure of going through this experience.
Good luck,
Howard

skidder · March 10, 2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Be very careful and check the revolver out carefully. Dealing with Taurus customer service is a nightmare. I had the pleasure of going through this experience.
Good luck,
Howard

+1
Been there done that. Never again.

kahrguy · March 10, 2013, 07:24 PM

Ratshooter if you want a bullet proof 44 mag that can give you the option of a short barrel or long find a danwesson 44 mag to buy. Then get a barreland shroad you want at EWKarms.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...s_id/411547593

March 5, 2013, 10:56 PM	#1
ratshooter Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 551	Rossi 44 Magnum I was looking around at Academy Sports today and they had a Rossi 44 mag revolver with a 2" barrel. It looked for all the world to be a Taurus Tracker revolver but without the silly ported barrel. I have owned several Taurus guns and never had any real problems with them. And I know Taurus now owns Rossi. So I was wondering if anyone here has had any real experience with the new Taurus made Rossi's and what you thought of them? To me this is more of a strong 44 special than a magnum gun. That how treated the 44 Tracker I used to own. The price was a reasonable $369.00. I need a new gun like I need a second wife but the idea of a new gun is just so much fun. ( a second wife not so much). Plus I already have the ammo. Opinions please. __________________ Some people think an English Bulldog looks great... many more people can't tell one end from the other, even by smell. A village in Kenya called. They want their idiot back.

March 6, 2013, 11:51 PM	#3
ratshooter Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 551	Thanks Kahrguy. I am aware of the velocity loss from a shorter barrel and like I stated in the first post I would treat this more like a 44 special anyway. Just like the Taurus Tracker I had the frame at the crane area looks a little small for much full bore mag load shooting. I just like the idea of a small sized 44 handgun without going to a charter arms. I looked on the Rossi site and they don't even have this gun listed that I could find so I don't know if they even offer a 4" barreled version. __________________ Some people think an English Bulldog looks great... many more people can't tell one end from the other, even by smell. A village in Kenya called. They want their idiot back.

March 7, 2013, 10:02 AM	#5
Dan-O Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2011 Location: Kansas City Posts: 298	If I was in the market for a 5 shot .44 Special snubbie, I'd probably be all over this gun myself. I already have a Taurus 431 and two Charter Bulldogs, otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. There's a couple of guys on Taurus Armed that have one and they seem to like theirs. And I would agree with you ratshooter, I'd only shoot .44 Specials out of it, even though it's chambered in .44 mag. It looks like there's a Taurus stainless version of it....but I don't think it's worth the extra bucks. http://www.impactguns.com/taurus-m44...327605379.aspx Last edited by Dan-O; March 7, 2013 at 05:05 PM. Reason: speling erer

March 7, 2013, 01:10 PM	#7
Nanuk Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2005 Location: Where the deer and the antelope roam. Posts: 1,430	It cracks me up when people continually say that you lose all the velocity of a magnum with a short barrel. Admittedly, a snub nose revolver is not efficient, you do still maintain about 400-500 fps velocity over a corresponding special load in 357 or 44. In my mind that makes it just fine. A 180 grain magnum JHP will still be travelling @ around 1200 FPS from a 2 1/2" barrel VS 700 or so from a 44 special. Yes it kicks, the question is; Are you up to the task? Me? I love the big boomers. __________________ My rifle and pistol are tools, I am the weapon.

March 7, 2013, 03:19 PM	#9
ratshooter Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 551	psyfly there is no need to apologize. Thread drift is normal and sometimes brings up thoughts that I and others may not have thought of. As for porting I have just never liked it. Plus if you pull a gun in close to your body to keep from getting it snatched from you, you may get a face full of muzzle blast if you have to fire it. Plus you can't shoot shot capsules from most ported barrels. The 44 Tracker I bought so I could carry it with shot loads on a snakey deer lease I was on and then found out shot loads were a big no no in that gun. I did shoot my Tracker with full power loads a few times but most were 44SP equivelent or light 44 mag loads. It was fun to shoot and I never had any problems with it. I suspect the Rossi would be just as good. Dano that SS Tracker would do the trick too. Not in stock though. Plus a couple hundred bucks more than the blued one I found. Thanks for the link. Did anyone see Rossi is making 30-30s, 45-70 and 410 lever actions? I saw those when I went to their site yesterday. They look like copies of the Marlin guns. __________________ Some people think an English Bulldog looks great... many more people can't tell one end from the other, even by smell. A village in Kenya called. They want their idiot back.

March 6, 2013, 08:07 PM	#2
kahrguy Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2012 Posts: 354	Atleast buy a 4" barrel. You loss most of the "magnum" when a barrel it only 2" long regaurdless of the brand.

March 7, 2013, 12:04 AM	#4
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Posts: 1,146	Do yourself and the gun a favor...shoot .44spec loads. Unless you are in brown bear country and using this for potential self defense, the .44spec loads will do the trick and not abuse the gun or you. These guns will not take a steady diet of full power mag loads despite what some of the faithful may tell you. As a matter of fact, I have the M44 and it will not stand up to the .44spec loads...it has been relegated to permanent safe duty now.

March 7, 2013, 01:44 PM	#8
kahrguy Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2012 Posts: 354	ratshooter If you want it buy it. You can read reviews and not need an opinion here. I am one that sees to many faults with a 2" 44 mag from recovery between shoots to the short sight radius and added barrel flash. . Atleast with a 4 to 5 1/2' barrel you can gain some control, with handloads reduce magnum flash and have along enought sight radius to make a more accurate shot if needed. But agian if a 2" barrel is what you want just take the time to look the rossi over well like any revolver today and take it home if it checks out.

March 10, 2013, 02:11 AM	#10
Texshooter Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2006 Posts: 254	My understanding is, due to import restrictions, Taurus has to cut the barrel to 2".

March 10, 2013, 11:29 AM	#13
roaddog28 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 847	Be very careful and check the revolver out carefully. Dealing with Taurus customer service is a nightmare. I had the pleasure of going through this experience. Good luck, Howard

March 10, 2013, 07:24 PM	#15
kahrguy Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2012 Posts: 354	Ratshooter if you want a bullet proof 44 mag that can give you the option of a short barrel or long find a danwesson 44 mag to buy. Then get a barreland shroad you want at EWKarms. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...s_id/411547593