Boght an EMF Hartford 1892 Replica, .357 Mag Lever Action-Anyone seen these?

Hoverboy26 · September 11, 2006, 11:52 AM

I was at the Gun Show here in Phoenix over the weekend, and wanted to get a nice .357 lever action rifle.

My dad has one of these, and I have wanted one just like his since I was a kid. I searched high and low, but only found an old beat up Winchester, and the guy wanted too much money for it.

Then I found a gentleman that was selling brand new EMF replica rifles. He had one .357 magnum left, blued with the Octagon barrel, 24". It felt great in my hands, and looked to be built well. I bought it, and will get it out to the range on Saturday. Check this link, mine is the 6th one down from the top in the picture.

http://www.emf-company.com/1892-winc...le-carbine.htm

Does anyone else have one of these? How do you like it/how does it shoot? Thanks!

-RC

**Mike Irwin** · September 11, 2006, 11:58 AM

First I've heard of them.

Prices certainly don't look bad.

Hoverboy26 · September 11, 2006, 12:01 PM

That's exacly why I bought it, the price was great. I got it for $375.00, new in the box. I loved to shoot my dad's Winchester, and this rifle feels a little better, seems a little heavier, and more solid.

I've got a .357 Mag Ruger revolver, so i can use the same ammo through both of them.

-RC

Scorch · September 11, 2006, 12:14 PM

EMF has been selling replica 92s for a few years. Typically fairly well made. It's hard to screw up a Browning design.

vpjack · September 11, 2006, 12:45 PM

I have 2 of the 92 replicas. Both are solid reliable guns that see a lot of use in cowboy shooting. They are also fairly good woods guns in 357. With the proper ammo they get real close to 30-30 ballistics. The EMF is made in Brazil by Rossi, as are almost all of the 92 replicas. The nice thing about the EMF version is it does not have the saftey lever on the top of the bolt like the ones imported under Rossi's Puma brand. You got a good gun at a good price, enjoy.

Jack

Hoverboy26 · September 11, 2006, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the info, vpjack! What load to you recommend for hunting? I just use the 158 gr. JHP in my revolver.

I plan to use this rifle for coyotes mostly, and just for fun shooting outdoors.

-RC

FirstFreedom · September 11, 2006, 01:43 PM

My understanding is that Rossi makes all the 92 replicas for EMF, Navy Arms, and Legacy Sports (Puma). The EMF and Navy ones don't have the silly flimsy safety like the Legacy ones. And they're more geared to CAS shooters.

vpjack · September 12, 2006, 09:38 AM

Hoverboy, for hunting you can use any of the ammo that you would use out of your hand gun to hunt with. However to get the most from the rifle you should hand load. My loading books list 357 RIFLE ONLY rounds that drive a 158gn bullet at 1700fps and 180gn at 1450fps. These are more than enough energy for deer size game at ranges to 100 yds. These loads are not available from the manufactorers(sp) due to liability. Some fool would try to use them in an alloy pistol and end up with a stump where his hand use to be. Good luck with the 92 they are fun guns to shoot.

Jack

USMCGrunt · September 12, 2006, 05:18 PM

The wife has one she uses for SASS shoots. It works well with .357 Magnum but it can be fickle with the shorter .38 Special rounds. I cast some longer 148 grain slugs for that and it works well but as far as factory fodder goes, we stick with .357 Magnums.

gak · September 12, 2006, 08:42 PM

VpJack and First Freedom have it partially right. Unfortunately, as of Spring '06 the Rossi import-lawyer bug has finally bit EMF too - after being a stalwart holdout - and all new production is with the silly/flimsy "Legacy/ Puma" lever safety atop the receiver. A very few are still NIB available out there w/o the safety. I cannot speak for Navy Arms. I have had several EMF (and older Interarms-era Rossi-branded) 92s and they've all been excellent. Some out of the box have better actions than others, but those that are a little stiff (after a bit of firing to naturally loosen them up first) slick up great with an action job. Bottom line. Enjoy the EMF - Rossi 92s in all forms are very nice guns, but the non-safety ones are gems.

Gewehr98 · September 12, 2006, 11:25 PM

But I also understand there is a gunsmith or two who have been doing quite a business removing them and cleaning up the receiver profiles afterwards.

gak · September 13, 2006, 12:00 AM

Gewehr98 - I have heard the same. A worthwhile improvement for anyone so burdened.

Gewehr98 · September 13, 2006, 03:12 AM

Here's one levergun smith:

http://stevesgunz.com/ServiceSG.htm

vpjack · September 13, 2006, 11:23 AM

Have to agree about stevesguns. Steve is acknowledged master of slicking up a 92, and a great guy to deal with. I have one of his race ready guns and will soon be sending him the other one for him to do his magic on. If yours in new, after he gets done with it you will think you have a diffrent gun.

jack

Hoverboy26 · September 13, 2006, 12:24 PM

Thank again, vpjack. I am not a reloader, and don't know anyone trustworthy who reloads. But, those hot .357 rounds sound good! I have mt CCW course tomorrow, so I will get out Saturday, and put some rounds through it.

FYI.......mine has the silly little saftey on it. :barf:

-RC

gak · September 14, 2006, 08:24 AM

Hoverboy, still a very nice gun...but run, don't walk, to Steve's (or someone) for their "improvement" regarding that safety!

Dave Markowitz · September 15, 2006, 11:58 AM

I have one of the EMF 1892 Hartfrod Model Short Rifles (20" octagon barrel) in .357. It's made by Rossi. I like it a lot -- next to no recoil, slick action, and accurate.

Mine had insufficient extractor tension so I was having some extraction difficulties. I emailed EMF and they had me send it to a 'smith who does warranty work for them, and I got it back in about 10 days. When I got it back the problem was fixed; it extracts and ejects empties with aplomb.

It feeds .38s OK but I generally put .357s in it. With .38s it's like shooting a .22, both recoil-wise and noise-wise.

Hoverboy26 · September 15, 2006, 01:10 PM

UPDATE-

I went out to the range yesterday and put some 357 ammo through this bad boy. I love it! The action is definitely a little notchy, but it loosened up a little after about 50 rounds. I wanted to put some shots on paper, so I started at 50 yards. What accuracy!

the 1st 10 rounds were in a 2" group. I moved my target out to 100 yards, and my best 10 shot group was 2 1/2-3 inches!
If the action doesn't loosen up after a couple hundred rounds, I will definitely look into getting some work done on it. The recoil is next to nothing with the Speer Gold Dot 158 gr HP rounds I was using, with a pretty quiet report. I was shooting my Ruger revolvers, too, and they make pretty good noise with the same ammo.
I don't know why, but I have always loved .357's, this is a keeper!

gak · September 15, 2006, 09:25 PM

I have the EMF 92 carbine (20" round barrel) variation of the same...and even with the shorter and lighter barrel it's a pussycat--just shoulder pop to let you know it's no pipsqueak round. I also have the same in an EMF .44 Mag (carbine), and while you definitely notice the difference over the .357, despite what some have said about comparisons to .30-30, to me that must be a "paper exercise" 'cause it too is a pussycat relatively speaking (i.e., ain't no .30-30 in the bang and shove department).

September 11, 2006, 11:52 AM	#1
Hoverboy26 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 116	Boght an EMF Hartford 1892 Replica, .357 Mag Lever Action-Anyone seen these? I was at the Gun Show here in Phoenix over the weekend, and wanted to get a nice .357 lever action rifle. My dad has one of these, and I have wanted one just like his since I was a kid. I searched high and low, but only found an old beat up Winchester, and the guy wanted too much money for it. Then I found a gentleman that was selling brand new EMF replica rifles. He had one .357 magnum left, blued with the Octagon barrel, 24". It felt great in my hands, and looked to be built well. I bought it, and will get it out to the range on Saturday. Check this link, mine is the 6th one down from the top in the picture. http://www.emf-company.com/1892-winc...le-carbine.htm Does anyone else have one of these? How do you like it/how does it shoot? Thanks! -RC

September 11, 2006, 11:58 AM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	First I've heard of them. Prices certainly don't look bad. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

September 11, 2006, 12:14 PM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	EMF has been selling replica 92s for a few years. Typically fairly well made. It's hard to screw up a Browning design. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

September 12, 2006, 08:42 PM	#10
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	EMF now has safety VpJack and First Freedom have it partially right. Unfortunately, as of Spring '06 the Rossi import-lawyer bug has finally bit EMF too - after being a stalwart holdout - and all new production is with the silly/flimsy "Legacy/ Puma" lever safety atop the receiver. A very few are still NIB available out there w/o the safety. I cannot speak for Navy Arms. I have had several EMF (and older Interarms-era Rossi-branded) 92s and they've all been excellent. Some out of the box have better actions than others, but those that are a little stiff (after a bit of firing to naturally loosen them up first) slick up great with an action job. Bottom line. Enjoy the EMF - Rossi 92s in all forms are very nice guns, but the non-safety ones are gems.

September 12, 2006, 11:25 PM	#11
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	I was going to ask about that superfluous safety... But I also understand there is a gunsmith or two who have been doing quite a business removing them and cleaning up the receiver profiles afterwards. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

September 11, 2006, 12:01 PM	#3
Hoverboy26 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 116	That's exacly why I bought it, the price was great. I got it for $375.00, new in the box. I loved to shoot my dad's Winchester, and this rifle feels a little better, seems a little heavier, and more solid. I've got a .357 Mag Ruger revolver, so i can use the same ammo through both of them. -RC

September 11, 2006, 12:45 PM	#5
vpjack Member Join Date: July 14, 2006 Posts: 43	I have 2 of the 92 replicas. Both are solid reliable guns that see a lot of use in cowboy shooting. They are also fairly good woods guns in 357. With the proper ammo they get real close to 30-30 ballistics. The EMF is made in Brazil by Rossi, as are almost all of the 92 replicas. The nice thing about the EMF version is it does not have the saftey lever on the top of the bolt like the ones imported under Rossi's Puma brand. You got a good gun at a good price, enjoy. Jack

September 11, 2006, 01:18 PM	#6
Hoverboy26 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 116	Thanks for the info, vpjack! What load to you recommend for hunting? I just use the 158 gr. JHP in my revolver. I plan to use this rifle for coyotes mostly, and just for fun shooting outdoors. -RC

September 11, 2006, 01:43 PM	#7
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	My understanding is that Rossi makes all the 92 replicas for EMF, Navy Arms, and Legacy Sports (Puma). The EMF and Navy ones don't have the silly flimsy safety like the Legacy ones. And they're more geared to CAS shooters.

September 12, 2006, 09:38 AM	#8
vpjack Member Join Date: July 14, 2006 Posts: 43	Hoverboy, for hunting you can use any of the ammo that you would use out of your hand gun to hunt with. However to get the most from the rifle you should hand load. My loading books list 357 RIFLE ONLY rounds that drive a 158gn bullet at 1700fps and 180gn at 1450fps. These are more than enough energy for deer size game at ranges to 100 yds. These loads are not available from the manufactorers(sp) due to liability. Some fool would try to use them in an alloy pistol and end up with a stump where his hand use to be. Good luck with the 92 they are fun guns to shoot. Jack

September 12, 2006, 05:18 PM	#9
USMCGrunt Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2000 Location: Somewhere in 14T NT Posts: 730	The wife has one she uses for SASS shoots. It works well with .357 Magnum but it can be fickle with the shorter .38 Special rounds. I cast some longer 148 grain slugs for that and it works well but as far as factory fodder goes, we stick with .357 Magnums.

September 13, 2006, 12:00 AM	#12
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	Gewehr98 - I have heard the same. A worthwhile improvement for anyone so burdened.

September 13, 2006, 03:12 AM	#13
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	Just had to look, because I still want a Model 92 in .44 Special someday... Here's one levergun smith: http://stevesgunz.com/ServiceSG.htm __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

September 13, 2006, 11:23 AM	#14
vpjack Member Join Date: July 14, 2006 Posts: 43	Have to agree about stevesguns. Steve is acknowledged master of slicking up a 92, and a great guy to deal with. I have one of his race ready guns and will soon be sending him the other one for him to do his magic on. If yours in new, after he gets done with it you will think you have a diffrent gun. jack

September 13, 2006, 12:24 PM	#15
Hoverboy26 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 116	Thank again, vpjack. I am not a reloader, and don't know anyone trustworthy who reloads. But, those hot .357 rounds sound good! I have mt CCW course tomorrow, so I will get out Saturday, and put some rounds through it. FYI.......mine has the silly little saftey on it. :barf: -RC

September 14, 2006, 08:24 AM	#16
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	Hoverboy, still a very nice gun...but run, don't walk, to Steve's (or someone) for their "improvement" regarding that safety!

September 15, 2006, 11:58 AM	#17
Dave Markowitz Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 372	I have one of the EMF 1892 Hartfrod Model Short Rifles (20" octagon barrel) in .357. It's made by Rossi. I like it a lot -- next to no recoil, slick action, and accurate. Mine had insufficient extractor tension so I was having some extraction difficulties. I emailed EMF and they had me send it to a 'smith who does warranty work for them, and I got it back in about 10 days. When I got it back the problem was fixed; it extracts and ejects empties with aplomb. It feeds .38s OK but I generally put .357s in it. With .38s it's like shooting a .22, both recoil-wise and noise-wise. __________________ Dave Markowitz http://blogostuff.blogspot.com

September 15, 2006, 01:10 PM	#18
Hoverboy26 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 116	UPDATE- I went out to the range yesterday and put some 357 ammo through this bad boy. I love it! The action is definitely a little notchy, but it loosened up a little after about 50 rounds. I wanted to put some shots on paper, so I started at 50 yards. What accuracy! the 1st 10 rounds were in a 2" group. I moved my target out to 100 yards, and my best 10 shot group was 2 1/2-3 inches! If the action doesn't loosen up after a couple hundred rounds, I will definitely look into getting some work done on it. The recoil is next to nothing with the Speer Gold Dot 158 gr HP rounds I was using, with a pretty quiet report. I was shooting my Ruger revolvers, too, and they make pretty good noise with the same ammo. I don't know why, but I have always loved .357's, this is a keeper!

September 15, 2006, 09:25 PM	#19
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	I have the EMF 92 carbine (20" round barrel) variation of the same...and even with the shorter and lighter barrel it's a pussycat--just shoulder pop to let you know it's no pipsqueak round. I also have the same in an EMF .44 Mag (carbine), and while you definitely notice the difference over the .357, despite what some have said about comparisons to .30-30, to me that must be a "paper exercise" 'cause it too is a pussycat relatively speaking (i.e., ain't no .30-30 in the bang and shove department).