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Old December 29, 2011, 10:03 PM   #1
blackdog_507
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Stiff/Sloppy Rossi/Puma 92 .357??????

Ok, so like most of my gun purchases, it was a crime of opportunity.

I was standing around drinking coffee after church on Sunday and somebody mentioned they had an older Brazil made Rossi/Puma 357 mag lever rifle. This gun is unfired in the box (I trust the seller to tell me the truth) and it really looks that way. 20" Barrel. He threw out a figure of $325. I prentended I was going to bathroom, pulled out my iPhone, got on Gunbroker and started looking around at current Rossi's and Marlins. Based on what I found, I rejoined the conversation and committed to buy it sight unseen. From what I can find, I think I got a pretty good deal. So we hooked up on it today. This evening I pulled it out and started to handle it a bit. I'm a shorter guy, and it seems like the stock and LOP are just perfect for me. It's short (even with the 20" barrel) light, and quick handling. I love it.

THEN...... I went to work the action. Before I describe this, let me say that I grew up on my Dad's Marlin 39-D, have since purchased my own 39-A, and my father-in-law has a golden boy .22. This Rossi action feels AWFUL to me. Its clunky, stiff, sloppy, etc. Now, if it is in fact unfired, which I suspect it to be, I realize it could take some cycling to break it in, but man, it was just not what I was expecting. This is the first centerfire lever gun I've ever owned, so maybe the more robust action makes everything a little tighter? Can someone please tell me if I'm overreacting or if there is something wrong with my rifle?

Thanks..........
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Old December 29, 2011, 11:17 PM   #2
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It's so common that there are gunsmiths that specialize in slicking up the action of these particular rifles. These are popular rifles with the CAS guys. I think you should find a few helpful links if you google it. Good luck to you.
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Old December 30, 2011, 12:01 AM   #3
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Rossis are perhaps some of the worst. They can be slicked up, Google Steve's Guns.
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Old December 30, 2011, 12:51 AM   #4
arentol
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The prior responses are not entirely accurate... There are 100 times as many gunsmiths that specialize in slicking up $1200+ 1911's like Kimbers and such. That doesn't say anything about those guns quality. What it says is that there are people willing to pay to get better performance from that kind of gun and taking those guns to a higher level of performance. It is the same with R92's. A ton of people people buy them to use for Cowboy Action shooting because for $450 for the gun + $200 (including shipping) for a full action job the price is still better than almost any other Cowboy Action Lever Rifle that is already at competition level when brand new.

The R92 is an inexpensive lever action rifle, but it is not a cheap rifle by any means. Being inexpensive the fit and finish is not as good as a more expensive gun will have off the shelf. As such it can take some time and effort to get the action to where you want it. However, by all reports it will get pretty darn smooth with enough shooting and/or cycles of the lever.

I have a new R92 in .45LC and the action was reasonably smooth out of the box and has gotten a bit smoother after just my first session shooting it. It is already just as good as my Marlin 1895 Guide Gun's action was when it was brand new and is only looking to get better. So you SHOULD be getting pretty decent action out of the box, which it sounds like you are not.

So given all that, I would hazard a guess that the main problem is that the gun was sitting unused for a few years. That can gum up the works a little in a firearm as complex as a lever action. I would suggest you oil it up, hold the trigger down, and cycle the lever until it is gets smoother. If 3 or 4 hundred cycles doesn't help then I would suggest you go to http://store.stevesgunz.com/ and order his kit with the DVD on how to fully disassemble the R92 as well as a new follower and spring. However, if you have the metal mag follower already then just get the DVD and spring separately. But this hopefully won't be needed at all.

Last edited by arentol; December 30, 2011 at 01:00 AM.
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Old December 30, 2011, 08:37 AM   #5
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Arentol offered some very good advice. I recently purchased one of the R92's in 357/38 and the action was pretty stiff out of the box. I decided to try and smooth it up myself by oiling it up and working the action several hundred times. I worked it both with and without the hammer down. It smoothed up very nicely in no time at all and is now smoother than my 39M, and equal to my 60 year old 39A. I was amazed at the difference a couple hours of working the lever could make...big difference.

Best of luck...
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Old December 30, 2011, 11:12 AM   #6
blackdog_507
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Thanks!

Thanks for the good advice. Weather is crappy around here right now so I doubt I'll get out to shoot it anytime soon. Sounds like Sunday afternoon football time might also be spent breaking down, cleaning, oiling, and working the action of my new rifle. Hopefully it'll get better.

Thanks all!
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Old December 30, 2011, 07:10 PM   #7
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I think the sitting for years is the culprit- My Rossi 92 in 45 colt was buttery smooth right out of the box, and it's a newer 'Brazitech' or whatever Rossi.

I love this gun! Cheap and cheap to shoot if you reload. I have the 16" saddle ring large loop model in blued finish. The only cheapy feeling to it is the finish on the wood. I'll probably disassemble it this winter and sand the stock down and oil finish it. Other than that, replacing the plastic follower is the only other thing I want to do to it.
You'll love that thing the first time you shoot it.
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Old March 11, 2013, 02:05 PM   #8
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"new" Rossi 92 in 454

I have been wanting to get a carbine in 454 to pair with my Raging Bull in the same caliber. Rossi is the only one to make one (that I can find).

That said, I read a great review on the Rossi Puma 92 in that caliber, but that was supplied by Legacy Sports. http://www.gunweek.com/2007/feature0101.html

Now that Rossi is owned by BrazTech, I don't know if it's the same as the one reviewed in the article above.

Anyone purchase one of these new Rossi (BrazTech) 92's in 454? I would really like to know how you like it, and whether it will handle the 45 LC as well as the article states.

Also does it come with the recoil pad shown in the original Rossi Puma?
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Old March 11, 2013, 02:32 PM   #9
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Quote:
The prior responses are not entirely accurate... There are 100 times as many gunsmiths that specialize in slicking up $1200+ 1911's like Kimbers and such. That doesn't say anything about those guns quality. What it says is that there are people willing to pay to get better performance from that kind of gun and taking those guns to a higher level of performance. It is the same with R92's. A ton of people people buy them to use for Cowboy Action shooting because for $450 for the gun + $200 (including shipping) for a full action job the price is still better than almost any other Cowboy Action Lever Rifle that is already at competition level when brand new.
Big plus 1

Winchester 92's and 94's were never known for smoothness or tight feeling, they are commonly referred to as clunky. It's a very common complaint from Marlin fans. They definitely aren't on par with the Henry rimfires which are about as smooth a lever action there is out of the box. But both the 39 and the Henry in the OP's post are rimfires which changes things too. Never fear no other designer of centerfire lever actions has been able to match the size, weight and handling of the Winchester 92 design. You did good!
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Old March 11, 2013, 03:34 PM   #10
sunaj
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I love my Rossi in 357,
it definitely needs some tweaking, but I think it is worth every penney on this lever

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Old March 11, 2013, 04:08 PM   #11
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This thread has a little age on it...... But for those interested, my used 357 & 45 old pre safety Rossi's are fairly smooth. Also December 30, 2011, 12:12 PM was the last time Black dog 507 was on here so I guess his gun is working ok.
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Old March 11, 2013, 04:17 PM   #12
olderndirt
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Rossi

I just picked up a Rossi M92 44 Mag. friday for the wife. Fit and finish of wood and metal good. Worked the lever and as slick as a baby's behind. Needless to say I was impressed enough to take it home.
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Old March 18, 2013, 09:22 PM   #13
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.357 lever action rifles

I just picked up an unfired, NOS Winchester Model 94AE Ranger Compact in .357 Magnum. It came in the original box with all manufacturers paperwork intact. The gun shop also had two new Rossi R92s in .357 - one blue & one stainless. The Winchester was priced about $200 more than the Rossis. I felt very lucky to find it, and negotiated a trade involving a Ruger Mini-14 I bought in 2005. From what I can tell my Winchester was made in the early 2000's - prior to the change to the tang safety in 2003, and discontinuation of the model in 2006. It apparently was a consignment rifle. I feel my "trifecta" of .357s is now complete. I have a S&W Model 27 8-3/8" that I bought new around 1980, a Coonan Classic .357 Magnum Semi-Auto 1911 (a gift from my oldest son this past Christmas), and now the Winchester Model 94. When I went back to the shop to pick-up my Winchester, they had a new Marlin 1894C .357 which came in during my 10-day waiting period. The Marlin was priced a little over $300 more than what my Winchester Model 94 had been priced ($500+ more than the Rossis). No other gun shops in my area have had the variety of .357 Magnum rifles that I've seen in this shop. The only other one I found was a Henry at $895, and it was gone when I went back to the shop a week later. Time to break-in the Winchester
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Old March 21, 2013, 11:35 AM   #14
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AΩ357 I have a M94AE Trapper in 357 mag I purchased over 10 years ago from a coworker. I have had zero problems with it. It should be very close to the gun you have. I have a scope on mine as my eye sight is not what it was when I was younger. I reload 99% of the ammunition I shoot in my rifles, revolvers, and shotguns. This Winchester has a very smooth bore and does a great job with cast lead bullets so that's all I use in it. I cast my own bullets as well and found it likes a 180 grain bullet that I cast for it using a SAECO mold. It also likes several 158 grain cast bullets I cast for it using Lee molds. I think you will enjoy that gun.
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