Anyone know anything about Rossi revolvers?
I have a chance to buy a never-fired (circa 2006) Rossi R352 .38 special 5 shot. All stainless with rubber grips.
The guy wants $250. What do you think?
Rossi's can be OK but IMO $250 is too much to take the gamble that you could be buying a piece of junk.
If it was a Taurus, I'd say hell no, don't do it.
Check it over well. I just bought an old Rossi 720. It's been great. Also bought a Taurus 617 recently. Check it out over and over. So far, it has also performed well.
Most of the time with a Taurus, if it's going to have issues, it will be right out of the box.
Dave N
I've had several Rossis through my hands over the years and only had an issue with one –– but that one locked up completely after a single round, bad cylinder (not an ammo issue).
At $250 you are almost in used S&W territory if you shop around, and I would buy a used S&W over a new Rossi (let alone a used one) any day of the week. YMMV.
ETA: If he'll take $200 even, I'd chance it FWIW.
$150
2006 would make it a Rossi under Taurus ownership. I have an older blued Rossi .38 that was $150 NIB 25 years ago and it's been trouble free, but other opinions about guns from both eras are variable. Most problems seem to involve a broken hammer mounted firing pin which is cheap and easy enough to fix. I'd offer $200.
I've got a Rossi .38 snubbie that I bought new in 1995. I've never had any problem with it, though it hasn't had thousands of rounds through it either. I think $250 is too high.
I've got three M720 44 specials (fluted, unfluted, and carry model with bobbed hammer). Great bullet for a medium to compact size frame. I have smaller hands and they fit perfectly. Never had any issues with them. I paid around $250 for each and they are well worth it.
save your money and buy an old used S&W with good timing.
It's hard to beat a 4" Model 19 or 66
Originally Posted By Derek45:
save your money and buy an old used S&W with good timing.
It's hard to beat a 4" Model 19 or 66
X2
A nice used SW or Ruger is a far better investment.
If you want to use the Rossi as a throwing star, or hammer, then get it...but for much less than $250.
Being you can buy smith and wesson revolvers brand new for barley 350. THis is a no brainer. I would offer the guy 100 bucks, which is more than a pawn shop or gun shop will offer him most likely.
The actions tend to be a bit rough and the triggers can be heavy. Forget finding aftermarket grips. They don't have very strong resale value.
For me the trigger is what a revolver is all about. Try the trigger on the gun you are looking at,don't assume it will ever smooth out or get better.
If you can live with the trigger and the gun and grips are exactly what you are looking for consider it starting at about $175ish.
Pretty much I am advising you to look at the used S&W market.
Rossi are sort of like the $79 chicom 3X9 scope. They sort of do what a real brand name scope does,some people make them work , almost everyone has one
tossed on the shelf with their gun stuff, but just move on and buy the real deal to begin with and you will be saving your money.
Now some Rossi fan is going to jump in here and tell us about some rossi that he loves and I am not trying to start something with them , my point is that most folks looking for a revolver
to shoot will not be happy with them
I have an old one from the 60's It works but as others have stated you are on the edge of Smith money . I would pass or get the price down .
