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Posted: 2/18/2025 12:59:15 AM EDT
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I bought this from Palmetto State Armory because I could, and it was slightly on sale at the time. Slightly. But I need a lever action rifle since I just got into Cowboy Action Shooting with SASS locally, and the Marlin I am using is borrowed. So, first things first - this gun was NOT built in the United States. Here is the box.  Here is the rifle on top of the box.  Here is the marking on the barrel. Case closed.  The first thing I thought was, this stock is too short. Maybe it's because of the curve of the buttplate. Here's the Rossi I've been using with the new 92.  The action was crisp and positive, and surprisingly the action was not full of grease. There was plenty of crud in the bore when I cleaned it out, but everything else looked OK. But, as they say, the proof is in the pudding...er, shooting. So, let's go shooting.  |
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Edit to add, this is a modified version of the review I posted at SASS Wire. I tried three loads, two variants of my cowboy load and a 357 mag load. Firearms for me are multi-purpose devices - I never know if someday I might want to take this hog hunting!  First target is set at 25 yards. Split the difference between where I've seen SASS targets go and a 50 yard hunting distance. Right from the get-go, that loading gate was TIGHT. I had a heckuva time getting rounds to go through, and it was well into the shooting session that I discovered that when the round is ALOMST inside, pushing the base towards the centerline of the rifle would allow the bullet to slip into the magazine far easier. That really gave me fits. And you can see the brass marks on my brand-new loading gate...also known as character marks.  That first group was fired standing at 25 yards, 6 o'clock hold, shows right off the rifle will do exactly what I want it to for SASS.  Then you can see the brass - the BIG bugaboo I was told about these rifles is the chambers are ovaled, horrible, brass is mangled...well, they look OK to me. Proof in the pudding tonight when I reload them.  This was the worst one when I got them done tonight. I had a couple that failed due to age, plus one 357 Mag case some big stupid galoot stepped on, (me), which got tossed...but nothing like what I had been warned against.  I shot that first ten standing at 25 with a center hold, and while the group is certainly nothing to write home about, it will hit the SASS target no problem. The picture after that you can see I was using the other bullet profile, leftovers I no longer use. With the RNFP, that SWC and the XTP there was no problem feeding at all. The ONLY issue I had was on my second ten rounds, one live round went bye-bye with an empty. Now I know why you guys always have those extra pistol cartridges on your belt...  After that was 357 Mag XTP loads. First, I moved the target stand to 50 yards, since I have been told this is a 50-100 yard hunting rifle. Judging by the target the rifle likes 357 mag loads.  I also found some 38 Spl. Golden Saber's in the bag, why not use them up? Hmm, they didn't do so well.  Back to the magnums, and that last target also tells a tale - she heats up FAST. That vertical stringing told me we were done.  Ejection was very positive, dumping them briskly behind me. Lever gave no issues, but I could feel the roughness. I did spray it pretty heavily with gun oil the night before, and it seemed to be better than the dry working the day before, but still needs breaking in. All in all, I think this rifle will do just fine for what I want it to do. even if I will never shoot it like John Waye or any other Western Action hero.  It's just a 50-100 yard rifle.
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That accuracy should work just fine for CAS. I think I could spit on the pistol gongs. The rifle gongs weren't much farther out. I'd recommend you get a padded lever wrap. I got mine from this seller on ebay. Working the lever fast for cowboy action w/o a padded wrap gets painful on your fingers. https://www.ebay.com/itm/224242802497 
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Thank you both, this is something new to me, shot my first SASS match in November. I was told by my buddy that the groups will tighten up as it wears in, and much more likely, as I learn to use it better!
Yes, the SASS targets are close, 10 yards for pistol, 15-50 for rifle, but I've never seen one past 15 yards yet! |
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Sorry, lost track of this one. I did put on both a padded leather wrap for the lever and a leather butt wrap, which REALLY helps keep that metal buttplate right where it's supposed to be. Also, i HATE buckhorn sights, so I replaced the rear sight with a Marbles adjustable flat rear sight, with the white diamond turned forward to meet SASS regs. This is MOST fun, indeed. I know why the gamesmen use the 1873 speed tuned, but I really like this light, handy and durable rifle! Attached File Attached File |
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