Posted: 6/19/2007 1:33:14 PM EDT
| Is anyone familiar with ROSSI revolvers. I know they are made by Taurus and are "low-end". I'm looking for a .357 for fun at the range. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated. |
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They used to be imported by Interarms, back in the day. I've had several, still have a few. I have a small-frame, stainless 4" .22WMRF that is a great little revolver. (If I could find its .22LR couterpart at a reasonable price I would buy it -- saw one at the gun show this weekend, but it was $300  ).I have had several of their .357s come thorugh my hands and never had any issues with them, but always seemed to sell/trade them away (I'm very partial to S&Ws in mid- to full-size .357s). I and others in my family have had their small "J-frame-sized" snub-nose .38s (in both blue and SS) and they have been hit-and-miss in my experience. I had one whose cylinder locked up the very first time I fired it (standard pressure round) and had to be returned to the factory; I had another that was prone to light strikes. They would not be my first choice in a snubbie, but that's just because I've been "bit" a couple of times personally and YMMV. I also had one of their .38s that was more akin to a K-frame S&W years ago, a model "851" or "951"  IIRC -- SS, 4" VR bbl, with full-size grips. It was one of the first handguns I ever owned, inexpensive, quite accurate, and I wish I'd never parted with it (haven't seen one of those in years...).
For your stated purpose, IMHO you should look for a decent used S&W K-frame. SS S&W 65s and 66s (and others, of course) are out there all the time at bargain prices -- maybe not as much so as during the great PD revolver-to-semiauto migration, but they are still out there nonetheless. You can buy a good used S&W revolver (especially the SS models), shoot it for a few years, and usually get every penny back out of it down the road -- I've done just that several times over. 
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I had a full-sized M971 imported by Interarms. No real issues with it, it worked until I ended up selling it to a buddy. No word on it after that. If I had to do it over again, I'd skip it and go for a used S&W. They're great guns for the money and can usually be easily fixed if they aren't quite up to snuff. |
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I don't have any experience with a Rossi in .357, but I bought my sister a Rossi .38 snubbie for Christmas back in 1995 and it's a great little gun. I forget the model number but that particular gun is still being produced. I have said for years I was going to get one for myself but I haven't done it yet. If I were looking for a .357 I'd look for a used S&W. I might happen to know where you can get a good used S&W 686 with a 6" barrel. 
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my shop use to sell Rossi as a economical option for people looking for a revolver. We no longer stock Rossi. They are total trash. We saw more problems out of the box with these POS. They are a notched below Taurus. That isn't saying much because Taurus isn't a good gun either. I don't care if they have a lifetime warranty. If you have to use it often during your lifetime. i don't equate cheap with fun. If you want something fun buy a quality piece. With less hassle you will enjoy your range trip much more. You get what you pay for. J |
| +1 on getting a used S&W. Or a used Ruger. I got a used Speed Six for around the same price as a new Rossi, but the used Ruger is a much better gun then the new Rossi will ever be. It has a sweet trigger. The newer models Rugers GP100 and SP101 are good quality too, but the trigger is heavy. |
I guess what you says goes !!!  Well my taurus 85ch NEVER , NEVER !!!, gave me ANY problems .......  And to the OP here read this ! glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=713023 |
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only Rossi I ever had was a 6" .357 with a full underlug barrel and non-fluted cylinder. Don't remember the model. I fired 2K or so through it and the only problem I had was occassionally under full power loads the rear sight (adjustable) would shift but only after extended range sessions. I ended up trading it on a Dan Wesson .357 to a boy who was in love with the look. |
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UPDATE - I went ahead and bought the 6" SS .357. Took it to the range today and put about 100 through it. I LOVED IT!!!!!!! Not a single issue, and it was really dead-on accurate. I also like the fact that it will support .38 special ammo. Tried about 20 rounds of .38. Certainly less power than the .357, but worked fine. I frequently take my kids to the range with me. They should enjoy to "less-kick" .38 rounds. I know a number of responders suggested a used S&W, but I'm a little shy to purchase used firearms. I've been burned before and prefer to purchase new. Thanks for the feedback. |