Rossi 44 Mag with 16" barrel

KnotRight

KnotRight

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Just got in a Rossi Stainless Steel Level action 44 Mag with a 16" barrel. It is shorter than the Daisy BB gun I had when I was a kid. This could be a great camping rifle if I still went camping.

I heard that the 357 model was hard to load so I tried some 44 special snap-caps and they went right in and ejected with no problems.

It came with a Skinner pep site but was in a plastic bag. Put it on and hoping that it is close to POI.
If is not rain on Thursday, I will be able to head to the range to see how it shoots.

Thinking about putting a brass front site on it.

Anybody own one of these guns?

Still looking for a 357 Lever Action.
 
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I have a rossi 16" 357 currently, and had the 26" octagon barrel before it. Both have been good guns. The 26" would feed virtually anything, but the 16" likes its 38 specials a little on the longer side. Not an issue for me, since they will still function just fine in all my revolvers with the slightly longer length. All the factory ammo I've tried has been good to go.

Its been a very good shooter for me, and man, is it short. if it were 1/4" shorter, it would be an SBR.

Have a Marlin 1894 with an 18" barrel in 44. Also a good shooter, and its never given me any issues. It seems to have a preference for slightly hotter loads than my fairly weak plinking handloads.
 
Funny you mention a Daisy BB gun, I still have my Daisy saddle-ring lever action, it is hanging over the door of my reloading room. I held my 16" Rossi 357 up to it and the Rossi was about 4" shorter.
 
Here is mine with Skinner Sights. Can not figure out to take the picture long and norrow.

Rossi%2092%2044%20Mag.jpg
 
KnotRight said:
Here is mine with Skinner Sights. Can not figure out to take the picture long and norrow.
Click to expand...

Taking your shoes off might help, at least that's what everyone else on the internet does.

I've never seen the dovetail mounted peep sight, how well does that work for you?
 
I have not fired the gun yet. Got it used on Monday and heading to the range today. The dove tail horn sites were removed and Skinner made a replacement for them. Again, that is what the first owner of the gun told me.
 
KnotRight said:
Toprudder, those 16" rifles would make great truck guns. Legal in all 50 states.
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Sure about that? I know in NC it would have to be in open view if in the passenger compartment, or at least not be easily accessible.
 
I took the gun to an indoor range to shoot it for the first time. Started out with 44 Special (loaded with 700X, Blue Dot and Unique) and the gun had no recoil. Then moved up to the magnum (same powder) with a very little difference in recoil. I was pushing it about 75 to 80% of max loads with a 240 grn SWC. I shot about 75 rounds of special and 35 rounds of the magnums. Did not feel anything until I got back to the office and got a little pain in the shoulder.
I would have shot more but the peep site came loose. I am going to put some clear nail polish in the sight (it screws into the base) and the small allen screw that hold the sight. If that does not work I might have to try some 222 (purple) loctite.

For some reason the Specials were shooting about 4" higher at 25 yards than the magnums.
 
I thought that you can carry a rifle from state to state as long as it does not hold more than 10 rounds.
 
MacEntyre said:
That's what I want on me own Rossi Trapper... a tang peep sight.
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I bought that one from Midway, you have to look up the part number for the correct sight and rear screw and order them separately. I had to drill/tap a hole for the front screw. I was very happy with the way it turned out.
 
With my Skinner sight, it kept coming loose in the mount. I tried some clear nail polish and really did not work so I order some Purple Loctite 222 and going to give that a try.

On a side note, while shooting the Rossi I took my 629 to the range too and cleaned it when I got home. The screw that holds the crane in had some red loctite on it. Would you put the Purple 222 back on that screw?
 
MacEntyre said:
I already have a Lyman and a Marbles tang peep, both o' which will work. Just gotta get comfortable with a blued sight on a stainless rifle. :confused:
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I wonder if you can have the peep sight cerakoted.
 
xSMeO7jl.jpg


Rossi 92 .357 that I bought when I was at Ft. Carson in 1982. The loop is from a ranch hand. Carried this all over the front range when I was off duty. A fun little carbine.
 
RedneckFur said:
I have a rossi 16" 357 currently, and had the 26" octagon barrel before it. Both have been good guns. The 26" would feed virtually anything, but the 16" likes its 38 specials a little on the longer side. Not an issue for me, since they will still function just fine in all my revolvers with the slightly longer length. All the factory ammo I've tried has been good to go.

Its been a very good shooter for me, and man, is it short. if it were 1/4" shorter, it would be an SBR.

Have a Marlin 1894 with an 18" barrel in 44. Also a good shooter, and its never given me any issues. It seems to have a preference for slightly hotter loads than my fairly weak plinking handloads.
Click to expand...
What's a good load for a Henry 44 mag, 20" barrel? I agree that light loads are not accurate.
 
I'd be curious to hear how the triggers are on these guns.

Edited to add: Realized I just replied to an older thread. Sorry about that.
 
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