Rossi financial trouble?

[thorborg]

I've only owned one Rossi, though in .38 special.
If it is representative of other products by them / Taurus, it doesn't seem anything to be ashamed of, it is tight, shoots well, feels and looks good too.
It was definitely worth the two, or two twenty, I paid.

 

[41mag]

It all looked attractive until I realized it was all about speed.

disagree....

there's at least 3 distinct groups: the 'gamers' which speed is pretty much their game; there's the other 95% that are a mix of 'participants' and 'socializers who dress funny';

as much as I am simply NOT built for speed, I took a couple of the little gamer seminars and was pleased to learn some more efficient ways to participate.....I wasn't shooting 'faster' but I did learn to leave out a tremendous amount of stuff that simply wasn't 'shooting' while on the firing line.

There's a larger portion of the cowboy SASS match folks in Bend area that are certainly 'gamers' and very good at it. Many are old speed competition pistol guys who got a little older & still liked to shoot. Some are retired LEOs.

SASS itself was an adaptation in the 1980s when some of the then current speed auto pistol guys started loosing their edge to younger faster guys, or who wanted to expand their shooting fun.

There's also a smaller group who seek more authentic era clothing & gear than simple Grade B Western movies & modern replica arms. Then there's a strictly period-gear group but I lost track of where/who/when they shoot.

They do have a wonderful site out near Millican towards Brothers from Bend.

 

[CountryGent]

I've owned at least two Rossi 62 take-down rifles in .22LR. Also a full-sized .357 Magnum revolver that I've shot a lot and packed over hill and dale. And a relatively recently acquired stainless 92 in .44 Magnum. All of them have been rock solid, though the aforementioned revolver is within the serial number range for recall.

The lever-action has a very smooth action, is light and easy to handle, and provides 11 shots of .44 Magnum on tap. I think the top-mounted safety on the 92 is intensely stupid, almost certainly born of bureaucratic bulldink, but ultimately irrelevant. So no major complaints and, on the contrary, it has become my new favorite lever gun. I've never shot CAS, never will, so have no idea if said carbine would be applicable for that sport. On my own land, I've shot metallic silhouettes with said and it was fun.

To confirm what was said above, they are now a subsidiary of Taurus. If that is a factor in any business issues, I cannot say, though the recall notice I linked to earlier mentions a class action lawsuit against Taurus.

 

[RVTECH]

disagree

Ok - I am sure I might have found my 'nich' within CAS but I really didn't explore it very seriously.
There were a couple other detractors as well and I just made the decision not to pursue it further.

 

[284guy]

Between the rounds fired, gear, and guns, it's not a poor mans sport.

 

[MannyGlocks]

I'm about to ask a question and it is 'not' criticism: What's the attraction to the wearing of archaic cowboy costumes?

I don't get it.

I also have a buddy who likes to put on Civil War soldier clothes and do Civil War reenactments and he couldn't answer the same question.

He just shrugged.

There's got to be an answer, but I can't seem to find it...

 

[CamoDeafie]

I'm about to ask a question and it is 'not' criticism: What's the attraction to the wearing of archaic cowboy costumes?

I don't get it.

I also have a buddy who likes to put on Civil War soldier clothes and do Civil War reenactments and he couldn't answer the same question.

He just shrugged.

There's got to be an answer, but I can't seem to find it...

Why do certain demographics like to wear 5.11 Tactical everything.... why do people wear camo.... why do people wear monkey suits.... answers all as varied as the people themselves

My guess for the cowboy and the civil war stuff... to feel a kinship with the past, and to provide a degree of authenticity? You wouldn't reenact a civil war battle in modern BDUs with ALICE gear, right?

 

[MannyGlocks]

Camod,

Oh, ok, I 'think' I'm beginning to understand.

I guess I'm just one of those 'odd ducks' that wears nondescript clothing, which may be my own costume, eh?

And thanks for taking the time.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Camod,

Oh, ok, I 'think' I'm beginning to understand.

I guess I'm just one of those 'odd ducks' that wears nondescript clothing, which may be my own costume, eh?

And thanks for taking the time.

You aren't the only one in a long age past, I wore camo almost exclusively... but these days i don't wear camo unless its for fishing, camping or practicing fieldcraft in the woods It is really easy to tell who's a potential threat, and who isn't, if one subscribes to the philosophy of being observant

 

[RVTECH]

Had a recruiter when I was in the ANG (AGR) in Bend and on Fridays we had a 'dress down' day and you could wear any authorized Army uniform. Most of us just wore gray PT sweats but this guy would show up in full Confederate Civil War attire!
Not exactly 'authorized' but it was quite a sight!

 

[41mag]

archaic cowboy costumes?

there's at least 2 different levels in SASS of 'archaic cowboy costumes':

1 is actual every day rural life style clothing; blue jeans, boots, and in this country a wide brimmed hat comes in handy during a match;

I grew up in Idaho where 'hats' were something your grandfather wore;
here in PNW either it keeps the rain out of your face or that odd bright thing that makes using the front sight more difficult; 'boots' simply are damn comfortable after the odd things my pavement dweller friends had to wear to work so many years;

2) the actual 'costume' gear is the more serious and elaborate version of "Grade B Cowboy Western" range wear. Throw in an older set of socializers and there's everything from Bankers 3 piece to fuzzy chaps and wilder western togs seen about remote ranch.

If you have to change you clothes to go to town, you're not in the spirit of the "Grade B" dress code.

Mostly if you give up your sport cap often worn backwards for some odd reason, and slip on boots instead of crosstrainer athletic lace ups, there isn't much 'archaic' to worry about.

 

[PDXbiker]

I miss my Rossi 62SA takedown .22 pump. I think it was one of the South American imported copies of the venerable Winchester 1862 pump carbines... before Rossi became a part of Taurus or something like that. It was a very handy, accurate little carbine.. perfect for kids and small women.. could chamber .22 Short, .22 Long and .22LR; a version that could shoot a .22wmr would be awesome

I have one of those in nickle, great little pump with excellent resale value. They were imported by Interarms before Taurus took over. I believe their current cheapo RS22 semi auto 22lr is actually a Mossberg 702 Plinkster action, receiver, barrel with just a different stock. The magazines interchange perfectly.

 

[DeanMk]

Those .22 pumps are no joke.
Coveted by owners and fans alike, they're probably the single best product Rossi ever put out.

Dean

 

[xtratoy]

I assume you are wanting an 1892. The problem with Rossi, and possibly a factor in their financial trouble (maybe not specifically just this but in general just making their guns less appealing), is the ridiculous safety they added to them. I would never buy one in a million years and I am not alone by a long shot. Take some time and find an older one on Gunbroker without the Fing absurd safety and don't contribute to John rolling over in his grave. Same with Winchester. In fact I just noticed Turnbull offers the Winny 1892 with his touches. Pricey as hell but one of the steps he takes is to remove the (Fing absurd) tang safety... and that's my point. Clearly he understands how undesirable these superfluous warts are on a lever gun.

Turnbull Winchester 1892 Deluxe Takedown - Lever Action Rifles at GunBroker.com : 800105463

"A significant additional touch is our tang safety conversion process, taking the Model 1892 back to a half-cock safety as it was originally designed over a century ago."

Hmmm.... all that angst about a safety lever you don't even notice when shooting the gun....... seeing that it is an easy fix everyone can breathe easier now. Button Style Safety Replacement Plug [B-SRP] - $18.95 : Steve's Gunz, Rossi 92 Specialist What gun company hasn't added an unneeded safety their firearms?

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I for one notice the "safety" when shooting or handling those rifles that have 'em.
( Newer Winchesters , Marlins , Rossi etc... )
I find the additional "safety" :
Ugly...
Unneeded...
Annoying..
Useless...

As for the various "replacement plugs " and such that are out there...yep I am glad that they are there to be installed...
Its just the idea that in addition to buying the rifle...I now need to spend more money and my time installing a fix to a feature that I don't need or want in the first place.

As always others may have different thoughts on this and I say enjoy the added "safety"...if they like 'em or don't notice 'em.
But not for me...
Andy

 

[xtratoy]

I for one notice the "safety" when shooting or handling those rifles that have 'em.
( Newer Winchesters , Marlins , Rossi etc... )
I find the additional "safety" :
Ugly...
Unneeded...
Annoying..
Useless...

As for the various "replacement plugs " and such that are out there...yep I am glad that they are there to be installed...
Its just the idea that in addition to buying the rifle...I now need to spend more money and my time installing a fix to a feature that I don't need or want in the first place.

As always others may have different thoughts on this and I say enjoy the added "safety"...if they like 'em or don't notice 'em.
But not for me...
Andy

I have the 357 with the unneeded safety. I have never used it and don't even notice that it it is there while shooting it. All I was was getting at is doesn't make sense to totally discount the gun since the remedy is a simple part to change.

 

[KKG]

Andy;

As usual, every well said.

Mike

 

[284guy]

Maybe I'm just goofy, but when I spend hundreds or more on a gun, I don't want to have to buy more junk to make it work right, like the AR guys do.

 

[KKG]

Maybe I'm just goofy, but when I spend hundreds or more on a gun, I don't want to have to buy more junk to make it work right, like the AR guys do.

I couldn't agree with you more. To me they are a defective product from the getgo and nothing but and ain't worth spending money on.

 

[5w30]

Man Andy and the rest of you are taking the words right off my fingers..

I have to also say that the plug for the safety is not much of an improvement. Leaves you with the nice red and green "S" "F". The whole thing smells of defeat.

But to the point of discounting the rifle all together I would argue not. It just takes some time shopping. I consider that half the fun. The timing with this thread is too good not to show pictures. This one JUST arrived. I can at last rest. My grail Rossi '92. It's an EMF Hartford from the good days. I think there's a chance I'll never see another one like it.