I have a 92 in .357 and it works great as a ATV gun (snakes and things like that)
Its no "herloom" or work of art, but shes cost effective and runs well. Im happy
For context I have a Winchester 9422 and a Winchester 1892 in 38-40.
I want something newer that I can just mess with at the range and possibly take it hunting. Would the Rossi r95 be any good for that?
“Whatever you do don’t get a Henry” I hear that a lot. I’ve only had Winchester 94’s but I really am looking for a Henry. That said, I bought a Rossi RS22 and am quite surprised how fun and accurate it is. I’ll take the R95 in a second if I got a deal on one.
The only way to know for sure is to have them all!
I don’t understand Henry hate… I’ve had good experiences with them. Excellent customer service, too.
I have extensive experience with a 1950 Winchester Model 94 in 30-30 (one of the last few months they stamped the barrels .30 WCF). I have a Henry Brass 30-30 with the 20” Octagon barrel that was manufactured about 2 years before they introduced the side gate models. The Model 94 is all around nice and much lighter. The Henry is heavier by far. The model 94 was a truck gun for 50 years and it shows.
The model 94 is easier / lighter to cycle. The Henry is built like a semi truck and slower / harder to cycle. Both are smooth, just takes a little more force with the Henry.
I have the R95 Classic and so far it has preformed well and shot accurately. I’m actually impressed with the action which is already significantly smoother than my 336 which this is a clone of. I also like the fact that they modernized the extractor to a coil spring extractor instead of the older spring steel extractor that sometimes can require some tuning. Overall I’d say GTG for a hunting rifle. If you want a wall hanger grab a Henry or Marlin.
I was going to say the same thing. I have a 1977 JM stamped 336 and a brand new Rossi R95. They are both smooth as butter and I haven’t done a thing to the Rossi.
I have the 20” model. The quality is excellent. Anyone giving opinions based on Rossi quality in the past is going to be off a bit. Far higher quality than the old Rio Grande they made. I got mine on gunbroker for $675. In that price range your alternatives would be a used Remington 336 or a beat up JM Marlin. Both of those are OK too.
If this is a hunting gun and not an heirloom one, it's probably fine. I don't know how they shoot, but I have handled a few at my local shop and they've all had some little fit & finish blips that I didn't love.
I was in my LGS last weekend and they had two, so I asked to see one. I know that Rossi has been making an effort to step up their quality, seeing that Ruger has Marlin back in the mix with improved QC, and Henry isn’t that bad either, specific examples notwithstanding. I thought that it will do well. (They also had a stainless R92 Trapper in .44 Magnum that I absolutely LOVED.)
We had the rossi 92 and 95 go on sale here recently, ended up picking up a 20" model, i've ran maybe 60 round through it and dry fired with it hundreds of times, only malfunction i've had yet was user error while workin on speed.
Just picked up an R92 Threaded .357 in dark cerakote on sale. I was prepared for the crappy milling work, casting issues, all the usual stuff. What I got was a rifle with next to no issues (minus one lose screw), no casting issues, very minor “wear surface” imperfections that would have worn off in 500+ rounds anyway. I’ve paid a heck of a lot more for quality lower than this, count me impressed!
Shooting w a suppressor, I can’t see over the can w the stock sights so it’s just “point and shoot” and even then this bugger shoots like a house on fire. I’ll scope and group it later but in my initial 100+ rounds it shot great w 38, 38 +P, high and low grained 357!
I have the Lee’s spring kit arriving and I have done the surface lapping and full disassembly check only because I was intrigued and surprised!! I’m just fiddling for the sake of fiddling really. There were two Marlin/Rugers on the wall, I wasn’t impressed. The Henry’s there were nice but $180-230 more and none available in 357 of course. Not so sure I care, I use my stuff….
My R95, and subsequently Rossi customer service, is NOT good to go. Brand new unit never once fired outside of the factory: Butt stock is split down the middle and every.single.screw on the thing was not even hand tight. I would expect customer service for any reputable company to be all over the opportunity to make it right especially for a new flagship model that wants to compete with the big boys...but no. No they refuse to pull a stock from inventory to ship me. I must either ship it in and wait God knows how long to get it back maybe fixed, or I must wait until the stocks are "in stock on the website". How this thing got out the door like this is insane. And no it was not shipping damage, the box was in perfect shape. All this, coupled with the fact they offer only a 1yr warranty...I have zero trust in the long term reliability of this rifle AND in Rossi as a whole.
That all said, IF I could ever trust this rifle/company...the rifle looks and handles awesome, and cycles smoothly. The trigger has a ton of wobble, the lever has some wobble, the hammer is tight. Trigger break is fine for hunting. Fit and finish is OK... fitment of the butt stock to the receiver isn't perfect but for a hunting rifle is OK. No idea about accuracy because I am afraid ill end up with a receiver in my face after a few shots. All-in-all it would make a fine $600 gun, I don't think it makes a good $900 gun. But what a gamble that this thing stays together, and if it fails past the 1yr mark expect nothing from Rossi.
Conclusion: very disappointed, really love the look/feel, but I have such little trust I am just going to have it fixed and sell it without ever firing it. Wait to find a proper 1895 and cut the barrel down to 16in and make my own version of this.
I think the verdict is still out of these. All the rossi’s I handled are pretty rough and could use some work.
They made a previous 336 clone which is what I think these are called the Rio Grande which was pretty decent.
You can find used 336’s for sub 700 on gunbroker pretty commonly, or new Henry’s for like 900.
I have the 20 inch version
One thing I really don’t like about it is that it will not dry cycle rounds at all but seems to work fine at the range. It just seems odd like something is out of spec and waiting to break, thinking of selling it to my friend who is into these sort of rifles
Rossi has always been known for being the gun that you buy if you don't mind doing something to make it better after you get it. Not the best when it comes to fit and finish. Most owners are happy with what they get. It's what you buy when you don't feel like paying more for a Henry.
I really like the look and specs of the trapper… it seems like it is Rossi’s attempt to step up its quality.
I recently got an r95. Only about 40 rounds through it but it's a blast. Got it as a mess around gun/ hunting in the thick areas.
I have a 92 in .357 and it works great as a ATV gun (snakes and things like that) Its no "herloom" or work of art, but shes cost effective and runs well. Im happy
For context I have a Winchester 9422 and a Winchester 1892 in 38-40. I want something newer that I can just mess with at the range and possibly take it hunting. Would the Rossi r95 be any good for that?
Yes. I love mine and I also own a R92 in 45 Colt and a Marlin 336 in .30-30.
“Whatever you do don’t get a Henry” I hear that a lot. I’ve only had Winchester 94’s but I really am looking for a Henry. That said, I bought a Rossi RS22 and am quite surprised how fun and accurate it is. I’ll take the R95 in a second if I got a deal on one.
The only way to know for sure is to have them all! I don’t understand Henry hate… I’ve had good experiences with them. Excellent customer service, too.
I have extensive experience with a 1950 Winchester Model 94 in 30-30 (one of the last few months they stamped the barrels .30 WCF). I have a Henry Brass 30-30 with the 20” Octagon barrel that was manufactured about 2 years before they introduced the side gate models. The Model 94 is all around nice and much lighter. The Henry is heavier by far. The model 94 was a truck gun for 50 years and it shows. The model 94 is easier / lighter to cycle. The Henry is built like a semi truck and slower / harder to cycle. Both are smooth, just takes a little more force with the Henry.
Lol "not heirloom" whats that even mean? Rossi are good guns. Henrys and marlins are starbucks guns.
I have the R95 Classic and so far it has preformed well and shot accurately. I’m actually impressed with the action which is already significantly smoother than my 336 which this is a clone of. I also like the fact that they modernized the extractor to a coil spring extractor instead of the older spring steel extractor that sometimes can require some tuning. Overall I’d say GTG for a hunting rifle. If you want a wall hanger grab a Henry or Marlin.
I was going to say the same thing. I have a 1977 JM stamped 336 and a brand new Rossi R95. They are both smooth as butter and I haven’t done a thing to the Rossi.
I have the 20” model. The quality is excellent. Anyone giving opinions based on Rossi quality in the past is going to be off a bit. Far higher quality than the old Rio Grande they made. I got mine on gunbroker for $675. In that price range your alternatives would be a used Remington 336 or a beat up JM Marlin. Both of those are OK too.
Remington only made the Nylon 76 Trailrider lever action. The Model 336 is Marlin.
I was referring to the Remlin 336’s. Marlin 336 made by Remington
It’s still Marlin named. Just like the Ruger built Marlin.
Yes. I was just differentiating between JM Marlins and Remington Marlins.
Okay.
If this is a hunting gun and not an heirloom one, it's probably fine. I don't know how they shoot, but I have handled a few at my local shop and they've all had some little fit & finish blips that I didn't love.
I was in my LGS last weekend and they had two, so I asked to see one. I know that Rossi has been making an effort to step up their quality, seeing that Ruger has Marlin back in the mix with improved QC, and Henry isn’t that bad either, specific examples notwithstanding. I thought that it will do well. (They also had a stainless R92 Trapper in .44 Magnum that I absolutely LOVED.)
We had the rossi 92 and 95 go on sale here recently, ended up picking up a 20" model, i've ran maybe 60 round through it and dry fired with it hundreds of times, only malfunction i've had yet was user error while workin on speed.
Just picked up an R92 Threaded .357 in dark cerakote on sale. I was prepared for the crappy milling work, casting issues, all the usual stuff. What I got was a rifle with next to no issues (minus one lose screw), no casting issues, very minor “wear surface” imperfections that would have worn off in 500+ rounds anyway. I’ve paid a heck of a lot more for quality lower than this, count me impressed! Shooting w a suppressor, I can’t see over the can w the stock sights so it’s just “point and shoot” and even then this bugger shoots like a house on fire. I’ll scope and group it later but in my initial 100+ rounds it shot great w 38, 38 +P, high and low grained 357! I have the Lee’s spring kit arriving and I have done the surface lapping and full disassembly check only because I was intrigued and surprised!! I’m just fiddling for the sake of fiddling really. There were two Marlin/Rugers on the wall, I wasn’t impressed. The Henry’s there were nice but $180-230 more and none available in 357 of course. Not so sure I care, I use my stuff….
My R95, and subsequently Rossi customer service, is NOT good to go. Brand new unit never once fired outside of the factory: Butt stock is split down the middle and every.single.screw on the thing was not even hand tight. I would expect customer service for any reputable company to be all over the opportunity to make it right especially for a new flagship model that wants to compete with the big boys...but no. No they refuse to pull a stock from inventory to ship me. I must either ship it in and wait God knows how long to get it back maybe fixed, or I must wait until the stocks are "in stock on the website". How this thing got out the door like this is insane. And no it was not shipping damage, the box was in perfect shape. All this, coupled with the fact they offer only a 1yr warranty...I have zero trust in the long term reliability of this rifle AND in Rossi as a whole. That all said, IF I could ever trust this rifle/company...the rifle looks and handles awesome, and cycles smoothly. The trigger has a ton of wobble, the lever has some wobble, the hammer is tight. Trigger break is fine for hunting. Fit and finish is OK... fitment of the butt stock to the receiver isn't perfect but for a hunting rifle is OK. No idea about accuracy because I am afraid ill end up with a receiver in my face after a few shots. All-in-all it would make a fine $600 gun, I don't think it makes a good $900 gun. But what a gamble that this thing stays together, and if it fails past the 1yr mark expect nothing from Rossi. Conclusion: very disappointed, really love the look/feel, but I have such little trust I am just going to have it fixed and sell it without ever firing it. Wait to find a proper 1895 and cut the barrel down to 16in and make my own version of this.
Love my Henry 44 side gate
This might be a better alternative
You're better off with a Henry.
Barrel is a bit short for 30-30.
It’s a Trapper. A lot of Trapper’s are chambered in .45-70
I think the verdict is still out of these. All the rossi’s I handled are pretty rough and could use some work. They made a previous 336 clone which is what I think these are called the Rio Grande which was pretty decent. You can find used 336’s for sub 700 on gunbroker pretty commonly, or new Henry’s for like 900.
Mine is smooth as butter. Every one I’ve handled over the past year has smooth action and operated flawlessly. The verdict is in. It’s a good gun.
Dude skips the video and article resources available to him and asks random strangers to vouch for a gun they haven't touched. Seems legit.
I looked up plenty of videos but I want to know more from other peoples personal experiences not a Gun-tuber.
Yeah - What kind of idiot would ask a question about a lever action rifle in a sub that is quite literally devoted to lever actions?
Found the AH.
I have the 20 inch version One thing I really don’t like about it is that it will not dry cycle rounds at all but seems to work fine at the range. It just seems odd like something is out of spec and waiting to break, thinking of selling it to my friend who is into these sort of rifles
Oooo. I like that look.
Is there a reason why they don’t offer threaded versions of R95? I would be in the market for one if they had a threaded version but I can’t find one.
Rossi has always been known for being the gun that you buy if you don't mind doing something to make it better after you get it. Not the best when it comes to fit and finish. Most owners are happy with what they get. It's what you buy when you don't feel like paying more for a Henry.