Rossi Ranch Hands - why the huge price bracket?

Gunoholic said:
The Rossi 92s are diamonds in the rough.
Once slicked up they are better than the Chiappa and Miroku Winchester 92s.
I know, I've owned them all.
They are like the old Norton motorcycles. Unless you're a bit mechanically inclined and tool handy and like tinkering with stuff stay away from them.
Click to expand...


That's my assessment of these rifles as well. For us shmoes that are into gunsmithing & metal work, Rossi 92's are just plain fun to work with and too much fun to shoot. Great brush guns as well.:)
(Kawasaki triples are more fun.):p

One would think that with Brazil's economy in the dunny, you'd be able to see new rifles at lower prices.
Time will tell on that.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
That's my assessment of these rifles as well. For us shmoes that are into gunsmithing & metal work, Rossi 92's are just plain fun to work with and too much fun to shoot. Great brush guns as well.:)
(Kawasaki triples are more fun.):p

One would think that with Brazil's economy in the dunny, you'd be able to see new rifles at lower prices.
Time will tell on that.
Click to expand...

It's Br#####h and Taurus that are adding the big profit margin.
The Brazilian workers on the factory floor are getting paid f'all and the unit production cost per 92 is probably less than $150.
The most expensive labor intensive aspects of the manufacturing process fitting, finishing and quality control are entirely absent.
The saving grace for the Rossi rifles is the computer controlled CNC machining process that gets it right most of the time.
What comes off the machines goes into a box regardless of whether it's a junker or a good gun.
It's a crap shoot what the buyer gets when he opens the box.
That's why you check'em before you buy'em.
The rest is all pocket lining for the dealers and Br#####h/Taurus.
 
Gunoholic said:
It's Br#####h and Taurus that are adding the big profit margin.
The Brazilian workers on the factory floor are getting paid f'all and the unit production cost per 92 is probably less than $150.
The most expensive labor intensive aspects of the manufacturing process fitting, finishing and quality control are entirely absent.
The saving grace for the Rossi rifles is the computer controlled CNC machining process that gets it right most of the time.
What comes off the machines goes into a box regardless of whether it's a junker or a good gun.
It's a crap shoot what the buyer gets when he opens the box.
That's why you check'em before you buy'em.
The rest is all pocket lining for the dealers and Br#####h/Taurus.
Click to expand...

That's so typical of makers who go public on stock exchanges. They end up buried in B.S. demands from share holders and piss poor insight from management teams, not to mention the "Evil Bean Counters", and the end consumer gets the high, hard one. Right Cerberus Group?f:P:
 
I just ordered this guy direct fem the manufacturer. Purpose-made for the RH.

http://acecase.com/ranch-hand-rifle-case-black-nylon.html

I also cycled some factory .357 flawlessly today, but cast reloads hang up. I think it's that the reloads swell a bit when being seated, but it works great with virgin ammo. It loads all .38's flawlessly, reloaded or not.

I found a real Winchester 92 lever (non-big loop) and I'll be checking to see if it fits. Will report back.

The erstwhile SRC holes are now filled with blued plug screws. MUCH better.
 
Quick update:

I polished the top of the carrier and that made feeding a fair bit more reliable - less friction on the rounds. I also installed a winchester 92 (vintage) lever to see if it would work. It DOES cycle, but the geometry is slightly off and it won't lift the carrier all the way up. I think it could be fitted by modifying it a little, but for now, I re-installed the Rossi lever.

I also installed a marbles No.67 rear sight, which is their long, low, adjustable semi-buckhorn. Brownells part No. 579-067-001. I think this sight will work with the stock front sight. I have a taller Marbles .530" sight I can use, but will try with the stock sight first since the marbles sight is positively HUGE on these guns and I'm not fond of the resultant look.

I also smoothed the cams below the bolt locking recess and tuned the top forward locking bolt cams to have a more gradual curve (like the original Winchesters all had) and polished this surface better than factory. That also made a HUGE difference in slickness.

I now have it feeding all .357's reliably except the odd reload that drops from the press too "fat".
 
Made some more mods:

- thinned/lightened the extractor spring to ease chambering
- thinned the trigger spring down to 4.5 lbs.
- thinned the loading port spring, better fitted the front bevel, and filed some excess material off the joining rivet so the door would seat better. It's not a LOT easier to load rounds and no longer rubs on the carrier.
- thoroughly polished the carrier ramp and polished the recess that can ride on the back of the loading port
- smoothed the lower carrier bevel in the left cartridge guide plate.
- removed and binned the firing pin safety then fabled up a press-fit plug/cover on the lathe. Heat blued it, pressed it in, drilled for the original safety retainer pin, and then pinned the plug in place. Also removed the paint from the F and S symbols. Much better.
- de-burred the insides of the bolt and smoothed the underside of the bolt where it rides over the hammer.
- changed out the ejector spring for a lighter one.
- replaced the mag follower with a stainless one from Steve's Guns.
- polished the bolt cams to 600 grit.
- changed the cam angle on the top leading edge of the locking blocks (not on the locking surfaces themselves) to smooth levering.
- installed the lower marbles rear sight
- broke all the sharp edges on the buttplate
- Rossi used 82 degree screws in the buttplate but cut the counter-sink to 90 degrees. This led to a sloppy screw fit. I re-cut the counter-sinks to 82 degrees - MUCH better looking and the edges of the domed screws are no longer proud. At some point I'll re-blue the buttplate.
- de-burred the ejector. It really needed it.

It's now cycling .38's and .357's smoothly and reliably every time. It's also a LOT slicker. Almost racing slick. I will still likely re-forge the lever loop to something just large enough for gloved shooting. Just need to find the time.






 
Haven't gone as far as you yet Claven, I have yet to put an order to Steve's so for now it is still a 100% factory gun. I just finished deburring and polishing mine yesterday and am happy to say it now works beautifully and runs smoothly the way the gun should have from the factory. All interacting surfaces were polished with a dual grit emery nail buffing sticks, followed up with the dremmel and bathed in lithium grease. Additionally I too polished up the carrier ramp and extractor. One thing I did comment on in my initial review that has only shown marginal improvement is it not liking the factory loads. The shape of the AE JHP ammo doesn't like the angle of the carrier ramp and the chamber. With handloaded SWC bullets, it runs exceptionally well now. While I would be completely satisfied with the performance of this gun as is, I am now even more excited for the spring and sight upgrades. Thinking a darker staining of the stocks and tung oil finish.
 
Last edited:
Claven2 said:
Quick update:

I also smoothed the cams below the bolt locking recess and tuned the top forward locking bolt cams to have a more gradual curve (like the original Winchesters all had) and polished this surface better than factory. That also made a HUGE difference in slickness.
Click to expand...

I would be interested in hearing/seeing more of the improved cam profile.
 
Gary D said:
I would be interested in hearing/seeing more of the improved cam profile.
Click to expand...

I don't mean to raise expectations, but on my bolt, there was a a sharp "step" along the cam surface between the vertical locking portion and the cam. Original Winchesters don;t have this machining error, but my Rossi did. I suspect it's just a lack of hand fitting. I filed the step into a smooth transition and polished it to 600 grit.

Also, my locking blocks are too tall. compared to the 2 other Rossi's I had to look at (both were .44 carbines). Alsl, the radius at the front edge of my locking blocks was too small, making the leading edge more "square" than is should be. This area should be a nice gradual radius to lower the force required to retract the bolt. If not, you encounter a really stiff area working the lever when the bolt is about half open.

I didn't want to fully shorten my locking blocks, but I did mark where the locking surface ends and above that point I filed a much more gradual radius into the front leading edge of each locking block and polished to 600. HUGE improvement. Neither of the .44 carbines needed this work, so I'm thinking I might just have been "lucky" with this .357.
 
Thanks for the further description. Mine is running smooth with most resistance likely attributed to the springs. But I will be sure to take a closer look when next I have it apart for their replacement.
 
hey all,.. combing through all the ranch hand threads but not having luck .Ive seen pics of a ranch hand with a magnetic stock extension anyone know who i talk to about getting one?...and just to add my ranch hand in 44 mag is a br#####h took awhile to get the cycling worked in but shoots point of aim with the marbles 535 front sight and marbles bullseye rear sight.
 
Claven2 said:
I'm thinking I should get one in .357 and add a carbine butt to it. Handy little package.

I go to look online. Cheapest I've seen is Epps at under $460 (but out of stock on .357's), next best price loos to be about $526 at Wolverine, then the prices get stupid.

Some dealers I used to think were competitive have them from $599 to $640 for what looks like the same gun.

Am I missing anything here? Are these not all the same model from the same manufacturer (nope, not mistaking the Rossi's for the Chiappas), or is there another difference I am not grasping?

Who would pay $599 (prophet river) or even $640 (Frontier & Wantsall) for one of these when the same thing is in stock and available for $180 less? Is there a factor I've overlooked?

Where are guys usually picking these up for the best deal?
Click to expand...

Different prices on new and older stock?
 
45e0adaa-fd2f-4f46-b3be-a1651d230517_zps38fffa28.jpg


Good choice with the 45 Colt Gatehouse, that's what mines chambered in,so versatile in the Rossi '92 if you're hand loading, from fluffy to big horsepower.
The rear peep from Steves Gunz that replaces the safety is what I went with instead of the XS. Adapted Win 94 Ram-line synthetic stocks...will be Cerakoted before this backpacking season.
Flip-Flop recoil pad {shout out to Why-Not}
With a full magazine the balance point is perfect, I carry it almost exclusively in the hand, if it needs to be kept out of sight in my pack all I do is remove the one screw for the butt-stock and voila...instant take-down.
I also have a stainless 16" 454 Casull that's a nice shooter but I find myself carrying the modified Ranch Hand most of the time.
300gr XTP mags at 1550 FPS helps me sleep like a baby in the backcountry.
 
Last edited:
Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
45e0adaa-fd2f-4f46-b3be-a1651d230517_zps38fffa28.jpg


Good choice with the 45 Colt Gatehouse, that's what mines chambered in,so versatile in the Rossi '92 if you're hand loading, from fluffy to big horsepower.
The rear peep from Steves Gunz that replaces the safety is what I went with instead of the XS. Adapted Win 94 Ram-line synthetic stocks...will be Cerakoted before this backpacking season.
Flip-Flop recoil pad {shout out to Why-Not}
With a full magazine the balance point is perfect, I carry it almost exclusively in the hand, if it needs to be kept out of sight in my pack all I do is remove the one screw for the butt-stock and voila...instant take-down.
I also have a stainless 16" 454 Casull that's a nice shooter but I find myself carrying the modified Ranch Hand most of the time.
300gr XTP mags at 1550 FPS helps me sleep like a baby in the backcountry.
Click to expand...

Where'd you get the peep/ring rear sight?
 
Thanks.

I've got a 92 carbine in 45 long colt about to be joining my arsenal. I'm thinking I may very well go with peep sights. The price on those isn't too bad either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom