Left World Problems: .357 Levergun

[Garv]

Just picked up a Rossi M92 and as many CGers say, it is a hoot to shoot.

However, I am left-handed and it was awkward to load.

I am going to get some snap caps and practice more but are there any other tricks for a lefty?

Thanks

[sealocan]

Flip it over and load it while it's upside down?

[ziconceo]

Become ambidextrous?

[200Apples]

.
Either learn to load it using your right hand, or simply flip the gun into your right hand, holding the receiver with the loading gate facing up, and load cartridges with your left.

I have found that loading any and all leverguns through a side-loading gate is much easier when I angle the cartridge *slightly* towards the bottom of the receiver, and when I do not insert the cartridge all the way, using my thumb to stop the brass from springing backwards, and using the next cartridge to insert the one before... finishing the final insertion using a finger. It's much faster this way. Good luck.

[tmh1]

A few things:

1) Is it a brand new gun? If so, the loading gate spring will "break in" after a few hundred rounds, and will work better/easier/smoother.

2) The R92's come with a plastic follower in the magazine tube, and the magazine spring can be longer than it needs to be. You can replace the follower with a stainless steel one right away. Also remove the factory (sometimes sticky) lube/protectant from the inside of the magazine tube, and use a dry-lube in there instead. AFTER a break in period you might want to remove a few coils at a time off the magazine spring. Verify continued proper feeding shooting a few full magazines, and then cut off a little more if it still seems too tough to get the last 1-2 rounds loaded.

3) Some folks modify the loading gate spring as it too is a bit on the "too heavy" end of the equation. I've never found the need to do this as the feeding on my guns has always smoothed out significantly after a few hundred rounds. Apparently the Steve's Gunz DVD shows how to do this. Also do a Google search for "R92 hard to load" for other ideas, videos, images.

4) My wife is right handed, but due to an injury has lost some of the mobility and strength in her right hand. She was originally having issues loading her new R92, so I made a little tool for her to facilitate pushing the cartridges into the loading gate:



This helped her for a while, but the gun either loosened up and/or she improved her loading technique. As such she no longer needs or uses the tool.

[Garv]

I will try these things along the way, including ambidexterity.
Did not want to go upside down on the shooting bench, but will bring a towel or similar next time.
Just was awkward due to first time out with this gun.

A friends Win. 94 in 30 30 was easier.
(Just got one of those as well, but waiting to plan a trip to Angeles with some friends.)

TMH1:
The gun is almost new so I will break it in for a few more boxes before cutting springs.
I'll open it up and check the mag tube.
Will look at several videos as well.

I like the loading tool, will make one if things do not lighten up or my arthritis kicks in.
Is that a wooden dowel under the red plastic cap or something else?

Thanks again.

[golfish]

if you decide to get the SS mag follower go with the one from The Smiths shop. Its a whole LOT cheaper then Steve's Gunz.

http://thesmithshop.com/magfollow.html

[Surferchris1]

As a fellow left handed guy, we adapt all the time to things designed for right handed people. Practice a bit and I don't think it will be an issue for long.

Also, my dad has an R92 and the parts from Stevens guns are awesome!

[Baja_Traveler]

I shoot levergun silhouette with a lefty - he lays the gun on the bench to load, and after every shot to eject the spent case.

I'm a lefty, but only when I write. Love my Rossi 92 - ordered it from Steve's Gunz with the full works...

[tmh1]

TMH1:

...Is that a wooden dowel under the red plastic cap or something else?

Thanks again.

It is actually a pretty stiff plastic rod. I can't recommend where you would get some - it came out of an old patio chair. It was what was in the aluminum channel which held the mesh seating in place.

I used it instead of a wood dowel because it was curved and made a nice angle for what we needed in the tool. I just drilled a hole in the wood dowel handle, epoxied the plastic in, and then took it to my bench grinder so that I could approach the gun at the correct angle.

[Garv]

It is actually a pretty stiff plastic rod. I can't recommend where you would get some - it came out of an old patio chair. It was what was in the aluminum channel which held the mesh seating in place.

I used it instead of a wood dowel because it was curved and made a nice angle for what we needed in the tool. I just drilled a hole in the wood dowel handle, epoxied the plastic in, and then took it to my bench grinder so that I could approach the gun at the correct angle.

I have a good amount of stuff, may try it.
I need projects to do since I cleared my workbench.

thx tmh

[smle-man]

It is actually easier for a lefty like me to load a 92. Hold the receiver in the left hand, insert the cartridges with the right. I use my little finger to push the rounds all the way in, the loading gate is small.

See how easy that is?

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Lefty here, no problems loading the 92 with my right hand except for one - the loading gate pinches my fat fingertips despite having thinned the gate spring. I made a loading tool by taking a piece of 1/2" dowel and turning off the end until it fit into a .357 case, then tapered the tip. Drilled a hole through the case near the head and threaded a piece of cord through to keep it from running away.

[Pardini]

I tweak the loading gates on mine so the the tension is much less. Also polish the surfaces that drag on the case when it is pushed in. Like to get it to the point where the cartridge rim is right up against the receiver and the loading gate holds it there without the cartridge going past the end of the gate. That way I can put the bullet of the next round on the casehead of the one that's trapped in the gate. Makes it easier because the gate doesn't have to be depressed for each round.