Never will buy or recommend Rossi again--here's why

[elk hunter]

I have a Marlin 357 and so far I've had no problems with it.

[echo1]

I have a rossi .357 wheel gun and the firing pin broke off. Simple fix, right? I got zero customer support and my local smith couldn't even find one to install and gave it back to me. It took months to locate one and then get it installed.

I have a Rossi 4' .357 that I picked up at the first gun show in Lodi in decades. It was NIB but someone had put the plastic cylinder protector in upside down and broke the FP dry firing it. I sent to Rossi, they repaired it and shipped it back, all on their dime, within a month.
The new management sucks.
Fast forward to a couple years ago. A Calgunner posted here about an issue with his 20inch .357 octagon barreled case hardened 92, a broken extractor. Sent it to Rossi, they tore it down, charged him $50 bucks, said it was out of spec (but not how). Sent it back as a basket case, wouldn't sell him an extractor. In his thread he jokingly said: "Anybody want to buy a broken 92 for a hunnerd bucks?". I was the first responder and raised my hand. When we hooked up for the transfer, he said someone in Rossi's service department slipped in an extractor, no invoice, A little fitting, voila, smooth as silk. I already had a .357 carbine 92 that I'd had for a long time, it hasn't given me grief but I'd not by Rossi again because of the horror stories. I'd much rather have a Marlin 1895 in .357 but they're too $pendy for my Portagee blood. I have other levers that are fantastic. Savage 99F ,308, Marlin 30AS .30-30, Henry BBS rifle .41mag. I'm after a Ruger M96 in .22lr. (20 years) PAX

[mitch1]

Every brand has its good ones and bad ones. I have 3 Kimber 1911's and every one has been great. And look at the hate those get. I also replaced the FPS on all of them with hand fitted ones and tuned the extractor.
I have a r92 .357 and replaced the ejector spring, follower, and lightened the loading gate spring and it has been flawless the last 1000 or so rounds, I must just be that lucky guy.
Or I am the guy that recognizes that I can fix the shortcomings that every mechanical thing will develop sooner or later

[microwaveguy]

I know this doesn't help most of you but try this site for your odd parts. They make lots of the hard to find stuff.

http://www.jackfirstinc.com

[Grendel Guy]

I know this doesn't help most of you but try this site for your odd parts. They make lots of the hard to find stuff.
http://www.jackfirstinc.com

Thanks microwaveguy. I had been looking for the left side safety, screw, and washer for my 669. I'll be giving them a call tomorrow.

[Spyder]

I've got a handful of Rossi lever guns and have had no issues with them, both 357 and 454. If I did, I'd figure it out and fix it.

[Grendel Guy]

Welp, tried ordering the parts. I don't have an FFL so no joy. Let's see if my LGS can do it and how much it's going to cost me to do it.

[nickel plate]

Welp, tried ordering the parts. I don't have an FFL so no joy. Let's see if my LGS can do it and how much it's going to cost me to do it.

Where have I been? You need an FFL go-between to buy online non-semiauto rifle parts? If this is true (and I'm not doubting you) is this a federal or california or both requirement?

[Grendel Guy]

Where have I been? You need an FFL go-between to buy online non-semiauto rifle parts? If this is true (and I'm not doubting you) is this a federal or california or both requirement?

Not sure how it works np. I ordered an optic from one source and I had to say something (I forgot). My son ordered an optic from another source and no problem.

[ar15barrels]

Where have I been? You need an FFL go-between to buy online non-semiauto rifle parts? If this is true (and I'm not doubting you) is this a federal or california or both requirement?

ANY gun part, regardless of semi-auto or not is being restricted to FFL-only status by many vendors due to the sellers not wanting to do the necessary CA compliance steps to ship gun parts.
It's only barrels that actually have to go to FFL's but many vendors are applying the barrel law to every gun part.

[Grendel Guy]

Well, found an FFL that would receive the parts at no charge. I'll be buying some ammo from them (don't need any 'cept for .222 for my son who's FIL passed recently and gave the rifle to my DIL.

[Cowboy T]

I've got a handful of Rossi lever guns and have had no issues with them, both 357 and 454. If I did, I'd figure it out and fix it.

And there are plenty of Rossi leverguns out there in people's homes that are like that.

The manufacturer still should stand behind its product, though, for when there is a manufacturer defect. Rossi doesn't do a good job of that, and that's their choice. It is likewise my choice to go elsewhere.

As a previous poster said, "pay once, cry once". Since then, I've chosen Henry, since they're well made and affordable--a bit more than Rossi--but worth the money. And if I could find a deal on a Ruglin or S&W 1854, I'd go with that as well. These companies do continue to stand behind their product.

It has been an open secret for many years, that neither Rossi nor Taurus are known as quality gun makers. You will hear from people that dearly love the ones they own, but there are too many horror stories on internet to ignore. Even on this forum people will recommend Rossi with caveat that a bit work needs to be done to get it functioning right. For my money, Miroku/Winchester, Marlin, Uberti and Henry where its at, never Rossi or Taurus. Pay once, cry once.

Exactly. I paid once and cried once. Lesson learned.

I agree, and add Miroku to that.
To be more specific, only Ruger/Marlin, and not anything produced prior. I have a bunch of lever guns, and about the only New Haven model that was a better shooter was a Model 39 in .22LR. Seen way to many issues with others.
Sadly, the general state of affairs with American produced products of all kinds isn’t what it used to be.

I've heard the old JM-stamped Marlins were of good quality.

As for American produced products, that's been true with cars, for example, with the exceptions of the Honda and Toyota factories in this country. But in the firearms industry, overall I think "made in USA" still is a byword for quality manufacture.

[RAMCLAP]

I can't for the life of me understand why more people aren't running Uberti. They are flawless. Pick one up and you know immediately.

[Spyder]

And there are plenty of Rossi leverguns out there in people's homes that are like that.

The manufacturer still should stand behind its product, though, for when there is a manufacturer defect. Rossi doesn't do a good job of that, and that's their choice. It is likewise my choice to go elsewhere.

As a previous poster said, "pay once, cry once". Since then, I've chosen Henry, since they're well made and affordable--a bit more than Rossi--but worth the money. And if I could find a deal on a Ruglin or S&W 1854, I'd go with that as well. These companies do continue to stand behind their product.



Exactly. I paid once and cried once. Lesson learned.



I've heard the old JM-stamped Marlins were of good quality.

As for American produced products, that's been true with cars, for example, with the exceptions of the Honda and Toyota factories in this country. But in the firearms industry, overall I think "made in USA" still is a byword for quality manufacture.

Everyone should spend their money on what they want to.

That being said, Henry has all kinds of problems, especially in the last 5 or 8 years. I've seen some real junk come from them. Recalls, rough chambers, noncencentric barrels. And their pot metal 22s, while smooth to work, are still the same junk hi points are made from. (I have.multiple of each but they aren't "nice").

I've even got an early 70s Marlin 444 that had a crap barrel from the factory. There's a whole thread on it here about that particular rifle.

Everyone turns out bad stuff occasionally. I'd love to find an 1854 at a low price too. But I don't write off any company because of one bad experience. If I did, I'd no longer be able to buy Leupold, Schmidt and Bender, USO, Ruger, S&W, Colt, Marlin, Remington, Henry, Glock, Sig, or a whole list of others. Go through enough and you'll find a bad one now and then. 🤷♂️

[Cowboy T]

^^ Not saying other companies don't screw up. Am saying that they generally make it right when they do. Here's an example of how things should go in that kind of situation.

https://www.calguns.net/forum/firearms-discussions/california-handguns/54840865-s-w-shield-plus-problem-and-s-w-customer-service

Rossi doesn't really seem to want to do that. As you essentially (and correctly) pointed out, my money, my choice.