Aussie 357 mag Rossi

[Jacko]

Bit of a roundabout folks but my much anticipated 357 magnum Rossi 92 is home . I picked it up a bit over 2 weeks ago from the Gunshop . On the first Sunday I had the rifle I went out to the Sporting Shooters Association range out at Ripley and put the first rounds through it . I had selected some Federal 158 gr jhp cartridges to run the barrel in with and had some 125 gr jhp just to see how it liked a faster load .

First shot went dead centre 6 inches high at 25 yards , bugger I pulled the shot  so did the next 5 , I learn slow and realised the front sight blade was too low out of the box . I cleaned it between shots for the first 20 rounds and every 5 for another 20 , cleaned after every 10  etc in the barrel running in process , still 6" high at 25 yards every shot . It was holding 1 1/2" when I did my part with the Federal cartridges . I switched to the Remington 125 gr jhp and the first 5 rounds printed vertically into a 1 hole group , me not holding in the exact centre each shot , ended up a 10 shot group of about an 1 1/2" - this rifle liked that loading but every shot was 6 " high .

I was peeved to say the least but there was a gold lining - 38 special rounds grouped beatifully point of aim at 25 yards  and 50 yards . The 357 mag loads still shot around 6 inches high at 50 yards , they grouped good though

Back to the Gunshop armed with the target and the formula for working out the correct front sight height and the distributor for Rossi arms took 2 weeks to give me the new higher front blade a .436 Vs the .295 it had standard, picked it up this morning . Wouldn't you know it , have an 3D Archery comp toomorrow and have to wait another week to shoot the rifle .

This Rossi should prove excellant for the type of game hunting I do . I intend to hunt with the Hornady LeverEvolution ammo just for now , a 140 grain jhp doing about 1850 fps should be good 50 yard pig and goat medicine . If a fallow Deer stops in front of me - look out . I will begin reloading shortly and will try to develop a 180 grain cast bullet load doing about 1800 fps and look for clean kills out to 90 to 100 yards max .

regards Jacko

[kombi1976]

Well, there's nothing wrong with you or the rifle.
I'm looking forward to seeing some more progress.

[bsrecurve]

how long till it gets a camo paint-job and a big variable scope mate? - then it'll be tacticooler than ever....

seriously though - they are a a nice looking little levergun those rossies....

[Jacko]

Could not bring myself to drill and tap it for a scout mount Weaver base for the Artic Fox Electrodot sight I bought so the sight went on the BL.22 instead , we will see how long the Skinner peep sights last if I miss one or 2 easy shoots with the Rossi in 3 weeks when I go chasin goats and pigs with her .

regards Jacko

[Hodr]

Hello again Jacko,
I took my 357 winchester trapper down to Texas with my brother in law who thought it was too short ranged for hogs.  I hit three hogs with Buffalo Bore 125 grain slugs, they travel out the muzzle at over 2000 ft per second.  Range was up to 80 yds and those hogs never traveled more than twenty feet.  Granted this ammo is expensive. but so far it has only taken one shot, one hog.

blindhari

[Jacko]

Blindhari I am wrapped with my Rossi , never been happier with a firearm . I'm using handloads of 12.2 grains of 2400 180 gr FP hard cast hornady style bullets sized to .358 and cci magnum primers , it's a few tenth's of a grain under reloading manual maximum loads and it's accurate . I have just started handloading and got talked out of W296 powder and sold the 2400 , it just does not drive the 180 gr pills fast enough , W296 will push the heavy bullets to an easy 1650 to 1700 fps with no more pressure than I get now with the 2400 for perhaps 1450 fps . I have looked at the Buffalo Bore ammunition and if it's expensive in the US I shudder how much it would be if available here .

I will be buying some 296 powder shortly and may even switch to 160 gr FP hard cast bullets which the 296 really gets some velocity into . I have some 158 gr Hornady XTP JHP but they are expensive little suckers to shoot often and all the other jacketed projectiles on the market are in the same price range so I will be sticking to cast bullets . I am looking for a hollow point mould as I am concerned the hard cast pills may drill holes straight through vitals and not anchor game unless I take both shoulders with them .

regards Jacko

reaGRDS jACKO

[Hodr]

Hello
I've got one of the rarest things in the world, a really great borther in law.  This is a guy who married my sister after both of them had gone through a really nasty divorce situation.  He has taken them from hard times to pretty well off in 20+ years.  Along the way he has been instrumental in helping turn her daughters and his sons into upstanding and independent people.  He is also one of the best hunters around.  I shop at the market for my needs, I hunt because he likes it.  Pure and simple he is that good a companion and friend.  He knows I like 38 spl loads in my rifle and Smith & Wesson.  They live about 2 hrs away up at 7000" on the Mogollon rim.  Last time I got up there we loaded up 500 rounds of 158 grain lswc lead  for both, then he opens a drawer and hands me 200 rounds of 308 that he has loaded for my handi rifle to use as elk hunting loads.  Most of the time we go varmit hunting he takes out whatever it is with a single shot before I see or hear it.  Mostly I go becuase I like the conifer forest and value  friendship that has existed between us since we met 25 years ago.  Having a friend who keeps an extra 200-500 rounds of ammo on hand isn't bad either.  Just as an aside my Aunt Mickey was I believe General Wellingtons little girl up until she married my fathers brother in WWII.

blindhari