Rossi 22LR Youth Range Report

[bsbowles]

This is not really a scientific range report. I was sighting in the fiber optic sights on a Rossi .22 youth model for my son today. This is his Christmas present. I was in a hurry because he was only out of the house for an hour. I used a  5" Birchwood-Casey Shoot N C target mounted about 25 yards out. This is his first rifle so I figured I didn't want to go much past 25 yards until he gets some experience. I was shooting from my back deck off of the patio table - no gun rest or sandbags, etc. The diagonal string you see were the first few shots. After the barrel got some fouling and after I moved the rear sight up about 1/32"  the last six shots were in the 10 ring. So far I am impressed with this little gun. I also have the 410 barrel but I haven't tested it yet. I just fired one shot through it to make sure everything was working ok. The trigger on this gun is awesome and the pull can't be much over 1.5 pounds. Maybe the youth models have lighter trigger pulls but I have never shot a full size Rossi so I can't say for sure. Anyway, I can recommend this Rossi to others who have kids or a petite wife who likes to shoot.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I was using Winchester white box - 36 grain hollow points. 500 rounds for 10 bucks at Wal-Mart

[jpsmith1]

Thanks for the report.  I've been looking at on of those combos for my boys, 5 and 3.  I am a little worried about the .410 though.  As a lifelong 12 gauge guy, it just doesn't seem possible for that little shell to do much.  I know that it can, but it's just a tough hurdle for me.

[Brett]

I got this combo in stainless for my daughter last Christmas. I'm well pleased for the price I payed. The youth Rossi is gun is about two pounds lighter than my adult sized H&R .410  so the one thing that surprised me was the recoil of the .410 the first time I fired it.  My daughter has yet to shoot the .410 because I'm afraid that the recoil may put her off. 

[jpsmith1]

Any way to load the gun up with weight?  Maybe a metal rod in the stock? 

I had a H&R 10 gauge that was the heaviest bugger I ever carried at 11 pounds for a single shot shotgun, but recoil was pretty easy on me and it had a metal rod in the stock.

[bsbowles]

The .410 does have some kick. I was rather surprised. To be honest that was the first .410 I have ever shot and I thought is was going to shoot like a pop gun. My mistake. The recoil was closer to my old 20 gauge which weighs several pounds more. The rifle only weighs a few pounds so the .410 will give some recoil. My son's Rossi has a black synthetic stock and forearm. The butt of the gun sounds hollow so it would seem that you could remove the butt plate and add some weight in there. I am not really worried about the performance of the .410 barrel. I think it will be good to give him some experience with higher recoil when he moves up to larger calibers/gauges. I will say that the fit and finish could be better but why pay alot for something that a kid will outgrow in a few years. I would rather see him scratch up something for 100 bucks instead of 200.

[Brett]

You may be in for a surprise when you remove the butt plate. What I thought was black plastic turned out to be wood with a black stipple paint finish.

[jpsmith1]

That's kind of my thought.  Give them a cheap gun and teach them to take care of it.  Let them make their mistakes there.  Mine will have 2 boys to live through, so we'll get our $$ worth out of it.

I don't think that my older one will have too many problems with recoil, but I don't want to knock his teeth out either.  My fears relate to this.  The worst kicking shotgun I ever shot was a NEF 20 gauge.  Little single shot gun and with high-brass or magnum loads, it was more than a reasonable guy wanted to shoot 3 or 4 times.  With slugs, forget about it.  It was SO light it was a dream to carry, but I watched a fine youngster give up hunting because of that gun.  It was a handfull for me to shoot.  I'd hate to think about what it was to a novice kid.

Thanks for the report.  I'll definately keep my eyes open for one.

[bsbowles]

You may be in for a surprise when you remove the butt plate. What I thought was black plastic turned out to be wood with a black stipple paint finish.

Well you peaked my curiosity and went down to the basement and removed the butt plate just now. It is synthetic and the whole butt is hollow from the grip to the buttplate. There is a lot of space to add some weight - or put in some beef jerky and trail mix for those long excursions.