Problems with new Rossi 12 ga. Turkey Gun

[chumpernickel]

Hello all, this is a warning!
I recently purchased one of the new single shot Rossi Turkey Guns chambered for 3-1/2" shells. The gun looked like a deal because it came with swivel studs and fiber optic sights for only about twenty dollars more than comparable single shots with out these features. Also, it was chambered for the larger 3.5s. Here are the problems I have had out of the box.
1. The rear sight leans slightly to the left and it looks to be a manufacturing problem because I subsequently went around town and found this condition to be present on every gun I looked at. This is easy to miss because you can only tell if you look down the entire gun from butt stock to front sight. Just line up the hammer, scope rail, and front sight and you can tell whether this is the case.
2. The ejector only ejected one out of 5 shots, and I had to stick a cleaning rod down it to pop the shell out.
3. This last one is just an opinion - This gun kicks like nothing I have ever felt partly because the recoil pad is not really a recoil pad but rather, a really hard piece of rubber that is made to look like nicer than what one should expect on a $200 gun. So unless you enjoy or don't mind getting the snot kicked out you, you can add the cost of an effective aftermarket pad to the original price tag.

I have not seen any reviews on this gun yet and I want to help people to avoid making the same mistake I did. I will update as the situation unfolds.
Brian, Austin, TX.

[Lurker]

This is a bad thing to say to you, but your first clue that something was wrong, should have been the word, "ROSSI."

Bill

[mattl]

chumpernickel

I have seen a lot of rossi's come throught the shop and they all had problems similar to what you described.  At least your shotgun's action doesn't break open under the recoil and shoot the spent cartridge at your face. 

[Drugstore Cowboy]

I am reminded from time to time that you may buy nice new clean oats or oats that have been put through the horse.

[dougk]

Brian
thanks for the post.  It was very informative and fact based, which make the best reviews.  Are you keeping the gun or trading it in or selling it?
Doug

[trotterlg]

Well, except for the kicking part, it is probably an easy fix to center the rear sight, just shift it slightly for or aft and re-drill the holes and screw it down.  Recoil is due to the weight of the gun, I have a Savage 24 that knocks the crap out of me if I shoot the 3 inch 20 gauge magnums in it, but light weight gun = lots of kick.  Good luck, it will probably kill a Turkey just fine.  Larry

[Rangr44]

That's part of the problem with advertizing, and desires - bottom line: Don't shoot magnum shells, either 3" or 3 1/2" out of a 5lb gun, unless you actually LIKE getting the snot kicked out of yourself.

The recoils can be somewhat reduced by two methods:
Replace the pad with a Limbsaver pad, and
Place some lead (bullets ?) in the stock bolt hole, to add a little weight where it'll do the most good.

Tilted sights, etc, are some of the things to be expected when so little is paid - but they easily fixed with a little creative tinkering or replacement.

Look at it this way: They're usually carried a LOT more than they're shot (Thank God !) - so the light weight is a blessing. 

.

[dukkillr]

I like a lightweight turkey gun.  That being said, when you buy the cheapest gun on the market what would you expect?  Buy a quality gun and you won't have these problems.