I have heard some from the NEF group and a few as well before about Rossi. Hate to send it back, but in all honesty, if you can't get your money back for who ever sold it to you, then it's about your best bet. Unless you know a Smith personally, I would think they would charge you well for it. Then again...after shipping and handling back and forth...well you get my drift.
Sorry to hear about your rifle. I am sure they will fix it though, but it will take time. I understand your frusteration. I sent my H&R Ultra receiver back to get fitted for a new barrel, came back to me, I went to cock it and the transfer bar popped out! Needless to say upset is the best decent word I can use. So problems happen with all them sooner or later. But it's nice to get it right the first time, instead of having to deal with the frusteration.