Rossi 1892 Take Down now goes Octagon

[rbertalotto]

You folks might remember my conversion of a Stainless Steel 1892 Rossi that I converted into a Take Down....

http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/rossi-1892-winchester-take-down-conversion.html

Well, that barrel on that gun was defective. When Rossi cut the rear dovetail they went too far and actually caused a bump on the interior of the bore. And the bore was crooked so the rear sight had to be nearly 1/8 out of center for the bullets to even hit a piece of 11 X 17 paper.

So I ordered up a brand new Octagon barrel for a Puma / Rossi 1892 from

M&M Gunsmithing
204 S. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-739-2150
http://www.mmgunsmithing.com/

Not know to either of us, there are two shank sizes on these Puma rifles. .745 and .780. The first barrel M&M shipped me was the smaller shank and I needed the larger. A quick email and the proper barrel was on its way. Great service from M&M....

So now I need to pull the Take Down apart and install the new octagon barrel.
Pretty easy job, but I wanted to shorten the 24" octagon barrel down to 20" like the original barrel was. My lathe wears a Six Jaw Tru-Adjust chuck all the time. Had to put the four jaw on and use it for an eight sided barrel. After using a Tru-Adjust chuck I simply can't stand trying to dial something in with a four jaw. So before I went any further I took the four jaw chuck apart and converted it to a Tru-Adjust.....But that's an article for another time!

Once rthe barrel was installed I went to the range with it at 24". No magazine tube, no forend. I just wanted to see how the totally unmodified barrel shot. AMAZING! is all I can say. At fifty yards with iron sights I had five shots well within an inch! Sights were perfectly placed right down the centerline of the barrel. Didn't even have to touch windage!

Back at the shop the barrel was cut and the most difficult part of the conversion took place. How to hold the magazine tube at the muzzle and still be able to slid it forward to take down the rifle. I sat on my "Thinking Stool" in the shop for over an hour and two cups of coffee trying to figure out how to do this. I finally decided to simply modify the existing barrel band and cut a new dovetail to accept a hanger tenion. Took all of 15 minutes and I think it came out great.

I ordered a new Marlin 1894 forend from Numrick Gun Parts ( I tried the forend from my 1894 Marlin and it will fit perfectly with little alteration.). I ordered a Stainless Steel forend cap for a 1894ss from Brownells and these parts will complete the transformation.

Hope you like the pictures..........

Original barrel band for a round barrel
http://images15.fotki.com/v246/photos/2/36012/9975203/DSC_3233-vi.jpg

And the Octagon barrel with the modified barrel band / magazine hanger.....
http://images15.fotki.com/v235/photos/2/36012/9975203/DSC_3347-vi.jpg
(this picture makes it look like the band is away from the barrel. It is simply a reflection. The fit is tight enough that it could be silver soldered if I found it necessary)

http://images54.fotki.com/v627/photos/2/36012/9975203/DSC_3350-vi.jpg

Waiting for the forend to arrive....
http://images108.fotki.com/v360/photos/2/36012/9975203/DSC_3346-vi.jpg

Once the forend is installed I'll make a decorative piece to smooth out the transition from the round hole in the take-down piece to the barrel
http://images51.fotki.com/v103/photos/2/36012/9975203/DSC_3351-vi.jpg

Whole article on the conversion here:
http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/rossi-1892-winchester-take-down-conversion.html

[pietro]

I luv it, when a plan comes together - Nide job, Roy ! [smilie=w:

.

[Jacko.357]

I have a one piece Rossi with an octagonal barrel, at least I'm half way there. Great work and I admire your skills.

regrds Jacko

[HDS]

I thought the rear bump atleast could have been fixed with firelapping. Not sure what can be done about a bent barrel, I got the same issues on my 1892 20" carbine, hopefully with a rear peep that will make the windage adjustment sufficient enough to compensate.

[rbertalotto]

The article has been updated with pictures of the defective barrel

www.rvbprecision.com

BTW, the "bump" in the barrel was about a 1/32 of an inch! Lots of fire lapping would have been requireed and then the metal under the dovetail would have been paper thin........rebarrel was the only option.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Roy: I emailed MM to see if they could provide a .44 barrel for a Marlin 1894, hope to hear back soon.

What twist rate is your barrel?

On another note: the bump inside the barrel is common, and it is caused from taking too heavy a cut while machining the dovetails. They try to do it all at once to save time. The proper way is to relieve the center of the dovetail with an endmill by plunge cutting across and then chase the cut with a dovetail cutter. 2 operations. Keeps the stress on the cut at a minimum.

Randy

[pricedo]

Well, that barrel on that gun was defective. When Rossi cut the rear dovetail they went too far and actually caused a bump on the interior of the bore. And the bore was crooked so the rear sight had to be nearly 1/8 out of center for the bullets to even hit a piece of 11 X 17 paper.

There's really no excuse for that. :mad:

An example of the kind of shabby workmanship and poor quality control that have turned a lot of shooters against the Rossi brand.