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Thread: Rossi M92 situation

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Rossi M92 situation

    A bud brought by a 24" Rossi pre-button M92 rifle in .38/.357 with a question. Since I do my own work on my 1884, 336 and 1894 Marlins plus a Uberti '73 Winchester he was hoping I could help him. His Rossi has a feeding problem like this:

    I loaded 10 dummy .38 rounds (bullet, case with no powder or primer) and stepped outside to a clear area in order collect extracted rounds. Being used to cycling a lever gun in CAS competitions, I was aggressive with the lever. 1st round chambers and extracts but lifter does not come up to feed the next round positioned on it. Rifle needs to be cycled again and the same thing happens again. The next three rounds chamber and extract then for the next two, the carrier doesn't bring the rounds up. Last rounds feed and extract again. With the rifle empty, I cycle the lever as fast as possible and see the carrier raising each and every time.

    Now I've never taken a Winchester 1892 apart let alone a Rossi M92 but I feel sure I can. Diamonds may be girl's best friend, but for me, I prefer Google disassembly videos.

    To those of you who may be familiar with the Rossi feeding issues and have experienced what's been described, what problem area(s) should I be looking for when I disassemble the rifle? I think I may need to clip several some off the magazine spring because the sixth through tenth rounds are extremely difficult to load.

    Any other input about the the Rossi rifle would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

  2. #2
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    The plunger on the side of the carrier is needing of smoothing- sounds like it is rotating to a burr and catching in its detent. Just a guess, I've had my head under the hood of a Rossi a couple or fifty times.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  3. #3
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    Yeah--they are perverse critters. I like TbG's theory, but another is that the ammo is just a bit too long and the noses are catching or rubbing on the way up. They're basically a good machine, but it seems like they're needing more tune-ups to work properly than in times past.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master

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    The Rossi specialist is Steve's guns in Texas, he has parts and can tell you what the problem is. https://stevesgunz.com/

  5. #5
    Boolit Master nvbirdman's Avatar
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    It's a 357 and he loaded 10 dummy 38 rounds. I doubt the problem is ammo that is too long.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by pnch7 View Post
    A bud brought by a 24" Rossi pre-button M92 rifle in .38/.357 with a question. Since I do my own work on my 1884, 336 and 1894 Marlins plus a Uberti '73 Winchester he was hoping I could help him. His Rossi has a feeding problem like this:

    I loaded 10 dummy .38 rounds (bullet, case with no powder or primer) and stepped outside to a clear area in order collect extracted rounds. Being used to cycling a lever gun in CAS competitions, I was aggressive with the lever. 1st round chambers and extracts but lifter does not come up to feed the next round positioned on it. Rifle needs to be cycled again and the same thing happens again. The next three rounds chamber and extract then for the next two, the carrier doesn't bring the rounds up. Last rounds feed and extract again. With the rifle empty, I cycle the lever as fast as possible and see the carrier raising each and every time.

    Now I've never taken a Winchester 1892 apart let alone a Rossi M92 but I feel sure I can. Diamonds may be girl's best friend, but for me, I prefer Google disassembly videos.

    To those of you who may be familiar with the Rossi feeding issues and have experienced what's been described, what problem area(s) should I be looking for when I disassemble the rifle? I think I may need to clip several some off the magazine spring because the sixth through tenth rounds are extremely difficult to load.

    Any other input about the the Rossi rifle would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
    a 92 runs differently than a marlin or a 73 - go back out in the yard and make certain sure you are not short stroking the lever - its the last little bit of stroke that clicks the elevator up - could be that simple!!!!

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold
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    As stated by IJ short stroke won’t feed right- most of my problems with my Rossi .357 Trapper went away when I rack it hard and fast.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #8
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    The Author of this thread stated he was a Cowboy Action Shooter.
    He knows how to work a Lever Gun properly.

    And like the Author, I've worked on a number of Lever Guns.
    Marlin 1892, 1894, 1985 & 36/336
    Win/Uberti 1860,1866 & 1873
    Win 94/1894 both short & long cartridge versions.

    My ancient Win 92 in .44WCF and my Rossi 1892 in .44WCF. Nope never touched one with a screw driver. Never had to.
    Both were worked over by a Top Line Gunsmith, who has since passed on. Worked on at least 4 of my Friends. They were so cheap in the late 1980's - early 1990's. Often under $200

    GEEZ, I sure wish I could help. Those you-tube tutorials can be a real help.

    They're more expensive now, but still a pitb.
    I HATE auto-correct

    Happiness is a Warm GUN & more ammo to shoot in it.

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  9. #9
    Boolit Master BigEyeBob's Avatar
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    Rossis are sensitive to oal cartridge length .Just need to adjust the leght until it feeds correctly . Thats what I had to do . Factory cartridges , feed fine .

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    [QUOTE=Walks;4710839]The Author of this thread stated he was a Cowboy Action Shooter.
    He knows how to work a Lever Gun properly.

    He might ---and then again he might not

    - he stated he has never dismantled a 92 or a Rossi 92 so its plain he is unfamiliar with this model - short stroking it is the first most likely cause of his problem - wont take more than ten minutes in the yard to prove it to himself (nobody said he had to come back here and own up if that was the problem)

    I know how to work a lever gun too - mores the point I know how this model works - have gunsmithed them for years - not scared of an 86 or a 71 either - I would have thought it smart to figure out why the thing is not feeding before pulling it down - do the obvious easy stuff first
    The OP has had marlins and a 73, that dont teach you anything about how the Browning designs work (92,86,71) --I never owned a marlin - would need to figure them out from scratch. (just like he will need to do with the Rossi)

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    A similar issue I was having with a older Rossi .44-40....it would feed sort-of if you cranked it hard...but not always. Very hard to get it to lift the cartridge. I compared it to an ancient Winchester M92 and a fairly new stainless Rossi M92. It became obvious that the Rossi carbines time early on cartridge lifting. My older Rossi I bought used was trying to lift the cartridge so early that it was running into the ejector on the bottom of the bolt.

    The lifter works off the tip of the lever....as in when you work the lever it's forward tip contacts the flat on the bottom of the lifter and forces it up from it's lower detent. I filed a bit off the lifter bottom flat and improved the feed somewhat...this makes the lifter lift a bit later in the cycle...letting the bolt travel further back before it lifts . The real fix was smoothing the bottom/front face of the ejector....the older Rossi ejector was very crudely shaped and un-even. I filed the ejector smooth and even and now cartridges can slide up the face of the ejector without hanging up.

    Those two things fixed my feed issues....took longer to figure out what to do than to actually do it. I was told to not alter the lever tip unless I had to as I guess a Rossi lever is a hard to find part
    Last edited by Ragnarok; 08-20-2019 at 10:10 AM.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    One thing I have taken to heart - someone said "work it like you are trying to break it". When you do that it works like a charm. I had a time figuring that out.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    [QUOTE=Ragnarok;4710964]A similar issue I was having with a older Rossi .44-40....it would feed sort-of if you cranked it hard...but not always. Very hard to get it to lift the cartridge. I compared it to an ancient Winchester M92 and a fairly new stainless Rossi M92. It became obvious that the Rossi carbines time early on cartridge lifting. My older Rossi I bought used was trying to lift the cartridge so early that it was running into the ejector on the bottom of the bolt.

    The lifter works off the tip of the lever....as in when you work the lever it's forward tip contacts the flat on the bottom of the lifter and forces it up from it's lower detent. I filed a bit off the lifter bottom flat and improved the feed somewhat...this makes the lifter lift a bit later in the cycle...letting the bolt travel further back before it lifts .

    The real fix was smoothing the bottom/front face of the ejector....the older Rossi ejector was very crudely shaped and un-even. I filed the ejector smooth and even and now cartridges can slide up the face of the ejector without hanging up.



    Had an early Rossi 357 that (ejector work) needed done

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    It's been a while since I had a '92 apart and I can't just now envision how the lifter is cammed upwards. One thing you may want to do is call Steve at Steve's Gunz. He's been working on them for years and could tell you what to look for.

    I agree that the mag springs on various lever actions are too strong, sometimes preventing them from accepting all the rounds they should. A lot of force isn't need to push a column of rounds down a tube. I deal with this by taking the plug out of the muzzle end of the mag tube and letting the spring relax out the end of the tube. Of the length that hangs out I cut 1/2 to 2/3 off and I compress the remainder back into the tube and replace the plug. This eases loading by quite a bit and I've never had a failure to feed due to lack of force from the mag spring.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by yeahbub View Post
    It's been a while since I had a '92 apart and I can't just now envision how the lifter is cammed upwards. One thing you may want to do is call Steve at Steve's Gunz. He's been working on them for years and could tell you what to look for.

    I agree that the mag springs on various lever actions are too strong, sometimes preventing them from accepting all the rounds they should. A lot of force isn't need to push a column of rounds down a tube. I deal with this by taking the plug out of the muzzle end of the mag tube and letting the spring relax out the end of the tube. Of the length that hangs out I cut 1/2 to 2/3 off and I compress the remainder back into the tube and replace the plug. This eases loading by quite a bit and I've never had a failure to feed due to lack of force from the mag spring.
    The front bump on the lever itself pushes the lifter....this event visible looking at the bottom of the rifle while working the lever....you can watch the lever push the lifter

  16. #16
    Boolit Master


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    The first Lever Gun I ever shot was My Dad's old 1894 in .25-35.
    Pretty darn hard for a 7yr old

    I had my own 1894 in .30WCF by the time I was 14yrs old. Of course being a Kid I just HAD to take it apart. Learned a lot about them.
    The old 92SRC was my Dad's, found it under my little brother's bed when I came home for his funeral.
    Dad's thought it had been stolen in a burglary at his home the year before.

    It was screwed up anyways, and Dad didn't want it back. I was always going to fix it, but never got around to it.
    I had a Browning 92 in .44Mag, so I didn't really need to. Besides Dad had sold off the Dies and Molds for it.

    Fast forward to 1987, got involved in Cowboy Shooting. Had Lee's Gunsmithing go through it. Worked smooth as a baby's bottom.
    Took Him the Rossi 92 Rifle I bought about 4 years later. But He had "retired" and moved on to other things. Had it worked over by Walker '47 own Big Foot Bob. He did a Great job. Smooth as another baby's bottom. Ya really need a top notch Cowboy Gunsmith to work it over.

    I have heard very good things about StevesGunz. As long as it doesn't get "sloppy".

    I wish you Good Luck with your 92. They were the "favored" rifle when I started Cowboy Shooting over 30yrs ago.
    I HATE auto-correct

    Happiness is a Warm GUN & more ammo to shoot in it.

    My Experience and My Opinion, are just that, Mine.

    SASS #375 Life

  17. #17
    Boolit Master BigEyeBob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by yeahbub View Post
    It's been a while since I had a '92 apart and I can't just now envision how the lifter is cammed upwards. One thing you may want to do is call Steve at Steve's Gunz. He's been working on them for years and could tell you what to look for.

    I agree that the mag springs on various lever actions are too strong, sometimes preventing them from accepting all the rounds they should. A lot of force isn't need to push a column of rounds down a tube. I deal with this by taking the plug out of the muzzle end of the mag tube and letting the spring relax out the end of the tube. Of the length that hangs out I cut 1/2 to 2/3 off and I compress the remainder back into the tube and replace the plug. This eases loading by quite a bit and I've never had a failure to feed due to lack of force from the mag spring.
    Did that very thing with my Rossi ,cut three cartridge lengths off the mag spring .....much better to load.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check