I doubt I'll ever use anything more than 158's in this rifle as it's my general purpose woods stomping gun. We can use any centerfire we want for deer so I don't have to hot rod the .357.
I doubt I'll ever use anything more than 158's in this rifle as it's my general purpose woods stomping gun. We can use any centerfire we want for deer so I don't have to hot rod the .357.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
My boy and I are enjoying the levers so much I’m thinking of getting a 45-70. Got a single tc encore in the caliber and load the Gould bullet powder coated. Fun round…
Yes, .45-70 is an awesome cartridge. I have it in a Henry single shot, planning to get a Golden Boy version at some point. Mine really likes the Lyman 292 over 12.8 grains Unique and an LP primer
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
I use the Lee 158 RF in my 16" woods bumming Rossi 92, it works very well. I don't hot rod them either. A mild .357 load will take care of any pests in my area.
Only a fool would attempt it, and God help me I am that fool.
Gave the Rossi more exercise today. 6.8 grains IMR 4756 under a Lee 358-125-RF is just perfect, definitely more accurate than I can take advantage of. The windage adjustable Marbles folding leaf is a really good rear sight, I may switch some other rifles to it. Only thing I don't like is the trigger has a lot of springy takeup. It makes my already bad trigger control worse. I wonder if there is a way to correct that? When my 4756 runs out, I wonder what a good Hodgdon replacement would be? Mebbe HP-38?
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
Still shooting the Rossi, it does really well. Next batch of ammo I am switching to regular primers though. I have a suspicion that it will group better with them. I'm not sure that magnum primers are necessary for anything other than the real magnum powders like H110.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
'Nother question: the trigger return spring is awfully stiff on my 92. Anybody know of a good replacement, or a way to otherwise fix it?
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
You can slightly narrow it into an hourglass shape and polish both surfaces where it rubs on the trigger. Be careful because a little narrowing at the weakest point will weaken the spring a lot.
My dad's new 45 colt stainless had the opposite problem. It shipped with a match grade sear and trigger engagement and the return spring was so light the trigger was 1.5-2 pounds. The first time I shot it at the range we identified it as a problem and set out to stiffen the spring. We had to grind a small washer to fit in the slot and stiffen it. We got it up to 2.5-3 pounds which is still a little light in our opinion for wearing gloves or being excited, but we thought it was substantially better than from the factory and went hunting. He still had a negligent discharge this fall when unloading after a deer drive with cold fingers. He thinks that maybe a belt loop or loose fabric puffy insulated coat pocket got caught when he was cycling the lever to unload it because his trigger finger was on the outside of the lever like always. It was his first and only ND and it really scared him, but thankfully he was following all the rules and the bullet went into soft dirt about 4 feet in front of him. He almost died of embarrassment in front of the group and wanted to go home for the day but we reassured him that we thought he was safe.
He now uses the dumb safety on top when unloading and tries to remember to turn it off when he is hunting. Tries... The safety cost me a few deer on deer drives with all the unloading and re-loading throughout the day
Ok, thanks. Does the lower tang of the 92 come apart the same way as the 94?
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
Yes the Rossi comes apart like the Winchester 94 and 92. I shimmed underneath the trigger return spring with a small washer, and polished and slightly rounded the end of the spring where it rubs on the trigger. Also smoothed and polished the rough cast surface on the trigger where the spring contacts it. Helped a lot with trigger pull. I also narrowed the sides of the loading gate spring into an hourglass shape to make loading the magazine easier.
Thanks. The trigger on mine is plenty smooth, it's just the return spring is way too strong.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
FergusonTO35, congratulations sounds like you have a good one. Have you experienced any buldged cases some mentioned in earlier posts?
U.S.A. " RIDE FOR THE BRAND OR LEAVE!"
Never a problem with brass at all, thank goodness!
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
Took the 92 apart and bent the trigger return spring up a bit. Didn't want to go too much, as this seems not be a necessary part. The action of this gun is put together very tight, more than any USA made lever action I've seen. As such it takes alot more effort to get everything lined up properly.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
Gave the 92 some exercise yesterday. The trigger is definitely more manageable now, I would prefer the trigger spring to be a little lighter but I didn't want to go too far. Tried 6.2 to 7.2 grains IMR 4756 under the Lee 125 with R-P 1.5 primers. 6.5 grains is one of the most accurate .357 loads I've ever tried, I made a cloverleaf at 65 yards which is extremely good for my abilities. Groups open way up above that. Guess I'll load up my last few ounces of 4756 with 6.5 grains and start experimenting to find a substitute for when it's gone. I loaded up a box with 8.0-8.6 grains Accurate #5 last night to try.
So far I'm really pleased with the 92, I lucked out and got a really good one. Saw a new 92 on the rack at the fun store yesterday. Overall it looked nice, but the front sight was pointing to 12:02 which drives me friggin' crazy.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
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 |