Handi rifle VS. Rossi

[jaysouth]

I have a Handi rifle in .357 mag that is a great shooter.  At the local gun store, there is a Rossi SSR in 7.62X39.  The Rossi does not seem as tight as the H&R.  Are they as good as the H&R?  I am mildly interested in the Rossi because of it's caliber.  I have several hundred rounds of Federal FMJ in that caliber.
My only experience with Rossi is a recent Taurus/Rossi .22 RF which is less than stellar in fit and accuracy.
Thanks

[kevinsmith5]

INMHO the Rossi is not as good a construction or quality and has always seemed more cheaply made. I had a friend with a Rossi .243 that we could never get to group better than about 4" at 100 yards. I do not, however, have any experience with the new "Wizard" line.

[quickdtoo]

I do not, however, have any experience with the new "Wizard" line.

I can't speak to the Wizard as a complete firearm, but I've got two Wizard barrels, they aren't close to fitting one of my frames with the same shim, one works great, the other won't come close to fitting, so how in the world could they be switch barrels which they claim?    Seems to me they must have some serious quality control issues, of course this is a small sampling, and all mfrs make a lemon once in a while.

Tim

[av-doctor]

you asked the question in the wrong place for an unbiased opinion. i've shot a couple of rossi's and though they do feel to be cheaply made they are alot lighter than h&r's

[bucco921]

I was interested in the wizard myself when it was advertised as true switch barrel and budget friendly. I went to countless stores and evryone i picked up had issues. Gap between barrel and frame, lateral movement when locked up. Not well built. Before I became a full blown handi holic i picked a rossi 410\22 combo for my stepson. It is ok i guess. Lockup is good but extractor never functions properly in both barrels. I talked to the owner of my favorite gunstore and his words were " the handi rifle may be cheap but it is hand down the better built rifle".  All that being said I have never owned a centerfire rossi myself so maybe Im not giving them a fair shake. Ive had issues with handis too....

[thumper113]

I did quite a bit of research before I bought my first Handi.  Nine out of ten Rossi posts I could find were negative and said accuracy sucked so I went with the Handis and have loved it.

[bilmac]

To my eye Rossis are a little on the homely side while Handis are not bad looking.

[thejanitor]

I do not like the safety on the rossi I shot.  I am used to cocking the hammer and with the H&R the trigger needs to be held all the way back or it wont fire due to non-transfer of hammer energy to the firing pin. The rossi safety is one more thing that (oops)than I need on my rifle. The H&R system to me is great. But for those who want to take the trigger pull down to 2 lbs the Handi system will not work. Maybe that is a good thing about the rossi but for my hunting needs the triggers are good as is.
I have never owned one just helped the neighbor boy sight one in before deer season a few years back and since I was used to H&Rs it felt "different"- to a new shooter it may be ok.
thejanitor

[spikehorn]

I had a Rossi 308 it shot great, but it was the most brutally recoilling gun I have evr shot. I still have a Rossi 357 mag carbine and wouldn't get rid of it for the world. nice light litlle brush gun and have taken many deer with it.
 

[jaysouth]

Thanks for the quick responses.  My Rossi experience is with the .22/.410 combo that I bought for my grandson.  It is not quality.
My .357 Handi-rifle is more accurate than I am.  However, I am going to start looking for one of the Zastavia Remington 799s in 7.62X39.
I have located 440 rounds of Federal Eagle FMJ 7.62 russian rounds in my stash.  This gives me a good excuse to buy a gun in that caliber.  Never mind that the .30 russian and .357 Max are both ideal 200 yard hunting rounds for the little white tails that eat my shrubs. 
The local gun shop also has a .223 Handi rifle.  The fidget in me really comes out when I think of getting that at the right price and rechambering to .225 Winchester.  The true 'fidget's' caliber.
Hmmmm.....Wonder if I could get that scoped and shooting 1/4 MOA for under a thou?
Thanks again for the responses.  I am going to pass on the Rossi.

[quasne.inc]

I had a Rossi 12 ga that I sold immediately after I bought my pardner 12 ga.  The Rossi was much lower quality and didnt lock up half as tight.  Love the pard.  Never regretted dumping the Ross.

[Spanky]

I've got a 7.62x39 Rossi and it's a great gun. It's light, points well and is an excellent shooter. Most of the fella's who talk trash about the Rossi's have never even touched one and don't have a clue what they're talking about.
 
 
 
Spanky

[Ol BW]

There is a 7.62x39 Handi in the classifieds for sale. . .
 
As for the Remington 799, they might be hard to come by.  You might want to keep your eyes open for a CZ527 in that caliber if you want a bolt.  I think that even Savage had a recent small run of 7.62x39 rifles.
 
Remington also imported some single shot rifles from Bakial (did I spell that right?) in 7.62x39.  They seem to be made well although I never shot one.
 
I don't really like the looks of the Rossi either, but as Spanky points out I have never shot one.

[kevinsmith5]

I've got a 7.62x39 Rossi and it's a great gun. It's light, points well and is an excellent shooter. Most of the fella's who talk trash about the Rossi's have never even touched one and don't have a clue what they're talking about.
 
 
 
Spanky

In looking back through this thread it looks like all most all the people commenting negatively about the Rossi's on this thread are speaking from hands on experience either shooting or handling the firearms in question.

[Ganjiro]

I owned and shot extensively both Rossi and H&R rifles and I like both though mine are over 7 years old so my Rossi is pre-Wizard, and my H&R pre-Remington.  My Rossi is a stainless steel R357S rifle based on their small 410 frame so very nice and light at 4 lbs. with factory 23" barrel.  I had the barrel shortened to 16.25" and she is now closer to 3 pounds so a joy to carry and shoot.  I installed a Williams WGRS peep sight, and I sanded the black paint off the stock to reveal beautiful underneath.  I LOVE this little trapper gun and I grab it most when hunting out dense damp cover.  I personally don't like the style of the new Rossi rifles like the Wizard.
My H&R is a stainless .223 which is a real tack-driver.  It is my wild goat rifle extroidinare though a tad heavy being based on a twelve gauge frame. 
Like I said I like um both, and I find their quality very comparable to each other.   

My Modified Rossi

[jeepmann1948]

Very nice looking Rossi Ganjiro. If they all looked that way they would give H&R a run for the money!