Rossi Rabbit ears or how do i make this thing go faster?

[Leadbelcher]

Howdy!
I recently acquired a Rossi 12 ga SxS Overland, rabbit ears, 28" barrels. It's a great gun! I took it to my last CAS meet, and it was much slower than my Stoegar. I have been loading it thus: shoot, cock left hammer, open and shuck, load and close then cock right hammer. I cant cock both hammers when open as the right hammer gets in the way of the lever. Does anyone have any advice on how to go faster with an external hammer shotgun?

The next question I have deals with the barrel length. I would like the Rossi to be coach gun length (20" give or take). The only way this will happen is if i saw off the barrels. I would have a gunsmith do it and maybe have it threaded for chokes. Given Rossi's arent made anymore, is this a good idea?

thanks for the time and happy trails!
LB

[Sagebrush Burns]

Keep your eyes open for a Rossi Coach gun.  While there are not lots and lots of them, they are out there and usually at reasonable prices.  SASS wire has them relatively often.  I cock both hammers after the gun is reloaded and closed.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Chopping barrels leads to some drawbacks.   (Don't get me started!)

Like Sagebrush says, if you want a shortgun, buy one.

[Modoc]

Ledbelcher,

You are using the same basic method that I use, just need to practice it.  Please do not cut down those tubes,  the short barrels are out there, but that is one of the first long barreled Rossi that I have encountered.  BTW, these will be a bit slower than a self cocking stoger, but they do open a lot easier.

[Major 2]

I'd agree with the others, don't chop it get another,
Here is were I'd differ look at the TTn.  Coach gun.

I've use one 5 years hammers are closer together than the Rossi , I can thumb both in a single sweep

Now the TTn is offered in 28" I'd like to get one...

[Leadbelcher]

Indeed, your words of wisdom have convinced me not to chop the barrels. They stay long! (Honestly, i was a little twitchy about it anyway...). Ill keep practicing with her, and I do want to try the strong hand sweep to cock after loading.
And I can deal with slower...lol, nobody will notice!
LB
aka
Bones

[Camille Eonich]

Check out the videos on the page for shooting mule ears.  They don't have to be slow at all.

http://www.spencerhoglund.com/worldrecords.html


Doc used to have a guide for loading the mule ear but I can't find it on his page anymore.  You might send him an e-mail and see if he still has it somewhere.

http://www.jspublications.net/tips.html

[Fairshake]

Installing tubes in SXS does not work the same the same as a single tube. With a SXS you have the convergence factor which makes tubes a little iffy at best. There is also the fact that there is not a person on this earth that can tell you that if you install a modified choke that is what a gun will shoot. The only way to know what a shotgun will shoot with a certain load is to pattern it with at least 5 shots on different targets and then total up the average of the 5. The standard is the amount of pellets in a 30inch circle at 40 yards. You have to know the number of pellets in your load to do this. Most SXS today also don't have enough metal to do the job. If your gunsmith is honest he will tell you not to do it.

[Doc Neeley]

The Rossi hammer springs are relatively stiff. They are also further apart than on the 1878 (TTN) making it difficult to use a one handed sweeping cock (male sense?). Wolff does make generic shotgun springs you can tune by trimming. You need to do it slowly and make sure it has the energy to ignite the primers. I also have a Cimarron TTN and other than polishing the chambers its ready to go.
Good luck and it's cheaper to sell the long barreled Rossi and use the funds to but a coach gun version than to pay a gunsmith to cut the BBLs. My opinion only.