Comparison views 66 vs 73 vs 92 in .38/.357

[DeaconKC]

Okay folks I am going to be adding another rifle to the herd in .38/.357. I had a Rossi 92 in it before and was particular about the length of what cartridges it would feed reliably. I have a 66 in .44-40 and a 73 in .45 Colt and both run well with factory length rounds. How do they work with the .38/.357s? Opinions please! Thanks

[Abilene]

The carrier on a .357 '73 is the same one that is in the .38 '66, so it handles .38's fine, as long as they don't get too short.  A truncated cone 125gr is very popular and feeds great.  Some really light bullets with short OAL might not.  OAL needs to be approximately 1.42 or a bit more at a minimum.  Since the majority of the fastest shooters are shooting .38's in a .357 '73, that should tell you something.

[Froogal]

My Rossi '92 shoots .38s and .357s equally well. It does not care.

[Coffinmaker]

  Hi Ya Deacon 

I have had all three in your chosen caliber.  After a little "work" all ran well.  I don't know what your intent is, but there is/are no real "speed" parts for a '92, although with appropriate rubbin and buffin a '92 can be quite fast indeed and once the cartridge preference is found, quite reliable.

The Uberti 1873, 1866 and Henry ALL use the same internals.  EXACTLY the same.  There is a plethora of "speed" parts available and with the appropriate rubbin and buffin, those rifles can be incredible fast and reliable.  Just a tad cartridge length sensitive, BUT when fed a diet of 38s, loaded and crimped to the crimp groove of the most popular 105Gr and 125Gr Truncated Cone bullets, those bullets run like grain thru a goose.  Toggle Link rifles DO NOT play well with Semi-Wadcutters.

Play Safe Out There

[DeaconKC]

Thank you all! My old Rossi would run 158 grain RN in .38s fine, but anything shorter was fussy. I will never be a top speed competitor, I am not too worried about that. If I can find a used 66 or 73 would be happy to go that route, but I did really like the handiness of the 92 as well. Plus it costs half as much.

[Coffinmaker]

Hey Deacon (again) 

  Considering your stated preference, I suggest shopping a Rossi '92.  There aren't any "speed" parts, beyond a really good action job and a set of more user friendly springs with some judicious Rubbin and Buffin.

Nate Kiowa Jones (aka: Steve Young) has long been the Guru of '92.  His web page use to show him running a '92 with ONE finger just as fast as most Comp '73s.  The '92 can be very fast indeed.  Additionally, if one isn't specifically bent on becoming Numero Uno, after some work, they become VERY user friendly.  As you note, a whole bunch cheaper.

Chiappa also offers a '92 replica.  I would presume they require the same after purchase work to become truly user friendly.  Miroku have also manufactured a '92 replica, but that rifle includes a Rebounding Hammer that entails it's own devils to get around and "fix."  Gorgeous, well constructed rifles indeed but I can't in all good faith recommend the Miroku.

If you can find one, there is also the Spanish built copy of the '92.  Not too common and not real predictable for quality.  Called the Tigre or El Tigre they can be built into nice rifles.  Just a bundle of work required.

People are Still Hazardous to yer Health

[DarkLord]

Also consider handling qualities.  The 92's are very light weight, and the '66/'73's can range from pretty light, to downright unwieldy; and everything in between.  When I'm shooting fast, I personally like the weight of the '66/'73's; just kinda settles the rifle well for me.  And since there are so many barrel length and profile options on the '66/73's, you can pretty much have it your way. 

Of course if you like your carbine light, the '92 when slicked up can be a wonderful thing. 

[llanerosolitario]

There is no built quality difference between El Tigre and a true W92.
El Tigre was built, initially, under agreement with Wichester, paying royalties, until they decided to make certain cosmetic changes to avoid  keep paying Winchester.

They have excellent barrels, and with smokeless powder, they will place one bullet over the other from 50 meters distance. I have one and can testify that. With BP the rifling seems tobe more problematic in the accuracy aspect, or maybe I didnt get a good load yet.

Most have seen hard use, thats why people overlook them, forgetting that they were forged, fully machined, from good steel, and rust blued. Mine is 101 years old, it was used until yesterday by a wild boar hunter, and shoots like a champion with factory ammo.