Rossi R92 .357 Mag
Model: 923572013
Rossi R92 .357 Mag
Model: 923572013
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Rossi R92 is a Brazilian-made copy of the Winchester 1892 action — not the 1873 — manufactured by Taurus in São Leopoldo and imported under the Rossi name. That distinction matters: the 1892 action is stronger and mechanically simpler than the 1873 toggle-link design, which is part of why the pattern has survived as a budget platform. At 90 oz (5.6 lbs), the R92 is the lightest rifle in the .357 Mag lever group by a wide margin — nearly 3 lbs lighter than the Henry Big Boy and 26 oz lighter than the Winchester 1873. That weight difference is noticeable from the moment you pick it up.
The R92 makes sense if you want a real lever-action at the lowest entry price, you plan to spend money on an action job rather than a premium manufacturer, or you want a light carry rifle for the field. Action smoothness from the factory varies between units — owners commonly report that roughly 40-50% of new R92s come from the factory with noticeable grit in the lever stroke. The fix is well-documented in the community: a DIY polish of the contact surfaces inside the action smooths most units considerably, and gunsmiths who work on lever guns charge $75-150 for the same job. If you want it cycling cleanly from the box without that step, the Winchester 1873 is the rifle that delivers it from Miroku — at roughly twice the price.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- At 90 oz unloaded, the R92 is the lightest lever-action .357 Mag in this group. The weight difference against the Henry Big Boy (138.88 oz) is nearly 3 lbs — a meaningful number for anyone carrying this rifle in the field or mounted in a truck rack all day.
- The 1892-pattern action is mechanically stronger than the 1873 toggle-link used in the Winchester 1873 reproduction. It handles standard .357 Mag without concern, and aftermarket trigger and action work for the 1892 pattern is widely available.
- Action smoothness from the factory varies between individual units. Unlike the Henry Big Boy or Winchester 1873 where quality control is more consistent, the R92 may or may not cycle cleanly from the box. Budget $75-150 for a gunsmith action polish, or plan to do it yourself — step-by-step guides for the 1892 pattern are widely available online.
- Brazilian hardwood stock quality is inconsistent between units. Some have well-fitted wood; others show gaps at the receiver and rougher finishing. Inspect in person before buying if possible.
- The manual thumb safety is not a traditional lever-action feature — it was added to satisfy import regulations. Many owners have it removed by a gunsmith, adding another post-purchase cost to the base price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I've heard the Rossi R92 action is rough out of the box. Is that true?
Yes, inconsistently. The R92 has a well-documented pattern of action smoothness variance — some units cycle cleanly from the first box of ammunition, while others feel gritty or catch during the lever stroke. The community fix is a polish job: disassembly and polishing of the bolt, carrier, and lever-link contact surfaces with fine abrasive. Lever gun forums have detailed tutorials for the 1892 pattern, and most gunsmiths who work on lever actions know the job well. If you buy one and the action feels rough, this is the expected fix, not a defect requiring a warranty claim.
Is the Rossi R92 the same action as the Winchester 1873?
No. The R92 is based on the Winchester 1892 design — a stronger, simpler action that John Browning designed as a mechanical improvement over the 1873 toggle-link. The Winchester 1873 reproduction uses the toggle-link 1873 pattern. The two actions look similar at a glance but are mechanically different, with different part sets and different pressure ratings. The 1892-pattern R92 is generally considered the more robust action for standard .357 Mag use.
