Knob Creek
NES Member
Picked up my new SS Rio Grande in 45/70. Just about $500 out the door. It's very much like a Marlin 336 although not all parts are interchangeable. A complete teardown was called for. External fit and finish were very good. Wood to metal fit was good. Like most Rossi's, it's a solid well made gun but a little rough around the edges. It needed some cleaning and polishing internally.
Chamber before cleaning:
Chamber after polishing and deburr:
Hammer before polishing:
Hammer after:
And also installed a Palo Verde Marlin Mainspring Kit from the Smith Shop.
The Rossi lever guns seem to suffer from some difficulty loading rounds into the magazine. The problem stems from the fact they use a plastic magazine follower and a too powerful magazine spring. That, along with a sharp edge on the loading gate made loading difficult.
I replaced them with a Smith Shop follower and magazine spring both in SS. And took the sharp edge off the loading gate and slot. Problem solved.
Final result; scoped with Weaver Classic V3 1.5-3x and leather wrapped lever. At just about 6 lbs it's well very balanced.
The Smith Shop-Marlin Spring Kit
The Smith Shop-Magazine Follower
Chamber before cleaning:
Chamber after polishing and deburr:
Hammer before polishing:
Hammer after:
And also installed a Palo Verde Marlin Mainspring Kit from the Smith Shop.
The Rossi lever guns seem to suffer from some difficulty loading rounds into the magazine. The problem stems from the fact they use a plastic magazine follower and a too powerful magazine spring. That, along with a sharp edge on the loading gate made loading difficult.
I replaced them with a Smith Shop follower and magazine spring both in SS. And took the sharp edge off the loading gate and slot. Problem solved.
Final result; scoped with Weaver Classic V3 1.5-3x and leather wrapped lever. At just about 6 lbs it's well very balanced.
The Smith Shop-Marlin Spring Kit
The Smith Shop-Magazine Follower
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