After a period of seeming dormancy, Rossi has come roaring back during the past year or two, not only resurrecting its line of double-action .357 Mag. revolvers back in 2023, but also growing its family of lever-action rifles by leaps and bounds. For SHOT Show 2024, the company has added four new lever guns, a Tactical model of the rimfire Rio Bravo and three .45-70 Gov’t-chambered versions of the R95 in either a 16.5”, 20” or 22” barrel length.
While still chambered for .22 Long Rifle, the Rio Bravo Tactical differs from the standard models in a number of ways, the foremost being its 1/2x28 TPI-threaded muzzle. Other differences include its receiver-mounted Picatinny rail for an optic, its paracord-wrapped large-loop lever and an abbreviated tubular magazine that allows for clearance with an attached suppressor. The Rio Bravo Tactical weighs only 5 lbs. empty, has a capacity of 10 rounds, features M-Lok slots along the sides of its fore-end for the addition of accessories and retails for just $394.
When Rossi started producing .30-30 Win.-chambered R95s a few years ago, the company immediately started receiving scores of requests for .45-70-chambered versions—which was good because the big-bore lever guns were already in development. While the 20”- and 22”-barreled variants are largely identical beyond the differences in their overall and barrel lengths, the 16.5” carbine, called the Trapper by Rossi, does vary in a number of respects—namely a shorted magazine that holds five rounds instead of six and a 5/8x24 TPI-threaded muzzle.
All three come with wood furniture, a side gate for loading, a drift-adjustable front sight and an adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight, a push-button safety and a pair of sling swivel studs. The price tag on each of these thumpers is $1,061. For more information on Rossi’s newest lever guns, visit RossiUSA.com.
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