Rossi USA has offered lever-action rifles for years, but many of the company's longarms are chambered for pistol cartridges rather than rifle cartridges. One exception in the Rossi lineup is the R95, which is built and styled like a classic lever-action hunting arm, and to that end, it is chambered for one of the classic American hunting cartridges: .30-30 Winchester. Watch our "American Rifleman Television" Rifleman Review segment above to see the details of this traditional lever-action longarm.
"With the demise of U.S.-made Winchesters and then with Marlin's restructuring, you know, there was a big gap in .30-30s filled by companies like Henry, but Rossi's in this business now, too," NRA Media Editorial Director Mark Keefe said. "And when you look at the gun, of course, it's a traditional lever-action rifle. It's got a locking bolt that extends from the lever and locks into the back of the bolt. So this is very much like a simplified Marlin. It's a five-round capacity tubular magazine under the barrel, steel construction, you've got walnut stained hardwood, and it's really a good looking gun. It looks like classic American-made lever actions, but of course, it comes from Brazil."
Unlike some of Rossi's other lever-action rifles, the R95 features an accessible cross-bolt safety located at the rear of the receiver that physically blocks the hammer from dropping on a chambered cartridge. With the safety on, users are able to cycle the action safely to load or unload the under-barrel tube magazine. Loading the rifle involves pressing cartridges through the spring-loaded gate found on the right side of the receiver.
"You look at the finish work on the gun, you've got a little bit of polish to the barrel, a matte receiver, you know, it's a nice-looking gun, but it's still a little utilitarian, especially with the wood," Keefe said. "You do have stippling on the beavertail-style fore-end, and at the wrist of the stock, it's topped by a rubber recoil pad, a pretty substantial one, I might add."
Atop the barrel is a set of open sights, with a drift- and elevation-adjustable, semi-buckhorn-style rear sight that matches up with an all-black front sight post. Due to the R95's side-eject configuration, the top of the receiver is drilled and tapped for optic bases.
"This is an affordable rendition of the classic lever-action rifle, and really for the money, it's a pretty nice gun," Keefe said.
Rossi R95 Specifications
Manufacturer: Braztech (Brazil)
Importer: Rossi USA
Action Type: lever-action, repeating, centerfire rifle
Chambering: .30-30 Winchester
Receiver: carbon steel; black oxide finish
Barrel: 20" carbon steel; six groove; 1:12" RH-twist rifling
Magazine: five-round tubular, fixed
Sights: blade front; adjustable, semi-buckhorn rear
Trigger: single-stage; 3-lb., 3-oz. pull
Stock: walnut
Overall Length: 39"
Weight: 6 lbs., 13 ozs.
MSRP: $985
To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/videos/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.
