M14 Forum

LausDeo

Bought one a few months ago, I think it's great, especially considering the price. Unfortunately I haven't been able to really plink with it yet, just bench shooting.

I've had an issue with rounds not feeding properly/lever not cycling properly, but when I went home and played with it, it seemed like it only happened when I had the muzzle pointed upwards. Usually the muzzle was only pointed upwards when I was sitting down, as it was more natural to keep it shouldered when standing. I think I may have been inadvertently doing this when I was bench shooting.

Man I really hate bench shooting... I find it boring and impractical unless you're trying to gauge accuracy adjustments or you're practicing for a tree stand.

I love how light it is though, lighter than the Guide Gun. I was originally going to get a GBL.

LausDeo

Update. Took the gun out to someone's farm yesterday. It seems she cycles fine cold, but when I fire a shot and try to cycle the weapon, it seizes up. I'm gonna have to take up that warranty deal and see what happens

dprice3844444

well,to solve the problem,don't point the muzzle up.

LausDeo

To be clear, the OP was a whle back. The second post was yesterday. I wasn't pointing the muzzle up when shooting on Saturday, firing the weapon seemed to be the difference. It went like this:

I fired, pushed the lever out, it seized up. I pulled out my leatherman, unscrewed the mag tube screw, removed the spring, unscrewed the lever handle and removed it. That allowed me to remove the stuck round and empty the mag tube. I reassembled the weapon. By now all the original heat is gone. I loaded up 4 rounds, cycled them all flawlessly without firing. I loaded them back up, fired, pushed the lever out, it seized up again. I think the heat is causing the issue to present itself. Last time I shot the gun and had the same problems, I completely disassembled the weapon and couldn't find anything that would be causing a problem, except that cycling with the muzzle up caused similar issues. The rifle never left my shoulder while cycling on Saturday, yet seized up twice, once after each shot I fired. Davidson's warranty will replace the weapon, or at least fix it.

larryp

Have you checked to see if the mag tube is dirty? Could be causing the follower to bind up also if the follower is plastic like on the Rossi model 92's they have a habit of swelling with use and binding. Steves Gunz has a metal follower for the 92's designed just to stop this problem. I wonder if it could be swapped out into the Rio Grande?

http://store.stevesgunz.com/index.ph...50f1qnabb4vcl6
Edit to add: they also have one for Marlin rifles since the Rio Grande looks like a Marlin clone.
http://store.stevesgunz.com/index.ph...products_id=52

Boom Stick

guns with plastic internal parts?

LausDeo

Whoa, thanks for that! I did clean the mag tube. The follower does get tight when trying to remove it, but i don't think the spring lets it compress that far back. I tried putting lube on it, but it's plastic (and yellow as pictured in those links). I should definitely try the stainless follower, it may be that the plastic one heats up and sticks, so the cartridge doesn't pop out fast enough. I really want to get this fixed before I move up to your state in a few weeks, so I can carry it in the woods.

The Rio Grande is in fact a 336 clone (NOT a guide gun clone). That being said, those followers look identical, and I think either one would do as long as I ordered in .45.

If this works, then this is far better than receiving a new one only to have it malfunction again. Might do the warranty anyways later just because I stratched the blueing a bit during assembly/disassembly the first time

The follower and the tube cover are the only plastic pieces on the weapon. I've checked every other part. Actually the tube cover may be aluminum now that I think about it, I'm not sure.

LausDeo

Further update: I emailed Steve and he said that both the Marlin and Rossi 92 followers are too small for the Rio Grande. Back to square 1 I guess

ETA: I did some browing and nobody I've found yet has any complaints about theirs, so I must have gotten a fluke. Would be my luck. We'll see how the warranty situation pans out

Dredsen

Laus , does it have a side loading port or do you have to unscrew and load a tube like the henry?
i want a lever gun in .45-70 or .50-90 but it has to side load!

LausDeo

She's a side loader just like the Marlin and the old Winchester. There's something satisfying about dropping one into the chamber and then slipping the rest into the side one at a time. That Henry system is pretty goofy IMO

She also comes with a hat (pre-mounted receiver RIS), but I took that garbage off right away. Way I see it, it's as heretical as a blonde who darkens her hair . I see no use for a scope on a .45-70 anyways with that rainbow trajectory. A reflex might make sense, but have some self-respect man :P

Dredsen

i guess the henry system is supposed to be vintage or something?

I like all my guns to be somewhat if a bit feeble usable in combat. even my bolt actions take stripper clips.

and you can load those side load rifles pretty fast .

but the henry ? "COVER ME WHILE I RELOAD" *unscrews tube* *drops tube* *blows dirt out of tube* ... you see how it would go.

LausDeo

"COVER ME WHILE I RELOAD" . Funny visual.

I agree though, most weapons don't appeal to me if there isn't some sort of combat functionality to them, muzzleloaders excluded.

Stripper clips are a godsend. I load up my Mauser clips even just before dumping them into the rifle. It's way nicer. I've got all my .308 clips loaded up because it's easier than loading mags at the range, or they can be carried as a fast-loading alternative to mags in an "uh-oh" scenario.

For the .45-70, I recommend getting a cartridge belt or bandolier. I got a bandolier at Cabela's for like $5 while I was waiting for the cartridge belt to come in but I didn't want black and I wanted something more stable. I had my sister buy me this for my birthday, it's real classy: http://www.riverjunction.com/Militar...elt_p_454.html

If you have enough ammo, keep both loaded and give it to your son for bug out, lol. Makes a great cover destroyer and vehicle stopper

Hiram325

Is that Rossi one of the rifles rated for Buffalo Bore's .45/70 Magnum loads? That has been a criteria for three different rifles I've bought since a .45/70 bug bit me hard in '06.

LausDeo

I'd say the short answer is "yes"

I've not tested it out myself, and see nothing to affirm this, HOWEVER...

I can't find anything that says the Rossi won't handle super angry loads like Buffalo Bore, and with as many zealous Marliners and "buy American leverguns only" guys out there you'd think they'd be up in arms. It certainly would be stupid of Rossi to cheapen out in that way, especially since they're only ~$100 cheaper than GBLs.

I was always planning on making some Buffalo Bore-level angry loads for myself. In my research, the only .45-70 that can't handle their pressure levels is the 1873 Trapdoor. The only Buffalo Bore rounds I've shot were out of my friend's Winchester 1886 in .45-70, so the Rossi should have no issue. I also found out that LEVERevolution brass is for the most part only good for reloading LEVERevolution bullets.

The biggest issue with finding info in the Rio Grande in .45-70 is that it's so new.

berndog

Not a fan of Rossi but I like the round and I been looking at the Henry.

Dresden; lever gun with a stripper clip? Please do explain. I've never seen such a thing but I like the idea! You got me thinking.