Founded in 1889 in Brazil, Rossi Firearms has a long history of producing revolvers and handguns. The importing firm Interrms Virginia began distributing Rossi guns in the U.S. during the 1970s. Though I haven’t owned a Rossi revolver, I have recommended the Rossi Model 88 as a less expensive alternative to the Smith & Wesson Model 60.
Taurus acquired the rights and equipment to manufacture Rossi revolvers in 1997 and has recently revamped the lineup, introducing three six-shot .357 Magnum revolvers: the RM66, a 6-inch-barreled stainless steel .357 with adjustable sights; the RM64, a satin black carbon steel 4-inch .357 Magnum with adjustable sights; and the RP63, a stainless steel 3-inch .357 with fixed sights. I tested the RP63.
Rossi building the new line around the .357 Magnum chamber, which also accommodates the lighter recoiling .38 Special cartridge, is an excellent example of how a firearms manufacturer can revamp a lineup. They enhanced their revolvers with an eye toward durability, increasing overall quality and appearance.
A .357 Magnum revolver can chamber and fire a greater variety of rounds without modification than any other handgun. Gun owners preparing for survival scenarios should seriously consider owning a proper .357. In addition to .357 Magnum and .38 Special rounds, it can also chamber and fire the very mild .38 Short Colt and .38 Long Colt ammo, which predate the .38 Special and are still used by Cowboy Action Shooters. In a major ammo shortage, you are still likely to find something to shoot from a .357 Magnum revolver.
About the Rossi RP63 Revolver
The Rossi RP63 is marked with the Rossi emblem on the right side of the frame and “Taurus Armas Made in Brazil” on the left side. Its fit and finish are excellent. Every surface is satin black, including the hammer, smooth-faced trigger, cylinder latch release and removable serrated front sight. The only visible working part left bright is the ejector star. The black rubberized, pebble-finished grip with the Rossi medallion embedded on both sides, gives it a very businesslike appearance.
While Rossi classifies the 27.3-ounce RP63 as a medium frame .357 revolver, it is not as large as a traditional medium (K-frame) Smith & Wesson revolver like the Model 19 Carry Comp .357, which weighs in at 34.5 ounces. However, it is larger than a stainless-steel Model 60 S&W J-frame .357 Magnum with 3-inch full-underlug barrel, which weighs 23.6 ounces. The RP63 effectively splits the difference between conventional medium and small frame sizes.
The hammer utilizes the older S&W type nose-mounted firing pin. Even though it is an older firing pin system, it has proven reliable through the 50-plus years I have been shooting handguns. The combat hammer spur is checkered for easy thumb cocking.
Rossi RP63 Specifications
Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special/.38 Short Colt/.38 Long Colt
Capacity: 6 shots
Finish: Carbon steel/satin black
Front sight: Serrated/replaceable front
Rear sight: Top-strap trough
Barrel length: 3-inches/full-length barrel underlug
Weight: 27.3 ounces
Overall length: 7.95 inches
Overall width: 1.46 inches
The trigger on the RP63 is wider than normal and smooth-faced, reminiscent of a “target” trigger from the days when single-action firing was a part of organized bullseye shooting courses. The RP63’s double-action trigger pull measured 11 pounds, 11 ounces, according to my Wheeler Engineering trigger pull gauge. While not unreasonable, some people with hand-strength issues might find a nearly 12-pound pull weight problematic. An optional standard-width “combat” trigger might make the pull somewhat easier as the force applied by your trigger finger would be distributed across a narrower area. However, the single action pull, obtained by pre-cocking the hammer, measured a more manageable, crisp 3 pounds, 3.9 ounces.
Shooting the Rossi RP63
Due to a range restriction, my first session with the Rossi RP63 was limited to .38 Special ammunition. I had brought along a box of Norma 158-grain FMJ Range and Training .38 Special Truncated Cone ammunition, which has a muzzle velocity of 968 feet per second and delivers 329 foot-pounds of energy. Norma ammunition frequently delivers higher velocity than most other ammunition without earning a +P rating. The other load was PMC Bronze .38 Special 132-grain FMJ round nose ball (roughly equivalent to the old military .38 Special duty load) with a muzzle velocity of 917 feet per second.
A friend who accompanied me appreciated the wider trigger. He managed it well and obtained better groups with the Rossi revolver than with his lightweight S&W .38 M&P Bodyguard, due to the RP63’s increased weight and larger rubber grip. He was able to drop his rounds comfortably into 4 inches from 20 feet. All the rounds loaded smoothly, and empty cases ejected flawlessly thanks to the full-length ejector rod.
I finished my evaluation a week later with a couple boxes of hot SIG Sauer Elite 125-grain V-Crown .357 Magnum ammo. These loads come screaming out of the muzzle at 1,425 feet per second, delivering a whopping 583 foot-pounds of energy; a genuine full-power .357 Magnum round. Firing at an old Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy silhouette target from 20 feet, I noticed the angle of the sun was washing out the front sights, and I couldn’t pick them up despite the serrations.
I fired my first shot double-action. The felt recoil of a full-power .357 Magnum round is significant compared to a full-power .38 Special, especially in a handgun that weighs 27.3 ounces. The original Smith and Wesson Model 27, weighing 42 ounces, helped mitigate .357 Magnum recoil, but the RP63 is more suited for concealed carry due to its size and weight.
While my first six rounds all resulted in solid torso hits, the washed-out front sight affected my accuracy. Some Birchwood Casey front sight paint may clear up this issue. Using a pair of Ambermatics sunglasses that help to brighten up targets on overcast days, I aimed at the head of the target and fired single-action. All six rounds were better centered in a 4 ½-inch group. Not fantastic, but considering the recoil of the hot SIG loads, I’ll take it over the previous group.
Final Thoughts on the Rossi RP63 .357 Magnum Revolver
The Rossi RP63 is a great buy for those looking for a versatile handgun. While it might not be ideal for firing through a full 50-round police qualification course, it is well-suited for self-defense. Save the magnum loads for situations like black bear country and load up with quality .38 Special defensive loads from brands like Liberty Ammunition, Remington or Winchester. The Rossi RP63, with an MSRP of $469.99, offers reliable performance and flexibility.
Sources
Rossi: RossiUSA.com
Taurus: TaurusUSA.com
Winchester: WinchesterUSA.com
Norma Ammunition: Norma-Ammunition.com
Remington: Remington.com
Liberty Ammunition: LibertyAmmo.com