Rossi Youth Matched Set

[Bow Hunter Derek]

I thought I'd share this info with anyone interested in a youth gun. I've been looking for a youth deer gun for my 7 year old daughter. The problem is that there are not a lot of guns that kids can hunt with in Indiana that won't tear their shoulder in two pieces. Rifles are out. The .410 is legal, but very few have anything good to say about it. A 20 ga. slug will hurt her. So that leaves a muzzleloader in a light load configuration. The problem is, is that there are not a lot of youth muzzleloaders out there. Then there is the fact that I did not want to dump $500 into a set up.

So after much consideration and research I settled in on the Rossi youth matched set. I found few people who even knew of this gun/combo, so real world field reports were slim to none. As much as I love to support the local gun sceen, no one was willing to come close to a price that Cabela's gave me, so they got the order (I had to go that direction anyway so picking it up was no big deal). I got the call last week that the combo was in.

Well, I picked up the "Triple Play" combo as Rossi calls it, last night from Cabela's in Dundee. It was late when I got home, so all I got to do was get all the pieces out and wipe off the majority of the thick packing goo that they put on these things. My initial feeling is that I am very impressed with this youth package. I got the .50/.22/20 combo. The wood is very nice and it all seems to be built very sound. The safety does have a kind of cheap feel to it, but the mechanics seem sound. I was very impressed with the muzzleloader set up. Fiber optic sights, good looking ram rod, drilled and tapped for scope mount (the scope mounting bar is included). The 20 ga. barrel is simply that, a smooth bore 20 w/ modified choke (non removable). Pretty simple, but ample for bunnies and other small game. The .22 barrel is nice, though the sight on the barrel is pretty bare bones (not bad, just no frills). My only real complaint is the trigger is HEAVY, but I think I can do a little home trigger job on it and lighten it up (not too much though).

I'm going to lap the muzzleloader barrel tonight and finish cleaning up all the packing goo. I'm hoping to get the gun to the range in the next week or so and start playing with it.

I did find that the owner's manual contradicted itself a lot in regards to the muzzleloader loads. They first say up to a 150 gr. load (crazy for a youth gun), then they say a 100 gr. load, then they say a 50 gr. load (max). I'm going to get in contact with Rossi about this. I plan on starting out around 50 to 60 gr of pyrodex or 777. I also picked up some of 195 gr. sabotted rounds to play with. I'm going to try and get her a deer killing round that is good in the 40 yard or closer range, but does not kick the snott out of her shoulder.

I'll post up some pictures soon and give more of my thoughts on this combo once I've had a chance to play with it some more.

So far I think I made a great choice. Especially since I only paid $219 for the entire combo at Cabela's. Actually it was $189 after I used $30 in Cabela's Visa points!

Here is a link to the gun combo for other interested parents.

http://www.rossiusa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=S202250YM&category=MATCHEDSET

[johnf]

Re: Rossi Youth Matched Set

I've got a friend who got his daughter that combo. He said the perfomance was good, but Rossi service was pretty bad. Seems like their U.S. office is in Miami FL and he siad the technical support person is basically a receptionist with an owners manual.

[Bow Hunter Derek]

Re: Rossi Youth Matched Set

I spent some time last night cleaning up the set and lapping the barrel. The more time I spent with it, the more I really liked this set up. It is pretty sweet.

I'm hoping to get to the range tomorrow to play with it some.

Here is a picture of it after I got it all cleaned up.

[johnf]

Re: Rossi Youth Matched Set

If they had that combo in 22lr, 223or243, and 50cal I would have to get one of those.

That looks like a great deal.

[TurkeyHunter]

Re: Rossi Youth Matched Set

Please post back on your results id like to know how accurate each barrel shoots. If you look in the Youth forums here you will see I posted there asking about the Rossi Youth Matched guns and got mixed reviews.

Im looking for a 22 for my 6 year old son and been looking into a 22 and combo guns too.

Thanks and good luck!!

[Bow Hunter Derek]

Re: Rossi Youth Matched Set

I've heard/read similar feelings regarding Rossi's. But for ever one of those, I hear/read how amazing they shoot for the money.

I got the exact same comments from people when I bought an NEF .17hmr and about my Traditions muzzleloader. But those two guns are the most accurate guns that I own, and yes, I do own some high dollar guns.

This Rossi combo might not shoot that great, I don't know yet. But I'm also not looking for 2" groups at 100 yards. I was looking for a gun that can bring down a deer at 40 yards and not rip my daughter's shoulder off in the process. So, as long as it groups well at 50 yards and closer, I'll be very happy.

As for the .22, I can't imagine it will group any worse than the piece of junk Marlin Model 60 that I bought many years ago (and still own), yet a lot of people brag about how accurate those guns are.

It is like everything else. Everyone has an opinion and everyone has had good/bad experiences with nearly every product. Heck that is why we can not have a good Chevy/Ford/Dodge debate on here any more.

[Guest ruffhunter]

Re: Rossi Youth Matched Set

Thanx. I've been looking at the .45/.22/.410 combo for my 8 yoa son. It has a smaller frame than the 20 gauge that is perfect.