Being a Rossi .22LR fan (the RS22 and RB22 are some of my favorite plinking rifles), I decided to give the Rossi Rio Bravo .22LR lever action rifle a try. I went with the wood stock/iron sights, finding it more attractive than the synthetic stock/fiber optic combination.
Pros: it is attractive, well machined, accurate and runs smoothly. Cons: the barrel bands are plastic (like an old Henry .22LR rifle but at least the sights are metal unlike the Henry), and the trigger pull is heavy. In fact, the trigger pull is the most disappointing thing about the rifle.
After watching youtube videos on adjusting the trigger for its big brother the R92 and some disassembly, I identified the primary cause as the tension on the "locking hammer spring" (part 55 in the User Manual). On the R92, users disassemble/stretch and deform/reassemble this spring until they get a desired trigger pull. But on the Rio Bravo, there is tapped hole associated with this spring. Could this be intended for trigger adjustment?
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION. IT IS A DESCRIPTION OF AN ONGOING EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION. THE DETAILS ARE PROVIDED IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR OWN EVALUATION. THE DESCRIBED CHANGES MAY BREAK YOUR RIFLE, OR MAKE IT UNSAFE OR UNUSABLE. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Poking my jeweler's screwdriver in this tapped hole (located just under the lever handle), I found I could effect the spring tension. With some diameter and depth measurements of the tapped hole, I ordered a likely range of metric set screws and found a metric M4 cupped set screw 6mm long that fits well.
The screw distorts the placement and shape of the the spring. The adjustment is rather sensitive; all reasonable adjustments occur within about a half turn of the set screw. It seems more than possible to over-adjust and create a slam fire risk. I have adjusted my trigger pull to 3 lbs.
At 3 lbs, the rifle has passed my drop tests. I shot my first 150 rounds without problems or change in trigger pull force. I have concerns the spring may stretch or weaken thus preventing a return to the original trigger pull force. I have a query in to Rossi support for a spare spring "just in case". Vibration in combination with the spring tension may also push the set screw out. This is not a safety issue as it increases the trigger pull. I anticipate applying blue loctite once I am satisfied with the results.
I will continue to shoot and monitor trigger function to report back at some point in the future.
Update: Rossi support has responded that this spring is a restricted item. If it breaks, the rifle will have to go in for repairs. Or I'll need to find another source.
Pros: it is attractive, well machined, accurate and runs smoothly. Cons: the barrel bands are plastic (like an old Henry .22LR rifle but at least the sights are metal unlike the Henry), and the trigger pull is heavy. In fact, the trigger pull is the most disappointing thing about the rifle.
After watching youtube videos on adjusting the trigger for its big brother the R92 and some disassembly, I identified the primary cause as the tension on the "locking hammer spring" (part 55 in the User Manual). On the R92, users disassemble/stretch and deform/reassemble this spring until they get a desired trigger pull. But on the Rio Bravo, there is tapped hole associated with this spring. Could this be intended for trigger adjustment?
THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION. IT IS A DESCRIPTION OF AN ONGOING EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION. THE DETAILS ARE PROVIDED IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR OWN EVALUATION. THE DESCRIBED CHANGES MAY BREAK YOUR RIFLE, OR MAKE IT UNSAFE OR UNUSABLE. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Poking my jeweler's screwdriver in this tapped hole (located just under the lever handle), I found I could effect the spring tension. With some diameter and depth measurements of the tapped hole, I ordered a likely range of metric set screws and found a metric M4 cupped set screw 6mm long that fits well.
The screw distorts the placement and shape of the the spring. The adjustment is rather sensitive; all reasonable adjustments occur within about a half turn of the set screw. It seems more than possible to over-adjust and create a slam fire risk. I have adjusted my trigger pull to 3 lbs.
At 3 lbs, the rifle has passed my drop tests. I shot my first 150 rounds without problems or change in trigger pull force. I have concerns the spring may stretch or weaken thus preventing a return to the original trigger pull force. I have a query in to Rossi support for a spare spring "just in case". Vibration in combination with the spring tension may also push the set screw out. This is not a safety issue as it increases the trigger pull. I anticipate applying blue loctite once I am satisfied with the results.
I will continue to shoot and monitor trigger function to report back at some point in the future.
Update: Rossi support has responded that this spring is a restricted item. If it breaks, the rifle will have to go in for repairs. Or I'll need to find another source.
