Lever actions are having a massive mid-life crisis right now. Whether it’s the Yellowstone effect or just a collective sense of nostalgia, everyone wants a lever gun again. But while the American-made options are soaring well past the $1,500 mark, the Rossi R92 Triple Black is trying to offer that modern, “threaded-and-railed” utility for right around $1,000 CAD.
I spent some time with the .357 Magnum / .38 Special version to see if this Brazilian-made R92 is a workhorse or just a budget imitation.
Overview
The Triple Black is Rossi’s take on the “Tactical Lever Action” trend. It features a black cerakote-style finish on the metal, a black painted wood stock, and a paracord-wrapped large loop. It’s built on the Winchester 1892 dual-locking lug action, which is inherently strong and smooth, but Rossi has added some modern conveniences (and one major inconvenience) to the mix.
Specifications
- Caliber: .357 Mag / .38 Special (also available in .44 Mag)
- Capacity: 8+1 rounds
- Weight: 5.85lbs
- Features: Threaded muzzle, Picatinny rail, Skinner-style peep sight.
Usability
The Good: The action is surprisingly slick for a rifle at this price point. It’s reliable with standard .357 Magnum and .38 Special round-nose or hollow-point ammo. The Skinner-style peep sight is an upgade over traditional buckhorn sights—it’s fast, adjustable for windage and elevation, and just works.
If you want to go full “Modern Man in Black,” the included Picatinny rail forward of the receiver makes it easy to mount a red dot.
The Bad: The stock is a bit of a head-scratcher. The comb is very flat, making it difficult to get a proper cheek weld. You end up with more of a “chin weld,” which only gets worse if you add an optic.
The Large Loop is definitely big enough for gloved hands, but it’s so large that your hand travels a long way to cycle the action. It looks cool, but it’s less efficient than a standard loop for fast follow-up shots.
The Ugly: We have to talk about the top safety. It’s a “lawyer safety” that feels out of place on a lever gun. On my test unit, it actually started to vibrate loose while shooting, occasionally engaging itself and preventing the hammer from striking. It’s unnecessary given the traditional half-cock notch, and in my opinion, it’s the weakest point of the rifle’s design.
Ammo Considerations
A quick note on feeding: This gun hated full wadcutter .38 Specials. Because they are so short, I experienced double-feeds from the magazine tube. It also showed poor accuracy with lightweight (100-grain) lead-free ammo. Stick to standard 158-grain loads, and it’ll purr.
Aftermarket and Potential Modifications
- Suppressors: The muzzle is threaded, which is a massive win. A .38 Special subsonic through a suppressed lever gun would be really quiet. Too bad I live in a country where I can’t own suppressors. Maybe you’re luckier.
- Cheek Riser: Because of that flat stock, you’ll likely want to add a lace-on leather or kydex cheek riser, especially if you’re running a Red Dot.
Competitors
- Henry Big Boy X Model: Better fit and finish, better trigger, but you’ll pay about 50% more.
- Turkish Lever Actions (Citadel Levtac, etc.): Often even cheaper than the Rossi because of the current Turkish economy. The quality is comparable, though Rossi has a longer track record with the R92 action.
- Marlin 1894 (Ruger-made): Much higher quality, but significantly more expensive and harder to find in stock.
Conclusion
The Rossi R92 Triple Black isn’t a heirloom-quality rifle, but it isn’t trying to be. It’s a practical, affordable entry into the “tactical” lever gun world. While the safety is annoying and the stock geometry is a bit wonky, the fact that you get a threaded muzzle and a rail for $1,000 makes it a solid value.
If you want a fun range toy that you don’t mind getting a few scratches on, the Rossi is a strong contender. Just leave the wadcutters at home.
