For a while, I wanted to get a .22lr revolver for my collection. Right
after trying out a S&W Model 17 at the local gun club, actually. [Of
course, this was *only* for the purpose of teaching neophytes about
guns.... Yeah, uh-huh ...]

My local gun-store started carrying Rossi 518 revolvers for $215.00, and I
took an initial shine to one. Plunked my money, waited my seven days, took
it and a box of CCI Blazers to the shooting range.

The finish looks pretty good -- no discolourations on the steel, no burrs
or blemishes. The fit seems pretty tight -- I'm a little unhappy about the
wooden grips, but the weapon comes with replacement rubber grips as well,
so ...

The action is a little rough. One cylinder always seems to take a
tremendous amount of trigger-pull, whereas another seems to have a
feather-light trigger pull. [I suspect the timing, and if I find a
competent gunsmith in the area, I'll have it looked into].

The feel, otherwise, is great. The pistol points well, the sights are good
and there is almost no recoil. [Then again, it is a .22lr].

Accuracy is outstanding, IMHO. Quarter to silver-dollar sized groups at 25
ft, which expand to hand-sized groupings at 25 yds. [Which are probably
partially due to operator error.]

Reliability leaves some to be desired, as the 518 gets dirty quickly and
has some problems firing after 200-300 rounds.

All in all, the Rossi 518 would make a good beer-can bandit or plinking
piece and a decent trainer or "warm-up" gun for shooting, but I think my
money would have been better spent on the S&W Model 17.

--
"Mulder ... where's the body?"
                        Dana Scully, X-Files, 1/11/97
-- John E. Jasen  // DNRC Ambassador to Earth \\  jjasen1@umbc.edu --
-- My views are those of the DNRC only. Prepare to be domesticated --