The Rossi Princess – Pocket Sized Redefined

Estimated studying time: 9 minutes

Within the fashionable period, revolvers seemingly are available in just some body sizes. Most are primarily based on particular calibers and tailored and developed to different calibers. Take, for instance, most compact .22LR revolvers. There are principally two sizes. We’ve got the micro-sized NAA-style weapons, which you can conceal in a Speedo, after which we’ve J-frame-sized weapons tailored to .22LR. The issue right here is that we don’t get an optimum dimension for a defensive-oriented, concealed-carry revolver. We don’t get weapons just like the Rossi Princess. 

The NAA revolvers are so dang small that they’re difficult to make use of at something however contact distance. Plus, the single-action design makes it difficult to fireplace fast photographs. You may have hardly any grip, and the weapons can’t be reloaded below stress. The J-Body weapons are stable, however they’re designed for .38 Particular, not .22LR. This makes them bigger than they must be. 

Though the Rossi Princess has been out of manufacturing for many years, it’s the right dimension for a hid carry defensive revolver. It’s a double-action, seven-shot .22LR with a side-opening cylinder and a hand ejector. It’s obtained a two-inch barrel, however it suits within the palm of your hand. The Princess is significantly smaller than any J-frame however far more succesful and simpler to shoot than any NAA-type revolver. 

The Rossi Princess – Not an Authentic 

The Rossi Princess, typically known as the Rossi Ladysmith, isn’t an authentic design. Rossi is a Brazilian firm, and Brazil is house to quite a few S&W clones. The Princess is a kind of clones. From 1902 to roughly 1921, S&W produced a sequence of practically similar revolvers often known as the Ladysmith. The Ladysmith weapons got here in .32 S&W and .22LR and had been constructed on the long-discontinued M-Body. 

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The M-Body and I-Body had been each pretty small frames, however calibers just like the .38 Particular put these smaller frames out of enterprise. Within the Sixties, Rossi unleashed the Princess, however it’s not like the fellows in Brazil ever known as it that. That appeared to be a bit of American advertising and marketing, particularly completed by their importer. The importer of my gun is Int’L Corp out of Washington, D.C. 

The Rossi Princess copied the S&W M Body, however not in each little element. The Princess makes use of a coil mainspring as a substitute of S&W’s flat mainspring. The unique weapons from S&W existed earlier than switch bars, so the Princess used an Iver Johnson-style switch bar and rebounding firing pin. Rossi used Zamak to provide the body. 

The GCA and the Rossi Princess

The barrel insert and cylinder had been metal. Zamak is a fairly weak metallic that’s utilized in low cost weapons. It’s usually known as pot metallic, however it appears superb for a caliber like .22LR; simply don’t anticipate a long time of onerous service.

Princess manufacturing started in 1957 and lasted till 1984. Nonetheless, they had been solely imported into the USA from 1965 by way of 1969. The Gun Management Act of 1968 severely restricted the importation of small handguns. The GCA established some extent system to permit for imports, and weapons just like the Princess couldn’t get sufficient factors. The quick barrel, small grip, caliber, and sights killed its means to be imported. 

The Rossi Princess In Hand

I obtained a Rossi Princess at an area public sale. I had by no means heard a factor concerning the gun, however I used to be intrigued. The identify and .22LR chambering intrigued me. I solely noticed pictures and didn’t perceive simply how small the gun was. 

After I picked it up, I used to be an immediate fan. As somebody who had by no means seen a Ladysmith or M Body in particular person, I used to be impressed at how small the gun was. Immediately, I thought of how a gun this small would make a wonderful defensive pocket gun. 

As a result of gun’s age and the truth that it’s created from Zamak, I saved to the usual velocity bulk pack .22LR. I wasn’t going to throw any high-velocity stuff by way of the Rossi Princess. Diligent viewers may need seen a definite lack of a cylinder launch. To flip the cylinder out, it’s a must to attain in entrance of the ejection rod and pull a bit of know ahead. This releases the cylinder and permits it to pop open. 

There, we get seven cylinders. Seven rounds in a small gun isn’t unhealthy. We’ve got to drag that tab ahead to shut the cylinder, after which the cylinder will lock closed. The Princess wouldn’t be a speedy reload, however reloading is feasible. 

The grip is sort of small and solely permits for 2 fingers to suit. The small body and my massive arms really feel considerably odd collectively. This gun definitely isn’t made for arms my dimension. If the caliber was extra substantial than .22LR, this could be an issue, however it’s not, so it isn’t. 

To The Vary 

With the gun loaded with some fundamental .22LR, I began tossing lead down vary. The double-action set off is brutal. It’s tremendous heavy and lengthy. That’s a little bit of a development with rimfire revolvers. The heavy set off is because of the heavy mainspring. You need the hammer to strike onerous to extend reliability. 

Rimfire ignition might be difficult, so a heavy set off permits for extra dependable ignition. Whereas it sucks for the tip consumer, the gun goes bang whenever you pull the set off. The Rossi Princess has an uncovered hammer, and the only motion is a lot better than the double motion. 

Sighting In

The entrance sight of the Rossi Princess is a tall ramp that aligns with a small rear sight in entrance of the hammer. Nothing might be adjusted, and the sights are fairly small. The lengthy, heavy set off does no favors for accuracy. I can hit a goal at seven to 10 yards, however not a small goal. With single-action set off pulls, if I take my time, I can put all seven rounds in a five-inch group at seven yards. 

Double motion opens that as much as 10 inches or so. The set off is so heavy that my sights transfer all over as I shoot the gun, making it powerful to shoot the weapon precisely. Doing it shortly exacerbates the difficulty. I can put all seven rounds into the higher torso space on a man-sized goal at seven yards. Fortunately, recoil doesn’t issue into the gun’s efficiency. A .22LR doesn’t provide hardly any recoil, even in a gun this small. 

It’s not optimum, however in a pinch, it’s not unhealthy. I wouldn’t carry the Princess, however I’d carry a contemporary reincarnation of the gun with what’s possibly a bit higher set off. 

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A Fashionable Princess

A contemporary princess would have a greater set off. It could nonetheless doubtless be stiff for reliability, however we are able to most likely clean it up. It’d ditch the ramp sight for one thing extra like a vibrant gold bead and even an XS entrance sight. Lop the hammer provide for deep concealment, and we’d have a bit of pocket gun. 

The Rossi Princess is a curiosity as of late, however I’d like to see somebody make the most of the small dimension of the .22LR in a revolver. The Princess and Ladysmith could be a welcome comeback to the world of deep concealment firearms. 

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Travis Pike is a devoted firearms author, a Second Modification Advocate, and a topic fanatic for all issues firearms. He’s an beginner competitor with goals of someday not coming in 4th place at an area defensive match. If he’s not placing textual content to phrase processor, he’s doubtless spending time with household, having fun with Florida’s Nature Coast, or ingesting hipster beer. Because the resident Florida man he has a desire for obscure weapons and calibers.

Expertise 

Hunter – Very long time deer and hog hunter within the swamps of Florida Teacher – Volunteers to show fundamental firearm security lessons to children, adults, and cats Wannabe Competitor – Has not too long ago dipped his toes into aggressive taking pictures and has fortunately found an costly interest. Marine – Served 5 years with the infantry earlier than transferring to the First Civ Div.