Here is a Rossi (Overland, AKA Overlund), 20-gauge side-by-side shotgun, a nice little coach gun I picked up as part of an estate sale several years ago. It will chamber 2 3/4" or 3" shells, and has a 20" barrel. Made in Brazil and imported until somewhere around 1988, it was also available in 12-gauge. It has functional dual hammers and dual triggers. There is a definite choke in the barrel, but there is no way for me to measure how much choke; it seems a bit more than improved cylinder but that is just a guess.
Participants of “Cowboy Action Shooting,” aka CAS, are the most common owners these guns. Some people think they are ideal for home defense, others think they are an abomination. Although it is not a Lupara, its legal compactness could have some advantages for a defender. Some feel the external hammers make it safer and offer tactical advantages while others disagree. My humble opinion is that almost any gun can serve for home defense if the owner does his or her part. What is ideal for others may not be ideal for you. Some say the 20-gauge is too light for home defense, other say the lower recoil is an asset. All choices are for you to make. It is nice to have options. Click here for article evaluating the 20-gauge for home defense.
I have read where some people have used these Rossi guns heavily with no problems, and I have also read where the external portion of the firing pin peens readily; one writer said 50 rounds, another said in 250 rounds. If you are considering buying and using a gun that is no longer made, be forewarned that repair parts may be difficult to arrange.
For safety reasons, in 1960 Federal began to set the standard in the U.S.A. of using the color yellow for 20-gauge shotshells. Some may notice the blue color of the 2 ¾’’ 20-gauge shotshells in the photo. These 0 buckshot loads were made in Mexico.
Click here to read some history of the shotshell.
EDIT 5/16/2009
This blog entry gets a lot of attention, and the Rossi gun is no longer available factory new. If you are considering a coach gun for home defense, take a good look at the Stoeger Double Defender as profiled on The Firearm Blog (Click here).
Participants of “Cowboy Action Shooting,” aka CAS, are the most common owners these guns. Some people think they are ideal for home defense, others think they are an abomination. Although it is not a Lupara, its legal compactness could have some advantages for a defender. Some feel the external hammers make it safer and offer tactical advantages while others disagree. My humble opinion is that almost any gun can serve for home defense if the owner does his or her part. What is ideal for others may not be ideal for you. Some say the 20-gauge is too light for home defense, other say the lower recoil is an asset. All choices are for you to make. It is nice to have options. Click here for article evaluating the 20-gauge for home defense.
I have read where some people have used these Rossi guns heavily with no problems, and I have also read where the external portion of the firing pin peens readily; one writer said 50 rounds, another said in 250 rounds. If you are considering buying and using a gun that is no longer made, be forewarned that repair parts may be difficult to arrange.
For safety reasons, in 1960 Federal began to set the standard in the U.S.A. of using the color yellow for 20-gauge shotshells. Some may notice the blue color of the 2 ¾’’ 20-gauge shotshells in the photo. These 0 buckshot loads were made in Mexico.
Click here to read some history of the shotshell.
EDIT 5/16/2009
This blog entry gets a lot of attention, and the Rossi gun is no longer available factory new. If you are considering a coach gun for home defense, take a good look at the Stoeger Double Defender as profiled on The Firearm Blog (Click here).
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On my 12 Ga overland the chokes are identified on the barrel under the foregrip close the the breech. Mine are marked with IC and IM. Hope this helped
ReplyDeleteThe choke id is located on the bottom of the barrel close to the breech. Mine are IM and IC.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Thanks for that info. Next time that I strip it down for cleaning and oiling, I'll give it a look.
ReplyDeleteZack
i have got a 12 gauge doubel barrel with no markings and it is branded el paso shareffs department on the stock it has 2 hammers looks like a coach gun very old can somebody tell me what it is?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a neat old gun. I have no idea where to start looking. Hope you find something on it somewhere. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteMaybe El Paso has a city historian who could help...
ReplyDeleteI have one of the 20" overlund models which I bought new in the mid '70's and it is still in near new condition. Does anyone have an acurate value for these?
ReplyDeleteWhen working on a Dignitary Protection Team in Brazil in the 90´s, we were armed with Taurus .38 revolvers and half a dozen of the 12ga equivalent of your Rossi side by side shotgun, the latter while guarding the perimeter of the principals estate. Loaded with 00Buck, they kicked like %¤#(¤%¤" but not to the point of being unusable. Held up well to the admittedly quite limited amount of practice shooting we did. Happily, we never got to use them in anger.
ReplyDeletelooking for hammers for a rossi overland 12 ga side by side.can anyone help me out?
ReplyDeleteHi, I was wondering if I put a choke in my 20 guage shotgun barrel if I will still be able to shoot slugs out of the barrel when I want to hunt for white-tail deer without hurting the gun. I have seen conflicting opinions on this, what do you think?
ReplyDeleteThe url below is to a forum thread covering chokes and slugs.
ReplyDeletehttps://forums.cabelas.com/showthread.php?t=5451
Hope it helps!
A coach gun is a double-barrel shotgun, generally with barrels approximately 18" in length placed side by side (SxS). The name comes from the use of such shotguns on stagecoaches by shotgun messengers in the American Wild West and during the Colonial period of Australia.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usedibmpcs.com/
i own a rosse coach gun 12 ga double barrel side by side /exposed hammers 1986 in mint condition new condition more like it only shot 3 times and looks new as well i would sell to the right ffl holder or a gun dealer only
ReplyDeleteI have had a 20 ga. for about 30 years, shot little. Fun to shoot with mag shells, kicks like a mule!
ReplyDeleteCheck out Stoeger's New Double barrel defender shotgun!! it Has RAILS to mount sites , lights & stuff..It comes in 12/20 & .410 gauge..I think 20 might be good for woman & elderly... Glen
ReplyDeleteThose Rossi 20-gauge double barrelle coach guns are fun to shoot, and are great home defence weapons ! Several weeks ago at a gun show I seen a rather odd gun made by Rossi, not a double barrelled shotgun but a small double barrelled .22 derringer with two hammers called the "Amadero" looks like a minature double barrelled shotgun, I can not locate it in any gun book,and never seen one before must be an old Rossi, when their quality was not as good as today, 1950's ? Does anyone know anything about the Rossi Amadero ?
ReplyDeleteI have been blessed with my Rossi 12ga coach gun for over 20years. Never a bad thing to say about it, many rabbits and ringnecks fell to her quick spin. A blast to be the extra rolling up for Trap on a bike and pulling shorty out of the side bag, The laughing stops when I hit in the top 25% of there club and there hi $ guns hiding in the corner... Tom
ReplyDeleteHave a 20 ga, bought in the 70's at auction in chicago, perfect home protection arm,decent quality, only real negative would be the quality of the stock,next to zero grain
ReplyDeleteI have an Overland in 12 GA. That I bought brand new in the 70s. If I can see it, it will drop it . As mentioned above , people laugh, right 'till they realize the are getting their pants beat off by my "muley" ! Reliable, no frills, just brings home the game day after day. I'm looking for the .410 version to use on the local woodcock population.
ReplyDeleteI've had a Stage 20g for DECADES and have hunted many a pheasant with it. Took a bit getting use to holding the beavertail with other hand over both triggers. Pulling the gun up to shoulder also cocks the hammers Had the barrels Plum Browned and beach
ReplyDeleteNickeled with stock hand rubbed oil stain. She looks real pretty after nearly 5o years
I've had my Overland 12ga for near 30 years. In the last minute or two I have accounted for right near 2000 rnds. [Fit the saddle bags] shooting trap at a range. Endless miles hunting rabbits.
ReplyDelete