What should you expect from a rifle retailing for around $150? Maybe not much. Then again, you may just get more than your money’s worth. I picked up the Rossi RB 22 .22 LR rifle illustrated for a song. Retail today is a little less than $160, while mine was a bit less (two years ago).
I really have not used it often. However, I realized I owned a ridiculous number of .22 rimfire rifles and should cut down a little. This meant firing each and evaluating their usefulness.
Rossi RB 22 Features
The Rossi RB 22 Compact Rifle is a neat little bolt-action rifle with many good features. It is lightweight and will digest a wide range of .22 Long Rifle ammunition. It will also use CB Long and .22 Short as a single shot. You may be able to convince .22 Short to feed — if you are careful.
The barrel and magazine are marked ‘Long Rifle only.’ So, don’t complain. Just the same, most .22 Short and certain CB Long will be used in single-shot fashion. .22 Short feeds just fine in my model.
The rifle is a good choice for informal target shooting, plinking, and teaching new shooters how to fire a rifle. The Rossi is lightweight and may be a youth rifle. It works well for anyone needing an ultra-light .22 rimfire.
The rifle is manufactured in Brazil. It is way shy of a yard at a mere 32.6 inches. Weight is under four pounds and balance was good. The stock has a European look that I find attractive. The stock is smooth, save for a web-type abrasion around the semi pistol grip and forend.
The trigger guard is plenty large for gloved hand use. There is a push button safety in front of the trigger guard. This bolt-type safety is positive in operation. The safety may only be applied when the rifle is in the cocked position.
The steel magazine holds 10 .22 LR cartridges. The magazine release is large and easily manipulated. Someone designed this rifle with ergonomic operation in mind, and it becomes apparent the more the rifle is used. The receiver is grooved for the typical inexpensive rimfire scope. I found no need to mount optics at this point.
The sights are excellent, no matter what price rifle you are dealing with. The rear sight features twin fiber-optics in green. The rear sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation. No tiny screws here. Instead, the Rossi RB 22 features two large knobs with excellent gripping surface.
Why such complex sights on an inexpensive rifle? The Rossi RB 22 is accurate enough to demand good sights. The front sight is protected by a robust hood. The front sight is a red fiber-optic enclosed in a robust post. These sights offer a good sight picture that is easily picked up quickly.
I found that precise shooting and fast, snap shooting was easily carried out. These sights invite firing with both eyes open. I improved the trigger by cleaning grease from the action and dry firing with a snap cap in place. The result was a fairly clean 4.0-pound trigger on the RCBS scale. Overall, a recipe for decent accuracy was inherent in the sights, trigger, and nicely shaped stock. Let’s look at the specifications before we continue.
RB 22 Specifications
- Barrel length: 16.50 inches
- Length: 31.20 inches
- Height: 7.30 inches
- Width: 1.70 inches
- Weight: 52.00 ounces
- Rate: 1:16-inch RH Twist
- Grooves: 6
Firing the rifle was a joy. The steel magazine was easily loaded. Topped off, the magazine locked in place easily. The bolt is smooth with a short, light bolt throw. You will be able to fire and work the bolt quickly for a follow-up shot if needed. This is fine practice for hunting game, and the bolt-action rifle is certainly accurate enough for small game hunting.
During the test, I found myself wondering what it would do with an optic mounted. There are small rails for mounting a traditional, low-power, rimfire scope. But then, I have scoped rifles. This little gun is destined for other chores.
Most of the shots were offhand while firing at stationary targets at known and unknown ranges. I also settled down and fired a few shots over the benchrest to test accuracy. I chronographed several cartridges for velocity as it is an interesting pursuit.
Velocity was good to very good for a 16-inch barrel rifle. There is also an 18-inch barrel version you may find interesting. Current production includes a threaded barrel… hint-hint.
I fired for accuracy from a bench rest at 25 yards. At this range, accuracy was very good. With an optical sight, the rifle should easily stay in 2 inches for three shots at 50 yards. That is surprising accuracy for this type of rifle.
Then again, a bolt-action rifle with a well-cut chamber should be accurate. I had a great deal of fun with the Rossi during the test program. As for whittling down the rack of .22s, no, the Rossi RB wasn’t one of them. It is too good and too inexpensive to part with.
Accuracy and Chronograph Testing
Velocity was tested at 15 feet. Groups were fired at 25 yards — three-shot groups from an MTM Case-Gard shooting rest.
Load | Velocity (FPS) | Group (inches) |
| CCI Stinger | 1,409 | 1.25 |
| CCI Mini Mag | 1,230 | .75 |
| CCI Mini Mag Segmented | 1,224 | 1.0 |
| CCI Suppressor | 929 | .8 |
| CCI Velociter | 1,350 | .9 |
| *CCI Quiet | 660 | 1.3 |
| Federal Game Shock | 1,131 | 1.2 |
*A joy to fire! Very low DCB, shoots low compared to others due to the low velocity.
I fired a few ‘rat shot’ cartridges with good results but did not run them over the chrono. I was concerned an errant pellet may impact my not inexpensive chronograph.
At the price, with plenty of accuracy, and given the fact the Rossi RB 22 is chock full of features, it’s hard to beat, but you be the final judge. What’s your opinion of the RB 22? Would it have a home in your gun safe? Share your answers in the Comment section.
A good group and the lower group is after the rifle was properly sighted in. 
The CCI Stinger provided minute of squirrel accuracy. 
Overall accuracy with all loads tested proved good and surprisingly precise for such an affordable rimfire rifle. 
Accuracy proved very good with a variety of loads. Loaded one at a time CCI .22 Short length cartridges provided good accuracy. 
A red cocking indicator protrudes when the rifle is cocked for firing. 
A short bolt throw and lift makes for smooth rapid operation. Note easy access to the magazine release. The bolt type safety is positive in operation. 
The box magazine is well made and feeds reliably. The author took this image in dim light. The green fiber optic is highly visible. 
A bright red fiber optic offers good contrast to the rear green fiber optics. 
A red fiber optic is peering out from under that hood. 
Fiber optics make for easy sight acquisition. 
The rear sight is very easy to adjust for windage and elevation. 
Ergonomics are high on this rifle. The Rossi RB (Rule Beater) .22 LR rifle is affordable, but that is not code for cheap. Instead, it is full of features. 
The Rossi RB is a stylish, but reliable rifle.
Budget .22s 🙂 Bought my wife a Marlin-Glenfield 75 back in ’77. Still shooting it today.
Saw someone mention the Taurus 85. We got her one of those when they first came out. She liked it and still shoots it some. But after shooting the M&P .380 EZ I got for my daughter, I had to buy the EZ for my wife too.
@Marianne Whitney, another budget minded revolver model to look at would be the Armscor/Rock Island Armory M200 or M206. The 200 has a 4″ bbl and the 206 is the 2″ snub nose. They’re chambered for .38 Spl only. 6 shot cylinder. I’ve had the M206 for a few years and it’s provided great service and reliablity. It’s no S&W for about $200-250 new it’s perfectly fine.
@Bob Campbell, glad the Rossi is working for you. My DIL got a Rossi break action .243 a few years ago for deer hunting. It was inexpensive, accurate, quick to maneuver… but even right out of the box it absolutely refused to fire Remington factory ammo. Out of 100 rounds it managed to set off two. The rest had solidly dented primers. Federals, Winchesters, no problem. Couldn’t rely on it to shoot any type of factory ammo it was fed. Only being able to shoot selected makers means it’s no good. Rossi’s CS said “We don’t know, just don’t shoot Remington in it.” Unacceptable answer and turned me off to their products.
I purchased a Rossi RB22M (.22 mag model) and it was a failure the first time I tried to shoot it… Would not feed any type of ammunition, and the fore end of the plastic stock started to warp away from the barrel. After numerous calls to Rossi/Taurus in Bainbridge, Georgia, I was finally told to return the firearm to them for repair…(Rossi DOES NOT/WILL NOT give refunds). Almost one year later Rossi informed me that the parts which were “on order from Brazil” were no longer available and they would be sending me a new firearm. I had to go to a local FFL dealer, pay another $35 NICS fee (In addition to the $85 I paid UPS to ship the original rifle back to Rossi). Rossi/Taurus has the absolute worst customer service I have ever encountered. I made dozens of phone calls to them, spent many hours while waiting on “hold” to speak to a supervisor or manager, and wrote numerous letters asking about the status of my rifle. One Rossi customer service agent actually denied that they received the rifle that I sent them, even though UPS provided proof of signed delivery receipt. Never, ever will I purchase a Rossi product again.
In 2019 I bought a Rossi .22 semiautomatic rifle because I wanted something using inexpensive ammo. It is the same rifle as the Mossberg Plinkster – uses the same magazines. Paid $99 on sale. Agree with the review, especially the wonderful sights. I’m sure the bolt action model is at least as good as the semiautomatic.
In 2019 I bought a Rossi .22 semiautomatic rifle because I wanted something using inexpensive ammo. It is the same rifle as the Mossberg Plinkster – uses the same magazines. Paid $99 on sale. Agree with the review, especially the wonderful sights. I’m sure the bolt action model is at least as good as the semiautomatic.
Thank you Bob for your service, your experience, cumulative knowledge and dedication to the shooting sports. At 67 I too enjoy helping and introducing both young and old to shooting sports with that which I’ve gleaned since the age of 6. I still have so much to learn. Again, thank you.
Marianne
I would say if you are on a budget, the Taurus 85 or the Taurus 856 is ideal.
Try to find one with a three inch barrel.
Watch for articles on snub .38s coming soon
Bob
Norm
Are we talking about the same rifle???
In my entire life I have yet to see a bolt action .22 rifle failure to feed, chamber, fire or extact
bob
I’m not looking for a rifle right now. I am looking for a small (38,357,etc.) for household protectionon a budget. Thank-You.
To me anything Rossi is a definite no. Several years back I bought a Circuit Judge, it was fine, I liked it and still have it. Then a chunk of the stock fell off right behind the cylinder release so I called and was told how sorry they were and send it to us and we’ll replace it. That took over a year. After calling a few times I finally got the new one. That didn’t fit very well and started to split just behind the hammer within a year. Went through the whole process again, and have never received a replacement yet. For a while I had a Houge grip on it. Its really just a Taurus Tracker. Then I heard Boyd stocks started making replacements so i got one of them. Works fine. A year later I called Rossi just out of curiosity and they said I’m on the list for a new stock as soon as they get them in. Ok. Never do business with them again.
I have a Marlin 795? which I tricked out as an Appleseed model, I believe it was about $139.00. Ten round mag. & some trigger work. Very accurate rifle at 50 yds. I have it set up with a Simmons scope (variable objective) on a 20moa rail for 100yds. I couldn’t figure out why it was shooting 1″ high at 100 adding the moa rail solved that problem. The Appleseed project had some rifles made up to their specs at the Marlin factory. By the time I was interested they were all gone. Marlin’s barrel on that model is exceptionally accurate.
I bought mine as an alternative to the expensive 10/22. Thought it would be ok as I own several Taurus and Rossi guns. I have had numerous failure to feed so I bit the bullet and now own the Ruger. Fortunately I bought it on sale for $99.