After reading a number of negative reviews on Rossi model 92 carbines and rifles on this site, I chose to order a 16" carbine in .38/.357 caliber anyway. I simply resolved to inspect it carefully upon arrival, as Bud's reminds us all to do, and put my money down. The gun arrived at my local FFL dealer in a timely fashion, as is usual for Bud's. I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised with the appearance and function of this quality firearm. Remember: This rifle is not a Browning. It is not finished to Browning standards, and it did not cost anywhere near what the Browning does. It is a working man's tool. The wood, while plain, is attractively matt finished and well fitted, with no large gaps or mismatches where metal meets woodwork. The metal is well blued/blackened, with no scratches or uneven coloring. The sights are straight and strongly attached. The bolt mounted safety is very small and unobtrusive, functioning as a hammer block. It is very simple to use. The action is smooth and easy, and the trigger pull shows no creep or roughness. Loading through the loading gate took a minute to get a feeling for, as the ammunition must be maneuvered correctly, with a down-and-in curving motion at the back of the shell, while pushing forward into the tube magazine. No sharp edges, no pinches, no problems loading the full complement of eight shells into the magazine. I did not find the loading gate to be too stiff to manage easily. So far, so very good! Cycling the action with both .38 special 125-grain SJHP shells and 158 grain FMJ flat point shells was smooth and consistent, with no hangups or hitches at all. Ejection was similarly effective; positive, yet not too forceful. This ensures the brass will land consistently close at hand and in an area to the shooter's right, requiring no special efforts to locate and gather up later. The ammunition showed no scratching or damage whatever after cycling through the action. (Thanks to my FFL dealer for allowing me to test this function at the store with live ammo.) I accepted the transfer with no second thoughts, laid my money down for the FFL transfer fee, and went home happy. I look forward to sighting in and shooting this little rifle very soon. I like the fact that the 1-in-30 rate of twist in the barrel is just about ideal for stabilizing a 125-grain bullet, as I want to be able to shoot the same ammunition in my Smith & Wesson Model 10 (.38) as I do in my Rossi Model 92 (.38/.357) when necessary. I like the fact that this Rossi is not touchy at all about feeding the .38 factory rounds. I have not yet tested it with .357 ammunition, but there is no reason to assume there will be any more problem with that than there was with the .38s. Thanks to Buds Gun Shop for a professional execution of this transaction, as usual, and thanks to Rossi for producing a good firearm - and a good value in these times of inflated pricing on firearms and ammunition alike. Potential buyers: Be realistic in your expectations, and order with confidence. You won't be disappointed!