Whether you're on the lookout for a truck gun, a survival gun or a hunting handgun, Rossi has you covered for all three with its new Brawler single-shot pistol. The Rossi Brawler engendered a lot of excitement when it was first announced, and now that we've had a chance to shoot it, we're even more enthralled. In fact, the Rossi Brawler has garnered our coveted NRA Gun of the Week title ... and here's why.
To begin with, single-shot handguns are great for beginners--although we always check anyway, it's easier to keep track of whether there's a round in the chamber or not when it's only possible for one cartridge to be loaded at a time. As a break-action gun, the Brawler has no magazines to keep track of, and the hinge action is simplicity itself to operate.
Next, there's the fact that the Brawler is an omnivore: It can digest .45 LC (a pistol round) as well as 2 1/2" or 3" .410 shells (a shotgun round). That means that this firearm has the firepower to take down small to medium-sized game. Although the .45 LC/.410 bore dual-chambering concept isn't new, the Brawler's ease of use is.
You see, the Brawler wasn't created as a concealed-carry (CCW) firearm. It was created to be easy and fun to shoot, so this is one of the biggest handguns you'll see in the store. It has a 9" barrel and is 14" long overall, and it weighs in at just over 2.5 lbs. But every ounce of that weight eats up the gun's recoil, and the recoil-absorbing grip of the Rossi Brawler ensures maximum comfort and control during shooting sessions. This feature significantly reduces recoil, enabling shooters to maintain accuracy and stability, even during rapid-fire situations.
"We took Rossi’s single-shot Brawler to the range with a mix of loads and no malfunctions were reported," say our testers, "the gun’s rubberized grip is quite comfortable, especially when shooting heavy-for-caliber loads." It was also noted that the stippling along the sides of the polymer forend are worthwhile additions to the gun, especially when using a two-handed hold, and that it helps secure the gun when using shooting sticks in the field. "All told," they conclude, "the Brawler presents an affordable and versatile package that is hard to beat." MSRP $257.99; RossiUSA.com.
