Made For Tight Quarters

Lever-action rifles have been around for almost 180 years. They have stood the test of time and remain popular today. My first deer rifle, chambered in a 30-30 Winchester, was so actioned. While I found these lever rifles quick handling, their buckhorn sights didn’t offer me much in the way of accuracy. The new Rossi Model R95 Triple Black, with its optics rail and short barrel, offered both quickness and the opportunity to mount a low-profile scope.

Rossi Triple Black 30-30 Winchester

Introduced in 2024, the Triple Black is unquestionably a departure from historical lever rifles or, for that matter, most lever rifles that preceded it. Most notably is its all-black attire, which singularly separates it from its predecessors. It also features a short 16.5-inch alloy steel barrel, right-side ejection port, 11.25-inch optics rail, a rear peep sight paired with a brass bead front sight and the barrel is belled out at the muzzle to accommodate 5/8×24 threading for a muzzle brake. It includes a knurled thread protector, and the steel is treated with a Cerakote finish for all weather protection. The forend is fitted with a steel cap with an integral sling swivel stud that is paired with one on the buttstock. Other mechanical features include an enclosed magazine that holds five rounds, serrated hammer that is notched for an extension – the latter a user-friendly addition when using low-mounted optics – three position hammer and a cross-bolt safety.

The hardwood stock is matte black, finished with a spiderweb of matte black splatters for a textured look and it includes a recoil pad. Last, the extra-large lever loop is partially wrapped with braided paracord.

 

Rifle Specifications

Calibre: 30-30 Winchester

Length: 35.5 inches

Barrel length: 16.5 inches

Weight: 6.7 pounds

Rate of twist: 1/12 inches

Magazine capacity: 5

Bushnell R5 1-6×24 Scope

Bearing in mind that the Triple Black would find its niche in the woods or wherever a quick-handling rifle was a necessity, I looked for a scope that matched that objective. The R5, with its 1-6 x magnification and DD2-QA illuminated reticle, fit the bill perfectly. It features an HD optical system, multi-coated lenses and an etched and illuminated DD2-QA reticle (2 MOA based reticle with illuminated 1 MOA centre dot and 6 MOA illuminated quadrants.) Other notables include EXO Barrier lens coatings, nitrogen purged, IPX7 waterproof/fog-proof, shockproof, aircraft grade aluminum one-inch one-piece construction and it’s backed by Bushnell’s lifetime unconditional warranty.

 

Scope Specifications

Magnification: 1-6x

Objective lens diametre: 24 millimetres

Tube size: 30 millimetres

Length: 9.64 inches

Elevation and windage travel: 60 MOA

Weight: 17.3 ounces

Focal plane: Second

Eye relief: 4 inches

Field of view at 100 yards: 1x 110 feet; 6x 17 feet

Test Results

Right out of the box, I weighed the rifle and checked its trigger pull weight. At six pounds, 12 ounces, it was dead on its advertised weight. The trigger broke consistently at three pounds, 14 ounces, with no creep. While a bit heavy, this is a good trigger, particularly for a lever rifle. I then attempted to mount the R5 scope but ran into a glitch – I could not mount the scope without removing the rear peep sight. Which, as it turned out, was easy to do. All it required was to loosen the adjustment set screw on the front of the sight and slide it out. I then added a side port muzzle brake and a hammer extension. In totality, the combination weighed seven pounds, 13 ounces.

On the range, the rifle was a blast to shoot. With the muzzle brake, there was virtually no recoil or muzzle jump, and it cycled flawlessly. To evaluate this observation, I timed my son, Brent, on how many rounds he could fire effectively in 10 seconds. At 20 yards, he hit a small target three out of four shots in under 10 seconds. That was impressive. This is a well-built rifle, but one word of caution: Before shooting it, get to know the three-position hammer. Of the three, quarter cocked is considered safe. However, while quarter cock will lock the trigger, I highly recommend you use the manual cross bolt safety, particularly when unloading the rifle, as each round must be cycled through the action to be removed from the magazine. Safety first.

Meanwhile, the value-priced R5 scope delivered a bright, clear image with precise windage and elevation adjustments. At 1x, I really liked the expansive field of view it offered, ideal for still hunting wooded areas. The DD2-QA reticle was exactly the combination I was looking for. The illuminated dot offered a precise point of aim, while the 6 MOA quasi-circular quadrants afforded quick target acquisition – a real plus on a moving target in heavy cover. This is a good scope for the bucks spent.

In so far as ammunition, being that this rifle is one that most hunters would not reload for, I stuck to factory ammunition. I included ammunition from five companies and in grain sizes from 140 to 170.

 

Factory Ammunition:

Brand	Bullet	Velocity (fps)	Group Size (inches)
Remington Express Core-Lokt SP	170 grains	1,949	2.040
Federal Premium Nosler Partition	170 grains	1,956	1.320
Remington Express Core-Lokt HP	170 grains	1,989	1.540
Hornady Lever Revolution	160 grains	2,130	1.580
Remington Core-Lokt SP	150 grains	2,089	.950
Barnes Pioneer Lever Gun	150-grain TSX FN	2,090	1.185
Winchester Ballistic Silver Tip	150 grains	2,164	2.230
Winchester Power Point	170 grains	1,939	.698

Note: All groups are three shots at 100 yards with velocities obtained utilizing a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph and averaged.

 

Last Shot

When assessing my range results, the decrease in measured velocity over the ammunition’s advertised velocity didn’t surprise me. With the rifle’s shorter 16.5-inch barrel, it averaged about 250 feet per second less per round. While unquestionably a significant loss, I did not consider it a showstopper as I never envisioned this rifle as a long-range shooter. The combo delivered a 1.472-inch overall averaged accuracy with a couple of surprise sub-MOA groups. The best of the lot, at .698 inches, was Winchester Power Point 170-grain ammunition – an excellent choice for deer or black bear. The Triple Black not only shot well, but also with its short barrel and nimbleness, it would be a perfect fit in tight spaces.