The only issue I ended up having with my 357 Mag was that damned forearm band fit. I would love to watch them force that screw through the forearm! I picture the forearm in a vice, a padded pipe wrench across the receiver with a three foot cheater, and a lot of muscle torquing the hell out everything just to get a screw to engage two lands. Incredible!
This forearm, like my last one, was shattered between the barrel and the magazine tube from the pressure that had been applied to it. I didn't want to work with it as I wanted to shoot the rifle but it was impossible for me not to deal with it. Here is what the band screw looked like.
As the forearm and magazine were torqued to get the screw past the barrel, contact with the barrel stripped the threads. There is no way the screw can pass through the forearm, without some incredible torque and pressure being applied to these components. None!
I did what I've had to do with all my 92s, except the 480 Ruger, relieve the barrel properly. I fit it in these steps.
1st - Band vs. screw Fit - I have found the band deformed from the Rossi installation! This one was squashed. I had to reshape it to fit the barrel and forearm radius. This step took the longest, about an hour, because I needed to keep going from my vice to the barrel and vice to forearm to make until the shape matched perfectly.
2nd - Band vs. Barrel Fit - It took a bit of filing with a series of round files but not to the extent that my 45 Colt required. I finish the work with wet & dry 600 grit on a wooden dowel. Those scratches on the barrel are from Rossi, not me!
3rd - Band vs.Forearm vs. Screw Fit - I have relieved the screw hole on all four of my 92s from 9/64" to 11/64" and then finish the work smooth with appropriate files and sand paper.
I had not relieved the forearm of it's middle material at this point but soon found that I still could not seat the band screw. Everything was lined up. I could see the screw at the hole but the stock needed to be compressed to seat it. Not good in my opinion as that is just going to apply an unknown pressure to the barrel. I removed the material from the middle of the stock with an exacto knife. This is where you learn that Brazilian hardwood is not the hardwood we know. Cuts like balsa!
With the stock relieved, the screw was seated without any pressure. Just threaded it in. The amount of pressure on the forearms of my 92s has been ridiculous, the rifles would have never lived up to their accuracy potential. If you wonder about that, remove the forearm and tube, then shoot your rifle. That is how most of my pressure trace shooting is done and it is amazing how the forearm and tube with goofy torque/pressure effects the rifle.
With the buggered screw, I was happy that I have been ordering Rossi parts. Look at the new Braztech Barrel Band Screw...
Notice the new "tip"? With everything aligned it sure seats easier and quicker. It is tougher to get in if the Rossi "Torque" technique is used to seat the screw as there are fewer threads to crush as the screw worms itself past the barrel.
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You might also try 357cyrus' Quick Fix offered later in this topic to see if it works on your rifle.
Love it.