So IF I'm thinking right, and compiling this data quite right, the GENERAL consensus is pretty much split down the middle from the advice given thus far...
I can say after shooting Rugers, I'm not too crazy about 'em... May have just been the grips the fellas had on 'em (I shot three pair, various barrel length-Starting off I thought a 7.5er was what I wanted-then I shot one... No thanks!), but I just don't like 'em as well as I do a SAA/Clone.
While the Rossi may be less expensive, I have never heard anyone who owned both say they preferred the Rossi to the 1873 Uberti. Cast around, you likely will find a very good one for about 900.00.
Have fun and best of luck!
As is, I've got one guy who MIGHT could lay hands on a '73 for a decent price. I'll give him a buzz when I see EXACTLY (after bills and this most recent car repair) just how much I've got to drop on it (without the wife killing me!). If I could find one for $900ish, I would probably go that route and just get the Hombre. I mean, all I need at this point is the match rifle, pistols, and leather. Reloading is also important, because I can't be dropping $200 a month on ammo. I don't have that kind of scratch-that's nearly my whole house payment!
Didn't mean to hurt yer feelin's. I've tried to make you feel welcome & included, but you did kinda put me off with all that bragging & I tend to be rather blunt (even rude) when I'm put off.
I like the Rossi '92 & do pretty well with it, but if money was no object & the goal was to buy he fastest rifle, the '73 with a short stroke kit is faster. On the other hand, Lots of my friends shoot '73s & they're faster than me it's not because of the rifle they shoot. And, they all carry tools & most of 'em carry spare parts but I've never had the need for either.
I don't personally believe that faster is always better, especially when loading cartridges. I've seen lots of people blow a whole stage because their ammo let them down. Without exception they loaded that ammo on a super fast progressive with blue paint & a big price tag. I use a Lee turret press and can honestly say the only time my ammo lets me down is if a primer doesn't work.
As for pistols, I don't like any of your choices. I'm a Ruger fan.
First off, it wasn't bragging. It's a simple fact-I was raised on a long guns, grew up in the woods, and have been shooting since I was around 4-5 years old. Again, I suck at most everything in life-I've totaled 3 cars (and been driving right at 10 years), have a failing heart, and couldn't even play high school sports. When I'm good at something, I make no bones about it. As my da always told me (because of bad health and getting picked on/bullied about sucking at life in general): "It ain't bragging if you can do it."
And I CAN shoot a rifle (not the handguns-I ain't great with the revolvers-OR the shotguns). I've worked at it for a long time. I don't think it's bragging to say I can shoot, and shoot well. I'm sorry if that somehow puts you off, but for you to be rude about it-to quote Captain Woodrow F. Call "I hate rude behavior in a man-I won't tolerate it." You can say it's black and white, blunt, or whatever-fact is, there was no call for it-REGARDLESS of the situation. I'm reminded of what Thumper told Bambi, actually.
I DO thank you for the information on the Rossi. Practical experience is what I'm looking for with it. Speed is not my primary concern at this point, since I realize that no matter how well I do-I am NOT going to be shooting 12-18 second stages (that'd be what 2-3 of the fellas I shoot with do when they shoot). My best so far has been an (unofficial) time of 26 and some change, 10-10-4, Nevada sweep on the pistols, 10 on 4, no double taps with the rifle.
The fact you've not needed spare parts so far is also appealing. Not saying I'm rough on my firearms (quite the contrary-I tend to baby them), but it's good to know it holds up.
Again, I prefer SAA clones. See above.
The one match I shot with Stu Kettle, he did better than "pretty well" with it, but that was a GAF match, not a "stand and deliver 10-10-4" match. More like a woods walk shoot. With 15-20 targets it saves a lot of reloading time if you don't miss much.
I used a Rossi in .357 for several years before I came across a used '66 carbine at the same time when I had some cash in my pocket. Both were completely stock, but well broken in. The Rossi was ok, but even the stock '66 was soooo much easier to operate. Accuracy was about equal, though.
As I said, there's one fella I know who might could lay hands on a decent used "Top Shelf" rifle. Depending on what I can find one used for, I WILL probably go that path.
Right now (and I've spent the better part of today out at local pawn shops, a couple of gun stores, and a Gander Mountain), after talking with several people, and looking at prices-$420 for the Rossi is looking mighty appealing, since the reloading stations I'm looking at (Lee Load All Shotgun, and one of their progressive presses, can't remember the call sign) will run me right at $350 for the basic setup-that don't include bullets, powder, primers, etc.. I mean, it's great to have a great match rifle (and god knows I LOVE the '73-the one I've handled at a match was smooth as glass and natural as breathing to use), but if you can't afford to FEED it...
'Suppose the only thing what's done for it is call the couple of fellas I know, see what they can get me, keep a check in the pawn shops/guns stores over the next few days, and then bite the bullet depending on what I can find.