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What comes to mind when a general-purpose rifle is mentioned? Would venture to say the image of a 24-inch barrel mated to a bolt action in a stout stock appears in your thoughts. If not this, then surely an AR-centric design. Where are we going with this? Too frequently, we default to a “cool” gear-centric perspective. Often, the counterintuitive approach yields superior insight into day-to-day needs. More mundane characteristics, such as adaptability, portability, and lightweight design, should not be ignored, as they best serve our needs in acquiring the next serving of camp meat.
Enter The Single-Shot Rossi LWC
A manufacturer that is developing into a noteworthy force in the US with multiple firearm types is Rossi. Lever action, revolvers, shotguns, single-shot, and some other unique offerings allow Rossi to stand out from the fold. Rossi, not being satisfied with the status quo, took the time to further enhance their LWC (Lightweight Carbine) break-open action single-shot with a folding skeletonized polymer stock. Rossi’s LWC .300 BLK with folding stock definitely caught my eye with its utilitarian appearance. Here was a true lightweight stow-n-go companion with .30 caliber chambering. The threaded barrel only adds to the Rossi’s usefulness for those so inclined to include suppressors in their inventory.
Numerous caliber options are available in the LWC line-up, with the folding stock variant initially offered in .300 BLK and 5.56mm. Other calibers such as .350 Legend, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and 8.6 BLK are sure to follow.
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Design Of The Rossi LWC
In designing the LWC, Rossi wanted to build the best single-shot rifle in what many label the “affordable class,” around $400. The LWC’s alloy steel barrel with black oxide finish is 16.5 inches long with a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle and 1:8 twist rate. The receiver and trigger guard are machined from steel with a poly overmold. The fore-end and pistol grip/folding buttstock are made of black polymer. Overall length is 31.5 inches with a weight of 5.25 pounds.
The LWC has a great feel to it, thanks to stout squat compactness. The barrel is topped with a Picatinny rail for mounting red dots or optics. I mounted Meprolight MPO Pro-F on the LWC. The MPO Pro-F offers three reticle options–3 MOA dot, 33MOAcircle/dot bullseye, and 33 MOA ring. The closed nature of the MPO Pro-F creates a dependable design that will not be affected by weather or environmental conditions. Rain, snow, and debris cannot interfere with the dot reticle, enabling accurate shooting in any conditions. A lithium CR1632 battery gives 20,000 hours of life.
.300 BLK Partner
This is where the .300 BLK comes into the story. The .300 BLK was introduced in response to a US special operations military forces request. Anecdotal information compares standard velocity .300 BLK 115-125 grain ammunition as exceeding the ballistics of the 7.62x39mm and eclipsing 5.56mm both in ballistics and terminal punch. At 300 yards, the .300 BLK has approximately 17 percent more energy than the 7.62×39, thanks to superior ballistic coefficient bullets.
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One interesting twist with the .300 BLK is the ability to choose factory-loaded subsonic cartridges for optimal use with a sound suppressor. The ability to access a plethora of either supersonic or subsonic factory ammunition offers great flexibility to the .300 BLK user. Compact, lightweight single-shot rifles with threaded barrels, such as the Rossi LWC, are ideal candidates for suppression. Why? The single-shot Rossi LWC is strong, versatile, and generally features a shorter overall length than firearms requiring an operating action. Plus, there is no noise generated from the action’s movement, as there is no action.
The Rossi LWC is intuitive to operate. While a single shot is not useful in a wave attack, it is a viable option for other important tasks, such as work/ranch companion, backpacking, and/or survival situations. A single-shot rifle chambered in .300 BLK with a suppressor creates a combination capable of “Hollywood” quiet performance when using subsonic ammunition. This may sound mundane, but it could be an important advantage depending on the situation. A normal rifle shot could attract unwanted attention. Having the option to maintain utmost discretion when firing a shot could be very useful in certain situations.
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Rendevous Time
When the Rossi LWC was discovered at the 2025 Athlon Rendezvous, I had to do a double-take. Here was a single-shot break-open weapon at one of the industry’s premier media events, gaining as much attention as the latest greatest AR or precision bolt action. Multiple steel targets stretched from 7 yards out to 225 yards in front of Rossi’s firing bay. Extraction of the spent round required plucking the spent case from the breach. Rossi was polite to equip the attending LWCs with suppressors as well as savvy to bring both supersonic and subsonic .300 BLK ammunition.
The LWC rifle has an exposed grooved hammer and is fitted with a transfer bar safety to prevent the gun from going off should the hammer be bumped or the gun dropped when the hammer is down on a loaded chamber. The LWC is single-action, meaning the hammer must be cocked for each shot fired. Engaging the crossbolt safety prevents the hammer from being cocked if the hammer is in the lowered position but still allows the action to be opened for loading or unloading. The crossbolt safety can also be engaged for “cocked-n-locked” carry. Be mindful that if you pull the trigger in this condition, the hammer moves forward slightly and will need to be pulled rearward again to allow for the function of the trigger and crossbolt safety.
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Back Home
Back at my Echo Valley Training Center home range, ammunition tested with the LWC was Hornady supersonic 110-grain V-Max and 190-grain Sub-X, SIG SAUER Elite 120-grain HT (now called SBR Solid Copper SIG catalogue), and 220-grain Match. Recoil is minimal, especially with a suppressor mounted, and non-existent with sub-sonic loads. The LWC’s trigger was impressive, exhibiting a 4-pound pull with no creep. It is an excellent trigger. Accuracy was in the sub-2-inch range at 100 yards. Very acceptable considering the role envisioned for the .300 BLK Rossi LWC.
Hornady Has It Going On… Quietly
The Hornady 190-grain SUB-X was of special interest due to its sub-sonic nature and bullets designed for maximum terminal effect on live targets even at sub-sonic velocities. The Hornady Sub-X bullet combines a lead core surrounded by a grooved metal jacket and tipped with the company’s Flex Tip insert. A cannelure groove is present for a positive case crimp. Long grooves scored into the Sub-X metal jacket, combined with a flat base, create conditions for reliable expansion. Hornady patented Flex Tip insert placed in front of hollow point cavity kicks expansion off when striking a target. The Flex Tip prevents material from clogging an exposed hollow point, which would negatively affect expansion. Hornady made sure the performance of the new load meets or exceeds FBI Protocol terminal ballistic test requirements. Additionally, a low flash signature makes the ammo ideal for both suppressed and unsuppressed firearms.
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Let’s remember, subsonic .300 BLK loads resemble pistol ballistic performance. For comparison’s sake, a 230-grain 45ACP generates 461 ft/lbs. The Hornady 190-grainSub-X 465 ft/lbs. All things being equal, a high SD bullet penetrates better than a low SD. BC is a measurement of how well a bullet moves through the air. Superior ballistic coefficients (BC .437 190 grain Sub-X versus .188 45ACP) and sectional densities (SD.286 versus .162) help the Hornady 190 grain Sub-X maintain energy and penetration characteristics further downrange than a typical pistol bullet.
On The Range
The compact Banish Backcountry suppressor was threaded directly to the LWC’s barrel. The Banish Backcountry measures only 5.5 inches in length and weighs just 7.8 ounces,thanks to titanium construction. The compact size and weight translate into minimal interference with LWC’s handling while still offering a six-baffle design that drops the decibel level down to approximately 135 dB.
A 100-yard zero was chosen, considering the role envisioned with the Rossi LWC and Meprolight MPO Pro-F red dot sight. A 3x magnifier was used to improve the sighting-in process. Roughly speaking, a 100-yard zero with 110-125 grain .300 BLK loads drop only -2-3 inches by 150 yards and 8-9 inches at 200 yards. Clay pigeons were easily broken out to 130 yards. You can judge if a 200-yard zero is more practical for your situation or optic choice. If a user wants to zero for subsonic loads, the trajectory is surprisingly flat out to 50 yards. 100-yard bullet strikes were approximately 8 inches low with the 50-yard zero.
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Further field testing consisted of Echo Valley Training Center’s Jungle Walk Range. The ability to move through its varied terrain and engage randomly placed deer/coyote/raccoon targets hidden within cover suited the Rossi LWC .300BLKperfectly. The ranges involved were 35-150 yards. Multiple shots were fired at most of the targets to allow for the opportunity to manipulate the LWC. The Meprolight MPO Pro-F sight allowed for a wide field of view and quick target assessment/engagement. As mentioned before, an end user could choose to mount a magnifier as well.
What Is the Rossi LWC Good For?
What role is the Rossi LWC intended to fill? As with most things related to firearms, the answer depends. What distinguishes the LWC .300 BLK is its ability to access standard supersonic rounds for typical hunting or longer-range engagements while maintaining the trump card of subsonic ammunition for more discrete, specialized workin a 5-pound package. Nothing compares to a single-shot rifle with a quality suppressor attached, firing subsonic ammunition for quiet firepower. The folding stock shrinks the LWC’s footprint to 23 inches.
A super-magnum rifle and a mega-zoom scope with a hyper-complicated reticle or a high-capacity magazine-fed rifle are not the only options available for getting the job done. The Rossi LWC will find a niche for itself in the American market, appealing to rifle lovers for its efficiency.
Specifications: Rossi LWC .300 BLK With Folding Stock
| Action | Break Open |
| Caliber | .300 BLK |
| Capacity | Single-shot |
| Barrel | 16.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 31.5 inches |
| Empty Weight | 5.24 pounds |
| Sights | None |
| Finish | Black |
| Stocks | Polymer folding |
| MSRP | $413.99 |
Performance:
| Hornady 110-grain V-Max | |
| Average Velocity | 2,277 FPS |
| Best Group | 0.63 inches |
| Average Group | 0.88 inches |
| Hornady 190-grain Sub-X | |
| Average Velocity | 1,023 FPS |
| Best Group | 0.75 inches |
| Average Group | 0.81 inches |
| Sig Sauer 220-grain Match | |
| Average Velocity | 1,010 FPS |
| Best Group | 0.66 inches |
| Average Group | 0.75 inches |
| Sig Sauer 120-grain HT | |
| Average Velocity | 2,234 FPS |
| Best Group | 0.75 inches |
| Average Group | 1.00 inches |
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The post Rossi LWC .300 BLK — Supreme Utility Rifle appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
