Well I went by the gun shop and picked up my new Legacy Puma 92 in .454 Casull today, so I thought I would give a few first impressions. I took pics, but all I had was my cell phone and they turned out crappy so I didn't post them. I'll try to borrow the daughters didgital camera and post a few later. I opted for the blued version with the hi-viz sights. I don't care that much for stainless firearms.
Overall I'm very pleased. There were machine marks visible on the sides of the bolt when the action is open, but when closed is is a well fit rifle. The action is tight but slick with no side to side play in the lever. It also has a short throw on the lever which make it quick to operate. I haven't felt any hangups in working the action at all. but bear in mind that I have only worked it empty so time will tell. The trigger is probably the nicest of any lever gun I've ever owned (including 2 Marlins and a Win 94) and has virtually no creep. It breaks cleanly at a guestimated 3.5 pounds or so, but I don't have a trigger scale. Surprisingly light for a rifle made in a time when they pack a lawyer in every box.
The wood is stained a deep chocolate brown which accents nicely with the blue steel. In fact it is nearly as dark as the blueing. It has a pretty nice grain and I'm wondering already what it would look like with an oiled finish, but I'll probably leave it alone for now. As it comes on the rifle the wood is very ulitiltarian and looks very much like it belongs in a saddle rig. A no nonsense approach but it seems to work.
The rifle itself is light and quick to the shoulder. It should make a good fast handling brush gun. The big reason I chose the .454 is that it has an intregral recoil pad which adds a bit to the length of pull. I'm a pretty tall guy and the other models without the pad were just too short for me. With the pad it seems to fit me fine.
Frankly, the jury's still out on the hi-viz sights. Don't get me wrong, they are very visible. I'm sitting here now in pretty low light and can see them plainly. I'm just not sure that the dovetail/set screw attachment arrangement is going to lock them down very well. That coupled with the fact that they are about 2.5 inches long from the attachment point to the actual rear sight leads me to believe that they will be easy to knock off adjustment even taking it out of a soft case. There again, time will tell. I didn't measure the dovetail but it looks pretty standard and the sights could probably be replaced easily. I also haven't tried tightening the set screw which may be the root cause anyway. I'll keep you posted.
The weather here has been crappy lately but it's supposed to be nice this weekend so I plan to go to the range on saturday (well lets put it this way, I'm going to the range on saturday if I have to jog there carrying all my gear with Rosie O'Donnell sitting on my shoulders while beating me about the face and neck with Sarah Brady trying to stop me) I'll try to write a range report afterward. Thank for your time.
Overall I'm very pleased. There were machine marks visible on the sides of the bolt when the action is open, but when closed is is a well fit rifle. The action is tight but slick with no side to side play in the lever. It also has a short throw on the lever which make it quick to operate. I haven't felt any hangups in working the action at all. but bear in mind that I have only worked it empty so time will tell. The trigger is probably the nicest of any lever gun I've ever owned (including 2 Marlins and a Win 94) and has virtually no creep. It breaks cleanly at a guestimated 3.5 pounds or so, but I don't have a trigger scale. Surprisingly light for a rifle made in a time when they pack a lawyer in every box.
The wood is stained a deep chocolate brown which accents nicely with the blue steel. In fact it is nearly as dark as the blueing. It has a pretty nice grain and I'm wondering already what it would look like with an oiled finish, but I'll probably leave it alone for now. As it comes on the rifle the wood is very ulitiltarian and looks very much like it belongs in a saddle rig. A no nonsense approach but it seems to work.
The rifle itself is light and quick to the shoulder. It should make a good fast handling brush gun. The big reason I chose the .454 is that it has an intregral recoil pad which adds a bit to the length of pull. I'm a pretty tall guy and the other models without the pad were just too short for me. With the pad it seems to fit me fine.
Frankly, the jury's still out on the hi-viz sights. Don't get me wrong, they are very visible. I'm sitting here now in pretty low light and can see them plainly. I'm just not sure that the dovetail/set screw attachment arrangement is going to lock them down very well. That coupled with the fact that they are about 2.5 inches long from the attachment point to the actual rear sight leads me to believe that they will be easy to knock off adjustment even taking it out of a soft case. There again, time will tell. I didn't measure the dovetail but it looks pretty standard and the sights could probably be replaced easily. I also haven't tried tightening the set screw which may be the root cause anyway. I'll keep you posted.
The weather here has been crappy lately but it's supposed to be nice this weekend so I plan to go to the range on saturday (well lets put it this way, I'm going to the range on saturday if I have to jog there carrying all my gear with Rosie O'Donnell sitting on my shoulders while beating me about the face and neck with Sarah Brady trying to stop me) I'll try to write a range report afterward. Thank for your time.
By your line of reasoning how do people shoot a 45-70 revolver? Heavy doses of fast handgun powder behind a moderately heavy projectile makes for some nasty recoil especially given the additional velocity of a rifle barrel. You want nasty recoil try a 500S&W handi rifle, PHEW! one of these bruisers makes a 45/70 feel like a 30-30
