hey guys, i have been searching for a new rifle to play with, and this one caught my eye. its a puma lever action, 24 or 26" octagon barrel rifle. i just cant seem to find any info or reviews on how the are/shoot/accuracy... so on so forth. im wanting to know if they are good rifles for the price?? i really want a cimmoron or nice replica, but i just dont have that kinda cash right now. the puma lever action seems to be going for around 550.00$ a little more do-able than $1500.00-2500.00!!! thanks guys, brian.
puma 45-70 lever action rifle... thoughts?
- Thread starter brian923
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Buy a Marlin. Get the 1895 Cowboy if you want the long octagon barrel, or the 1895G if you want a shorter barrel that handles very well. $550 should get you a G, and you can't go wrong there.
Buds has the G for $508
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/41185
And the last Cowboy they sold was $642
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/41203
The Marlins are very well built very stout rifles that will take everything powderpuff loads to magnum loads. Easy to scope, if you like, and at least two companies make tang sights for them. You can not go wrong with the Marlin.
Buds has the G for $508
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/41185
And the last Cowboy they sold was $642
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/41203
The Marlins are very well built very stout rifles that will take everything powderpuff loads to magnum loads. Easy to scope, if you like, and at least two companies make tang sights for them. You can not go wrong with the Marlin.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Should be good guns. I have yet to handle one but their 1892's are excellent for the money. This is an 1886 replica so it is a stronger design than the Marlin.
How so? The 1886 is a sliding top correct? The Marlin 1895 is a solid top, how is that weaker? Not trying to be argumentative, I am genuinely curious.
Edit:
I did some poking around and the 1886 is the stronger action. I learn something new all the time. Seems the sliding top does not seem to make the 1886 weaker at all. That being said I think I'd still take my Marlin. But that is just my personal preference. Either one will do you well.
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dogsoldier0513
Member
I paid $485 for my Marlin 1895 Guide Gun and $699 (from CDNN) for my Winchester 1886 Lightweight Carbine. I liked the Marlin better.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The location of the bolt has little to do with it. What is important is how the bolt locks up. The 1886 and its little brother the 1892 have large, vertical locking lugs. Pressure-wise, the little 1892 is actually stronger than the big Marlin 1895. The Winchester 1895 is stronger than any of them but is still top ejection.
This 'may' be of no importance to the OP but it doesn't hurt to have all the info available.
This 'may' be of no importance to the OP but it doesn't hurt to have all the info available.
Very true, and thanks for the information.
i appreciate all the info i can get. im lookn for an older looking rifle. i kinda like the nastalgia (sp?) look. im not looking to scope it, but i would like to learn to use if for long range cowboy shooting. i was origonaly looking for a single shot type rifle like the 1885 high wall, but as i was looking through rifle mags and stuff, lever actions, which had never intrieged me before, kinda just caught my eye. keep the info coming guys, and thanks, brian.
SwampWolf
Member
You've made me curious too. Can you reference your "poking around" sources?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Truth be known, I would say the modern Marlin 1895 is as likely to be as strong or stronger then a Puma 1886 of questionable metal quality & heat treatment.
In actual fact, lever-actions do not blow bolts, no matter which bolt locking system they employ.
When they blow, they split or swell the thin chamber, which cracks the front receiver ring threads at the mag tube hole, which blows the barrel and magazine off.
In handloading data, real Winchester & Browning 1886's, and Marlin 1895's are rated for the same load pressure.
Only single-shots like the Ruger #1 are stronger and can take higher pressure loads.
rc
In actual fact, lever-actions do not blow bolts, no matter which bolt locking system they employ.
When they blow, they split or swell the thin chamber, which cracks the front receiver ring threads at the mag tube hole, which blows the barrel and magazine off.
In handloading data, real Winchester & Browning 1886's, and Marlin 1895's are rated for the same load pressure.
Only single-shots like the Ruger #1 are stronger and can take higher pressure loads.
rc
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kaferhaus
Member
If you're gonna do "long range" you might want to think about the 44mag instead. I'm not a lever gun expert by any means so their relative strength is unknown to me, but if you're a hand loader the 45 LC can be loaded to near 44Mag pressures in strong actions IF you use good brass such as Star Line.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk in 45LC that screams along at 44mag speeds and with good brass I've had no problems with neck splits or case head bulging. Never had a flattened primer either... some of the manuals have data for it in the "Contender or Black Hawk" sections usually found in the back of the manual.
I guess what I'm saying is that if they offer the same rifle in 44 Mag, I'd get it or Load your own for 45LC
Uh....what an idiot.... I thought I read 45LC when you're talking about 45-70 never mind.....LOL
I have a Ruger Blackhawk in 45LC that screams along at 44mag speeds and with good brass I've had no problems with neck splits or case head bulging. Never had a flattened primer either... some of the manuals have data for it in the "Contender or Black Hawk" sections usually found in the back of the manual.
I guess what I'm saying is that if they offer the same rifle in 44 Mag, I'd get it or Load your own for 45LC
Uh....what an idiot.... I thought I read 45LC when you're talking about 45-70 never mind.....LOL
I did a simple Google search that led me to leverguns.com and a few others.
The 1895 Marlin "Cowboy" is one heavy rifle. But that curved steel buttplate of the Puma will beat you up. I've shot an 1895 "Century Limited" with a curved steel plate like that; it's punishing.
R.W.Dale
Member
Does marlin make a levergun in 454 casull or 480ruger? I know of only one company that does.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Believe what you want, every authority I know of considers the 1886 a stronger design than the Marlin. About 10,000psi worth. I don't understand why every single time this is mentioned, whether it's the 1892 or the 1886, Marlin owners cry foul. The fact that the Browning designs are stronger does not imply in any way that Marlins are junk. Quite the contrary.
Folks who know a hell of a lot more than I do (Paco Kelly) consider the Rossi 1892 and other replicas to be strong enough for 45-50,000psi loads in .45Colt. So while I wouldn't take an anonymous internet poster's word for it, there is no reason to believe that the new 1886 are any less.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/4570_leverguns.htm
No. Back in the late `90's to early `00's, when the .454 became a factory loaded cartridge, all the big levergun makers tried adapting their guns to the cartridge. All failed. The Winchester Big Bore 94, Marlin 1894 and 336/1895 were all tried. Some didn't last 100rds. The cartridge simply shook them to pieces. Only the late model 1886 and 1892 proved strong enough. Obviously the 1886 is too large for the action and the .45/70 beats it in every way. So the 1892 became the only pistol cartridge carbine chambered in .454Casull. Much of what we know about levergun strength came from those tests and if I remember right, all of my information on the subject came from Bob Baker and Mic McPherson.
Folks who know a hell of a lot more than I do (Paco Kelly) consider the Rossi 1892 and other replicas to be strong enough for 45-50,000psi loads in .45Colt. So while I wouldn't take an anonymous internet poster's word for it, there is no reason to believe that the new 1886 are any less.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/4570_leverguns.htm
gglass
Member
Why are the Winchester 1886's and 1892's inherently stronger designs?
Because John Moses Browning designed them that way!!!
There is nothing questionable about the metallurgy employed in the Puma rifles. The Puma's are every bit as strong as the Winchester models that they were licensed to replace. Fit and finish are not as nice as the Winchesters of years gone by, but the actions are ultra strong and reliable.
Because John Moses Browning designed them that way!!!
There is nothing questionable about the metallurgy employed in the Puma rifles. The Puma's are every bit as strong as the Winchester models that they were licensed to replace. Fit and finish are not as nice as the Winchesters of years gone by, but the actions are ultra strong and reliable.
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Jonny V
Member
My thought is.......I want it.
Old Scratch
Member
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I'm a big believer in the 1895 Marlin. It can handle way more pressure/velocity/recoil than I can...plus its an accurate rifle to shoot. If you want to play in 45-70, the Marlin is a very promising way to go.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Absolutely nothing wrong with Marlins, I've got three of them and still lust after the 1895 Cowboy. However, they've been the only name in town for affordable .45/70 leverguns so it's REALLY nice to see an affordable 1886 hit the market. It's a wonderful design and these guns should be well-built. Although some of the late model Winchesters aren't much more than some Marlin models.
I'm curious where you can find a $1400 rifle for $550. Even allowing for an actual retail drop, that's a hell of a deal.
The 86 .45-70 Puma is made in Italy by Chiappa. Puma is a brand marque registered & owned by Legacy Sports in Nevada.
They're just coming out, so accuracy is still unknown.
The one I have here is well-made, tight action & lever.
The only cosmetic defect I can see is a slight gap between the front end of the fore-end & the cap.
Chiappa workmanship is usually pretty good. I have their Bounty Hunter, I've worked with a 16-inch 92 ringlever & an 87 shotgun, and I'll be getting around to this 86 in a couple weeks.
Their metallurgy is good, they're using more forgings than castings, good wood, and so on.
Not sure what the "licensed to replace" refers to. These guns are not licensed from Winchester.
Denis
The 86 .45-70 Puma is made in Italy by Chiappa. Puma is a brand marque registered & owned by Legacy Sports in Nevada.
They're just coming out, so accuracy is still unknown.
The one I have here is well-made, tight action & lever.
The only cosmetic defect I can see is a slight gap between the front end of the fore-end & the cap.
Chiappa workmanship is usually pretty good. I have their Bounty Hunter, I've worked with a 16-inch 92 ringlever & an 87 shotgun, and I'll be getting around to this 86 in a couple weeks.
Their metallurgy is good, they're using more forgings than castings, good wood, and so on.
Not sure what the "licensed to replace" refers to. These guns are not licensed from Winchester.
Denis
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