Puma 92

[mustang 22]

I have been looking for a good replica/copy/clone of a Winchester model 1892. This weekend I ran across this Puma 92 from Legacy Sports International. Of course the guy working at this particular shop claimed the Puma was the best thing since sliced bread, that he had bought one for himself and it was his best gun. Is there anyone out there with any experience with item that may possibly share information about it?

 

[oldgold]

Mustang;

I have two of them. One in 454 and one in .44mag. Maybe not as smooth as a Whinny or Marlin but just as accurate. Also wood in not very pretty but for the price I would say a great value. Probably not going to be a great investment because of the name but then you could buy two for the price of a Winchester.
goldy

 

[MatthewVanitas]

If you run a search on THR, there's lots of info on these. They're made under various names and types by the same factories, IIRC.

I was considering buying one last year, and read tons of good things on them.

There are a few gunsmiths that can really slick these up, and it's also possible to do yourself with some new springs and a little polishing. One THR member posted a write-up of how he fully disassembled his, polished up all the rough bits inside, and came out with an amazingly smooth gun.

Having felt the Marlin/Win 1894-type rifles, the 1892-types are really pleasantly svelte.

-MV

 

[ZeSpectre]

One THR member posted a write-up of how he fully disassembled his, polished up all the rough bits inside, and came out with an amazingly smooth gun.

That may be me you are referring to. In my "J.P. Withers" SASS pseudonym I did a writeup that can be found here (about halfway down the page)

The Rossi 92 is generally a solid rifle (Mine is chambered in .357) and with a little TLC can run amazingly smoothly.

 

[taliv]

mine's in 480 ruger. i like it because it's fun to shoot and so unbelievably cheap. however, the lever is ROUGH to operate and it's not accurate at all. i can't reliably hit coke cans at 50 yrds with it. (something that ALL my other rifles can do)

 

[ZeSpectre]

mine's in 480 ruger. i like it because it's fun to shoot and so unbelievably cheap. however, the lever is ROUGH to operate and it's not accurate at all. i can't reliably hit coke cans at 50 yrds with it. (something that ALL my other rifles can do)

I'm guessing you have one of the Legacy Arms ones? I've wanted to shoot one in that caliber. As for the really rough lever, have you ever disassembled it and looked at the ejector spring? If it is "skipping" along the ejector it will make things lever really roughly. Chamfering the little retaining bit (a small cylinder) will help and then you should polish the rod of the ejector back up if it shows chattermarks.

Another thing that might help the smoothness a lot (assuming you don't want to disassemble and slick the whole thing up) is to put a light coating of white lithium grease on the locking lugs.

As for accuracy, the two things I know to check right off are that the chamber is actually clean (I've seen some hideous buildup in the front of chambers before) and that the barrel crown is in good shape. These little carbines seem VERY sensitive to the condition of the crown. If you clean these from the barrel end (as most of us do 'cause tearing 'em down is a pain) you MUST buy and use a muzzle guard to protect the crown.

 

[taliv]

it's a rossi puma, made in brazil.
i've never taken it apart. i rather doubt i'd be able to get it back together. it and a henry 22 are my only lever guns. i know nothing about them.

you guys have me thinkign though. i may take it to a gunsmith and ask him to work up a number 6 on it for me


btw, i clean it with a boresnake. always pull it from breech to muzzle.

 

[joab]

I have one in 44/40
It is actually smoother and tighter than my 80's vintage Winchester
I got mine LN for about $180
But it belonged to a deceased CAS shooter who may have had some work done to it
I also got a matching 44/40 Cattleman LN for the same price that according to the local CAS guru had definetly had some work done to it

 

[Black Snowman]

I'm planning on getting one of these on my next paycheck. 16" 454 Casull in SS with the HiViz sights. Should be a nice companion to my 454 SRH. I'm sure I'll have pictures and range report once it shows up.

 

[iamkris]

The search feature reveals a ton of threads on this specific subject...rather than rehash it, I give you the links for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=252284&highlight=puma

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=114373&highlight=puma

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=130765&highlight=puma

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=90610&highlight=puma

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=25328&highlight=puma

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=25215&highlight=puma

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=10763&highlight=puma

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=128322&highlight=rossi

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=122483&highlight=rossi