Puma lever actions
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alaskanativeson
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I haven't received it yet, but I just ordered a Puma 92 in .454 Casull. I got the stainless 16 inch to go with my Super Redhawk in 454 for a fun and useful 2 gun combo. I was recently in Anchorage and got to handle a Puma 92 in .480 Ruger. It seemed well made with asufficiently smooth action. When I get mine I'll be sure to post something about it along with a few pics.
amd6547
Member
I had one in 44mag. It seemed very well made and very smooth in operation....till I took it to the range and put ammo in it. The lever action was not smooth at all, even jamming on the load stroke, and jamming in the ejection stroke, and just generally not smooth in function when it did work. I used to have a marlin 44mag, and it felt the same in function regardless of whether there was ammo in it or not...glass smooth.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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Pumas are excellent. I briefly owned one in .357 with a saddle ring and like an idiot, I sold it in a money crunch, thinking it served no real purpose. Glad I kept the other two.
feedthehogs
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I had one in .454 I bought new and sold it a month later.
From the moment I picked it up, I felt is was a lesser quality gun that I am used to and after breaking the barrel band and stock problems I sold it.
The quality is just not what I'm used to.
From the moment I picked it up, I felt is was a lesser quality gun that I am used to and after breaking the barrel band and stock problems I sold it.
The quality is just not what I'm used to.
alaskanativeson
Member
I will say that I only bought the Puma because Marlin doesn't yet make a lever rifle in .454 Casull. If they did, I'd be all over it like stink on seal oil. Better yet would be a Marlin in .460 S&W which would be able to shoot the 460, 454, and .45 Colt rounds. They could charge me whatever they'd want for that rifle!
22/22mag
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woodsoup
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tkcomer
Member
I have 2. Both stainless. One in 357 and one in 44 mag. The 357 is touchy with 38 Special ammo. Ya have to cycle it slow. The 44 mag is an older gun that I bought used. Both are fun guns. I use cast bullets in my reloads so I don't really fire hot loads through them. The 357 shoots holes in pop cans, but the 44 tears them apart. Gotta say that I really like both of 'em. Here's some pics of the wife with the 357: http://www.pixagogo.com/2878404143 Click on a pic to make it bigger, then click on original at the top to really blow it up. The last gun is a Henry in 22 mag. Red dot is for night time critter duty.
mainmech48
Member
I also have two Rossi M92's, both in .357: a 16" bbl. "Trapper" and a standard 20" carbine. They've given me a lot of enjoyment over the years and I've grown very fond of them.
Both were pretty tightly fitted as they came out of the box, and the actions needed to be cycled with a bit of firmness for best function until several hundred rds had been through them. They've continued to slick-up nicely with use and have become quite smooth-working.
Mine work just fine with .38 Spls with the exception of full WC's. nowadays my standard plinking/practice reload uses .357 cases, as my hoard of old .38 brass has been pretty much worn out.
IMO, these are a great companion piece for a like-chambered revolver and fine utility/recreational carbines in their own right. Light, handy, accurate and dependable, they're about as versatile a weapon as one could ask for.
Both were pretty tightly fitted as they came out of the box, and the actions needed to be cycled with a bit of firmness for best function until several hundred rds had been through them. They've continued to slick-up nicely with use and have become quite smooth-working.
Mine work just fine with .38 Spls with the exception of full WC's. nowadays my standard plinking/practice reload uses .357 cases, as my hoard of old .38 brass has been pretty much worn out.
IMO, these are a great companion piece for a like-chambered revolver and fine utility/recreational carbines in their own right. Light, handy, accurate and dependable, they're about as versatile a weapon as one could ask for.
MCgunner
Member
Are there TWO Pumas, one from Legacy Sports and one from Rossi?
I've had a Rossi for 20+ years and like it a lot. I'm confused.
http://www.legacysports.com/products/puma/index.html
I've had a Rossi for 20+ years and like it a lot. I'm confused.
http://www.legacysports.com/products/puma/index.html
mainmech48
Member
When I first saw the Rossi M92 replicas back in the late '70's-early '80's "Puma" was the trade name they used on them. Some even had a cheesy-looking medallion with a snarling cat on it on the left side of the receiver. Some very early import versions were marked "El Tigre", which I gather was the name they were sold under in the South and Central American market.
When I bought my first one, Rossi had dropped the "Puma" name and the medallion and improved the overall quality a good deal.
AFAIK, Rossi/Taurus makes the ones from Legacy Sports and the "Puma" tag may be exclusive to that line.
Neither of mine have the word "Puma" anywhere on them, nor is it mentioned in the manuals and assorted literature that came with them.
IMO, new calibers and the redundant manual safety aside, it's the same animal.
When I bought my first one, Rossi had dropped the "Puma" name and the medallion and improved the overall quality a good deal.
AFAIK, Rossi/Taurus makes the ones from Legacy Sports and the "Puma" tag may be exclusive to that line.
Neither of mine have the word "Puma" anywhere on them, nor is it mentioned in the manuals and assorted literature that came with them.
IMO, new calibers and the redundant manual safety aside, it's the same animal.
I'd love to have a lever gun in 460 S&W. It would be a match made in heaven.
However, it's not meant to be. The 460 is just far too strong and none of the currently available actions would stand up to the beatings.
It's a crying shame since it would be able to run everything from cowboy loads for plinking to embarrassing 45/70s with heavier loads.
However, it's not meant to be. The 460 is just far too strong and none of the currently available actions would stand up to the beatings.
It's a crying shame since it would be able to run everything from cowboy loads for plinking to embarrassing 45/70s with heavier loads.
ogie dogie
Member
There is not 2 puma manufacturers,only 1, Rossi, but I guess you could say that there are 2 pumas,presafety& current safety.I,ve got the current in a 20in.,ss,454 casull.Love it,but it is ammo picky.I went from 240s to 300s and the 300s went every were,went back to the 240s and everything was fine.
By the way, did you know that Gene Lumsden started LSI.
By the way, did you know that Gene Lumsden started LSI.
tomh1426
Member
I got a Rossi Puma in .45 Colt, Its the older (pre safety) model.
I really like this gun alot, Its smooth, accurate, well balanced and it looks great.
I dunno about the newer models.
I really like this gun alot, Its smooth, accurate, well balanced and it looks great.
I dunno about the newer models.
MCgunner
Member
Mine has no safety and had the "cheesy medallion" of a mountain lion, but it fell off the first range trip and I really didn't care, LOL. There's a sort of spot there now where the cat used to be.
Mine's in .357 and is quite accurate with a wide range of bullet weights and power levels. If you're having problems with accuracy in heavy bullets, I'm thinkin' it's a riflling twist problem. My son-in-law's .45 Colt shoots 300 grain Hornady XTP-JHPs rather well, though. They're loaded pretty hot, around 1400 fps.
Mine's in .357 and is quite accurate with a wide range of bullet weights and power levels. If you're having problems with accuracy in heavy bullets, I'm thinkin' it's a riflling twist problem. My son-in-law's .45 Colt shoots 300 grain Hornady XTP-JHPs rather well, though. They're loaded pretty hot, around 1400 fps.
mainmech48
Member
I really haven't tried anything heavier than 180 gr. in mine, and really haven't used many of those.
The old Lyman 358429 cast SWC over 14.8 gr. of 2400 (case crimped over the edge of the front driving band) will put 5 rds in under an inch at 50 yrds from a rest, when my bifocal-clad eyes allow. Federal 180 gr, JHPs go about 1/2-3/4" more.
Almost all of my shooting with .357's is with my standard reload of a 158 gr. cast SWC over 5.6 gr. of 'new' Unique. It was 6.2 gr. with the 'old' Unique, but when I finally got the new stuff that charge gave just enough more velocity (a bit over 150 f/s) to start giving me leading that I hadn't seen before and both the ES and SD went up significantly.
I had to go back and do the chono work again to find the charge that most closely approximated my old numbers.
At just under 1000 f/s from a carbine it's accurate, easy on the gun and me and more than adequate for the plinking and small game hunting that makes up the bulk of my .357 use anymore.
My 11 yr. old nephew really enjoys shooting them from the little Trapper, which has become his new favorite choice on his visits when we go to the club.
The old Lyman 358429 cast SWC over 14.8 gr. of 2400 (case crimped over the edge of the front driving band) will put 5 rds in under an inch at 50 yrds from a rest, when my bifocal-clad eyes allow. Federal 180 gr, JHPs go about 1/2-3/4" more.
Almost all of my shooting with .357's is with my standard reload of a 158 gr. cast SWC over 5.6 gr. of 'new' Unique. It was 6.2 gr. with the 'old' Unique, but when I finally got the new stuff that charge gave just enough more velocity (a bit over 150 f/s) to start giving me leading that I hadn't seen before and both the ES and SD went up significantly.
I had to go back and do the chono work again to find the charge that most closely approximated my old numbers.
At just under 1000 f/s from a carbine it's accurate, easy on the gun and me and more than adequate for the plinking and small game hunting that makes up the bulk of my .357 use anymore.
My 11 yr. old nephew really enjoys shooting them from the little Trapper, which has become his new favorite choice on his visits when we go to the club.
Freightman
Member
Have one in 45 Colt smooth accurate and works with any load, have tried 300gr, 255g,275gr, and 200gr bullets no feeding problems. Have one load with the 300gr up to 1700fps with no pressure signs and recoil was not bad at all. Mine is good quality YMMV.
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280shooter
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- Jan 31, 2008
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Freightman
Freightman
Wow thats a beauti,,,is the stock, a stain, or is that real wood grain,
thats a great looking gun,I love to pick one of them up..
maybe in 357,I have reloading stuff for 357 -38 and also 44 mag,
Freightman
Wow thats a beauti,,,is the stock, a stain, or is that real wood grain,
thats a great looking gun,I love to pick one of them up..
maybe in 357,I have reloading stuff for 357 -38 and also 44 mag,
I love mine; it's in .357 mag and shoots great with .38's or .357 mag. The only thing I changed on mine was the plastic follower, it changed to a steel follower. I didn't want to have problems down the road, the steel followers are much better. I found the action was much snoother than my mod 94 out of the box.
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