Puma Levergun in 357

[tkcomer]

Anybody here have the Puma rifles in 357? Thinking of getting one of the stainless carbines as a fun gun and also for home defense. Just wondering if the ones that have them would comment on them. Pros, cons, likes and dislikes. Since I reload for the 38/357 are they sensitive to bullet types? Is it safe to shoot lead in them or FMJ only? Just trying to get an idea of what they are like before I take a drive and go look at them. Thanks for any replies.

 

[ec-10]

I had one. It had feeding issues and there was a little collar inside that broke. Sorry I don't know what the little part was called. At 100 yards it was capable of 12" groups from a rifle rest. They are crudely made. I would like to have another lever gun at some point but it won't be a Rossi/Puma/Taurus.

 

[ArmedBear]

Just saw blue .357 Pumas at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store for $75 MORE than the .357 Marlins next to them (both guns had smooth hardwood stocks). They've got to be kidding.

The regular Marlin 1894C is a top-quality American-made firearm, with cut-checkered American walnut. They don't come in stainless, unfortunately, except the 1894SS which is a .44. That's what I'm getting, after I pay for the rare Marlin .22 levergun I stumbled on and felt compelled to buy... The 1894C, if you can find it, should run close to the Brazilian Rossi Puma in price. As such, it's a BARGAIN.

 

[Hobie]

I have to post just to contend with ec-10's assertion that the Rossi guns are junk. They are not. Visit the Levergun Forum and you'll find plenty of pleased/happy owners of these guns including yours truly. My gun is a carbine chambered in .45 Colt and will shoot into less than 2" at 100 yards. However the Rossis (EMF/Navy Arms/Legacy Puma) aren't the only game in town.

 

[Bob]

I have an older one in 357 and really enjoy it. Have had no problems at all. It's plenty accurate, especially after I put a tang sight on it (my eyes just don't like the open sights anymore). Try one and see what you think.
Bob

 

[sansone]

I agree with armed bear. for a little more money buy the marlin 1894C.. had one, miss it, shoots honest 4moa(with cheap bullets)..even better if you spend more on good stuff.. 38's OR 357 cycle fine

 

[M110]

My little puma carbine shoots just fine. And have had no troubles with it since I got it last xmas. Fed it a mixture of most all brands of .38/.357 with no problems. I can shoot cans at 50, and 100 yards all day long.


You marlin guys need to calm down a bit...

 

[Reddbecca]

I've heard lots of good things about the more recent Pumas, heard that their quality control has really picked up.

Has anybody who owns a Puma ever considered having the receiver given the case hardened finish?

 

[TIMC]

I have had Mine for a couple of years and it has been great. I have no complaints about it at all. I did replace the plastic follower with a stainless steel one from Brownell's just as a precaution but that was really cheap to do.

 

[Mac45]

What Hobie said. Check out leverguns.com
I would also recommend you visit stevesgunz.com
My buddy has two rifles from Steve, (a .45 Colt and a .357) and both are excellent!
Lead boolits are fine. Like all tube magazines, you do need to load flat nose boolits. My buddies rifle does seem to prefer .357's over .38 Special's. The .38's feed just fine, but the .357's are more accurate. I don't know yet if it's the velocity, or the longer chamber. There's a box of .357's loaded to .38 Special velocity on top of my safe, waiting for our next trip to the range

 

[ArmedBear]

You marlin guys need to calm down a bit...

I'd buy a Puma for 300 bucks. Not 500 (the asking price I just saw for blue round barrel carbines), or even $429, which is a "clearance price" I saw at another shop, also for the cheapest blue model. I never said or thought they were junk, just that the prices have gotten a bit out of hand.

The 1894C, a more rugged and easier to clean modular solid-top design, with a stock in a whole different class, is simply a much better rifle for the money, when the prices are nearly identical around here ($455 is about the best price for a new 1894C).

That said, I pay good money for things like black powder revolvers and sidelock muzzleloaders. If you want something like that brass/stainless beauty above, or just want the Winchester replica like they used in the movies, that has value in and of itself. "Superior design" isn't everything when you're buying a vintage gun, new or antique.

Don't think, however, that the real westerners all used Winchesters instead of Marlins. A trip to the Tombstone museum will cure you of THAT little bit of marketing. Winchester accidentally pulled off some of the earliest "product placement" successes in movies and TV, without even knowing it. Too bad they didn't know how to reap the benefits, like the Brazilians and Italians do. Winchester's gone, and Uberti sells replicas of their old guns for $1200.

All of that said, if you can find a REAL 1892 in good shape, those old guns are really neat!

 

[tkcomer]

I want the stainless version because this will be an under the bed, ready to go gun. Just pull it out every now and then and wipe it down. Marlin doesn't offer the stainless version in 357. This place: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php , which is only about 40 miles from me offers the 45 Long Colt in the stainless for the carbine version for 386.62 plus tax. I'm assuming the 357 version will be about the same. I won't know for sure if I'll buy it until I actually handle the Puma.

 

[Mk VII]

I found that it did not like semi-wadcutter bullets, was better with RN flatpoint ones. Broke the set screw that holds in one of the locking bars in almost immediately - silver-soldered back together (weird thread size). Broke an ejector many thousands of rounds later - replaced w/second-hand one from somebody else's gun. Club's s/s example lost plunger, spring and grub screw that retains follower assembly in magazine tube - backed out and got lost. Screw this up tight and Loktite it - you aren't going to use it anyway.

 

[Cosmoline]

The Marlins will likely be tougher, but they're also considerably bulkier and heavier. And they're not a 92 style. The Pumas are great in some ways and not in others. If you're going to shoot one a lot there are some fixes and upgrades you can do to it. There's even a fellow who specializes in slicking up Puma actions. The good news is that the core of the carbine, the barrel and receiver, is fantastic and will last a long time. Now you can always get a Browning M92 if you want a better 92, but you'll pay over a grand for it. Maybe a lot more.

 

[ArmedBear]

The Marlins will likely be tougher, but they're also considerably bulkier and heavier.

Marlin 1894C weighs 6 lb. I think that's really close to the same as the 92. Hard to do an exact comparison, since the Marlin has an 18.5" barrel and the 92 comes in 16" and 20".

"Bulky" is a matter of feel and personal preference. The 92 does feel a tad "skinnier". Depends what you prefer. IMO The Marlin 1894 is not as dramatically different from the 92 as the Winchester 94 vs. the 336, which do feel quite different.

All of that said, for $386 in stainless, the Puma would be a good deal, I think. I'd buy one. Buy it now before they figure out what dealers around here are charging for the things!

 

[raginrednek]

good price

i paid more for mine a year ago. sweet shooter and feeds anything i tried.

 

[MAKster]

Navy Arms

I have the Navy Arms version of the 1892. It's also make by Rossi, but has better fit and finish like walnut stock. The only negatives are that the action is tight and the lever can rub your hand raw. Also, the Navy Arms has the cresent butt plate which is very pointed and digs into your chest.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I've owned both the Puma and the 1894C. I don't have the Puma anymore (it broke and it took me about *three years* to get the replacement part), but I have two 1894C's.

 

[jbharned]

I have a stainless puma in .357 and it's been a great rifle. I did completely take it apart and debur everything. After that it's very smooth. Accuracy wise I replaced the front sight with a fiber optic one from marbles and I am still using the factory rear sight. 100 yard groups run from a small of 2 1/2" and the worst being all shots you can cover with your hand. I like the design better than the marlin.If anything it can be fickle to seating depth of rounds. I might put a tang sight on the back end and a folding leaf to replace the factory one. I was amazed how quickly you can run ammo through it and how warm it gets also. The original hillbilly assault rifle!

 

[ZeSpectre]

I have an older one that I use for Cowboy Action Shooting. Mine has, of course, been tweaked to mars and back over time as I've used it. Most pistols caliber leverguns are known to be pretty sensitive to OAL of cartridge but mine will feed .38 special or .357 Magnum without complaint.

Handles Lead rounds fine (all lead is required for CAS matches).

Some other "tuning" information
http://marauder.homestead.com/Rifles.html

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Mine is not a Puma, but it is still made by Rossi. It's marked Hartford and EMF...says Rossi under the lever though.

It has no safety and does not have the front sight built in the barrel band...it is behind the band, '92 style. There is no creature pics stamped in the receiver, and it has a steel (not plastic) follower in the magazine.

It is smoother than my other lever actions and feeds/shoots/ejects .357's and .38's equally well.

It's my favorite levergun...but I don't have another .357 one to compare it to.

 

[tkcomer]

Wow, I thought this thread had died. Here's mine: http://www.pixagogo.com/7789414121 I've only got about 150 rounds through it and I can tell it's smoothing up some. Definitely smoother than the '94. I took that stupid safety out and replaced it with plug from Steve Jones. Click on a pic to make it bigger, then click on Original at the top to really blow it up and you can see the plug. All in all, it's a sweet little rifle. Wife just loves it.

 

[Mk VII]

The ones we get don't have a safety, must be a special for the US market.

 

[chieftain]

I have to post just to contend with ec-10's assertion that the Rossi guns are junk. They are not. Visit the Levergun Forum and you'll find plenty of pleased/happy owners of these guns including yours truly. My gun is a carbine chambered in .45 Colt and will shoot into less than 2" at 100 yards. However the Rossis (EMF/Navy Arms/Legacy Puma) aren't the only game in town.

He did not call the Rossi "Junk", you did. He said in his opinion they were not very well finished. That's all.

I guess that is why someone else told us Marlin folks not to get so excited.

We don't have to get excited. Our guns don't need defending or anything else.

Most of the 92's over at that other forum have had custom work done to them. Most of the Marlins have not.

Is there an image evolving now?

I think the 92 is a nice weapon. I just prefer an American made weapons when I have choices. I wouldn't be upset if some one gave me a Rossi type 92. But I am not going to buy one. That's it.

Your money, your choice. My money, my choice.

Go figure.

Fred

 

[MAX100]

I am a western smith and have sold and done action work on a couple of hundred Rossi 1892 rifles. I have worked on all calibers. They all feed well. The early Rossi rifles had some problems but not any more. The EMF 1892 rifles are some of the best Rossi 92 rifles. They have a nicer stock and better sights, buckhorn rear and brass bead front. They all need action work to smooth them out. When the action job is done right they are a sweet and a butter smooth rifle. They are also very accurate. I owned a 38/357mag EMF 1892 rifle in it was very accurate at 50 - 100 yards. They are very popular with the Cowboy Action Shooters. That should tell you something because they need very reliable rifles. If you decide to get one have the action work done or do it yourself if you know what you are doing. Some one said they were getting 12" groups with one. It had to have a damaged crown. Also he said the collar broke, it is called the ejector collar. The ejector passes through it and it holds the ejector spring in place and keeps it from rubbing against the lever head.. It usually breaks when some one tries to lighten the ejector spring by shorting it. When you shorten the spring to much not enough pressure is put on the collar. The collar then has play in it, then it can get out of place and be crashed by the lever head when you cycle the rifle. Easy fixed Winchester 1892 collar will fit it and you can order one off of the Winchester website, cost about $2. Best to install a the Lees Gunslinger reduced power spring kit in your rifle. You can find them at Brownells $25. You will need to modify the ejector a little to work with the lighter ejector spring. Steve's Guns sales a DVD that tells step by step how to do a action job on a Rossi 1892 rifle.

If anyone has a question on the action of their 1892 rifle give me an email.



GC