Puma 92

[475WLN]

Anyone shot, played with, or handled the Puma 92 in 480. What is your review?

[454PB]

I have one in .454 Casull. I'm happy with it.

[felix]

Which design is stronger for the bigger boomers; which lasts longer with lighter loads? It's a 92 versus 94 versus Marlin's design. Not talking about the 308W class of cartridges. ... felix

[454PB]

Well, SAAMI pressure limits for the .454 Casull is 65,000 PSI. I don't think a model 94 or 336 can handle that kind of pressure, the 92 does.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Well, SAAMI pressure limits for the .454 Casull is 65,000 PSI. I don't think a model 94 or 336 can handle that kind of pressure, the 92 does.

Doesn't seem to make sense does it, the 1894 was bought out because the 1892 couldn't handle the rifle cartridges, but it seems the 92s can handle these boomers.

[Dale53]

It was a length issue, NOT a strength issue. The '92 will only handle pistol length cases.

Dale53

[floodgate]

Felix, 454PB. etc.:

I dunno, unless there is a major change in metallurgy, or in the barrel shank dimensions in the Rossi Pumas. Back in the '60's when there were efforts to convert the 92's to .44 Mag, they would swell the chamber and bulge the threaded section with hot loads.

floodgate

[Four Fingers of Death]

We had the same troubles in the 80s here in Australia, with the 357s, they were a real pain, especially with hot loads. I never owned one then but a lot of friends had them and they had alll sorts of grief. I have one new one (44) and a used one which I don't think is too old in 357 and they seem fine. Mind you I havent tried to stretch the envelope yet as I use them for cowboy and not hunting. I use a 30/30, a 375 and a 45/70 and have a 32/20 waiting for its first (with me) hunt, so the rossis are just being used for target work.

[Ed Barrett]

I have been shooting a Puma in .454 Mag. for about a year now. Hot loads don't seem to bother it at all. It's very accurate and well made. A friend of mine liked shot mine a couple of times and went and bought one for himself. I think they are a great gun, and very reasonably priced.

[454PB]

I've heard from other Puma owners that they sometimes crack on the wood forearm. I've been watching mine, and no problems yet, but something to keep in mind.

[lovedogs]

Seems to me I've read an article somewhere that the metal work has been upgraded to handle the higher pressure rounds in the new '92's. In the same article it mentioned a sort of endurance test they did and the '92 passed with flying colors. I've not had the chance to try one yet but would jump at the opportunity to do so.

[454PB]

If you haven't seen it, here is a link to an article Paco Kelley wrote about the Puma 92 and it's durability.

http://www.gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm

[dltaskey]

I have one of the Interarms Pumas in 45lc that I routinely load with 23gr Lil Gun pushing a 325gr rfn and it seems to love it. It chronies at 1710 and consistently cuts 3-leaf clovers at 50 yds with receiver sights. That metal crescent buttplate takes some of fun out pretty quickly though.

[tom barthel]

I think the m92 rossi is far stronger than the 94. I'm not sure about the marlin. I have loaded some nasty primer blowing loads in my 1894. I really hope rosi brings out a LONG action in .30-30 and larger calibers. I would buy one if reasonably priced.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I think the m92 rossi is far stronger than the 94. I'm not sure about the marlin. I have loaded some nasty primer blowing loads in my 1894. I really hope rosi brings out a LONG action in .30-30 and larger calibers. I would buy one if reasonably priced.

No doubt they have been scratching their heads trying to work out the market ever since they heard (and probably long before) about the Winchester hiccup. You could just produce them I suppose as the patents would have expired long ago. Could you produce a clone of a competitors product which as been in continual production? Everybody produces 1911s, but that's different. It was produced by lots of contractors to the Govt.'

I went back to my home town this weekend. Bob who owns the local gunstore has two new 94s on the shelf, a 30/30 Legacy and a standard 30/30 20" carbine.

I liked the look of the legacy, but I just lay byed a used Classic 30/30 at another store.

[6pt-sika]

I've been wanting a lever that shot 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh for awhile. First I tried to get the Winchester 94 in the advertised 480 , that alas never was produced , then I got all wound up for the Marlin 1895RL that was supposed to shoot both 480 and 475 . And again it was not to be .
Well during this whole time I had a couple Ruger SRH's in 480 . So I acquired a bunch of brass , bullets and a mold or two . Well the Rugers are gone , and I decided I needed somthing to shoot all this stuff in .
So about a month ago I got a blued Puma in 480 Ruger. I've not shot it yet , but I have a bunch of stuff loaded for it . Mostly jacketed , but also the RCBS 400 grain cast bullet.
The only thing I don't like so far is the barrel thickness on this gun. It's real real thin :???:

[6pt-sika]

I was just on Lee's web site and noticed they have two 475 cal molds . One PB and one GC . I will probably have to have those :drinks:

[6pt-sika]

Called my local dealer and had him order the two Lee 475 molds for me today;

C476-325-RF

476-400-RF

Do not know if they'll be any better then the RCBS 400 grain , but for $40 for the two I won't be out of a lot if they don't :castmine:

[jim4065]

Been awhile since this post was active. I had a 450 Marlin that was traded off several years ago - and I kinda miss the thump. The Puma 480 Ruger looks interesting, even if the "safety" that Buckshot talked about bugs me. Did anyone get much experience with it? Seems like it would make a good walk-around gun for brush hunting - but I have no experience with that caliber. I'd sure appreciate any impressions or info I can get. Got a 30-30 and 44 Mag - but I just hanker for something with a little more heft.

[Scrounger]

I'm wishing for a .500 S&W in a carbine.

[45r]

If it will pair up with your revolver it probably be worth it.The guys at Gunblast and leverguns seem to like them alot.Surely would'nt be underpowered.I'm leaning towards one in 454 because it would pair up well with my F/A 454,my most accurate revolver.Looked at the 1894 marlin in 45 colt but they were marked up too expensive.Have a redhawk that is very accurate in 45 colt but the rossi's seem to be smoother and a lot less money.You can download the 480 or 454 and still have a powerfull gun.I wish the brass was cheaper.If marlin made a 45 colt with button mag,pistol grip,I'd pay the price.It would be lighter,feel like there big brothers,and like all marlins be easier to clean and mount your sight of choice.I'm not against the cowboy looks on their current models but I'm more into hunting and accuracy than slinging lead at close range.Hope I didn't get too long winded or arragant with my reply.

[6pt-sika]

If it will pair up with your revolver it probably be worth it.The guys at Gunblast and leverguns seem to like them alot.Surely would'nt be underpowered.I'm leaning towards one in 454 because it would pair up well with my F/A 454,my most accurate revolver.Looked at the 1894 marlin in 45 colt but they were marked up too expensive.Have a redhawk that is very accurate in 45 colt but the rossi's seem to be smoother and a lot less money.You can download the 480 or 454 and still have a powerfull gun.I wish the brass was cheaper.If marlin made a 45 colt with button mag,pistol grip,I'd pay the price.It would be lighter,feel like there big brothers,and like all marlins be easier to clean and mount your sight of choice.I'm not against the cowboy looks on their current models but I'm more into hunting and accuracy than slinging lead at close range.Hope I didn't get too long winded or arragant with my reply.


As a reguler contributer to leverguns and marlinowners . I can attest to many's like of the Puma 454 or 480 . And I can also attest to the variouse Marlin's from personal experience .

Also I own a NIB Puma (blued) in 480 Ruger that I have owned for almost a year now . After getting the rifle I lost all intrest in shooting it . It just doesn't seem to grow on me like the Marlin's do [smilie=1:

[45r]

I wonder if marlin could make a 454 stainless XLR.I like the look of those rifles and they feel good to me.The 1894 marlin and 1892 win and clones are so good in there own way I've never been able to decide which one to get.I like the performance of the 454 casull and wish marlin had something to handle it.I really liked a marlin 45 colt I seen at gander mountain.It had much better looks and tightness than many I've looked at but they had it marked up too much.I'd order one but don't because I've noticed a big differance in quality from one rifle to another at the places I've seen them for sell.Maybe because of the demand from cowboy shooting.Marlin doesn't make a 480 so that is why I'd get one if I were him.

[jim4065]

I don't have a big revolver now. Had a 44 mag SBH once - my wife gave it to me as a wedding present. I traded it away a few years later and she's never bought me another gun. Boy, was I dumb!
Anyway, I don't know anything about the 480 Ruger or the 454 Casull, except they're bigger than a 44 mag. Had a 357 mag 92 copy once, but traded it off on a Colt AR15. Not enuff thump - in either one for that matter.
I think I need a new stainless lever gun - if the price is right, and it's got some kick to it. :twisted: