Got my Puma 454 today!

[saz]

Finally got my 454 Puma today! My wife put one on layaway for me when I found out I was on the list for E-7 this year. It is a 16" stainless with the Hi-Vis sights. It surprisingly has decent wood on it, the action cycles way smoother than the marlin 94's I have looked at lately, and has a pretty good trigger for a levergun. So far I have a bunch of once fired and new brass, 2 molds, (255gr Lee RNFP and the 300gr Lee RNFPGC) some remington 7 1/2 benchrest primers, Unique, H110 and AA #9.
I REALLY want to try Hodgdon Lil' Gun, Alliant 4100, AA 1680 and RL-7 (I think they would do great with the longer barrel) with the 300gr Lee, and possibly heavier boolits. If you have any recommendations for a starting point with the powders mentioned, I would appretiate it. I probably wont get to try them until I am home for good (just here on R&R til the 20th) but I am trying to find those powders up here. It can get a little scarce and can take a while to find sometimes.

Also, this thing REALLY needs a peep sight- the Hi-Vis sights are OK, but the rear sight leaves a lot to be desired. I was thinking about a williams FP, but an XS would be the cat's MEOW IMHO.........

[rugerman1]

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q299/sawrm1/Son.jpg

[NickSS]

I want to thank you for serving our country and to wish you many happy hours with your new rifle. I have a Puma in 45colt that I personally love. It is a stainless 20 inch carbine that I have hot loaded on more than one one occasion. I probably would have bought one in 454 if it was available at the time of purchase but it wasn't. I do use trimmed 454 brass in mine for hot loads. Believe me they thump quite well.

[Dogg]

Congradulation on you new toy and your promotion. Stay safe when deployed. You might want to look at the Skinner peep sight system, http://skinnersights.com/ I have 3 of his barrel mounted peep sights on my Rossi Hartford 92s and they work great. I had Dr.Skinner make my bases longer by an inch than the ones he makes for the Marlins and I added Williams 1/2 aperatures instead of the 3/8 aperature that comes with the sight. Cost is not that bad and it is a good solid system. It may require a taller front sight which he also makes and then again it may not. I have found the Rossi rifles to be well made and accurate, let us know how the 454 works out.
Dogg

[Bret4207]

Congrats on the E-7 and keep your head down!

[cajun shooter]

Thank You for Your Service!! Enjoy that R&R You also might want to consider the Marbles tang with the Grabber front sight. It's a very fast combo that is used in cowboy shooting. All powders are tough to find after the election. You might want to scan some load data for the 454 and settle on one or two good ones until the madness stops. CYA and a safe tour

[badge176]

This is just what I was looking for!
Skinner peep sight system, http://skinnersights.com/

[SPRINGFIELDM141972]

Congrats on the promotion to E-7. Thats the big one. I put you on the prayer list not only for your deployment but for hoping you survive the initiation ceremony as well :lol: Take of yourself and be safe.

Regards,
Everett

[9.3X62AL]

Congratulations, and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY! Enjoy that new levergun, too.

[454PB]

I use the same boolits you mentioned in my Puma .454. The 300 grainer won't feed properly unless seated to crimp in the forward crimp groove.

I use H-110, WC 820, Lil'Gun, and Bluedot in my rifle, and it likes them all.

With the 300 gr. Lee, I use SRM primers and starting loads of 24 grs. of AA#9, WC820, and Lil'Gun, 26 grs. of H-110 or WW296, and 15 grs. of Bluedot.

All disclaimers apply.....check all internet load data recommendations against a published loading manual.

Thank you for your service!

[BarryinIN]

Congrats on the promotion and thanks for your service. But you're killing me, as I keep looking at a Puma 454 at the shop and have resisted so far. Thankfully, they got a Colt Delta Elite 10mm last week that I had to buy, which kept me from getting the Puma(!).

I've never had much interest in the .454 in a handgun, but it always sounded like it might be neat in a rifle. In a rifle, wouldn't a 300 grain 454 load be somewhere in the area of the 300 grain 45-70 factory load? If not, then close? Smaller rifle, close in ballistics, what's not to like?

[Snyd]

You will love that 454 levergun. I got one last spring. I've shot 255gr 45 Colt and 454 loads with unique and for my bear/moose hunting I've settled on 335gr Cast Performance with H110 and have worked up to 1950fps. OAL is important and I trimmed the brass just slightly so the crimp groove lines up I have a post here somewhere about it. It shoots anything I put in it in tight groups. Great little rifle. I just got in to casting and have the Lee 255gr mould. I think I'll try the Lyman 325gr with gas check.

[saz]

BarryinIN,
That is the reason I got the 454- light carry gun with 45/70 capabilities. Check out the post from Snyd about his range reports from his- impressive to say the least!

Snyd,
You had posted on another forum about your 20" puma and that made me remember that I had checked out a 16" 357 a while back and absolutely LOVED the way it handled. Anyways, I was looking for a 444P or 45/70G at the time and your post got me interested. I stumbled on an article by Paco Kelly and another by Jeff Quinn, and talked to a few others about their 454 pumas, and long story short I blame you! THANKS! I didnt get a chance to get to the range while I was at home- family took priority- but it is KILLING ME!!!!! Oh well, I will have about 30 days leave to use when I get home for good. Should be plenty of time for some good load development.

[dk17hmr]

I've settled on 335gr Cast Performance with H110 and have worked up to 1950fps. .

I need to rethink my position on my 450 Marlin, Im using a 325gr at 2200fps out of the 450. I really like my 454 revolver, I use everything from 250gr SWC's to 370gr beast in it. If I can get 450/45-70 velocities in a lighter package and more fired power I might be looking for one of these 454 levers.

Thank you for your service, if you need anything gun mags, baby wipes, beef jerky, let us know we can get a care package out.

[saz]

Doug- Thank you for the offer. If you want to send something out, I always give the guys in my platoon first pick with care packages and they would love it! Send me a PM and Ill get you an address if you want.

Also if you are thinking about getting one, you wont be sorry. I LOVE the compact size of mine (16" barrel) and it will be my truck/camper/brush gun. There is the possibility of using it for CASS shooting from time to time also......

[JZdryfly]

I agree with you about the Puma, as I have one just like yours and have been shooting it at the Birchwood range here in Chugiak. Mine does real well with the Lee 300 grain and 27 grains of Win 296. After I use the Lee's up, I'm going to see how the LBT 300's do. Take Care.

[bigboredad]

hey saz thinks for making the sacrifice and thank your family as well. I have a .45/70 guide gun and my son has the .454 puma both are great guns but as you thought the .454 is a lighter quicker ..45/70 I feed both of them a 340 grain flat point that I cast from a lee mold from straight ww air cooled and they come out about 345-350 depending on the wheel weights I pan lube and the last group was loaded with 19 grains of lil gun I clocked them at a little over 1400 fps. they fed slick and easy and were plenty accurate and they hit very hard. trust me you have many hours fun ahead of you when you get home again thanks for your service

[Ed Barrett]

Saz I'll send some of those 400 grain custom bullets we talked about. tell your wife you will be getting a heavy package in the mail.

[saz]

Saz I'll send some of those 400 grain custom bullets we talked about. tell your wife you will be getting a heavy package in the mail.

Oh, OK! Thanks Ed!!!!!

[saz]

Oh, OK! Thanks Ed!!!!!

BTW, lwt me know what i woe ya for the boolits and shipping.........

[bigboredad]

hey if you would like to try some of the 340's just let me know I'd hate to see you to only have 1 choice when you get home

[Hanzerik]

Congrats on the promotion and the new gun. I just put on E-7 Aug 1st of this year. I have two Puma .44's, they are great rifles in my opinion. Got 100 cases tumbling right now that I shot this afternoon while the weather is still nice up this way.

Stay safe.

[Snyd]

Saz I'll send some of those 400 grain custom bullets we talked about. tell your wife you will be getting a heavy package in the mail.

You must be loading these in 45 Colt brass to get them to feed huh?

[Ed Barrett]

Just let me know how you like them, no charge.


BTW, lwt me know what i woe ya for the boolits and shipping.........

[Ed Barrett]

I load them in .454 brass and they load and feed fine. I think I posted a pic of a loaded round here someplace.


You must be loading these in 45 Colt brass to get them to feed huh?

[Ed Barrett]

Look at a thread called "data for saz" and you will see a pic of a bullet and a loaded round.

[saz]

Thank you Ed!

[Ed Barrett]

SAZ, I sent that package about a week ago, did your wife get it yet?

[saz]

Just talked to her this morning and she said it got there and she put it out on my reloading bench for me. Thanks a bunch Ed!!!!

[Ed Barrett]

I should be casting some more after deer season (starts Sat. the 14th). I'll send you some more with load data.

[Groo]

Groo here
For AA1680 ONLY
Starting load should begin at 90%[300+ gr bullets only] max being 100 % {full case}
Light with rifle primers in 454 cases.