Puma 44 Mag - Slugging the bore

[303british.com]

I'm curious about the measurements you guys are getting from your Puma 44 magnums when you slugged your bores. Is there a noticeable difference for barrels made in different years?

[PacMan]

What did you get with yours?
I dont have a Rossi but a friend does and next time he is over maybe we can slug his. I have been casting and loading .433 for his and they shoot really well.Did not bother to slug just used the biggest that would chamber and all has been good.

[303british.com]

I got .431. My rifle is a couple of years old.

I had heard that the bores varied.

[HPT]

I got .4315", Just got gun a few days ago

[303british.com]

Well, it sounds like we'll be needing .432/.433 diameter molds. Ity will be interesting to see what others have measured. Thanks for the reply!

[HollowPoint]

I size my bullets to .432" and they shoot quite well.

It's been so long since I slugged the barrel of my M92 that I can't remember if it slugged out to
.431 or .4315".

It seems that there is some variance between these lever guns.

HollowPoint

[crappie-hunter]

Mine was bought in Sept 2011 and slugs at .433 had a mold made that drops at .435 and I size to .434

[303british.com]

Granted, there aren't many responses yet, but there seems to be a .431 to .433 swing so far.
I had heard this was the case and it seems to be true. I appreciate everyone's response!

I ordered a RD .432-265 gr. mold and handle. Hopefully that will do the trick with this rifle.

[Boerrancher]

I wonder why the 44 mags are so over sized? Both my 45LCs are .452, and my buddy's 357 is .355 dia. His is nice because it shoots most of the 9mm boolits that are out there. We size everything to 357dia for it and shoot away. It does pretty good with just about everything you want to feed it.

Best wishes,

Joe

[reloader28]

Mine is .432

[303british.com]

I wonder why the 44 mags are so over sized? Both my 45LCs are .452, and my buddy's 357 is .355 dia. His is nice because it shoots most of the 9mm boolits that are out there. We size everything to 357dia for it and shoot away. It does pretty good with just about everything you want to feed it.

Best wishes,

Joe

I don't know. Maybe someone that will read this thread knows.

[edler7]

The SAAMI spec is different for a rifle than it is for a handgun

The rifle spec for a .44 magnum is .431, while the handgun spec is .429
Add manufacturing tolerances and you wind up with a bore most commercial bullets will just rattle around in as they go down the barrel.

Most commercial bullets are produced for handguns.

[Gee_Wizz01]

My early 90's Puma is .432. I found this out after shooting about 30 commercial cast bullets at .429 with hot loads. It leaded so bad you could barely see the rifling. I went to .432 and everything was great. My rifle loves the Ranch Dog 432-265 RF. It is the best shooting boolit I have found to date.

G

[303british.com]

The SAAMI spec is different for a rifle than it is for a handgun

The rifle spec for a .44 magnum is .431, while the handgun spec is .429...

I didn't know that. I doubt that many people do. Obviously that can be a PITA if you're shooting a 44 mag handgun and rifle. Thanks! I feel better knowing that I didn't get a sloppily made rifle.

All the best.

[edler7]

I didn't know it either, until a few months ago. I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 mag- they are famous for their "generous" bores. It didn't shoot worth sour owl squat with commercial cast bullets. When I found out there are 2 specs, it was right in line with the spec. I got a MP mold that drops a .434 boolit, and size them down from that.

It shoots much better with the right sized boolit.

[runfiverun]

they must have screwed up on mine then it's 429. all i have ever shot in it is 430 sized boolits.
it does have an octagin bbl on it though.
i wonder if they bore and groove the bbl's first then turn them [the round ones] allowing the bbl's to relieve enough stress and open up that much.
my 44-40 shoots right well with 428's.
i was gonna try some 430's in it, but my seating die won't allow it.

[edler7]

It wouldn't surprise me that some were made with pistol specs. It would sure make loading ammo for use by 2 firearms a lot easier.

Is yours ballard rifled or microgroove ?

[Boerrancher]

Well You fellas just saved me a ton of money in the future. I was going to buy a 44 mag rifle as a companion for my 44 mag wheel guns. Now that I know they will never be compatible ammo wise, both my wheel guns are 427 dia bores and 429 on all the throats. They won't even chamber a round with a bullet larger than 431 dia. I will just focus on my 44-40's and 45LCs from this point on, and forget about a rifle pistol combo in the 44mag. Thank you again for pointing out the specs are different between rifles and pistols in the 44mag.

Best wishes,

Joe

[303british.com]

I understand what you're saying.

I suppose we should start another thread to see if there is any difference between the 44 special revolver and 44 magnum setups. I had entertained the idea of getting a a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 Special, but if bullet size will be a problem...

[edler7]

Looks like the same song and dance. Both the 44 special and magumn are .429 in pistol and only 44 mag listed for rifle, again at .431

Specs are here under ANSI/SAAMI Standards (http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/index.cfm)

But...I suppose you could find a rifle with the pistol spec, runfiverun did. Just show up at the gun store with your slug, hammer, rod, grease and mic. I'm sure they would be more than happy to see you...:kidding:

[PacMan]

Well You fellas just saved me a ton of money in the future. I was going to buy a 44 mag rifle as a companion for my 44 mag wheel guns. Now that I know they will never be compatible ammo wise, both my wheel guns are 427 dia bores and 429 on all the throats. They won't even chamber a round with a bullet larger than 431 dia. I will just focus on my 44-40's and 45LCs from this point on, and forget about a rifle pistol combo in the 44mag. Thank you again for pointing out the specs are different between rifles and pistols in the 44mag.

Best wishes,

Joe

My 44 mag. RBH has .4325 cylinder throats.I shoot .4325 - .433 in my RBH and Marlin 1894 with excellent accuracy.
Just as info.

[Rick N Bama]

Mine is .433" I size to .434".

Rick

[pricedo]

I live on a budget and can't afford to have a bunch of guns in the same caliber like some on here apparently can...........that's great....all the more power to you .....but facts are facts and I have to live in reality.

I have a 16" Rossi M92 in .44 Mag which shoots just fine.......in fact it's a tack driver with some ammo.

I have the 20" Rossi Puma M92 in .454 Casull that will also shoots the parent .45 LC cartridge. The Rossi Puma M92 in .454 Casull has a "come with" recoil pad & a special heat treated receiver and a much stronger double threaded tube magazine configuration over & above what the dedicated ".45 LC only" version has as well as direct magazine tube loading capability similar to a Marlin 39A so I don't need another ".45 LC only" levergun.

The Rossi .454 & .45 LC versions are the same money & approximately the same weight so why wouldn't I buy the .454 version that has already been built & configured for more potent ammo with a stronger tube magazine, a recoil pad & tube loading slot thrown in?

Makes sense to me.