Older Rossi/Puma 357 Trapper?

[Elbow]

My buddy has an older, no safety, he thinks 30-40 year old Rossi/Puma 357/38 model 92 he'd like to sell me for $400. The blueing is good, bore is good gun works great smooth few scratches etc in the wood. Never had an older Rossi/ puma or any Rossi for that matter. Anyone tell me more about these, how they shoot cast? Suggestions for Lee mold for 357 maybe pet loads for whitetails? Any info on the gun or the 357 using cast in a carbine appreciated. Thanks, Craig.

[wv109323]

I have the older Puma. I think they are considered better than the current made Rossi. Mine shoots well with casts boolits of the proper size. I would recommend jacketed bullets for deer since you may get higher velocities. A powder like WW296 would be good.

[shoot-n-lead]

Glad you like yours...but they are not considerably better...I have a new .357 Trapper that has been flawless.

[shoot-n-lead]

I think they are considered better than the current made Rossi.


Glad you like yours...but they are not considerably better...I have a new .357 Trapper that has been flawless.

[patrick_ford]

The wood quality can vary. I had a blond forearm with a dark buttstock that took considerable work to match. The rifle shot well, especially with cast bullets, though SWC bullets in shorter .38 cases would sometimes catch and not feed as smoothly.

[Hamish]

Make sure it will feed correctly!!! I've got one that's basically a single shot,,,,,,

[redgum]

I'd bet that the gun you're considering has a 'K' prefix serial no. (K******)
In my experience they are the 'duck's guts' when it comes to feeding.
All the ones I have seen have been excellent with either .38 specials or 357 magnums and most bullet profiles. At $400 I'd be all over it.....

[runfiverun]

I'd be on it too.
the lee 358 rnfp lube groove boolit should do well on top of 7ish grs of herco.

feed problems with leverguns are generally just 2 things.
the oal of the round.
or the feed rails allowing the round to roll over at the wrong time.