Puma 454 first range report

[Snyd]

I picked up a stainless with hi-viz sites and worked up a few loads. Here are my first results.

Here are the chrony numbers. New Starline brass, CCI BR-4 primers. Shot out of a Puma 92 20" barrel.

335gr CP WFNGC 23gr H110
1440
1410
1406
1426
1411

335gr 26gr H110
forgot to turn on the chrony for the first 2 shots- duh...
1676
1651
1648

360gr CP WFNGC 21gr H110
1432
1401
1391
1367
1376

360gr CP WFNGC 24gr H110
1601
1581
1570
1588
1577

The 335gr were most accurate. One ragged 2 inch hole at 25 yds for all 10 rounds. The 360's opened up. I had some inconsistencies in my loads though, OAL and crimp. I have determined that the Puma wants the OAL to be 1.750-1.755. It cycles em like butter with that big metplate, slow or fast. But, In order for the case mouth to line up with the crimp groove I have to trim the case to 1.365. These first loads I did not trim the brass and actually fed them one at a time. I decided to go ahead and shoot them but will redo them now that I have the cases trimmed and can be consistent in the crimp. These were the first 454's I've loaded and the first ones down range in the 92 clone. What a fun little rifle though. I think I'm gonna love this thing. It liked the 255gr rnfp, 8.5gr Unique 45 Colt plinkin rounds also. Almost like shooting a 22. About 200fps faster in the Puma over the 4 inch Redhawk 45 Colt.

I think I'm going to bump up to 27gr for the 335 and 25 for the 360's and see what I get. Any recommendations?

[jameslovesjammie]

Just a question from an observer, but how was the recoil with those heavy boolits? Anything you could compare it to?

I'm thinking of getting a different lever gun and this one has some interest.

[jameslovesjammie]

Just a question from an observer, but how was the recoil with those heavy boolits? Anything you could compare it to?

I'm thinking of getting a different lever gun and this one has some interest.

[bigdog454]

I love mine. It shoots 45 Colt or 454 without a hic-cup. I shoot mostly 310 gr lfpgc boolits. It will handle everthing I've tried from 255 gr up well.

[454PB]

In mine, with heavier loads than synd lists, recoil is "brisk", but nothing like the recoil in my Marlin GG with 500 grain boolits.

I recently put 100 rounds through my Puma in one session. Yes, I had a bruise on my shoulder, but I don't think I could tolerate 100 rounds of the 45/70 loads in one session.

[Snyd]

In mine, with heavier loads than synd lists,......

So, when we look at Hodgdon's published load data for the 454 we see that the max loads for H110 are 335 @ 26gr and 360 @ 24gr, which is what I have loaded to. But, I have read of guys loading quite a bit more powder than that. I am leery to jump up too high too quick. Do you know of any published load data for the Puma or any rifle for that matter that exceed the published "Ruger Only" loads? What are your "hot" loads?

For example here are some loads and results I came across from another Puma 454 shooter:

335 CPBC LBT 31.0gr H110 - 1955fps
360 CPBC LBT 28.0gr H110 - 1828fps

That's quite a bit over published load data :shock:

By the way. I'm an ol Montana boy myself. Born and raised in Whitefish and Missoula. Moved here to Fairbanks in 92.

[softpoint]

I have loaded and shot .454 handguns for years. Be careful with the loading data that is out there. The .454 was "de-tuned" quite a bit when manufacturer's other than Freedom Arms began to chamber guns for it. That 31 gr. load with 335 gr. bullet is getting close to an early Freedom load. I've shot that exact same load in my model 83 revolver, using the LBT bullet. Some of the early Freedom loads went 65000psi I've been told. Ido know that loads not even maximum in my Freedom revolver would stick pretty solidly in 2 different SuperRedhawks

[454PB]

I agree with softpoint, you must be very cautious at the top end. The other problem is setting COL so the heavy boolits will feed properly in the Puma.

My two heavy weights are the Lyman 452651 (335 grains) and the Lee 300 RNFP, which actually weighs 320 gr. ready to load from my mould. Using 28 grs. of Hodgdon Lil'Gun, both of these boolits chronograph 1900 fps. in my rifle. Using H-110, 29 grs. pushes them to 1850 fps. THESE LOADS ARE SAFE IN MY RIFLE.....you have to work up slowly in your own rifle.

Seating depth is critical using the heavy boolits, and heavy powder charges are actually compressed.

[Snyd]

I agree with softpoint, you must be very cautious at the top end. The other problem is setting COL so the heavy boolits will feed properly in the Puma.

My two heavy weights are the Lyman 452651 (335 grains) and the Lee 300 RNFP, which actually weighs 320 gr. ready to load from my mould. Using 28 grs. of Hodgdon Lil'Gun, both of these boolits chronograph 1900 fps. in my rifle. Using H-110, 29 grs. pushes them to 1850 fps. THESE LOADS ARE SAFE IN MY RIFLE.....you have to work up slowly in your own rifle.

Seating depth is critical using the heavy boolits, and heavy powder charges are actually compressed.

Thanks. I'm headed to the range tomorrow and will try a few of the CP WFNGC 335ers with 27gr and 28gr of H110 over the chrony and see how it does. I looked at my notes again and the 335's were more accurate than the 360's.