O.S.O.K.
12-05-2009, 10:48 PM
How about a big bore levergun? Well if you've ever thought of getting one, I suggest that you take advantage of the deal at Buds Gun Shop. I got a 20" Rossi Puma with cressant buttplate, cch receiver and octagonal barrel shipped to me this past week. It does take a few upgrades IMHO to get it to "just right" but when you see the price and consider that its ballard rifled with a 1:20" twist rate (will stabalize 360 grain bullets), it becomes a very attractive opportunity.
As said, http://www.budsgunshop.com (Bud's Gun Shop) has Rossi puma .44 mag leverguns for a very low price right now. I understand that they may be clearancing these out making way for the Chiappa, Italian leverguns. Regardless, I ordered one and it arrived this past week. (you have to go to the pistols menu, look for the "cowboy action" link and click on it and go to the 2nd page to see these)
Anyway, I got it two days ago and here's my impression and experiences since then...
Here's a couple pics that I shot quick after cleaning it up and installing a Marbles tang sight:
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_134.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_1371.jpg
(the discoloration on the lever is just oil)
Overall, I'm happy with it. It feels good in my hands.
Observations:
- it was pretty dirty - had rusty grease inside and the bore was dirty dirty
- the sights are cheap - but the sight picture is good
- the wood is nice - I'm not sure what kind of walnut but its a vast improvement over the stuff they used to use
- the cressant butplate feels good on my shoulder - its tall and wide enough so it doesn't dig in to the flesh
- the action is pretty smooth and the trigger ain't bad at all
- I'm glad I have the safety button replacment cause the safety wing has to go
I cycled some dummy rounds through it and everything but the long-nosed keith swc boolits fed without a hitch. I noticed that the chamber is throated a bit...
I have the safety replacement and steel mag cap coming already ( http://www.stevesgunz.com (Steve's Gunz) )
Can't really tell you much more until it goes to the range!
But I'm very pleased so far. Especially for the price. ($365 delivered).
------------
Well, solved the sight problem. I discovered that simply peening the edges of the dovetails down a bit allows you to use standard 3/8" sights and blanks. It only took just a little bit. Not perfect - there's a little "air" under the front blade but its seated snuggly in the dovetail which is the most important thing. Ditto on the sight blank - fits fine. So, I've got the sights set up.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_1391.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_138.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_140.jpg
-------------------
Range results:
Preliminary, 25 yards (is cold 42 degrees - cold for Texas! and windy) shot with arms supported on bench.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_146.jpg
Here's the brass - you can see that there's no bulge and that with the hot loads that I was shooting, the ejector does make a mark on the primer.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_144.jpg
The loads (you may be able to read the load label above) are 25 grains of H110 under Hornady 240 gr. XTP's - book velocity is 1900 fps from a 20" carbine. So these aren't exactly target loads and they are the hardest kicking loads that I've tried out of my Marlin - more so than the 310 gr/1550 fps loads.
I'm happy to report that the cressant buttplate was easy on the shoulder given its generous dimensions - and the rifle function perfectly. And the bonus was that it was sighted in perfectly right from the get go - just a little high. I adjusted the sight down a bit and shot the above group and packed up!
Next time, I'll be shooting at 100 yards and trying some other loads. But for now - I'm about as pleased as I can be with the Puma. :D
As said, http://www.budsgunshop.com (Bud's Gun Shop) has Rossi puma .44 mag leverguns for a very low price right now. I understand that they may be clearancing these out making way for the Chiappa, Italian leverguns. Regardless, I ordered one and it arrived this past week. (you have to go to the pistols menu, look for the "cowboy action" link and click on it and go to the 2nd page to see these)
Anyway, I got it two days ago and here's my impression and experiences since then...
Here's a couple pics that I shot quick after cleaning it up and installing a Marbles tang sight:
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_134.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_1371.jpg
(the discoloration on the lever is just oil)
Overall, I'm happy with it. It feels good in my hands.
Observations:
- it was pretty dirty - had rusty grease inside and the bore was dirty dirty
- the sights are cheap - but the sight picture is good
- the wood is nice - I'm not sure what kind of walnut but its a vast improvement over the stuff they used to use
- the cressant butplate feels good on my shoulder - its tall and wide enough so it doesn't dig in to the flesh
- the action is pretty smooth and the trigger ain't bad at all
- I'm glad I have the safety button replacment cause the safety wing has to go
I cycled some dummy rounds through it and everything but the long-nosed keith swc boolits fed without a hitch. I noticed that the chamber is throated a bit...
I have the safety replacement and steel mag cap coming already ( http://www.stevesgunz.com (Steve's Gunz) )
Can't really tell you much more until it goes to the range!
But I'm very pleased so far. Especially for the price. ($365 delivered).
------------
Well, solved the sight problem. I discovered that simply peening the edges of the dovetails down a bit allows you to use standard 3/8" sights and blanks. It only took just a little bit. Not perfect - there's a little "air" under the front blade but its seated snuggly in the dovetail which is the most important thing. Ditto on the sight blank - fits fine. So, I've got the sights set up.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_1391.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_138.jpg
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_140.jpg
-------------------
Range results:
Preliminary, 25 yards (is cold 42 degrees - cold for Texas! and windy) shot with arms supported on bench.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_146.jpg
Here's the brass - you can see that there's no bulge and that with the hot loads that I was shooting, the ejector does make a mark on the primer.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//3414/medium/Picture_144.jpg
The loads (you may be able to read the load label above) are 25 grains of H110 under Hornady 240 gr. XTP's - book velocity is 1900 fps from a 20" carbine. So these aren't exactly target loads and they are the hardest kicking loads that I've tried out of my Marlin - more so than the 310 gr/1550 fps loads.
I'm happy to report that the cressant buttplate was easy on the shoulder given its generous dimensions - and the rifle function perfectly. And the bonus was that it was sighted in perfectly right from the get go - just a little high. I adjusted the sight down a bit and shot the above group and packed up!
Next time, I'll be shooting at 100 yards and trying some other loads. But for now - I'm about as pleased as I can be with the Puma. :D