Puma lever guns

[audioruss]

Does anyone have a opinion on the Puma lever action rifle?  The seem cheaper than the other guns but I have not see or held one.  Good quality?  Worth the money?

Russ

[FloraBama Kid]

Been watching your posting for a few days and although I don't have any experience with Puma though I would give you a reply.

Off the top of my head I don't know anyone that shoots a Puma. So that tells me the other Lever Guns hold up better under CAS shooting conditions.

If money is the primary concern I would go with a Marlin 94C which goes for about $400. They are excellent carbines for CAS and should give you many years of fine service.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy,

The Puma is a Rossi, and like all the 92s, they are what I would call a third tier gun.  Not that they don't work, cause they do.  But they have a longer lever throw and other mechanical differences that work against them in CAS competition.  They are excellent guns for the money.

Adios,

[Texas Lawdog]

Ive got a Rossi 92 in 357 that I shoot CAS with.  I am not a "gamer" so speed is not that important to me. The 92s need to be smoothed up to work better.  If you decide to get one,  A guy named Steve  AKA Nate Kiowa Jones who lives in Port Arthur, Texas is the best I know on smoothing a 92.  Another note of interest, the 92s do better with 357 cases than 38s.

[Doc Workday]

  I loved mine but sold them to buy a Winchester

[Brazos Bucky Smith]

Howdy Doc!

Now thats about the best reason to buy a Winchester that I have heard yet!    Gee, why did I buy that Rossi?   Oh yeah, cuz I liked the looks and the way it feels when you bring it to shoulder, it was the least expensive, and it was all the money I had at the time!

But, that was long before I had a hankerin to get into CAS.  So, I like the idea, love the Rossi, but shoot the Winchester.

I was looking at a Puma in .357 on another website, Thanks I think I will steer clear.  It sounds like, don't buy sheap, spend a little more and shoot Happy.


BB

[Will Pluggum]

I have one of the older Rossi .357 mags  imported by Interarms.  Don't know if it's slightly better made (doubt it) or I just got lucky but I feed it a steady diet of .38 sp in 125 gn TC's and it has yet to malfunction.  I even mixed .38's and .357 in various bullit wieghts several times to see if I could get it to jam.  It wouldn't. I do know that others have had a feed problem with .38's.  Of all the rifles in my gun cabinet, the Rossi is the most fun to shoot, I luv it!   I have not actually handeld or fired a Puma but when I was shopping for a levergun I e-mailed the Puma distributor and they answered back that it is a Rossi 92 with a new name.

[Russ T Chambers]

I shot a Puma in .44 mag. for the first ten years I was involved in SASS.  Always loaded mag. cases and used the same semi-wadcutter bullets.  Never had a problem until the tenth year when it stopped wanting to feed right.  Decided to switch to a '73 in .45 colt.  Keeps me from getting corn-fused between the .44s and .45s.

[Tommy tornado]

my first lever gun was a 92 Rossi.  It was very rough but I sent it to the Rossi Specialist and for a fee it now works very well.  Since then however I have purchased a Henry and '66 musket.

[audioruss]

Tommy,
Do you recall what they charged to "slick up" that gun?

Russ

[Tombstone Runner SASS#54765]

Hey Russ
Just bought one from steve. I think he charged either 75. or 79.
Go to his web sight.. stevesgunz.com and he'll have all the info ya need!
TR

[audioruss]

TR,

Does Steve do good work?  I am thinking of buying one from him as well.  Anyone else have any of his 92s?

Russ

[Tombstone Runner SASS#54765]

Yup....
He does good work. I havnt had it too long but the action is smooth and for the money its a good gun. Im happy I went this way!
TR

[audioruss]

TR
I have heard that the model 92 is prone to being "short stroked".  Is this true? If so, does the action job performed by Steve remedy this?  Do you have any problems with yours? 

Russ

[Cuts Crooked]

Russ,

Absolutely any lever gun is prone to "short stroking". If yer not familier and practiced with yer iron of choice, yer gonna do that now and then whether it's a 92, a 66, or a 73.

As to Steve's action jobs, they are fantastic! I've never had the opportunity to own one, but have handled several and I was impressed!

I've been shooting Rossi 92s since long before I got into CAS and I've continued to shoot them in this game. They are rugged, fast, and accurate. But a lot of pards talk them downward because they jist don' have the COOL factor that the others have. And it does take a bit of work to get a troublesome one straightened out sometimes. But when one is working properly, it's a dream to shoot!

They are probably the most complicated of the lever guns to take apart and put back together. But with a modicum of mechanical skills most folks can do it. And right here on the CAS City board there are links to information on how to slick one up at home. I used them when I got into CAS and I've been very happy with the results. I've still got the .357 that I had before I started in CAS and have since aqcuired another in .45. Both have been through a home action job and are as slick as a Steve's Guns rifle. (my .45 Rossi will actually feed a magazine full of EMPTIES through the action without a bobble!!!) I won my catagory at our state Championship last year using a Rossi, competing against pards using 66s, 73s, and Henry's.

I'll get you started by telling ya the most important part of slicking a Rossi up: THE EJECTOR SPRING! When you look at it, you won't believe it, but it's the one thing that makes the most difference in cycling a 92! Lighten that lil sucker up and you'll be amazed!

If you want a highly competitve rifle, right out of the box, then give Steve a call! He'll do ya right!

Almost fergot! Here's the link to the "Rossi Action Job" on this website

http://www.cascity.com/cgi-bin/news/print.pl?article=10 (it may be one of the most popular pages around fer CAS shooters  )

[audioruss]

Thanks to all for the advice.  I believe it is worth much more than 2 cents.  Just to let you know I have purchased an EMF 92 from Steve Young at Steve's guns.  He had a used one that another pard traded in.  It's all slicked up and ready to go.  I can't wait for it to get here.  Thanks again for all the advice.   

Russ

[Cant Dance]

Cant Dance,SASS #61061

I would be very carefull when concidering a PUMA. I have owned many lever actions in my day and the Puma in .357 was inaccurate at best and, after @ 200 rounds the lever actually broke off in my hand. I am done with them.

[gryffon2004]

I have a puma in 45 colt.  Its action was very rough at first.  I hosed it down with action cleaner and relubed it with breakfree lubricant.  Smooth as can be now.  Ive not had any feeding problems with it, but I have heard that if you try to shoot shorter than normal cases in any levergun it can cause problems for some reason or other. I havent found an extremely accurate Cas load yet.  Maybe 3 inch at 25 yards, standing, offhand.  With higher velocities it is alot better, less than 3 inches at 50 yards from the same position.  'Course jacketed bullets arent allowed in cas, right.

[Lt Henry C. Nave]

Had two.  One in 45, stainless Puma which had ugly safety.  Wife's gun traded it off in one of my stupid mopments.  Accurate, slicker than my 44 mag Rossi.  My Rossi could be slicker but gets slicker eaach time I use it.  Feel it lite mag or heavy specials SWC.  Good weapon for the money.  I'll keep her until she falls apart.  See last months issue of Shoot Magazine for info on slick up tips.  Hopes it helps.

[gryffon2004]

got any disassembly instructions with pictures?  I like pictures when im taking stuff apart.