[Guest]

I've been thinking about getting a .357 lever action. I just want something to get bunnies, coyotes, and maybe a back up rifle for deer. I kinda like the Puma 24 inch octogonal barrel one, but I don't know. Are Pumas any good or should I start looking at Winchesters? :?: - Gary

 

[deerdown444]

Have you thought about a marlin they make a nice little 357.Here is a link to it if you like marlins http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/1894_centerfireRifles/1894C.htm

 

[Fish Springs]

I have a .45 Colt Puma (Win M92 copy). It shoots well, recoils little and is accurate.

It will not handle Buffalo Bore 45 Colt loads--bullet meplat is too long to feed reliably.

It is a good rifle. If you look up Paco Kelly via google you will find an article or two on this gun.

 

[shooter93]

My opinion.....get a Marlin...you'll never regret it.

 

[Fish Springs]

Here's a link to a bunch of good articles. If you want to see more back up the URL to www./leverguns.com. Under articles there are pieces on both Marlin and Rossi/Puma they are worth reading.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/Default.htm

I own 4 Marlin, 1 Puma M92 copy. The Rossi/Puma (w/o the funky saftey) is a handy rifle, looks like a sligtly aged Winchester and it shoots. With 45 Colt at 25 yards it will put a magazine fun of rounds into one sligtly larger than bore diameter hole.


It does not kick and several non-shooters have changed thier minds about guns after having spent a box of shells breaking cookies and bouncing cans around an informal range.

Largely you can choose based on your budget and preference for look, fit and finish. I don't yet have a .357 lever gun (with several Marlins on both sides of the .357 I don't know why I have yet to pick up a .357) but have shot a friends and Marlin .357 is a nice gun.

Maybe I just like the casings going up in the air as they are ejected 8)

Maybe buy a .357 in one and a .45 in another.....

 

[Acenturian]

First Post

I have a friend who has a Puma with a 16" barrel stainless chambered in 454 Casul (Sp) and its a great little carbine. The wood looks a little cheap but the rest of the gun is nice. I love the fact that you can load from the side of the gun or load/unload from the removable tube.

The action on the gun was pretty good, better than my last Marlin. The sights are the plastic glow types which are provide fast targeting but dont look too durable for a brush gun.

Overall everyone who checked out his gun thought it was pretty nice esp for the price.

 

[Blowtorch53]

Gary,

Get the Puma. I bought one of the old models without the safety on Gunbroker NIB and shot it for the first time at lunch today. It is the 16" barrel model and a cute little thing. It shoots great and is good quality. It functions perfectly. The wood is a good piece of walnut (or some type hardwood that looks like walnut) but it has a dark, muddy looking finish. Overall, looks very good and is a fun, handy rifle. For the price, hard to beat.

I shot up some 180 gr. cast bullets that I made up years ago and they were pretty hot. They were max. loads and as I recall they wouldn't chamber in my Smith Model 66 because they were too long for the cylinder. These would be some great short range deer or hog loads. Shot one .38 Special aluminum Blazer that somehow got in the box and it was like a popgun. Good accuracy at 25 yards. Now that I broke it in, I will back off further and try to really get it zeroed in.

I have four Marlins and like them too. they have a few blemishes on them straight from the factory too.

Try it, you'll like it. You can't have too many guns...especially lever actions.

Good Luck and Good Shooting,

Blowtorch

 

[Chicken lips]

I have 2 Pumas, 1 in .44 Mag and 1 in .45 Long Colt, both 24" octagonal barrels. I have put about 1000 rounds through the .44 and about 2000 through the .45 (Cowboy action main rifle). Both are very accurate. The .44 doesn't like semi wad cutters but shoots everything else just fine. The .45 shot dead on right out of the box. I have heard that Marlins are easier to clean if you ever shoot black powder cartridge, but otherwise, I like the strong lock up that the winchester 1892 has. My 2 cents, for what its worth.

 

[luv2safari]

Chicken...

WELCOME! Thanks for your input.

L2S

 

[Rogmatt]

I have a Puma 357 Mag with 24" Octagon barrel.
It's amazing what a 24" barrel can do for the performance of the 357. Beautiful gun, is smooth, reliable, and I prefer it over my many Marlins.

 

[gglass]

The Rossi M92 Pumas are amazing shooters. I own a Puma Scout model in .44 Magnum and a Puma M92 in .357 Magnum. Both are the 20" barrel variety that I prefer, as it makes for a very nimble rifle.

You cannot go wrong with the Rossi M92 Puma. Even though I own a couple of Marlins, I will never say that Marlins are the answer to every lever action question. The Pumas beat the Marlins in a couple of key areas... The actions of the 1892's are much slicker and they get slicker with use. As mentioned above, the 1892's are better balanced and nimble rifles. Both Marlins and Rossi M92 Pumas are as accurate as the shooter can be.

 

[WyrTwister]

My Puma is in .45 LC . Very good looking and fun little gun .

I also have Marlins in .44 Mag & .45-70 .

And a Winny M1892 converted to .357 .

If you ever intend to scope it , get the Marlin , other wise , I really like the Puma .

God bless
Wyr

 

[WyrTwister]

I've been thinking about getting a .357 lever action. I just want something to get bunnies, coyotes, and maybe a back up rifle for deer. I kinda like the Puma 24 inch octogonal barrel one, but I don't know. Are Pumas any good or should I start looking at Winchesters? :?: - Gary

I really like my .45 LC Puma . I also have an original Winny M1894 that someone converted to .357 Mag . Both are fun to shoot .

But if you ever want to scope it , get a Marlin .

God bless
Wyr

 

[WyrTwister]

Range Report .357 Mag Rossi Lever Gun

I am turning in to a wuss ( or more of one ) in my old age . And even more of a cheapbastard , as Geoff coined the term .

I have migrated down form a .45-70 lever gun to a .44 Mag to a .45 LC . ( Each step down has less recoil and burns less powder and lead . )

Tuesday I picked up a Rossi .357 Mag lever gun , from lay-a-way .

Loaded the following in .38 Special brass ;

~ 150 grain Lee RNL seated to ~ .357 OAL - Feed great

~ 150 grain Lee SWC seated to ~ .357 OAL - Had to hand feed them , one at a time

~ 150 grain Lee SWC seated to ~ .38 Special OAL - Feed OK , but not quire as good as the RNL

All were loaded with ~ 13 grains of AA # 9

Since I do not own a .38 Special gun , I am not too worried about possessing .38 brass loaded to above .38 Special pressures .

If I owned a .38 Special , it would probably be a different story .

I tested but did not shoot some factory .38's .

Accuracy ? Probably about as good as my vision permits . We shot at 200 meter rams .

I need to file down the front sight , I was close to or at the top notch on the rear sight . Had to do the same with the .45 LC Rossi . In fact , it needs a little more filing , too . No big deal .

No idea of the velocity , did not set up the chrony .

The .357 would knock down a ram , but not every time . I suspect , if it hit it high ?

A good time was had by all .

You all ought to try this !

God bless
Wyr

 

[Mr Strykr]

fyi - a.357 Rossi (Puma, whatever) was just posted F/S today, in the classifieds over on the leverguns.com forum.

.