I started with the impression of this rifle just being another Puma 92, like the one I have in 45LC. Well, the 454 Casull put this handy little package in a league of its own IMO. I loaded some Win. brass with 32 gr. of W296 with Hornady 300 XTP/MAG bullets.........I chronographed these rounds at 2010 fps.............Pressure wasn't even a issue. At a 100 yards holding dead on with open sights, I was able to hold a 5 round group at 3.5 inches.......Not world class, but sure as hell deadly IMO. So far, I have a pushed a 100 rounds through her, and not a lick of problems.

[ 09-08-2003, 08:49: Message edited by: CK ]

Thanks for the info, which I found very interesting.
My M92 is a 45LC stainless short rifle, made by Rossi (Same as Puma), and sold by Navy Arms.
I've always liked the M92, and once it became available in stainless, I bought one.
I use mainly "Ruger" 300 grain loads in mine, so I can use the same loads in my Silverhawk revolver.
I shot a caribou this past fall with a few 300 grainers, made by a friend of mine who is going into the bullet business, and it just tore up the shoulder area somtin fierce! I'll save these loads for black bear.
The modern-made M92 is a very strong action, of which the 454 version attests to. I'm impressed with it.
Keep the info coming. ~~~Suluuq

Here's a link that Paco Kelly did a review of the Legacy Puma 92 454 Casull: http://www.gunblast.com/Legacy_454.htm

Although I hesitated to mentioned this yesterday, I've used load info I got from Tim Sundles, that duplicate Paco Kelly's 45LC+P loads, tossing a 300 grainer LBT style (Cast Performance) bullets at 1,800 fps. I settled on 1,750 fps for the loads I took after black bear the week Sept 11 happened, and had to cut that trip short, with no bear taken.
These loads are used only on occasion, as I prefer to use "Ruger" loads because I can also shoot them in my revolver.
To keep my ammo tube in place, I've drilled a hole through the tube at the tip, and partway into the bottom of the barrel (thick octagon), and threaded this hole. Inserted in a screw. With two screws holding the tube in place, I've had zero problems with it.
I've also carved my Inupiaq Eskimo name on the stock side, and inlayed ivory pegs in a decorative pattern, simular to the brass tack idea Native American's did in the western days, and re-finished the stock and fore end. This is one of my all-time favorite rifles. ~~~Suluuq

[ 03-27-2003, 12:16: Message edited by: Rusty Gunn ]

Rusty Gunn,

Very good idea with ivory.....I have a question for you by email....Thanks

Just got back from the range shooting my SS Puma 92 454 Casull with a new load, here are the results:

Bullet: True Shot 360 gr. WNFP GC .452

Powder: H110 - 28.2 gr

Primer: CCI Small Rifle

Case: Winchester

Avg Vel. = 1814 FPS

Stout, but very shootable. Should be a show stopper.

[ 09-19-2003, 18:01: Message edited by: CK ]

I just got off the phone with a tech. rep. from Legacy Sports International, in regards to the Puma 92 in the .454 Casull (they're the importer) for some HiViz sights. After I placed my order, we started talking about how impressed I was with my Puma 92 SS .454 Casull and some of the loads I have put through it. The tech. rep. stated before they started importing the .454 Casull version of the 92, they sent it to Whites Lab for testing. Now get this......At testing they hit 78,000 PSI. They gave up after that because there was no more room for more powder. The only thing that came apart was the wood rear stock. After inspection all parts in the receiver, and barrel there was no sign of pressure problems. I guess modern high-strength steel is really used?

[ 09-09-2003, 22:24: Message edited by: CK ]

<just to be funny>
so, the 454 casul, with garrett ammo, in a lever gun.. would that be a DLR?

LMAO
jeffe

this rifle also comes in the .480 Ruger, doesn't it? anyone have any experience with the .480?

While the 45-70 would be my choice in rounds over the 454 as well, Ming, I believe the attraction is the fact that it is on a 92 action, infinitely easier to pack then any 45-70 I've ever owned (except maybe the Contender). Looking forward to the 480 version myself. - Dan

Dan,

You hit right on the head, 6 lbs of handy rapid fire, backed up with 9 rounds .

For those who plan on buying the Puma 92 in either the 454, or the 480 for hunting and will be in low light, the HiViz sights are the way to go. A vast improvement over the standard sights for low light conditions for my tried eyes IMO.

I just got one earlier this week. I'm excited about taking it to the range this weekend for some informal plinking. I'll be trying 28.5 grains of H110 under a homemade, gas-checked 300 grain Thompson-style cast bullet; and 14 grains of Unique under Lazer-Cast 255 grain bullets. The first load should be a good hunting load and the second load has proven to be a cheap, reliable practice load in my revolver. I'll bust out the chrono next weekend and post some results.

CK, you mention that load of 28.2gn of H110 to be "stout" but very shootable.

I load 32gn of H110 for my handgun loads as medium, the Speer manual recomends a max of 34.

Considering that a handgun cartridge in a rifle can normaly be loaded considerably hotter...

Does that sound like too much for a handgun?

Express,

The load I mention is with a 360 grain TrueShot WNFP GC bullet over 28.2 gr of H110, which produced a average of 1810 fps. Sounds like you thought I was referring to a 300 grain bullet. Nope, a 360 grain bullet.

... looks like you got me there...

300gn bullet.

Went to the range yesterday with my new Puma 454. Accuracy was very disappointing. Groups were extremely large and inconsistent. I checked my ammo by firing it through my 7.5" revolver. The revolver's groups were much tighter than the rifles! I must say, however, that the groups did seem to be improving as I kept shooting more rounds throught the rifle. Maybe it needs to settle in.

Man this thing kicks like a mule!

recoiljunky,

I have found my Puma 92 a little picky with on the type of rounds it likes. If you roll your own, the Hornady 300 Gr. XTP Mag seems to be one it favors, for all around shooting.......plus they're inexpensive, $8.50-10.00 a box of fifty. I couldn't get the Nolser 260 gr Partition to shoot, but I was able to get the 300 gr Nosler Partition, and the TrueShot 360 WNFP GC to shoot, meaning to touch each other in a group.

[ 09-22-2003, 09:16: Message edited by: CK ]

CK

I'll give the Hornadys a try, I have a box of them already. The Hornadys are accurate in my revolver no matter how much / what kind of powder I push them with. Yesterday I tried by own cast bullets. They are not near as forgiving.

HELP!!!!

Something has got to be wrong with this gun. Once again I tried my cast bullets today. I got 8" groups at 50 yards. I tried the same bullets, off the same bench, at the same target with my FA 454 with a 7.5" barrel and got 1" groups. The bullets are equiped with gas checks. The rifle Slings them out at close to 2000 fps. The pistol is slinging them out at close to 1500fps. I thought the gas checks might be coming off due to the increased speed, but when I checked the targets, the holes all looked clean (round as oposed to wobbled out.) I then tried some hot (32gn h110 under 300gn Hornady XPT/MAG) loads and I think I'm seeing wear in the face of the chamber.

Anyone wanna buy a slightly used Puma 454? I'm already tired and I want out!

I never figured this thing would be so finicky (if that is the problem), I was hoping for an all around shooter.

I already tried some reduced cast loads and they sucked too.

How can any rifle produce such terrible groups at only 50 yards!?!?

The sights are on tight. And I promise, it is not the shooter.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, the hot Hornady loads seemed to have substantially less recoil even though they are going faster (and at the same weight). I thought maybe my cast loads have too large a diameter. But I've got clean holes on the target. I'm sizing my cast loads to .452 and the Hornadys are supposed to be .452 in diameter.

What's going on!!!

recoil,

Sorry to hear about your troubles.......Go figure, there's always a lemon in the bunch? I've been able to get my Puma 92 to print right next to each other at 50 yards with the Hornadys.

CK,

What do you feed yours?

recoil,

My 92 likes 32 grs. of W296 over a 300 gr. Hornady XTP MAG's. That is my general purpose load that runs about 2050 fps.

32gns of 296 is basiclly the same thing as 32gns of H110 (this could stir a long debate, but I believe it to be true.) 32gns of H110 looked like it was beating up my gun.

I just don't want to believe that I bought a lemon, but.....

This is the 15th new centerfire firearm that I have purchased and if it is a lemon, it is the first new lemon that I have bought.

I've bought a couple of used lemons but you really can't blame the manufacturer for that.

recoiljunky
Hey if you want to get rid of that lemmon I'll give $50 for it! Seriously you haven't shot it enough to prove it's a lemmon!!
Try some 240 XTP-Mags or a different cast 300 gr bullet- I found my sweet spot for mine with 30.5 gr W296 and either an 300 XTP-Mag or my Lee 300 gr WFN GC -I get 1995 FPS with the XTP and 2010 FPS with the cast. Any faster and the groups open up alot! Right now I get under 2" groups at 100 yrds always!!

recoiljunky,

What does your bore slug out to be? .451" or .452" or...?? Cast slugs often have to be .001" over bore diameter to shoot well. I think that this is particularly true of GC bullets but experiences do differ. The bullet could happen to match your revolver perfectly and not the rifle.

What are you referring to when you say, "I think I'm seeing wear in the face of the chamber."? The breach face? Wear, i.e. polishing, is expected... The question is are you seeing peening of the locking lug recesses or the locking lugs? Does the action have a feel of "spring" when you operate it?

Oh, if you still don't like the gun, I'll give you $65.

I'm pleased with all of the generous offers out there!

Actually, I mis-stated the size of my bullets. The cast bullets are swagged to .452 and the Hornadys come with a .452 diameter. I havent's slugged the bore yet.

The breach face looks as if the bolt slammed into it too hard. It's got a slight dent on it, slightly smaller than the with of the extractor, about 1/4" to the right of the extractor. I didn't notice it until after I shot the 300gn Hornady + 32gn 296 loads.

Not to put a negative spin on the Puma 92 in 454 Casull, BUT I did send my Puma back to the factory gunsmith for repair yesterday for the following reasons:

1) The front sight shot loose. I did put the factory HiViz sights on and followed the instructions the from tech rep. to the best of my knowledge, but it would not stay in place. This maybe a issue that I caused, because the factory sights did not have this problem.....Lessons learned, know my limits on smithing.

2) The loading gate kept popping out from within the receiver, (from recoil) and I did try to tighten the screw that held it, but it was tight and still did the same thing.

3) The loading tube knob-retaining pin was bending the tube sheet metal (From what? I'm not sure. Recoil?). Not a big issue yet, but after time this will cause a problem.

I'll keep you all posted on the service and the fix. I do hate to send it off, but I want function and performance from this handy little 92.

[ 10-04-2003, 00:15: Message edited by: CK ]

My Puma 454 Casull/45 Colt barrel slugged out at .4529 for the grooves and it has a bore dimension of .4462. That makes the groove depth about .0033. I'm in the process of determining what kind of mold I should get for it; wanting to cast 260 grain bullets or a little bigger.

If my groove dimensions are representative of other Pumas in this caliber, cast bullets should be .453 or bigger.

My initital tests with it have been with 230 grain cast bullets sized .452. (It's all I had in hand) Accuracy hasn't been great, but it sure is fun to shoot. I expect bullets sized to .453 or .454 to be much better.

The rifle sure is easy to load with the loading port near the muzzle. - Turbo