I bought a Puma 454 a few weeks ago and took it to the range with high expecttions. Boy was I disappointed. The gun's groups were extremely large, even at 50 yards. I shot the same rounds out of my pistol with great results (I'm shooting reloads.) The loads are 300gn XTP Mags with 28.5gn WW296. I also tried a 250gn load with Unique powder.

The 11 extra inches of barrel make a huge difference in velocity. Maybe that's my problem. I'm getting over 2000fps with the 300gns.

I was hoping to find a load that would shoot well in both my rifle and my pistol.

Anyone had any luck with this rifle?

What loads do you use?

The gun has been to the range twice. I got so frustrated with it that I've put it up for the time being.

recoiljunky
I needed to fire lap the barrel of my Rossi 45 Colt. It may pay for you to do the same.
Jim

Can the novice determine if a barrel needs firelapping or is that something a smith needs to determine?

I've seen the kits, seems simple enough to perform.

For me and my firearms, lapping is a matter of course, most especially with cast bullets. An easy way to determine if the barrel should be lapped is to drive lead slug, say Hornady/ Speer lead bullet, down the barrel. This will give you data on how smooth the barrel is and what diameter the barrel is. An easier way to check the smoothness is pushing a very tight fitting patch down the barrel, on your cleaning rod. Does the barrel offer uniform resistance to the patch as it goes down the barrel.
With the kit from Midway for fire lapping, the job is relatively easy and fast. I've forgotten the exact number of bullets used in each grit level. So for demonstration I used 10 course grit bullets, 15 or 20 medium grit then 25 or 30 fine grit. I cleaned between each level of grit, then cleaned the action very carefully after all of the treated bullets were shot.
Cleaning the barrel with tight fitting patch I felt a lessening of the barrel grabbing the patch. I may need to lap the barrel again, but for now it does fine.
Jim

Thanks for the info on firelapping Arkypete. Gun season came in today, so my Puma is going to be stuck on the back burner for a while.

Apparently nobody cares.

BTT

Try AA1680 powder loads with the 454.It is awesome in my 375 winchester.I wanted one of those guns I have hear not many good words about them.I have seen quite a few for sale.Its cheaper than pistols .I have had those 300 gr hornady bullets go wackey in my 454 Rugers.I used 296 powder too.They sprayed instead of grouped.

Just curious, what barrel length does it have? I'm guessing with the 11" difference it must be the 20" and you have a long pistol? I have a SRH ordered right now (9.5"), a carbine to go with it would be neat and tidy, of course one that shot straight would be even better.

A friend of mine thought he would save himself a few bucks when he bought a Puma in 44rm after trying my Marlin. That pos Puma couldn't come close to matching the Marlin in any way you care to mention,and that was his conclusion! derf

Haven't shot the new puma's but my older rossi 357 mag rifle's were very finicky about bullet shapes/powders/amounts. For some time it was an exercise in frustration before I finally got it right...Gary D.

I don't havee one, but check out Paco Kelley's article on http://www.gunblast.com/PacoLegacy454.htm



about them.

recoiljunky

As a Puma 454 owner I'd ask is this your first big bore rifle? You said your loads shot good out of a pistol but not out of the rifle. I also had that problem with mine as the rifle would not shoot as good as the pistol with the same load so I messed with the load and found with 30.5 grs W296 and either the 300gr XTP-Mag or my cast 300 GC would shoot very well in both. This load get's me 1995 fps with XTP's and a little over 2000 fps with the cast. A good and consistant crimp was also needed to get good groups with the rifle as well. So don't give up the fun has just begone!! The 250gr RN cast wouldn't shoot for beans no matter what I did. Now my 255 gr SWC shoot excellant!