First trip to range with Puma '92 - 16" .38/.357

Mine is in 45 colt. It took some load development but it shoots well. It would be nice for a close range bush gun. I went with a longer barell so it holds 10 rds for cas. A very fun gun to shoot!
 
Your Puma looks really nice. :)

Do you plan to get a 357 mag revolver to match? I have a Winchester trapper 16", 44 mag. It is handy as a self defense piece where I don't have to worry about being stalked by wolves, cougar, or bear. :wave:
 
I love my 16" .454 Casull. As a warning- I *almost* had a problem with mine, and it's something you should be aware of. A .454 is like the .357 with .38 special, you can shoot shorter, lighter .45 colts out of the .454. BUT what I did was shoot about 150 cast lead .45 colts out of it, then dropped in a 300gr jacketed .454. BAD IDEA. The shorter Colts built up an accumulation of lead in the chamber at the throat and when the .454 went in afterwards, a serious high pressure situation occurred. It split the casing about four different ways and almost knocked me on my ass. This is the bottom half of what was left:
casull004.jpg

The recoil was about 1.5-2 times my buddy's Marlin 45-70, which is fine if you're expecting it, but I wasn't. It's a testament to the strength and quality of the Pumas- no damage to the rifle at all, but it could have lunched it. I don't know if you'd have the same issues with .357, as it probably doesn't generate the same monstrous pressures as the Casull, but it's a good practice to scrub the ##### out of the chamber with a lead solvent before loading .357s after .38s.

As far as scoping them, Puma released a scout scope mounted model this year, and a scout mount kit is also available from them.
I just got a .357 revolver, might hafta get a .357 Puma to match. Hmmm...
Oh yeah, I mounted a Marbles Tang sight on mine- Uber cool, I highly recommend them. Here's what they look like in SS, pre Marbles installation:
Puma.454.jpg
 
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Thanks for the info Oddbawl. I noticed that the .38 were a dirty round but didn't even think of it causing a malfunction like that. I'll keep it in mind.
 
you will get a surprise when you let the first one go from the 45/70 i load 56 grs imr 3031, 350 hornady, , i like the marlin myself , you can buy a replacement part for the crappy safety from the net, just put in marlin safety, nice gun you have ,, just the same ,, wade
 
I have the same rifle (38/357) in 20" stainless. Rested, it will put the bullets on top of each other at 25 yrds. The bit of resistance you feel at the beginning of the lever throw is actually caused by the extractor spring. Some guys cut a coil or 2 off it. The trigger on these is fantastic isn't it....
 
super7 said:
I have the same rifle (38/357) in 20" stainless. Rested, it will put the bullets on top of each other at 25 yrds. The bit of resistance you feel at the beginning of the lever throw is actually caused by the extractor spring. Some guys cut a coil or 2 off it. The trigger on these is fantastic isn't it....
Click to expand...

I was thinking about getting the 20" stainless (38/357) to match my Vaquero. What's the stainless finish like? Now if only I could find a nice stainless dbl 12ga.....;)
 
All I know is ,I love my Puma in .454 Casull ,it make me grin ear to ear as well.The only problem is, I have not put a whole lot of rounds through it yet ,but I do plan to roll my own soon.

BB
 
I have one in 20" stainless .38/.357 and LOVE it. But it is the most fussy rifle I ever shot for accuracy. Groups great with most .38's and some .357 handloads, very poorly with other .357 factory loads. 50 yard groups range from 2" to 8"!! The caliber is kinda useless for serious hunting, but I just love shooting the little thing just for fun!
 
Oddbawl said:
I love my 16" .454 Casull. As a warning- I *almost* had a problem with mine, and it's something you should be aware of. A .454 is like the .357 with .38 special, you can shoot shorter, lighter .45 colts out of the .454. BUT what I did was shoot about 150 cast lead .45 colts out of it, then dropped in a 300gr jacketed .454. BAD IDEA. The shorter Colts built up an accumulation of lead in the chamber at the throat and when the .454 went in afterwards, a serious high pressure situation occurred. It split the casing about four different ways and almost knocked me on my ass. This is the bottom half of what was left:
casull004.jpg

The recoil was about 1.5-2 times my buddy's Marlin 45-70, which is fine if you're expecting it, but I wasn't. It's a testament to the strength and quality of the Pumas- no damage to the rifle at all, but it could have lunched it. I don't know if you'd have the same issues with .357, as it probably doesn't generate the same monstrous pressures as the Casull, but it's a good practice to scrub the ##### out of the chamber with a lead solvent before loading .357s after .38s.

As far as scoping them, Puma released a scout scope mounted model this year, and a scout mount kit is also available from them.
I just got a .357 revolver, might hafta get a .357 Puma to match. Hmmm...
Oh yeah, I mounted a Marbles Tang sight on mine- Uber cool, I highly recommend them. Here's what they look like in SS, pre Marbles installation:
Puma.454.jpg
Click to expand...

Is this blued or stainless?? Its hard to tell from the pic. If it is blued, where the hell did you get it!!!
 
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