Puma Rifles 44 Rem, 454 Casul or 480 Ruger

[Crazytrout]

Almost convinced to go and buy one of these levers just undecided on the three caliber choices.
Rifle woud be used for whitetail and black bear...also enjoy shooting at the range.
Recoil is not an issue.

Bullet availability is not a concern, just looking for comments on performance.

Any experts out there with recommendations.

Thanks

CT

 

[Amphibious]

would choose the .44

Ammo is cheap and plentiful
lots of load possibilities
oh the hardcast choices!
more then enough jam for <100yrd deer/blackbear
moderate/lighter recoil for long fun range sessions.

 

[DarrylDB]

Yeah, dont go for the 454 casull, those 45 colts are nearly impossible to find

 

[Amphibious]

Yeah, dont go for the 454 casull, those 45 colts are nearly impossible to find

44mag in a lot more places then .45 colt, at least in this neck of the woods.....

 

[jklutes]

I just bought a 44 magnum and dunno how I have lived without it.Fun to shoot and pretty accurate for a lever gun

 

[Slimbo]

If you handload go for the 454. If not, try on the 44 for size.

 

[dan belisle]

480, bigger holes are better. And I wonder if it could be reworked to feed 475 Linebaugh, now that would be a treat. - dan

 

[Whelen B]

480, bigger holes are better.

I agree wholeheartedly!

I was thinkin of buying either the 480 or 454 in a 16" model for an in close bear stomper. The 480 got my vote since it runs at lower pressures so extraction should be reliable and the brass last. Hornady compares it to the 416 Rigby for that reason - its lower operating pressures yet crushing power. On the other hand, the 454 runs uber pressure but the Puma seems to take them OK.

Also if you crunch the numbers and find the Taylor KO values possible from a 16" tube, the 480 with top loads is an insanely powerful little club to have in your hand when facing danger of the toothy kind in close quarters.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

I heard a rumour the 480 Ruger was dead.
Start your brass collection now.

 

[prosper]

454. The most versatile of the lot! From black powder 45 LC loads to 65,000PSI full power loads that should equal 40,000psi marlin 45-70 loads
.

And 454 bullets are common and cheeep

 

[t-star]

if you're going to go puma, again i'd go with 454,- there are other cheaper( marlin, winny, and ruger, to name a few) levers in your sizing around in 44 mag-basically, the 44 is common as dirt-

 

[Camp Cook]

Considering that he states that availability of the cartridge isn't an issue I would and did go with a 20" barrel in stainless steel chambered in 454 Casull.

Absolutely fantastic ballistics...

Just make sure to check the stocks for any signs of cracks and inside the chamber for any imperfections before you buy it...

Puma rifles do not have the best quality control around but when you get a good one they are fantastic rifles.

 

[Pathfinder]

Who sells the Puma's ? (mail order)

 

[SMITH45]

I saw some at Ellwoods Epps in Orillia, were advertised on their web site
Good day!

 

[prosper]

Ellwood Epps

 

[Can-down]

Who sells the Puma's ? (mail order)

Frontier has them on sale right now!
http://www.frontiertaxidermy.com/html/puma_rifles.html

 

[Camp Cook]

Caldwell's in North Vancouver, BC is the Canadian importer for these rifles.

Any licensed firearms dealer can order direct from them.

 

[Predator]

That 16" barrel in 454 would be a great little rig. I don't think the extra length, velocity, and ammo capacity would really be worth going to the 20". Compact and powerful is the way to go.

 

[Camp Cook]

I went with the 20" barrel only because I shoot cowboy action competitions and needed 10 rounds of 45 Colt capacity that I get with the longer barrel if I didn't I would have definately gone with the 16" barrel instead.

 

[Scarecrow]

No 500 S&W model yet?