Puma 92 44mag 24” range report

[teddy12b]

Lately I’ve been yacking away about the incredible deals on the Puma 92’s for sale at Budsgunshop.com.  Well I recently ordered a 24” 44mag blue/case hardened 92, and last night I got out to the range with it for the very first time. 

Before getting to the range a couple picky things I’ve noticed.  The steel buttplate has a gap between it and the wood in a small area but it’s significant enough that if a guy wanted to be picky he could be.  The other thing is that the front sight post is about half the height of my 20” 92 44mag.  I wasn’t sure how that front sight post was going to effect things until I got to the range.  I’ll try to get some pictures of all this stuff later.

At the range….  My 20” 92 has one sight picture and my new 24” 92 has another.  The 20” uses the sight picture that I’ve used to the most.  Basically putting the front sight post in the middle of the target.  The 24” uses what I think is a pistol sight picture (I could be wrong on calling it that) and I have to put the sight post at the bottom of the target.  I’ve put in a picture to help with this point.  The 20” sight picture on left, the 24” on the right.



Once I figured out the sight picture of my new rifle….. wow.  This rifle put bullets right where I wanted them to go every time.  I was shooting white painted steel out to 100 yards and it wasn’t hard to see this rifle is a shooter.

Ammo….. I was using my standard Hornady 240gr XTP/HP handloads in this rifle and it fed & cycled like a champ.  I also tried running some 320gr Cast Performance handloads through the rifle but it wouldn’t cycle them for some reason.  I had to give the lever a “nudge” forward with the palm of my hand to get these to cycle.  These exact loads cycled without incident in the 20” 92. 

Recoil was pretty minimal with this rifle and the balance was great.  I’ve been very happy with my 20” 92, but I am much happier with the feel and fit of the 24” 92.  The balance and everything about it just feels right to me. 

I will be hunting with this rifle next month and I hope to be able to tell everyone how well it works there too.  Hopefully this helps anyone who has been on the fence about buying one.

[Rangr44]

Thanks for posting your report !

BTW:

[The 20” uses the sight picture that I’ve used to the most.  Basically putting the front sight post in the middle of the target.]

That is usually referred to as a "center hold".


[The 24” uses what I think is a pistol sight picture (I could be wrong on calling it that) and I have to put the sight post at the bottom of the target.]

That is usually referred to as a "six o'clock hold".

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[teddy12b]

I appreciate you straightenin up my terms.  The six oclock hold worked like a champ with my rifle and I can hardly wait.  Only two more weeks till deer season!!

[AtlLaw]

Thanks for the report Teddy!  My rifle should be here in a week or so.      I doubt that I'll be able to shoot it 'till after season closes though.     But you never know!     I got a box of XTP's and a pound of 2400 so... 

I assume you used the factory iron sights.   

[teddy12b]

I used the factory iron sights.  I'm actually thinking about after the season ends to upgrade the sights to a ladder sight that replaces the rear sight.  It should be able to extend my range with the rifle.  I don't know why I want to shoot targets as far as I can with a 44mag, but I do.

My 44mag pet handload is loaded with H110 if that helps.