Author Topic: More LSI/Puma .454 questions (Read 3665 times)

Mainspring · « **on:** February 18, 2003, 08:59:09 AM »

I have yet to get my meat hooks on one of these rifles. Where exactly is the safety, and how does it work?

Also, are '92 clones in general, and this one in particular, able to accept a receiver mounted peep sight, or is the tang mounted variety more in order?

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2003, 11:01:59 AM »

It's a top eject, at least my '92 is. I don't think a receiver peep would work.

My '92 is pre-drilled for a tang peep.

I'd rather get a ladder sight - but they're spendy compared to a Lyman tang sight. But I like to keep my thumb over the tang.

Mainspring · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2003, 03:47:37 AM »

Thanks Black Jaque.

I was wondering because I've seen top eject M94s with receiver peeps (Lyman), but I wasn't sure about the M92.

Thanks again.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2003, 03:13:44 AM »

Oh, I did not know Lyman receiver peeps could be put on the '94s. You're referring to the Lyman 57 sight correct?

Then you probably could put the sight on the '92. I doubt they come pre-drilled for it though.

Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2003, 09:53:21 AM »

I've got receiver sights on my '94's, Lyman 66. Receiver sights will work well on your '92, but you may have to get the reciever drilled and tapped for them.
Bob

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2003, 01:45:32 PM »

safety is a little lever right ahead of the hammer

Mainspring · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2003, 08:28:13 AM »

Lloyd,

The safety is a little lever right ahead of the hammer??? I'm confused. It it a cross bolt thing, or something on the back of the frame near where the hammer falls? I'm having a hard time visualizing this..

lostinvt · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2003, 06:29:48 PM »

Mainspring, The safety sits on top of the bolt and is part of the bolt assembly. Looking down at it as if you were looking into the chamber from the top it is on the rear of the bolt. It is about the diameter of a pencil eraser and it rotates clockwise/conter clockwise from safe to fire. The safety does not prevent the hammer from falling but rather it prevents the firing pin from moving forward to strike the primer. I'll add a link that describes it better and offers advice on how to remove the safety if you so desire. I am not advocating this, and do not want to get into the issue, but it does a good job of describing the safety and what it looks like.
http://www.sixgunner.com/comments/rossi_levergun.htm

For those who want to read some really interesting stuff about the Rossi rifles, leveractions and big bores in general, Paco Kelly, Jim Taylor, and John Taffin have some incredible information that they have published online for free at http://www.sixgunner.com/

I like reading about it almost as much as doing it. :lol:

Mainspring · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2003, 04:34:55 AM »

Lostinvt,

Thanks for the info. Good link. Even though there wasn't a 'before' pic, I understand now at least where the safety is. Do you have a Rossi with this safety? It seems like kind of a Micky Mouse set-up to me.

lostinvt · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2003, 07:10:18 AM »

I do not have one yet, but I can tell you that whoever buys the one at my local shop will notice that the action is quite smooth....after all of the times that I have played with it some of the roughness is gone.

The one at my local shop is blued and I just ordered one in stainless. Supposedly one of these online dealers has them in already. Wating for it to arrive now. Will let you know what I think of it when it gets here.

I am really kinda anxious. Can't think of a better setup for any of the woods hunting that I do. If I can ever draw a moose permit in Maine, NH, or Vt it will be my choice for swamp donkeys.

By the sounds of things you can load it hot...equal to a stiff 45-70 load, or load it down to plinking velocities and go out and just play. The stainless will be nice and a 6lb compact repeater is about as good as it gets.

Take it easy

ben gordon · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2003, 09:35:50 AM »

Mainspring, link through www.legacysports.com and you can find a pic though not real good of the the 454 puma. you can see the little safety on it.

I think I said this on one of the other threads, I don't know how you can d#t it for a standard receiver site. Several make tang sites for it if you don't mind having it in your way carrying it or that close to your eye when you shoot it. If someone corects me on the d&t I will appreciate it cause it would be an improvement on the stock sites.

I have one, the safety is as you described. Everything else about mine is so smooth it makes up for it. I would like to find a way to put a scout mount on it with a lightweight red dot or eer scope for hunting. Otherwise for me it is not much more effective range wise then my marlin 44 mag since I can improve the optics on it probably beyond what its range is. I wouldn't feel comfortable with the open sites on the puma much past 75 yards though power wise it is easily twice that. I have hit jack rabbits with it past 75 yards with 45 colt loads but suspect luck was involved a lot more then skill.

Mainspring · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2003, 07:32:15 AM »

Ben,

Do you have the 20" with recoil pad or the 24" without? What would you compair the recoil to using warm .454 loads?

ben gordon · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2003, 12:09:27 PM »

I have the 20" with. Recoil with the Hornady 300 grainers from the bench is a little sharp but not that bad, less to me then a ruger 77 in 30-06 that I used to have. Doubt you would notice it in the field esp if the triger is as good as mine. The recoil pad works well since it is a pretty light rifle. Get one, you'll like it, the only downside to it for me is not being able to improve the optics.

Mainspring · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2003, 05:56:18 AM »

Ben,

Do you have optics on it now? Have you tried anything, like a scout type set-up, or a side mount?

ben gordon · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2003, 07:44:09 AM »

I bought a B Square side mount, haven't taken it out of the box. I haven't been able to find a scout mount, that is what I really want. I suspect it would have to be fabricated and might not be that hard. Ashley may eventually offer one but when I asked them a couple of months ago they just said they didn't offer it. You have any other ideas as to who might make one?

Mainspring · « **Reply #15 on:** March 03, 2003, 09:31:29 AM »

The only ideas I have are the side mount (which I'm not particularly fond of), and a scout type mount, and that'd only work for the right scope. Without the right scope, I think it'd throw the balance all out of whack. I want to use this rifle primarily for CAS, so I don't have to worry about a scope. I'm going to explore a tang sight and see how much it'll bug me, but I suspect that it'll get in the way more and bug me more than I'd really have a need for it.

But to answer your question, my only suggestions are a side mount or a scout mount.

Are you going to leave that safety intact, or have you given thought to ridding yourself of it like was suggested earlier by lostinvt?

Yanqui · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2003, 04:02:15 PM »

Another option for mounting a scope on a top eject lever action is on the bolt itself. A shooter on another forum has one set up that way.

Quote

Posted by DANA http://gunandgame.com/forums/showthread.php?s=07aab9d0f132fb3c7fca0ab833d969b4&threadid=4453

ONE OF MY WINCHESTER LEVERS HAS A BEEMANS #3 SCOPE MOUNTED DIRECTLY ON THE BOLT SO IS OVER THE BARREL SIGHT LINE, WORKS WELL.

AT THE TIME WHEN I HAD THE SCOPE MOUNTED I HAD A BASE MADE AND ATTACHED BY A GUNSMITH AS THERE WAS NOT AN ADAPTER FOR THE BEEMANS FOR A WEAVER BASE. NOW YOU CAN MOUNT A BEEMANS ON A WEAVER BASE AND WOULD ONLY REQUIRE THE BOLT TO BE DRILLED AND TAPED.

THE ONLY TROUBLE WITH A SET UP LIKE MINE IS THE SCOPE MUST BE SHORT OR IT WILL BE IN THE WAY FOR EJECTION.

I asked, "I meant to ask you. By chance have you in the exitement to chamber another round put the scope in your eye? Hey, I'm serious."

NO BECAUSE I DISMOUNT WHEN I LEVER AND DO THE SAME WITH A BOLT ACTION. THAT WAS THE WAY I LEARNED 60 YEARS AGO. JUST AS I WAS TO USE A SHOTGUN BY AIMING AT A FIXED SPOT IN SPACE IN FRONT OF THE INTENDED TARGET. ALL WORK FOR ME . THAT IS WHAT MAKES A HORSE RACE. BEST TO YOU.

He posted a picture. It looked great. Picture is gone now. Just a square with an x left now.

ben gordon · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2003, 04:39:31 PM »

you probably wouldn't want the 20" with recoil pad for CAS, and that curved butt plate with 454 loads might not be a lot of fun. I suspect you would be better off with a 45 colt for CAS.

I talked online with a fellow from New Mexico who picked up one of the first ones. He replaced the front site with a smaller bead from brownell's and claims pretty good groups at 100 yards. The open sites can be improved in that way.

I am in no hurry with mine, I bought it because I wanted it and I want to hunt with it. I think down the road I'll find a way to put a scout mount on it, if I don't I may sell it but that isn't something I am considering now.

Mainspring · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2003, 05:15:43 PM »

I'll tell ya what...I may claim to be a manly sort of a man, but it won't be until the Lions win the Super Bowl that I'll shoot .454 for 8 or 10 stages of CAS. LOL My reasoning for wanting this rifle would be to shoot .45 Colt for CAS, and to have the .454 option for deer medicine in da swamp. That's why .45 Colt compatability is important to me. If the thing won't feed .45 Colt, then it's only good for about 1/4 of what I want it for. From reading what guys have to say, I figure I have about a 50/50 chance of this happening. I'll take those odds to try to make this rifle work if for nothing else than just the cool factor.

So are you going to leave that safety in tact?

lostinvt · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2003, 08:45:31 PM »

Mainspring, The COOL FACTOR gets me in trouble with the wife often.

Her: "What makes this one different from all of the other ones you have?!?"

Me: "Honey, THE COOL FACTOR is way up there....honey, don't do that with your face...satan, what did you do with my wife???" :twisted: :grin:

Actually my personal reason is that I always wanted a .454, but do not do enough handgun hunting to justify it.....but a carbine that weighs 6 lbs on a John Browning design with all of that nostalgia and horsepower. Going to get a chance to try out some cast bullets and have hours of fun loading and shooting...all kinda sounds like the cool factor.

I haven't gotten the one I ordered yet, but it stated that it was tapped for a scope...any idea where?? Not real sure that I want a scope on it anyways, but I think that I will invest in a really decent peep for it.

Anyone try Lil' Gun powder yet in the .454? Any guesses which powder would be best out of a rifle as opposed to the pistol? Thanks LIV

ben gordon · « **Reply #20 on:** March 04, 2003, 03:45:39 AM »

Mainspring, I will keep the safety on for now, it is butt ugly and in the way though.

Mine feeds 45 colt if I am firm with it, other lever actions I understand also won't feed right if cycled softly. I don't have any problems with my Marlin 94 in 44 mag with feeding. I suspect that a lot of the feeding problems reported are related to the operator, if it is a problem with an individual gun legacy will fix it I think.

Not discouraging you from getting one but ruger level 45 colt loads out of a carbine are going to be close to 454 out of a revolver, take just about anything in North America. I bought mine to hunt with and I wanted the recoil pad.