Older puma 92, feeds 38 well, 357 no go, help!

[smittty]

I just got it.  It's pre-safety erra.  I cycled 38's thru it no problem but it looks like it won't feed 357 mag ammo.  It looks like the 357 is too long and the rim gets stuck below with the bullet pointing up into the chamber.  Maybe I need to use the lever with more force?  I haven't actually shot it yet so maybe i'm jumping the gun here but the 38's cycl so well I expect the 357 should too.

Your help is appreciated.
thanks,
smittty

[smittty]

Did some more fiddling with the 92 and tried some dummy rounds in both 38 and 357 mag.  All 38's feed and eject perfectly but none of the longer 357 mag rounds do. 

The 357 rounds get stuck, the bullet end wants to chamber but the rim gets stuck below the guides.  It looks as if the opening that allows the rim to pass through should be longer towards the back of the rifle bu just a tiny bit.  I'm wondering if removing some material from each guide in this area will fix the problem.  Once I get a 357 round into the chamber, the rifle ejects it like a cannon.   

I searched the entire WWW and found a similar problem but it was with the shorter 38's.  The fix for that was to adjust the right cartridge guide.  It appears the clear space between the guides was the problem. 

I think my problem is similar because if the space between the two guides (towards the back) was slightly wider, it would allow the rim of the 357 to move up above the guides and into the chamber.

Does anybody know if this issue is covered in the Steveguns Rossi 92 DVD?

I hope to get some replies

Thanks,
Smittty

[jeffk14]

I've got the exact same gun as you. Bought it new about 8 years ago for $235. That gun has been picky about what it likes in both .38 and .357. Conical bullets don't feed well, but LRN .38's feed fine. I had a real bear finding a .357 round that would feed reliably. Same thing you describe was happening. It's been a few years, but best as I can remember, tearing the gun down and polishing the innards everywhere the ammo comes in contact with during the feeding process helped a lot. I didn't remove any metal, just brightened everything up with fine emery cloth. Out of the box, my gun was really rough on the inside. Additionally, since I reload, I came upon a load using Remington 158grn SJRN bullets that the gun really likes. I'm at work now & don't have the COL handy, but I remember paying close attention to the length. The combination of polishing and making up a load for the gun was the key for me. YMMV.

[jeffk14]

Almost forgot to mention, the gun also feeds better with a very vigorous throw of the lever than with slowly cycling it.

[jeffk14]

smitty, sounds like you may be having the opposite problem described here:

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Rossi_92_cartridge_guide.htm

Maybe try removing that right side guide & see if there's already a shim under it. If not, maybe you could remove a little bit of material.

[danwessonfan]

Could it be that someone fired 38's in it exclusively and it has a powder ring in the chamber?  I've read of this happening from shooting 38's in a 357 chambered gun as well as 22 shorts or longs in a 22lr gun.

[Charles/NM]

I was given my old '92 because it would only feed .38 Spl ammo and not even those easily.  Turned out to be the ramp on the inside side of the cartridge feed door (or what ever it's called) hanging up the cartridges.  I surmise that ramp pushes the cartridge over onto the lifter - it's been about 7 years since I fiddled with it's innards. I reangled it a little at a time til it fed smooth and easy.  When thru I had removed about 1/2 of the ramp' angle. Now it feeds 357's perfect.  One other thing I found was the bolt was camming against the hammer so tight it was very hard to cock all the way.  I polished down the hammer's contact spot with the bolt until it was easy to cycle the action.  After many thousands of rounds the old girl is still shooting perfect and is a joy to handle. It's one of my "Keeper" guns.

[Kmrere42]

Hi,


I also have a problem feeding 357mags.  Mine gets most of the way into the chamber and then stops just before the cartridge is supposed to rotate into the chamber.  I have taken the rifle completely apart for a very thorough cleaning and that did not solve the problem although I did clean up a few decent burrs. 

38's feed perfectly.

My rifle is a newer one 24" case/blue with that ugly safety..




Paul

[Charles/NM]

You don't state whether you are using factory loads of hand loads. I hand load all my .357 ammo to just a little more than 38 Spl over all length. I can't give exact dimensions since my info is out in my shop.  If I try to use factory ammo loaded to max 357 length mine won't feed either. It also helps to cycle the action rather briskly.  Even some of my short 357 loads will try to hang up if I work the action slowly.

[Charles/NM]

I checked my Speer #12 reloading manual and here's what I have. 
357 Mag max OAL = 1.590"
38 Spl max OAL = 1.550"
For 357 Mag rounds to cycle thru my model 92 they can't be loaded any longer than 1.575".  Any longer than that and they hang up.
Hope this helps.

[Kmrere42]

Hi,


It took me a bit but I was able to sit down with it again.  It seems that the feeding grooves on the cartridge guides are about .050" too far forward.  If I pull the cartridge out of the chamber with my finger nail the the cartridge does not tip down until it is past the guides.  I am going to have to remove the guides and measure them. 




Paul