Optimal barrel length for 44MAG PUMA?

[Irelander]

I have been eyeing up a PUMA 44MAG lever rifle for a while now, and I think it may be the perfect Christmas present to myself.  I'm having trouble deciding what barrel length to get.  I'd like to have it as short as possible without reducing the max effective range and accuracy.  I'd like the octagon barrel as well.  What do you guys think: 24", 20", or 16"?  I'm fine with any length, but like I said, the shorter the better.  But I don't want a handy 16" barrel that can't hit the broad side of the barn at 100+ yards.

Also, is there a difference between the Rossi M92 and the PUMA M92?  I thought they were one in the same but I see different models on the Rossi site and the Legacy site.

[Graybeard]

For me 16" is just too short. I might could live with an 18" if it were offered but isn't so I'd go for a 20".

[jimster]

I have had all three barrel lenghts, the 16" I had was an older Rossi imported by interarms back then, it was accurate as any, but for all around use I liked the 20" better, and I now am shooting a 24" a lot, it's nice for off hand shooting because it's heavy and hangs there , but not as handy as a 20" or 16".
The 16" is liked by a lot of folks for carrying, I guess you just have to see which length you like the best.  One thing about the 16" is it won't hit the ground when your carrying it and letting it hang down even if your not too tall.  They are handy. 

I think maybe Puma might have been bought out and may be Italian now, used to be all were Rossi's a short while back, things change, some people on here know more about that than me.

[Irelander]

Also wondering about the difference between the octagon barrel and round barrel besides the size and weight.  I have heard that I should stay away from 44MAG rifles with barrel bands because they may become loose with use.  It that the general concensus or just one opinion?  I was thinking about going for the octagon barrel but am wondering what advantages it brings.

[Graybeard]

That's incorrect information. Puma is brand name owned by LSI who has been importing Rossi made rifles for a long time. They no longer import from Rossi and are now getting them made in Italy so yes new Puma's are made in Italy but not because they were bought out. Rossi still makes the same rifle it's just not imported by LSI anymore so the ones you'll see aren't labeled Puma but then most of them imported here never were called that.

I think maybe Puma might have been bought out and may be Italian now, used to be all were Rossi's a short while back, things change, some people on here know more about that than me.

[yukondog]

My 44 is puma rossi made in brazil and my 454 is rossi made in brazil,the 44 is about 4 or 5 yrs old. Both nice shooting guns although the 454 kicks like a mule.

[Dee]

I don't have the 44 mag, but instead the 357 mag. Love it! It's a 24" octagon, and I like the way it swings, and the extra sight radius. It is a tack driver, and have had it several years.

[dpe.ahoy]

See if you can handle all 3 lengths.  I like all of them, 24" in 357, 20" in 44mag and 454 and 16" in 357 and 454.  For the truck or the UTV the 16" is good, Dee is right on the 24" hanging on target real nice, and the 20" is a good middle ground.  Just get all 3 and use the one ya want.   DP

[Jacko]

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/results.html

Just for interest folks

regards Jacko

[Irelander]

Thanks guys for all the input.  Any opinions on octagon or round barrel?  Stainless or Blued?

[Graybeard]

I like both. Octagon is much heavier so for a .454 Casull would be a good choice I'd think. I like SS in all my guns just as I do gray laminated stocks.

My first was a 20" octagon .45 Colt. Super accurate and a really nice rifle from EMF without the silly safety. Wish I'd kept it. Next was a 24" octagon .45 Colt just about as accurate as the first. Had brass frame and was really heavy but felt good shooting free hand. Current one is a 20" round barrel .357 mag. for a woods walking rifle I prefer this set up with 20" round barrel best. Since the .357 has no noticeable recoil it's fine. Dunno what it would be like if a .454 but in .45 colt with factory loads would be nice.

If it were made I'd prefer a 20" round barrel SS metal and gray laminate wood in .44 magnum as my ideal choice.

[dpe.ahoy]

Both my 454's have round barrels and the recoil isn't that bad.  The recoil pad takes most of the sting out of em and for light weight packin, the round is the way to go.  The 24" oct. 357 is noticeably heavier when yer carrying it for a day.  Try em all, pack em around in the shop as long as they let ya.  Shoulder and swing, you will find one you like best.  DP

[Graybeard]

Yup I'd want a nice soft pad on a .454 for sure. All of mine came with a curved metal butt plate and I don't think that would be fun on a .454.

[teddy12b]

I've never handled a 16", but I've shot a couple 20" 44mags and one 24" 44mag. 

For the shooting range the 24" 44mag just has a great balance and shoots like a dream.  So does the 20", but I'd have to say I like the 24" just a fuzz more for shooting at the range.

For hunting the 20" is just the greatest.  The 24" octogon barrel gets a little heavy after a while and it's a longer gun.  The 20" even fully loaded is a little more pleasant to carry around and more managable while in a ground blind.  The 24" isn't bad, but in the field the 20" is as good as I could imagine anything being.

Accuracy wise, I haven't really tried to compare the difference between the two barrel lengths because I shoot pie plate sized steel plates and they seem to shoot equally as well at those ranges.

Whatever you buy, I don't think you'll be disappointed in. 

[Irelander]

OK, right now I am seriously looking at this:



Rossi R92, 16" round barrel, SS, 44MAG.  Now I just need to find one at a local shop.

[Lloyd Smale]

I like em short. Make mine a 16. 18 inch max for a pistol cal lever gun

[dpe.ahoy]

If you get that one, you might consider ordering another butt stock with the recoil pad mounted.  I did for my 44, made a world of difference over that metal butt plate.  Yes, they hurt after a few shots.  Sorry, I don't have the paperwork on it anymore, called the distributor and they gave me the number to call to order.  The 480 wasn't out yet so just ordered one for the 454, cost with shipping was about $75.00.  I put the one off the 44 on my 357 to replace the cresent butt plate.  Cresent looks nice but the way I shoulder a rifle, the points got to hurting after a box of shells.  Recoil don't bother me to much, but when it includes sharp, pointy things it does.   DP

[Hanzerik]

Both my Pumas are .44 Mags. The 16" makes a great truck/walking gun, light weight and is accurate at 100 yards. My 20" has the octagon barrel and weighs a bit more than the 16" and is also accurate at 100 yards. I have only shot at grass clumps at further distances, so I can't comment on longer range accuracy. In both guns you will gain about 250FPS from the same load fired in a pistol...according to the loading manuals.

I have changed out the sights on both guns with Marble's Sights. For the 16" I went with the Marble's Bullseye and a 1/16" gold bead front. The 20" has a marble's Tang Sight, Folding leaf rear, and a 1/16" gold bead front.