Author Topic: ROSSI/PUMA "92" OR WIN. "94" IN 44MAG. (Read 3627 times)

CharlieinKansas · « **on:** October 21, 2004, 02:18:43 AM »

I Would like the input of those whom have owned or shot both.
What are the differences in feeding the 44mag? does one feed smoother than the other. I have been told that the "94" is not as good on feeding the "44" as it is of other calibers.

What are the pro's and con's of each? I have a Marlin 45-70 GG I bought in 1998 when they came out and it feeds and ejects flawlessly, and prints 1 1/4" groups at 100yrds. Should I consider the 1994 Marlin instead of either the "92" or the "94"?

I guess I just want to know which lever gun feeds and shoots the best, just on the 44mag.

Thanks, Charlie

Cabin4 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2004, 11:29:19 AM »

I don't own a Puma 92 but I do own a win 94 in 44mag. It is a great flawless shooter. I have not had any cycling problems at all. Its as reliable as my Marlin 45-70 GG.

I do hear that the Rossi Puma is a very strong and reliable gun. I think most will say it is stronger than the win or the marlin. I don't know, its just what I hear.

jd45 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2004, 04:02:23 PM »

Regarding smoothness of operation, of the three mentioned I'd bet on the '92 action. Regarding strength, Paco Kelly has written that the '92 action is the strongest, of the three you mentioned. My Browning '92 in .44 Mag, was smooth & accurate. Grouped into 1.5" @ 100yds from a rest with handload of 21grs of H110 under a 265 Hornady fp. jd45.

sureshot2040 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2004, 04:07:55 PM »

i have shot all the guns mentioned here
if money isnt a consideration
i would try my best to find me a browning b92 in 44 mag
they are the best smoothest most accurate little carbines
next choice would have to be the marlin cowboy
then the rossi's only because the marlin is finished better than most of the rossi/puma models
last choice would have to be the win. 94
winchester used to be my only choice in a lever gun but not now a days

CharlieinKansas · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2004, 02:47:58 AM »

Thanks fo the info guys. I went to the Wannemachers Tulsa gun show Sat. but did'nt feel good about any of the rifles in "44"mag due to all the negative readings on several forums, so I decided to hold off until I could get some more info on each of them, again thanks.

Charlie

Old Griz · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2004, 05:49:37 PM »

:cb2: I've had the Marlin in .44 mag. and had nothing but trouble out of it. I've heard other horror stories about the Winchester 94 being a .30-30 adapted to shoot the .44, and also having a lot of problems. I have not heard a single complaint about the Rossi except for its looksnot how it shoots. Think if I wuz to get another .44, I might just jump ship from the levers and get the Ruger Deerfield carbine. Have yet to hear anything negative about that one.

captainkirk · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2004, 09:33:42 AM »

I have a Winchester 94 Trapper in 44 mag and it has functioned just fine for me. Even Keith 245 gn semi wadcutters feed with nary a bobble. I put a Lyman tang sight on it and never looked back.

captainkirk

Sean · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2004, 03:13:20 AM »

The Puma cannot be scoped, while the others can. You may want to keep that in mind, and it may not matter to some. Sean

Florida Jim · « **Reply #8 on:** November 15, 2004, 12:03:40 PM »

I had a Rossi, in 45 colt a few years ago. I was disapointed in its accuracy. Also it had a very rough internal finish. I also had a Marlin with a trapper lenght barrel (16") that was a very good gun, but a friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I let it go. My current 44 mag is a "Trails End" 94, complete with a saddle ring. I installed a Williams reciever sight on it. I'm extremely pleased with the rifle. With 250 gr Nosler partitions, and 2400 powder, it shoots around an inch @ 100 yds. and feeds flawlessly. Unfortunitely my work precludes taking time off this year, so I haven't hunted with it.

Uncle Ji · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2004, 01:22:22 PM »

I have heard horror stories about all 3 guns, 92 Rossi, 94 Winny, and the 94 Marlin, there are good ones, and bad ones from every manufacturer. I own a '94 Marlin in 44 mag that feeds, and shoots 100%, and a Winchester 94AE in 357 mag which also is flawless in feeding, and shooting. Most problems I her about Marlins, and Rossi are from owners of these guns where as most problems I hear about the 94 Winchesters in pistol cartridge chamberings have come 3rd had or just internet hearsay. Buy what you like, everything in life is a crap-shoot, hopefully you'll do good the first time around as I did. Have a great day!

Leverdude · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2004, 01:06:52 PM »

I had a Win 94 44 mag & couldnt make myself like it. Kicked like a mule with full power loads & kept shooting the mag tube off. The little retaining screw in the mag cap bent over peening the hole in the barrel bottom.
I had my smith cut a dovetail in the barrel & screw the mag tube into that & it fixed it for awhile but started loosenng up agan so I traded it off.
Just me, but I wont buy any more current production Winchester lever guns made here. The Jap ones are quality but the 94's IMO just arent up to par.
I'd get ether a Marlin or more likely a Rossi. Both these actions were desgned from the ground up for cartriges similar to the 44 & are smoother than a 94. Generally I'm a Marlin guy but I like the 92 action.
Seems to me its hit or miss with all three but I'v had good luck with Marlins & Rossi's.

Good luck.

DEANO · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2004, 05:30:32 AM »

I just got a used 20" .454 Rossi Puma. I do not like the wood, and switched out sights already. The dovetail needed a little peening, and I replace the front sight with a silver bead and the rear with a Ruger flip up off a 10/22(the standard Ruger rear sight made by Lyman). This of course is not historically correct, but neither is stainless steel or the .454 for that matter. I am real pleased with this rifle now. It is short, fits in my above the visor rack on my truck, and it packs and shoots REAL good. Operationally it has performed flawlessly. Kicks pretty good too with 300 grainers. Hope you get what you like. I like my Rossi.

Sixgun · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2004, 06:02:21 AM »

I have had examples of the Marlin and the Rossi and will never get another Marlin if a Rossi is available. I have a Rossi in 44 mag and 357 mag and I use both of them to shoot Cowboy Rifle Silhouette.

Both of my Rossis have been drilled and taped for a Williams FP sight and since I have the carbine versions I am stuck with the front sight that is on them.

Marlins and Winchester 94s are both weak in the action. I had to be really careful with my Marlin 94 to make sure I didn't get too much pressure. With both of my Rossis I have been able to load the top loads from my reloading manuals and have not got to a point where I had to back off. I don't go above published loads, but I could do it safely.

As for accuracy, I just worked up a load for shooting my 357 in the 200 meter silhouette matches. The load I ended up with gives me under 2" groups at 200 meters. That is with a Williams FP sight, from a sandbag rest, using the smallest appature. I think it is .040. Could I do better with a scope? Probably but I don't need to. It will shoot that good at silhouettes or deer and if I can do that with a receiver sight, I don't need a scope.

I will pass on what I have learned about shooting with a receiver sight with less than perfect eyes. First off, I am 55 years old and have had glasses since I was in the 6th grade. I am a computer programmer and 20 + years in front of a computer screen haven't helped my eyes a bit. I discovered that when I changed appatures that sometimes things got clearer. I found out that the smaller the appature the better it gets.

Now about the ugly stocks on the Rossis. I shoot with guys that only buy Marlins and Winchesters because they don't like the ugly stocks on my Rossis. I encourage them to go with the nice looking stocks because I'm sure that the beautiful stock will influence their ability to knock down steel targets. Course, the ugly stocks affect me too. They help me win more matches and cause people to ask to look at the gun that beat them. They then shake their head and wonder how such an ugly stock can shoot so good.

Now, if you want a pretty rifle look at the Navy Arms Rossi Rifles. They have a 24" octagon barrel with a case hardened receiver and are a beautiful rifle. Price around here is about $450 and they are truly a good looking gun.

Sixgun

cma g21 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2005, 02:38:32 AM »

I currently have Rossi Pumas in .44 Magnum and .454 Casull. I also had a Rossi .357 that I still regret selling.

The only Marlin I had was a .357. It worked well, but was not as accurate as the Rossi (even with a scope).

The .454 was great right out of the box. The .44 was a little rough at first, but smoothed up with use.

As you can see I really prefer the Rossi, and don’t think the inability to accept a scope is a problem at the ranges these would be used.

YMMV.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:07:23 AM »

Don't buy anything, until you try a Winchester '92. They are expensive, but they are nice.

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:19:10 AM »

But they are also not really available. They were just a limited run made a few years ago were they not? How would a person get one other than the auction sites?

Bullseye · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2005, 07:00:19 AM »

I have a Win 94 Trapper in 44 that works flawlessly. Just sold a Marlin 1894 FG (41 Mag), it was a jamming machine.

RugerNo3 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2005, 03:45:29 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard

But they are also not really available. They were just a limited run made a few years ago were they not? How would a person get one other than the auction sites?

I just checked Davidson's gallery of guns and they have five of the Trapper Carbines in 45Colt and 89 short rifles in 44mag in stock. Didn't check the other chamberings for stock. A search may show the others.
www.galleryofguns.com

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2005, 01:46:22 AM »

From Winchester's site:
The Winchester firearms on this page are from a unique, special category of Winchester rifles and shotguns which do not appear in current or past Winchester catalogs.

# These firearms are commissioned on a special build basis by large customers such as distributors and buying groups.
# They are usually sold directly to these special customers who then, in turn, distribute them to federally licensed firearms dealers as ordered.
# In some cases, these customers are connected to large outlets which sell them directly.
# These special firearms are unique variations or revivals of previously produced Winchester models, often with special engravings, limited numbers, unique dimensions, uncommon finishes, higher wood grades and types, etc.

How to Locate. For some of theses firearms it may be possible to locate a dealer or location who sells them by clicking on the Distributors link found on the product's detail page. For those not containing a link you must request that your local licensed firearms dealer contact the distributor listed.

All are Factory Winchesters. These are very special firearms and are almost always in very limited quantities with special design features and are available for a short period of time. This tradition of special build Winchesters is nearly as old as Winchester itself. Be assured that each gun listed is an official Winchester Rifle or Shotgun produced in the same factories as the regular catalog line of Winchester products.

Not all non-catalog guns are currently on this list. As this part of the Winchester site is completed you can expect a full listing of current and historic non-cataloged Winchester firearms.

Oldtimer · « **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2005, 04:10:20 AM »

I like the Model 92 action. It was a miniaturized Model 86 action and is quite strong for its purpose. I find the gun a little more comfortable for me to carry than the Model 94. As to the ugly stocks on Rossi's, I refinished mine, filled the grain, stained the wood, and put a tung oil finish on it. It made up to a really nice looking gun. I have an early Marlin 94 in .357 that has wood that is not even close in appearance, though the gun shoots really well with heavier weight bullets. My Wichester Trapper in .44 magnum fed without any problems, both magnums and specials, but I did not like the crossbolt safety, so I gave it to one of my daughters, who likes it just fine.