Marlin 1894CBC vs. LSI Puma 92 in 45 Colt

[jakes10mm]

I need your help.  I'm looking for a 45 Colt lever action rifle as a hunting companion for my Ruger SBH in 45 Colt.  This rifle is for hunting, not Cowboy Action.  My local dealer has two used lever actions to meet this need and I'm having a difficult time deciding.  Need some help in sorting through the advantages and disadvantages of each.  The two rifles are:

Marlin 1894 CBC (Competition model)
 - this appears to be a very nice rifle.  The action is slick, as you'd expect for this model.  It has the 20" Octagon barrel.  Other that a few stock scratches and a faint spot of surface pitting/rust by the loading gate, the rifle is like new in condition.  My trusted dealer said the original owner bought this rifle about a year ago for Cowboy Action shooting, but never got into the game.  He wants $450 out-the-door for the rifle.  Oh, no box or literature with this one.

LSI Puma 92 Stainless Rifle
- this rifle is another one in like new condition.  It looks like its been fired, but not as much as the Marlin.  It is the 24" octagon barrel model in stainless steel. The fit and finish on this rifle is actually better than the Marlin.  The action is still very tight and the trigger is well within the acceptable level.  The ugly safety on the carrier will actually be used out in the field.  He wants $400 out-the-door for this rifle....with original box and literature.

For those who own/owned one or both, what can you tell me about accuracy, quantifiable accuracy.  I've read postings on both and the remarks normally read "very accurate".....what is very accurate? One hole at 50yards? 100yards?  I'm looking for feedback that would provide insight to these rifles in a hunting environment.  Strength of the action...reliability...accuracy...etc.  Would appreciate your feedback.

Thanks

[Sixgun]

Jakes,

There is no contest, get the Rossi 92.  It is stronger, more accurate, and will allow you to load hotter and get more from the 45 cartridge.

I have owned a 94 Marlin and am on my second 92 Rossi.  I liked the Marlin but I only got so-so accuracy and YOU CAN'T load a Marlin near as hot as you can a Rossi.  My first Rossi was a 44 mag carbine.  I used it for Pistol Cartridge Cowboy Rifle Silhouette and it did good but was just a little bit too much for the chickens.  Even loaded way down, you had to dig in the berms for the chickens.

I traded the 44 for a 357 Rossi 92.  I load a Rcbs 357-180 sil for it at 1830 fps and this is a bullet that weighs over 190 gr as cast, with a gas check.  The load is 16 gr of LilGun and CCI Mag primers.  I have to seat the bullet to the middle of the front driving band to get it to cycle.  There are no pressure signs and I could load it higher if I could get more powder in the case.  That is my hunting load and groups are 3.5 inches at 100 meters.  

My Silhouette load is 5 gr of Bullseye and a RCBS 124 9mm bullet.  I get 5 shot groups at 100 meters with open sights with all of the bullets touching with that load.  Volicity is 1330 fps.

Get the Rossi

Sixgun

[Graybeard]

I'd have to agree. Get the Rossi made LSI Puma. Stronger and in my experience better made. I had a Marlin Cowboy in .45 Colt and it would barely hit the broad side of a barn. I now have an EMF Rossi made 92 in .45 Colt and it will shoot one hole groups at 25 yards and as tight as I can see to shoot beyond that.

The price does seem a bit high tho. I forget now just what I paid for my LSI in .357 Magnum but I'm thinking only barely over $300 brand new in box. The EMF I got at a super discount as a writer when I did the review on it some time back.

[jakes10mm]

If you remove the PA sales tax and background check fees, the "actual" sticker price for the rifle is around $370.  I, too, thought his price was a little high so I took a look at his distributors catalog.  The distributor price for this model was $408.  That would equate to a new price from the same dealer at approximately $450.  The Blued Round Barrel models are in the low $300s (distributor pricing), but the Octagon and Stainless come at a premium.

I was favoring the Puma...just love the old 92 actions.  I have one of the "Japanese" WInchester 1886 and love it.  

Thanks for the feedback.

[Graybeard]

The SS rifles from EMF Co. list for $437. Which is actually cheaper than any of the other versions from them except the blued round barrel models with case hardened frame. It's $399.

My experience at my dealer's shop shows you can get a decent discount from the EMF list. Generally at least $75 and some times $100 off the list.

The EMF's do not have the safety and are pretty much true to the original Winchester 92s. Unless you just want the one with the safety imported by LSI you might check into the local pricing of the EMFs.

http://www.emf-company.com/1892-winchester-rifle-carbine.htm

[jakes10mm]

Thank you for the responses.  Seems like the votes are 2-0, Puma vs Marlin.  The Marlin is a very nice cycling gun, while the Puma is still tight...probably not shot much.  You have me a little concerned about price on the Puma.  I did look at the dealer's "Distributor" catalog and the prices were $400+ without shipping and the dealer's profit margin.  

I was contemplating picking up both, but alas, he got another firearm I "need" more than two 45Colt lever guns.  

Looks like I'll swing by after work and look them both over closely one more time.   Leaning heavily towards the Puma.

[steveb3006]

My vote is for the rossi 92.If you would like to find out more about the strength of the 92 and the 45 colt check out this article by Paco.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm

[jhrosier]

My vote is to buy American made whenever practical. It benefits all of us (U.S.) in the end.
Winchester has several reasonably priced Mod.94's in .45 Colt. I don't have one but do have a Mod.94 in 38-55 which is built much nicer than those of recent past.

[Sixgun]

jhrosier,

In most cases I would agree with you on buying American.  I try to with most of what I buy.  In this case though, I have to go with the Brazilian made weapon.

I can stand corrected on this but Winchester and Browning rifles come from Belgium and Japan.  Marlin is made in the US and they make fine weapons, but they will not come close to taking the pressures that a 92 action can stand.

Winchester and Browning do make the 92 action and they are fine rifles, but, they cost way more than the Rossi and even though they may shoot as good as a Rossi, they don't shoot any better.

I have been shooting Cowboy Rifle Silhouette for several years now and my cheap little Rossis have consistantly shot circles around Winchesters and Marlins.  I do shoot a pre-64 Winchester 94 in 30-30 that Iused to win my state championship match with and it was made in America and is a dang good gun.  

When Winchester starts making 92 actions, in America, that can compete, both in quality and price, with Rossi, I will go back to Winchesters.

Marlins actions are plenty strong enough for most competitive shooting and they are accurate enough for Cowboy shooting but in most hunting situations I want to be able to go to the limit with the pistol cal cartridges.

I am not trying to start a fight here, I am just stating some facts as I see them and I am not on Rossi's payroll.

Sixgun

[Keith L]

My understanding is that the majority of Winchester rifles are made in America (US Repeating Arms).  The corporation is Belgin.

Whenever possible I also try to support American labor.  It is getting harder and harder to do.  You don't need to apologise for your choice in weapons.  You need to get what you get pleasure out of.

[leoparddog]

I've not had my EMF Rossi 92 in 45 Colt for long, but I like it very much.  I got mine from Steve Young who did his action and trigger job on it before delivering it to me.  Cost of the gun + the gunsmith work was $480.  Mine is the 20" Blued barrel with case colored action.  

The action is now very slick and the trigger is sweet.  The best load I have found so far is 265gr LBT WFNGC over 25.5gr of H110 running 1750fps average.  This load shoots 1" groups at 60 yards.  This is not the max load for this gun/round, but it is plenty fast enough.

If you're looking at an off the shelf Rossi 92, you can expect the action to smooth itself out over time or you can do some polishing of the action yourself.  Detailed information is available on the web.

[Dana C]

This tread is a little old but I just got a Puma 24" 357.  Wow what a sweet shooting rifle.  I also have a Marlin Cowboy, same barrel that is good as well.  In terms of fit, finish and all around quality, I would give the Puma the nod.  It really looks great, shoots great etc.
Dana