Puma/Rossi revolver caliber lever actions...

[Reverenddel]

Anyone have any experience with these? Anything to note? Etc?

I'd appreciate the feedback on them. They look fairly well adapted in the 16" barrel as a companion to a revolver. The 20", and 24" just appear too long for the powder burn, and would slow the velocities down based on fast burn powders used in most handgun loads.

[jdonovan]

I've got a rossi in .454. I like it quite a bit. Fit/finish is not $2000 gun quality, but its serviceable.

Many of the more traditional lever chamberings, are definitely beginning to slow beyond 16". The .454, is one that is still gaining.. but that's more of a rifle round that pistols are chambered in.

If you are hand loading, you can obviously select powders that are at the slow end for the specific cartridge, and probably do better with the longer barrel.

You do pick up quite a bit more speed in a 16 vs a 6 barrel, and you do have to watch out for short range shots with some bullets. A 125 JHP from a 357 tends to fragment badly when it impacts at 2000 FPS, vs the 1400 it was designed for.

I find that my .454 lever is running velocities above that of my .460 S&W revolver... so bullet selection when reloading becomes important.

Feeding / function has been non-issue, and my older eyes and the iron sights are probably more of a limiter than the rifle. I've got a flip up peep, and fiber optic front I'm adding to help correct both of those.

[CowboyT]

The 16" barrel seems optimal for the powders used in .357M, .44M, and .454, typically stuff like 2400 and H110/W296. The reason to get the longer barrel in these rifles is the longer tubular magazine and thus an increased ammo capacity.

BTW, the Rossi rifles do shoot well. Jdonovan gave you his experience with the .454. The .357M version is also pretty nice. However, the action definitely needs to be worked a fair amount to get broken in and smoothed out. Do about 1,000 dry-firings of the rifle, with the safety on or off, and this will help nicely. About 50-100 action-cycles a night before bed is good.

The safety on the Rossi leverguns actually is not obtrusive, and it's not glaring in your face like the new Marlin safety. Additionally, under the iron sights on Rossis, the firearm is drilled and tapped for a scout scope mount, which Rossi makes, if you're so inclined.

Feeding the .357M version is a little bit of a trick till you get the hang of it. Then it goes pretty smoothly. Also, there's a DVD out showing how to really slick up a Rossi levergun so that not only is the action smoother, but feeding ammo is easier.

These rifles are *VERY* cast boolit-friendly. That means you can run Keith LSWC's through them. At 1,600 to 1,700 fps, with a 170gr Keith LSWC, that ought to do very well for putting venison on the table. The 158-grainers will hit 1,800 fps with the right powder and loading.

[arkypete]

Morning

I've got a Rossi with a 24 inch barrel in 45 Colt.
The first thing I did with the rifle was lap the barrel, I sure Rossi doesn't pride themselves on glass smooth barrels.
I had planned to use cast bullets exclusively. I had ordered a 4 cavity Saeco mold throwing a 300 grain gas checked, .454 diameter bullet. Some where I picked up loading data using H110, 20 to 21.5 grains, Winchester large pistol primers.
Worked great!
Now I'm using some .452 jacketed bullets, same load data, shoots to same point at 50 yards.
This one is one fine rifle.

Jim

[Reverenddel]

I appreciate all the info. I'm thinking .454/.45 LC, but that .357, Cowboy/JD was talking about makes me think about going with that one with 158 gr. Noslers... That could be a "deer" killing machine right there!

[jdonovan]

if you really want to have fun with a .357... get a T/C encore, or contender, and get a 357 max barrel. You retail 357 mag compatibility, but move to larger case, and can use slower powder that can better use the longer barrel.

Think 180's at 2000 FPS, on a 14" barrel.

Plus you can get into some more aerodynamic shapes than traditional hand gun bullets are offered, and get a little more range too.

http://www.hornady.com/store/35-Cal-.35 ... ot-Pistol/

IMO the 357 max is the apex of what you can do with a .35 caliber pistol cartridge.

[Mindflayer]

I have the Rossi level in .357 Magnum. Love it. As CowboyT points out, feeding can be a pain in the arse. Action works out pretty quickly if you clean and work it well early on. Love mine.