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Old November 9, 2012, 01:29 AM   #1
militant
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puma m92

I am interested in buying a puma m92 from a buddy. Its chambered in .44 mag. My questions are, how.accurate are they? Can they shoot .44 special? What do they cost in good condition?
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Old November 9, 2012, 03:02 AM   #2
DPris
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Puma is a trademark used for both Brazilian imports (originally) and currently Italian imports.
Puma was not a manufacturer.

The original Rossi Pumas were frequently rough & oversprung, but could shoot decently.
The current Chiappa Pumas (imported by Legacy Sports) are generally well made & run fine.

Costs vary by age & condition.
It probably won't function well with .44 Specials.

Your definition of accuracy may vary from others'.
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Old November 12, 2012, 08:21 PM   #3
militant
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I got this rifle. I read that the bore on these are a little bigger than the revolver chambered in .44 mag. What ammo would you suggest?
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Old November 12, 2012, 10:02 PM   #4
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It'd help to know "which" Puma you have - as said above, there've been different importers and makers. Of the early ones, Rossis, the first era mentioned is Interarms (mostly 1980s-90s) then the "Puma" name and gun was taken over by Legacy (LSI) as the largest Rossi importer. Around 2000, Rossi retooled, improving upon the issues noted - primarily somewhat stiff (but still strong and smooth-able) actions out of the box. Around 2008 is when LSI switched manufacturers to the pricier--and nicer cosmetically--Italian-made Chiappa (Armi Sport)--nd taking the "Puma" name with them. Since 2008, the sole importer of Rossis is Rossi itself, under it's relatively new Braztech/Taurus ownership...though it looks like EMF may have gotten back into the Rossi business after a few skimpy years. If so, I don't know if they're just direct transfer over from Rossi-Braztech importation or finished to their spec like their earlier (late 90s-2008 or so) were.

I've had eight or so Interarms and EMF (another importer) Rossis of various calibers. They've all been ultra reliable and smooth shooters, and a lot of the aforementioned stiffness found in some guns can be smoothed through dry levering or shooting. I shoot RNFP 200-240 gr particularly well. One of my current .44 Mags shoots .44 Sp very reliably, one "pretty" reliably and one doesn't like them at all. I'm told it's fixable--possibly. In both .357 and .44 Mag, they can be finicky about their shorter "Special" counterpart cartridges. Different guns, different personalities it seems. Steve Young (aka Nate Kiowa Jones) of www.stevesgunz.com is one of the top 92/Rossi specialists who can advise further (and has a d-i-y DVD in addition to doing slick-ups himself for.a lot of satisfied customers).

As to bore, some Rossis were over-bored in the .44 Mag guns for awhile--supposedly a glitch due to over-catering to some Euro-market specs. I do not know the specific timespan other than some of the early 2000s period, IIRC. Again, Steve Young is a good one to ask about this if someone else doesn't chime in.

Last edited by gak; November 13, 2012 at 12:42 AM.
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Old November 12, 2012, 10:32 PM   #5
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Mine is the brazilian Rossi, Puma.
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Old November 12, 2012, 11:40 PM   #6
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Interarms or Legacy (LSI)? Should say right on the gun. Lower tang, bottom of receiver or on barrel (I forget. Otherwise, IIRC all the LSI's had the little safety switch atop the receiver--is another way of telling which.). If the former, you should be good to go on the bore. If the latter, I believe some of the Legacy's were of the batch of over-bores. Still, only way to make sure on the bore is to slug it. The overbores will still shoot "fine" for minute-of-critter, just won't be tack drivers if you're a rangemeister insisting on such.
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Old November 12, 2012, 11:49 PM   #7
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Nobody can tell you the "best" ammunition to shoot in it.
You'll have to go through a trial & error process like everybody else.
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Old November 13, 2012, 12:37 AM   #8
gak
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DPris said:
" Nobody can tell you the "best" ammunition to shoot in it.You'll have to go through a trial & error process like everybody else."

+1 Good advice as usual DPris!
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