Puma 92?

[Glenn Powell]

I just un screwed the barrel of my Puma 92 without a wrench! It was loose enough to turn by hand! The sights were crooked and I had no idea as to why, so I made up my mind to just get it rebarreled. I was taking it apart so I would not have to send all the small part with barreled action for the work to get done when I noticed the barrel had turned slightly. Bare handed I was able to unscrew the barrel from the action. This rifle is in 454 Cassull and has issues with screws shooting loose, BUT THE BARREL? REALLY?!?!

What should I do now? Send it for the rebarrel? McGowan said they will do the work, (octagon barrel in 454). How do I "KNOW" this action will be worth the work and money? Should I just cut my losses and scrap it? :'(

I really need some advice on this one, even though its not a bolt action, 1000 yard comp rifle. Thanks for any and all help.

 

[firearmdoc1]

This really all depends on how much you like this rifle. If a new barrel is properly fit you should not have any problems with it. The real question is if you feel it's worth it.
If it were me, I would return it for warranty repairs and sell it as soon as it came back.
Just my opinion. If you really want a 92 find yourself a new production Winchester.
You will be much happier and it will still be worth something when you get tired of it.

 

[Glenn Powell]

Warranty repair is a no-go. The rifle is more than a year old so not under warranty. The new Win 92 runs around 1K and I could get this one the way I want for less than that. Including my uncle restocking it for me in walnut or maple, and putting the sights where they belong for me to see them proper like.

 

[RWO]

Not to confuse the issue, but I have a question. Is a 92 strong enough for the 454 Casull? Consider the cartridge develops 60KPSI , the 92 bolt is long and skinny with lots of cutaway and is rear locking. Puma's used to be suspect metallurgically speaking, but maybe the new ones are better, I don't know. Winchester doesn't catalog a new 92 in 454 Casull.

I'm not surprised the screws shoot loose. Maybe I'm out of touch, but I don't think the 92 is a good choice for the cartridge.

RWO

 

[firearmdoc1]

Model 92's are actually pretty strong actions, although if it were me I don't think I would pushthe limits. Especially not with a puma action.

 

[bozo699]

Model 92's are actually pretty strong actions, although if it were me I don't think I would pushthe limits. Especially not with a puma action.

That is contradictive statements right there! I have two 92 Puma's in 454 and have never had a issue with either, I ran 454's through both of them and after the new wore off I kept one for 454's and have shot probably 300-350 rounds of 454 through it with no issues then the other I run mostly blazer throw away 45 long colt through it, probably have close to 1000 rounds through it with absolutely no issues, hope the new barrel fixes your's Glen.
Wayne.

 

[firearmdoc1]

Yes, I guess I did contradict my self with that statement.
In my experience the Puma 92's are not even close to the same level of quality that the Winchester/ USRAC 92's are. I would not personally chamber either one in a 454 but that's just me. I am not trying to say that the action won't handle it, but that I wouldn't punish it with a 454 either.

 

[Clark]

Hit the shoulder of the barrel with a hammer until it grows enough to be tight when the sights are straight up.

I cut a lot of barrel shoulders, but 10 years ago I was putting together a FAL that when tightened had the sights over on the left.
The Gun Plumber's Guide:
http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/store/miscars/pagemiscars.shtml

had this suggestion.

If I did not do that, I was going to have to cut a shim and de burr it.

 

[jonbearman]

Hit it with a hammer.Wouldnt that screw up the shoulder contact?

 

[Clark]

If you just hit it once it might only upset it in one spot resulting a slightly higher compliance connection, but with 100 light strikes could make 100 more points of contact which is going to low enough compliance for the ~~100 foot pounds we put on barrels.

Most of my relatives are engineers, but only one of them talks about Poisson's ratio when we hit a shoulder with a hammer so it fits sooner when we tighten the threads.