Marlin 45/70 or Puma .454?
12-15-2005, 10:16 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 248
Marlin 45/70 or Puma .454?
I'm trying to make up my mind. I got a Christmas bonus and I'll be selling a gun I don't care for, which translates to new gun time.
I'm torn between a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 and the Puma 1892 in .454. I know the Marlin has more power potential and versatility, but the Puma would be less expensive to load for (it fires .45 colts as well) and has a certain uniquness about it.
Ah, life's decisions.
I'm torn between a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 and the Puma 1892 in .454. I know the Marlin has more power potential and versatility, but the Puma would be less expensive to load for (it fires .45 colts as well) and has a certain uniquness about it.
Ah, life's decisions.
12-15-2005, 11:14 AM
#2
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
RE: Marlin 45/70 or Puma .454?
ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980
I'm trying to make up my mind. I got a Christmas bonus and I'll be selling a gun I don't care for, which translates to new gun time.
I'm torn between a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 and the Puma 1892 in .454. I know the Marlin has more power potential and versatility, but the Puma would be less expensive to load for (it fires .45 colts as well) and has a certain uniquness about it.
Ah, life's decisions.
I'm trying to make up my mind. I got a Christmas bonus and I'll be selling a gun I don't care for, which translates to new gun time.
I'm torn between a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 and the Puma 1892 in .454. I know the Marlin has more power potential and versatility, but the Puma would be less expensive to load for (it fires .45 colts as well) and has a certain uniquness about it.
Ah, life's decisions.
12-15-2005, 12:59 PM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location:
Posts: 1,345
RE: Marlin 45/70 or Puma .454?
Seeing as you reload, my standard stance of considering availability is thrown out. If the puma "does it" for you...GET IT. I think we (well, ok...at least I do) get tunnel visioned sometimes and forget if we decide later we really made the wrong choice we can sell and rebuy.
Tis a wonderful gun-world we live in.
Tis a wonderful gun-world we live in.
12-16-2005, 05:32 AM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,762
RE: Marlin 45/70 or Puma .454?
VT, As long as you're relaoading there sin't much difference in price. You can getonce fired.45-70 brass on Ebay. You're definately gonna use more powder with the 45-70 but you still have to buy bullets and primers - so the cost difference won't be that much. The Marlin 1895 is a good quality rifle. IMO I would lean toward the Marlin.
12-16-2005, 08:14 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 248
RE: Marlin 45/70 or Puma .454?
ORIGINAL: cma3366a
Rifle magazine just did a piece on the 454puma. One thing to be aware of is that they are a bit finicky about the loads they will cycle. Their sample would not cycle .45colt, unless the bullet was seated to 454 OAL; nor would it cycle loads with an OAL longer than 1.760". They also ran into trouble with certain bullets such as the winchester 250gr factory load. As a reloadfer you'll be able to get around this, but its something to be aware of. They also mention that the stock became loose several times throughout the test, and required loc-tite to fix.
Rifle magazine just did a piece on the 454puma. One thing to be aware of is that they are a bit finicky about the loads they will cycle. Their sample would not cycle .45colt, unless the bullet was seated to 454 OAL; nor would it cycle loads with an OAL longer than 1.760". They also ran into trouble with certain bullets such as the winchester 250gr factory load. As a reloadfer you'll be able to get around this, but its something to be aware of. They also mention that the stock became loose several times throughout the test, and required loc-tite to fix.
