Howdy folks,

Wondering if someone could give me a heads-up on my new Puma. It's the 16 inch carbine in 38/357. Regular Blue and decent looking plain wood. New in the box but no manual! It's from Interarms - no safety on top.

Anyway, I've never owned a 'Lever-gun' before and was wondering about maintenance. How far to break-down when cleaning, lubrication areas/points, etc.

Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

Have you checked over your owners manual? It's good practice with any new gun to read it from cover to cover. It will define how much to break down and what and how to clean your new rifle.

I like the bore snakes myself, but there's lots of good cleaning systems.

Batman-I've got a Puma (.357/.38) in a SS (16 1/2") with the safety on top. It is a blast to shoot! I don't intend on breaking mine down to the "small parts". I'm sure there are some "worthy" gunsmiths on this forum that can describe in detail how to take it apart. I've been satisfied cleaning mine with a can of "Gun Scrubber" to the "inerds", a good cleaning of the barrel with "Sweets 7.62" (or your favorite brew), and a light lube of barrel and operating parts with "Breakfree" before I put it away. I too like the "Bore Snakes", especially in the field. You might try contacting Legacy Arms in Kansas City to obtain an owners manual. Regards, Riley

. . . I like the bore snakes myself, but there's lots of good cleaning systems.
There's normally nothing to break down when cleaning a '92. A bore snake from the breech to the muzzle pulls all the residue away from the receiver and takes care of the bore. A toothbrush to the breechface and receiver brushes out anything leftover. Apply a little oil to the breechblock rails and bolts, wipe off the exterior with an oily rag, and you are done.

If you're mechanically inclined, there are on site instructions or firearm disassembly and assemble books available that will instruct you on how everything can be broken down. The process is a bit complex requiring proper fitting screwdrivers and a punch so allow plenty of time and patience.

You can download the 2-page owner's manual for the current Puma 92 (yours should be pretty similar) here:

http://www.legacysports.com/pdfs/PUMA%20MODEL%2092_Manual.pdf

Legacy Sports International handles the newest Pumas. Their website is good. You could probably get good advice from them. I had the forearm wood split on mine (.454 Casull carbine), their service was excellent.

All that said, I agree you don't need to get down to the smallest parts. Q-tips, wipes, and normal barrel cleaning should be enough.

Enjoy your new toy!

Chris

Thanks to all for your kind help and suggestions.

The little 'bugger' shoots good. About an inch to an inch and half at 50 yards when I do my part (from a rest). Tried three different powders that I had on hand all with the same bullet, Rem. 140 JHP. 17.5 grains of H110 gave me 1838 FPS. 17.0 grains of WW296 put out 1761 FPS. And 16.0 grains of AA9 did 1860 FPS.

Think I'll try some lighter loads with cast bullets and see what she'l do.

Fun and safe shooting to everyone.


p.s. - does anyone know if someone like Midway or Brownells sells replacement rear sights for this gun that would have a larger opening? My old eyes can't hardly see the tiny 'V' on mine.

Thanks to all for your kind help and suggestions.

The little 'bugger' shoots good. About an inch to an inch and half at 50 yards when I do my part (from a rest). Tried three different powders that I had on hand all with the same bullet, Rem. 140 JHP. 17.5 grains of H110 gave me 1838 FPS. 17.0 grains of WW296 put out 1761 FPS. And 16.0 grains of AA9 did 1860 FPS.

Think I'll try some lighter loads with cast bullets and see what she'l do.

Fun and safe shooting to everyone.


p.s. - does anyone know if someone like Midway or Brownells sells replacement rear sights for this gun that would have a larger opening? My old eyes can't hardly see the tiny 'V' on mine.



Between Brownells and Midway , they sell pretty much anything that can be dreamed up . :-)

As far as breaking the rifle down for cleaning , I just flush the action out with spray lube from time to time .

I clean the bore with a 1 piece rod and patches , just like any other rifle .

Then oil / lube what needs it , for function and to keep it from rusting .

I have heard a lot of people use cheap spray brake cleaner fo flush out the action then spray lube . I am sure it works OK , just have not tried it .

God bless
Wyr

One of the most important things you need to do to
your model 92 clone is replace the plastic magazine
follower with a metal one. Contact <winchesterbob.com>
It is a very easy task you can do yourself! I would suggest
that change because it's not a matter of will it brake,
but when it brakes. It is a fun and effective rifle---ENJOY

Glad to know there are some 92 enthusiast's around. Had been looking for a companion long gun to a Cimarron in 44 WCF and snagged a slightly older Rossi, buried, still new in the box in the basement of my local shop where they let me prowl around. So some more fun handloading projects to come, and something else to learn about. Next to a couple of Blackhawks that shoot like little rifles after firelapping and squaring away the throats, I can't wait to get into the whitetail thickets with this gun.

While I can watch a 400yd span of field & take a nap with the best of 'em, seems the older I get, lighter & handier is alot more fun in the woods than heavier & louder. That little 92 is just what I was looking for; I suspect it will acquire a fair amount of truck time too.

:)

Congrats on your M92 they are really sweet.

Here's a link to some good "tune-up" info on the 92. This worked GREAT for my 92 SRC->

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/rossitune.htm

i use carburator cleaner after removing all wood-plastic parts from my guns doesnt remove the embedded oil from the metals poors like that wood safe gun scrubber does its cheap fast and flushes grime out pretty good and does not seed rust like clorine and alcahol based products(gun scrubber and break klean are clorine or alcahol based) but first i use a one piece coated cleaning rod WITH A BORE ALIGHNMENT SLEAVE and flush it out after just in case i dripped a little solvent in the action light coat of oil and good as new

If you're mechanically inclined, there are on site instructions or firearm disassembly and assemble books available that will instruct you on how everything can be broken down. The process is a bit complex requiring proper fitting screwdrivers and a punch so allow plenty of time and patience.This man speaks the truth; I can now testify after tuning my Rossi's ejector spring that, well, there's a reason some guys get double bench-rate to work on lever actions. Be patient.

However, now that's done there's little reason for me to do anything but the routine cleaning Marshal Kane describes.

new here and getting a rossi in 357 soon - 24" stainless octagonal. haven't had much to do with guns in years but wanted a companion for my 2 357 handguns, which i haven't shot for for a long time. used to hit the range regularly with the s&w sp101, which was my 'take to work gun' and a long barrel coonan that i never got past the stovepiping problem with, so it is almost nib. think i have the stovepiping problem solved via the coonan thread, but am wondering it there really is anything i should do with the rossi as far as a tuneup goes. checked out eight bits instructions, but do i need to do any of this? i am not a hunter, just a plinker, and while i am fairly mechanical i have no experience in 'working' on guns. i do load my own rounds. have had a few guns and always just shot them the way they came.

would have the rossi now as the guy said i could take it right home when i paid up. then he called the gov't. and they said they would need an extra week to check out the what kind of threat a 64 y.o. retired nurse is to society. pisses me off, but .... nice forum you have here. i will enjoy looking around it. thanks, don e.

. . . am wondering it there really is anything i should do with the rossi as far as a tuneup goes. checked out eight bits instructions, but do i need to do any of this?.... nice forum you have here. i will enjoy looking around it. thanks, don e.
Welcome to the forum, always good to have more input. My suggestion on your new Rossi would be to shoot it a bit and then make your decision on whether or not you want to do a tuneup depending on how it performs. I honestly would prefer not taking any of my guns apart as there is always the risk factor or not putting it back together correctly, damaging the gun from not knowing what I'm doing, voiding the warranty, etc. There will be a break-in period (seems all new guns need this) in which things may not feel smooth but the action should improve with use. IMO, take your time and enjoy the view, you might never feel the need to take your Rossi apart. Just my dos centavos!

Thanks, all. I'm new to the forum, and just bought a Rossi '92. To find such knowledgeable people is great. It makes things much better.