Rossi Puma Lever-Action Carbine Review

A Traditional Cowboy Rifle in .45 Colt

Long, long ago, in those frivolous carefree days when Americans had the money to pursue their dreams and hobbies with reckless abandon, the sport of cowboy action shooting burst upon the American firearms scene.

The sport required participants to dress in period costume and participate in shooting events using original or reproduction firearms of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Typically, cowboy action shooters needed two single-action pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun.

This desire for multiple spawned demand for reproduction firearms like the Rossi M92 Puma carbine. Since many original nineteenth century firearms were no longer up to the rigors of regular shooting, shooters felt safer shooting a reproduction that incorporated modern materials and safety features. In addition, to simplify logistics, cowboy action shooters often sought firearms that all shot the same caliber of . The Rossi Puma Lever-Action Carbine can be bought in several different calibers. For example, I chose .45 Colt so that I could use the same for my rifle and my Ruger Vaquero.

The Puma carbine is a convenient size for defending the old homestead or for trail drives down to the typical suburban shooting range. My Rossi M92 Puma has a 20-inch barrel and an overall length of 37 and 1/2 inches. Like the classic 1892 Winchester Rifle that it emulates, the Rossi Puma just handles well and seems like a natural fit for almost any shooter. Like many Brazilian-made firearms, the guns remain timeless while the importers change. You may find this classic cowboy carbine sold today as the Legacy M92 Puma. According to the 2009 Buyers guide, the Legacy M92 Carbine comes in .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and .480 Ruger and in barrel lengths from 16 to 24 inches.

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