Pumas and Keiths

[pka45]

Hi Friends,

I just couldn't help myself and have a 20" stainless round barrel 45 Puma coming from Bud's in the next week or so - can't wait. But I just got to thinking, I bought this gun to shoot the RCBS 255 and 270 gr Keiths I use in my Vaquero; can I expect it to feed them (OAL around 1.655") ? It's gonna be a headache if they won't feed, since that's all I've got as far as 45 bullets go...

Thanks!

Pete

[O.S.O.K.]

I'm not sure about the 45, but I think its the same deal as my .44 Mag - neither my Marlin or my Puma will feed the keith bullets - they are just too long crimped in the crimp groove.

But, you can use them - just seat them deeper (adjust loads appropriately) and crimp over the front driving band. That works fine.

In my .44 Mag, I can use the keith designs crimped in the crimp groove - in 44 Special cases...

You could just trim the cases enough to shorten the overall cartridge length as well...

[J Miller]

The Rossi Puma .45 Colt I had took some gunsmithing to get it to feed anything. Once that was done it would feed everything. Give it a try first then go from there.

Joe

[pka45]

Thanks guys - that's unfortunate though. I'm trying to familiarize myself with the Marauder tune-up instructions, but I was hoping to use the bunch of ammo I already have reloaded on some hogs next month... maybe not.

Pete

[Lefty Dude]

My Rossi 44-40 will feed a 240 gr. SWC and the max. OAL is 1.624", my Puma 92/44 Max OAL is 1.600 with the same 240 gr. They all use the same frame & internal size.

You will need to make a dummy and play, Good Luck.

I use the same load for my Ruger SBH/44, I size the loads for my 92/44 carbine so both can use the same rounds.

[kooz]

I have two Rossi 45's, one is a very old Interarms and the other one is a new Rossi-Braztech that I got new a couple weeks ago. The old Interarms Rossi will not feed the keiths, not even close . The new Rossi feeds them with no problem. I have tried the RCBS-45-255-SWC and the LBT Keith 260gr and the Lyman 454424 and the new one feeds all of them just fine.

[O.S.O.K.]

Just to clarify my reply - I am talking true keith bullets - my new rossi feeds 240 swc's just fine - they have a shorter nose. It's the long keith nose that puts em just over the line for moving out of the magazine.... its very close - and as said, you might get lucky and get one that's a tad more open....

If not, this can be fixed - Nate Kiowa Jones (Steve's Gunz) can do it for you. Its just a tweek to the lifter I think.

[pka45]

Thanks again. OSOK - I'm talking true Keiths as well, I know what you mean. And I have heard such glowing praise of Steve's work, I'd like to use him sometime, but in this case I want to use this gun on a January hunt.

I'll definitely check on the feeding when I go to pick it up from my FFL; if it doesn't feed Keiths though, I'm not sure if I should accept delivery or not...

Pete

[pka45]

Well it works - feeds my Keith bullets just fine. I might even get it to shoot it when this blizzard clears out...