No 454 Pumas for 2009

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:08 pm

I just got word from Jeff Quinn who called Legacy Arms. Now that Rossi has been purchased by Taurus, their guns are going to be made in Italy by Chiappa (who makes good stuff). They may make them later but it is doubtful.

Never been a better time for someone else to make a reliable 454 levergun.

-Tutt

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:59 pm

Tutt, I'm not slamming you, but I just don't see enough of a market for this rifle for someone else to go out on a limb to produce it and be profitable with the rifle priced at a reasonable level (whatever that means). I could see folks here in Indiana being interested because of our max case length/min. bullet diameter rules, but anywhere else, if a person wanted more than say a 44mag/45 colt, they could just move up to a "real" rifle action and round. If I could hunt here in Indiana with my 45-70, I wouldn't be looking for a 45-70 lite or short as some have called the 454. That's just my two cents. I think Puma is up against the limits of the design of the 92 just like H&R is pushing the limits of the Handi-Rifle in .500 S&W (judging by the problems I've heard about and the used ones I've seen on the market). I'm not a marketing and sales guru so what do I know? I wouldn't have dreamed up all the super short magnums. I find the discussion very interesting though. I personally would have a hankering for a 92 action in some kind of .357 bottleneck case that would still meet Indiana's rules, but then I don't shoot anything bigger than a whitetail. Keep the gears turnin'.

JustaJeepGuy · Post by **JustaJeepGuy** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:50 pm

I've heard of those weird Indiana rules, and the ".458 Hoosier Daddy" that comes from them.

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:01 pm

I think the copyrighted name is "454 Hoosier Mac Daddy tm"

JustaJeepGuy · Post by **JustaJeepGuy** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:04 pm

Well, I used to be a Buckeye, but now I live in Colorado, so I don't know. It's a catchy name though.

cas · Post by **cas** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:05 pm

I guess I need to track down a stainless 16" .480 sooner rather than later.

Hagler · Post by **Hagler** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:46 pm

Gents,

I called Legacy Sports last week, in reference to my broken Rossi 62A pump gun. I talked to the gent about the new Puma guns, and he left me with the impression that Taurus is going to sell the Rossi-produced 92s. While this may be a foregone conclusion to some of you, I am little slow on the uptake sometimes.

That is why LSI has an all-new lineup of "Puma"-branded guns. I wonder what Taurus will do to the Rossi 92 to "make it better".

By the way, it may be a very fine point, but the way I read things, Taurus did not buy Rossi. They just bought the rights to sell Rossi-produced rifles, the way they bought the rights to sell & market Rossi-produced handguns a few years ago. Now I also recall readind something about Rossi continuing with their normal, day-to-day operations, as its own company, with no interferance from Taurus. All of this makes my head spin!

Shawn

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:21 pm

It was only inevitable. The little 1892 action cannot hold up to 60K pounding for too long. Funny, the little .45s have never held my interest

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 7:10 pm

I treat mine as a "Ruger .45 LC +P" and plan on years of service. Over 60,000 PSI is not needed to put out a 300 grain bullet at effective velocity for anything I'll ever encouter. Calm down to maybe 45,000 PSI and you STILL have something in a shorter-than-Guide-Gun rifle that will impress the recipient.

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 7:33 pm

Hagler, I don't know what to say. I had just hung up with Jeff and then sent him an email about informing of what he learns after calling Legacy. He emailed a bit later and said

No Puma .454 in 2009. Maybe later, but it sounds doubtful. There new builder
is Chiappa in Italy. They make good stuff, like the new Baby Sharps from
Charles daly.

Jeff

I've been involved with 454 Puma's for a long time. In fact, its the beginning of my association with Mic McPherson. I called Legacy back in the early days and stated I did not think the guns could handle the 454. They told me the rifles had been tested by White Laboritories for at least 1000 rounds, maybe more (I forget to be honest) and held up fine.

However, both my own and my friend Tym's (his is the 16" variety) have evidenced some widening of the receiver around the locking lugs. So I have to question just how durable they are. Mic has suggested to me that the inconsistant heat treating used by Rossi can be a problem.

Their advantage over a Marlin in 45-70 is the "power to weight" ratio. A lot of gun in a short (receiver), light 6 1/2 lb rifle. There is only a 50 fps loss between the 16" and 20" barrel versions (chrono'd it myself) so if you find a 16" one I would get it.

-Tutt

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 7:49 pm

Nemhead, no disrespect perceived on my part. Obviously there would be some tooling costs involved although if they already have CNC machining perhaps a lot less. If such a levergun were built intelligently with advanced thought it could have many applications. In a medium action like Buck's it can handle 500 S&W and 454. There are a lot of people who would love to have a companion rifle to go with their 500 or 454 handguns (I wanted one and so bought a Puma but I would like one in 460 S&W at this point to go with my revolver).

In a longer action it could handle 460 and probably 45-70 Ruger #1 loads (try that in a Marlin!). In a modern design patterned after the '86 a through-bolt could be added to the buttstock and stock/forearm bedding to increase rigidity and accuracy (both of these have been done to my Puma). It would be delightful to have a levergun that shoots as well as a 'bolt gun all the time.

With the availability now of Hornady soft-tipped bullets as a component and all the new cartridges being developed specifically for leverguns, the future possibilities for such a "454-strength levergun" becomes VERY interesting.

And from a marketing standpoint, you could claim "world's strongest levergun" or "best made" leverguns rights.

So, in the short term I see your point, but in the long term it would be a very savy move on a gun manufacturer's part to build such a levergun IMHO.

-Tutt

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:25 pm

I like seeing the pursuit of more powerful, compact guns. Were it not for the quest for more power in a levergun, we would have never seen the 1873, 1886, 1892, nor 1894 Winchesters. Not even the 1895 and 1899 Savage. We would all be content with the .44 Russian cartridge for our big bore handgun, and the .22 Short for our rimfire. Our levergun would be a .44 Henry Flat rimfire.

The advent of the .454 gave us stronger, better-built revolvers (like the Freedom Arms), and a levergun Freedom Arms quality just might be a welcome addition to sporting arms. Hopefully, our rifles and handguns will continue to get better.

Hagler · Post by **Hagler** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:33 pm

Tutt,

I am not contradicting you. I was not refering to any calibers at all. I was trying to add my 2 pennies to discussion.

The way I take this is that LSI is no longer selling anything that Rossi builds, and they selling some other company's imported guns, and they call all of them PUMA. The new LSI "Puma" PPS is from one manufacturer. The new LSI "Puma" 1892s come from Ciappa. So does the new LSI "Puma" Bounty Hunter.

The other portion of what I was trying to communicate is that it appears to me that TAURUS will be selling Rossi-produced 1892 leverguns as TAURUS-branded guns. So. I am waiting to see if we will stil be able to buy a ROSSI levergun, but with a TAURUS label on it.

Did all of that come across, or am I just digging a deeper hole?

Shawn

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:56 pm

Your not digging a deeper hole, Buddy, I just did not understand!

Thanks for the clarification.

-Tutt

1886 · Post by **1886** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:04 pm

[quote="AJMD429"]I treat mine as a "Ruger .45 LC +P" and plan on years of service. Over 60,000 PSI is not needed to put out a 300 grain bullet at effective velocity for anything I'll ever encouter. Calm down to maybe 45,000 PSI and you STILL have something in a shorter-than-Guide-Gun rifle that will impress the recipient.[/quo

I think AJMD429 thinking is sound, 40,000cup can move a big, heavy bullet with authority. A properly constructed 325gr+ projectile at 1600-1700fps is formidable within it's effective range. Certainly enough to make most big beasts cough up a lung. This is the point I was hoping to make with our Marlin .454 Cas. discussion. Regards, 1886.

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:24 pm

I have looked at a puma several times as the concept interests me. However, the end product in the stores have been poorly finished and crude. The stain on the stocks almost black----- so I just went 50 alaskan on a marlin 1895

Curiousgb · Post by **Curiousgb** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:35 pm

I have had a Puma waiting repairs at LSI's repair facility for 8 months. They strung me along with "waiting parts" then the news that they can't get parts because Rossi/Taurus aren't going to make Puma's for LSI anymore. So they Finally say they will replace it. Well that was a month ago. I am glad Mr. Quinn is able to talk to people at LSI because they won't take or return my calls. I have been patient polite but I have to say, at this point LSI has the absolute worst customer service I have ever experienced by anyone in the gun industry. I have documented it all and even sent a letter to the President, it has gone unanswered.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:02 pm

Curiousgb wrote:I have been patient polite but I have to say, at this point LSI has the absolute worst customer service I have ever experienced by anyone in the gun industry. I have documented it all and even sent a letter to the President, it has gone unanswered.

I guess that's why we are all waiting for a MADE IN USA Marlin scaled up and/or modified to take .500 S&W for the "short" action, and 460 S&W for the "long" one. (or maybe proprietary "Leverevolution" rounds - whatever...)

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:14 am

I have been talking with EMF and LSI about this industry news. Rossi did sell the company to Taurus, but they will continue to make the guns. One of the Rossi brothers stayed on and will oversee the production but the guns will be marketed as Taurus guns. LSI was informed of this and they would no longer be allowed to import the 92's. So, because LSI owns the Puma Name they carried it over to the Chiappa-Armi sport 92 guns.
At this time EMF will continue to import the Rossi 92's they call their Hartford model 92. Taurus has already accepted the EMF orders for 09. EMF has never carried the 454 or 480 gun but if there is enough interest I'm sure they would consider it.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 1:16 am

I find the whole 60000psi thing interesting in view of the fact I can move a 405g cast bullet from my redhawk at 940fps and around 28000 CUP. It penetrates around 14" of seasoned douglas fir in the direction of the grain. Just like a 45/70 actually.

A 300 or 325 is not heavy for caliber in the 45 colt, it's just heavier than the traditional loads. A 405g cast bullet from the .45 does not have to be driven hard to get to the lower end of the 45/70 ballistics.

The only reason to up the velocity is to extend the range, and there are limits to that too, one of which is the need to scope the gun eventually to make use of that extended range. Something the 1892 platform isn't really suited for.

I guess it's just me, because lots of folks seem to like the 60000psi loads, but I don't see it. I was thinking a .480 with about a 460g cast bullet at about 1000 fps or a little more would be a pretty good setup in an 1892. A 16" stainless one would be an awesome companion.

rambling on,

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 3:56 pm

Steve, thanks for clarifying who will be selling what sort of '92 made by whom. That really helped.

Grizz, a 454 Puma can shoot a 360 grain LFN bullet at near 1800 fps with its 1 in 32 twist just fine. I think later they changed the twist to 1 in 30 on all their rifles and that might be enough to stabilize the 395 grain LFN in 454. I haven't played with the 395's so I don't know. Interestingly, the loads for both operate at between 43,000 and 48,000 CUP depending on powder (H110 is still the best in my mind as it operates at lower pressure than Lil'Gun) so they are not necessarily that "hot" pressure-wise. Obviously there is enough bullet weight for outstanding penetration as well as longer range.

-Tutt

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 4:00 pm

You 454 guys should be shooting a real gun - 480 Ruger!

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 4:24 pm

Ah, dear O.S. Surely you must know that the 480 Ruger was designed as a half-step between the 44 Mag and 454 or 475 L. for those who are "sensitive" to recoil. The 480 is for whimps!

-Tutt

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 4:54 pm

Sign me up - no sense, no feeling

.

But, I am with 86er, bigger is better here and with likely less punishment but Tutt, you are young and frisky -enjoy it - right Sixgun?

L.F.Combs · Post by **L.F.Combs** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 6:21 pm

I still think that this gun can be produced as a strong viable gun. A company that would put the quality, and time into this design it would be a gun to rely on in the field. The reduced handloads that I have been using in mine are working fine, and they have plenty of smack. There is a market for this type of gun. I still think that the Marlin in .475 was a good idea, but they took it off because some idiot told them that there was no market for it. Maybe we will get lucky and a company like Ruger will pick it up, and make it right.

GANJIRO · Post by **GANJIRO** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 6:44 pm

Wild West Guns used to have their propriety model 04 on their website and heard a long waiting list existed, but this rifle has disappeared from their website and not sure if anyone ever received delivery of it. It had a hammer safety ala BLR, and the action looked to be a combination of round Marlin 336 bolt, with reinforced receiver ala 94BB, and twin locking bars ala model 92, strength wise looked very promising. I wonder what happened to this promising design.

Wild West Guns - Model 04
500 S&W lever action rifle

17-4 PH Stainless Heavy Duty
CNC Machined Receiver
Fast Action Hammer Safety
Take-down or standard rifle
16 1/2 or 18 1/2 inch barrel
Walnut or Synthetic Pistol Grip Stock
WWG Big Loop Lever
WWG Bear Proof Ejector
WWG Aluminum Magazine Follower
Safety Vented Magazine Tube
WWG Ghost Ring Sight System
WWG Trigger System
Action Tuned for Reliability
Pachmayr Decelerator Pad
Optional Recoil Control Porting

Other Calibers Available:
.500 Linebaugh, .475 Linebaugh, .480 Ruger, .454 Casull

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 7:08 pm

Old Savage wrote:You 454 guys should be shooting a real gun - 480 Ruger!

How bout one of each?

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:24 pm

Old Savage wrote:You 454 guys should be shooting a real gun - 480 Ruger!

You mean like this one?

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:45 pm

Wait a minute - I know it's "ugly" (or a "classic" - depending on who's talking ) but doesn't the Savage 99 action handle some pretty high pressure rounds... the .308 Winchester is right up there with the .454 Casull... I don't know how much difference the diameter makes due to less available barrel surrounding the cartridge, but my question is.....

....with Savage rumored to be coming out with a levergun and/or updated "99" - maybe THAT's the vehicle for our much-desired .454 PumaLever?

And as long as we're dreaming here - isn't a .460 S&W within the size limitations of an action able to feed .308 Winchester?

Imagine (...cue the dreamy music and dim the lights...) a Savage "Rifle" with heavy long 'accuracy' barrel set up with a scope and in .460 S&W, and a companion "Carbine" with ghost ring sights and a short 'woods' barrel. For plinking you could use .45 Colt "cowboy" loads without even reloading. For feral cats, .45 Colt "Ruger" loads (you don't want to just wound them, you know

), and for whitetail if you want more thump for longer range you can slip in a factory .454 Casull load and be good probably to 200 yards. Then if you really need a "Bear" load you slip in the .460 factory fodder.

Maybe you make the "Rifle" version with oil-finished walnut and a case-hardened or fancy finish, for nice weather, and the "Carbine" version synthetic stocked and stainless (or maybe save that for the "tactical" version that has an accessory rail

).

Seriously, I'd love a gun like that!

raven5 · Post by **raven5** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:22 pm

Alright, not to change the subject, but who all makes '92 style, pattern, copy or what-have-you rifles now? Also, who markets them, or will market them? Who's quality seems to be the best now?

My 'dream' rifle is a .454 or .480 take-down model. I'd like a stainless model as well, but a blued and cc would be the best.

How well do some of the .45 take-downs hold up to repeated assembly and dis-assembly? Are they made tight and well enough to begin with that they don't get sloppy too soon? I know take-downs will loosen over time with repeated dis-assembly but I'm only familiar with Winchester. Is the quality somewhat comparable? Anyone know if heavy .45 Colt loads would exacerbate the problem or hasten 'looseness'?

I have a .480 and would like to get a .454 model. I really don't plan on putting thousands of rounds through one, so I suppose it should hold up just fine. Personally, I'll get a 1886 for massive amounts of heavy loads and the .454 won't hold a candle to the real heavy 45-70 loads.

You all don't suppose we can bring 'ole JMB back to make us what we need? Funny thing is, I suppose, that if the model 1892 is made with the proper materials (better quality steels with the proper treatment) that 116 year old design is just fine with those 60000 psi loads. Can't beat the classics.

L.F.Combs · Post by **L.F.Combs** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:35 pm

Browning's lever action could handle this cartridge. It has some calibers that are in this range already.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:38 pm

I never woulda guessed that Jeff shoots with his eyes closed; learned something new again.....

Grizz

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:09 pm

Grizz wrote:I never woulda guessed that Jeff shoots with his eyes closed; learned something new again.....

Grizz

I firmly close both eyes just before I yank the trigger!

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:15 pm

Since the .480 was brought up in this discussion, what pressure does it run?

Jeff Quinn wrote:

I giggle everytime I see that pic...

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:39 pm

Jeff, now watch where you are pointing that thing. This is my attorney - she does probate, and - I don't want to use her services YET!

Mokwaw · Post by **Mokwaw** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:42 am

I think a .357 Herett would be the cat's whiskers in a 92 type action. Nice rimmed case since it's based on the 30-30, it was designed for deer hunting in the Contender handgun. Should be great from a 16-20 bbl rifle.

Now where did that come from on a discussion of .454, .480 .500......

....must have been the the comments about the weird Indiana rifle hunting laws.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:25 pm

Mokwaw wrote:I think a .357 Herett would be the cat's whiskers in a 92 type action. Nice rimmed case since it's based on the 30-30, it was designed for deer hunting in the Contender handgun. Should be great from a 16-20 bbl rifle.

Now where did that come from on a discussion of .454, .480 .500...... ....must have been the the comments about the weird Indiana rifle hunting laws.

Won't run in a 92. The OAL is way too long. OAL for a 92 is about 1.7". The 357herret case alone is 1.7 something.

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 3:12 pm

You know AJMD429 has a really good idea there. The Savage 99 rotary magazine started life with and does just fine with rimmed cases(303 Savage, 30-30, 38-55). It's controlled feed design would make a wonderful carbine in thumper cartridges. The 454 rim(nearly identical to a 30-30 rim) is only a little bigger than the case head of a 308 and both do run at the same pressure. I'm sure they aren't going to be using the old tooling if they are bringing back the 99. Hmmmm Savage could make some interesting stuff there if they wanted to.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:15 pm

Buffboy wrote:The Savage 99 rotary magazine started life with and does just fine with rimmed cases(303 Savage, 30-30, 38-55). It's controlled feed design would make a wonderful carbine in thumper cartridges.

Yep - I think the Savage 99 "got off on a tangent" at one point, since it's rotary magazine allowed pointy bullets in pointy cartridges. That was certainly an innovation, and even still, people are using the polymer-tipped bullets in tubular-magazine guns because of that desire (high velocity, high-ballistic-coefficient bullets).

BUT there's alot of us who like the "bowling ball" bullets in the 300-500 grain range, and aren't interested (as much) at 300-500 yard trajectory. We'll either not shoot at anything that far away, or if we do, we'll learn our gun/load trajectory and get a rangefinder if necessary.

With our contemporary selection, a Savage 99 in .460 S&W would be a winner...! Some of the bullet options are awesome, and that cartridge can send them downrange fast.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:07 pm

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote:
Mokwaw wrote:I think a .357 Herett would be the cat's whiskers in a 92 type action. Nice rimmed case since it's based on the 30-30, it was designed for deer hunting in the Contender handgun. Should be great from a 16-20 bbl rifle.

Now where did that come from on a discussion of .454, .480 .500...... ....must have been the the comments about the weird Indiana rifle hunting laws.
Won't run in a 92. The OAL is way too long. OAL for a 92 is about 1.7". The 357herret case alone is 1.7 something.

Maybe 7x30 Waters?

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:44 pm

99 did not get off on a tangent but realized it's potential. 250, 300 etc - 243, 308, 284, 358 - all levers don't have to be pedestrian.

bbleverfan · Post by **bbleverfan** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:01 pm

ok, i have a puma 454 i havent shot it much at all maybe 25 rounds of hornady factory ammo. i dont reload so is there any lighter or lower pressure ammo i can shoot with out causing premature failure to my gun?i think the federal 260 grain fusions are a little scaled down.

TomD · Post by **TomD** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 4:45 pm

What about some of these in the 1894?

http://levergun.com/Marlin/index.html

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:20 pm

I love that article every time I read it. My friend Jim W. has a Marlin 94 in 50 M3. They had to reduce the load by 50-60 fps because it was hammering the lugs just a bit. It still is a powerhouse. He usually brings it to all the events he attends. If you can come to the 2nd Annual SoCal Levergunner's Family Reunion or the 2nd Annual Levergunner's Billy Dixon Shoot in CO, he will have it with him then.

-Tutt

Camp Cook · Post by **Camp Cook** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:31 am

Very interesting thread so far...

I also have a s/s 20" LSI Puma M92 454 Casull rifle, I load from 45 Colt 200gr RNFP's up to 454 Casull 405gr Beartooth WLNGC's and almost every bullet weight in between I find this to be an amazing little rifle that reliably feeds everything I can stuff into it and is extremely accurate.

I also have Ruger SRH's in 454 Casull I load all of my rounds till they start to give me slightly sticky extraction in the built in SRH pressure test cylinder then I back off 1/2 gr of powder so I am not shooting top FA 454 Casull loads but close.

Just think a 405gr hard cast bullet out of this little rifle @ 1600fps, 360's are 1860fps and 240gr XTP/Mag's = 2300fps

there is definately a place for this rifle/cartridge combo just wish I had the 16" barreled model as well.

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:08 pm

[quote="AJMD429"]Wait a minute - I know it's "ugly" (or a "classic" - depending on who's talking ) but doesn't the Savage 99 action handle some pretty high pressure rounds... the .308 Winchester is right up there with the .454 Casull... I don't know how much difference the diameter makes due to less available barrel surrounding the cartridge, but my question is.....quote]

The .308 Winchester is NOT "up around" .454 Casull pessures...

52,000 cup/psi is a whole world away from 65,000 psi that the .454 does/can generates. The Savage 99 is almost at its limit with the pressures of the .308 and the .284 Winchester cartridges. Remember, the 99's bolt locks up at its extreme rear end, and there is an awful lot of flexing of the receiver sidewalls. I have even seen 99 .308s & .284s that have shown stretching of the reveivers after prolonged use with high-end (factory ) loads.

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:03 pm

Actually Buck, the SAAMI spec of 52000CUP is the same as 62000PSI in a 308. I've seen both of these numbers in SAAMI max pressure charts. 65000PSI or 50000CUP SAAMI spec (no, I don't know why they are different ratios from the 308) of the Casull would not be that much of a stretch for the 99 action, IMO.

As in my original post the Savage guys are not limited to the old tooling(I doubt it still exists). This would be a golden opportunity to tweek the 99 slightly to give an extra margin with the 308 based cartridges that, as you point out, it does need. Though, IMO, part of that problem was the stretch of the action for longer cartridges in the late 40s/early 50s(?) and the later removal of even more metal for the box magazine. I do hope the rumors of it's return will pan out. I will purchase one of the new ones unless they put that abomination of a box magazine in it.

Realistically, I don't think they will chamber the 99 in 454/460S&W simply because they won't believe there's a market.