454 in 92 action?

[jmay]

Hi guys I'm new to The Rossi Rifleman so don't beat me up to bad! I recently traded an AK for a new R92 357 and a Cattleman 357. I really like the R92 I see they also chamber the 92 in 454. Is this to much chamber pressure for the 92 action? I would like one but not sure how they hold up and what problems they may have! Anyone have any experience with one? If a thread already exist on this topic please direct me to it.

[Ranch Dog]

Welcome to the forum Jim. Yeap, the R92 can handle the 454 Casull quite well and it is a real powerhouse. You might run a search as there are quite a few posts hear about the 454.

[pricedo]

While it can be said to have a somewhat complicated (& perplexing to work on at least in the short term) mechanism JMBs Winchester 92 action with its two vertical solid metal lugs deeply set in solid steel mortises in the receiver is one of the strongest lever rifle actions ever built perhaps second only to the front locking, lever actuated bolt action of the BLR (not really a lever action).
The Rossi 92/454 can easily handle the 60K psi+ pressures generated by the 454 Casull cartridge.
I have put over 500 full power 454 Casull rounds down range with my Rossi M92/454 & it is as solid & tight as the day I bought it.......I wish I could say the same for my right shoulder joint.
Near 45-70 power in a rifle that holds a lot more cartridges and is much lighter than a Guide Gun and when properly tuned has a very robust, reliable and slick action.
What's not to like?

[Arktikos]

Here is an older online article written by Paco Kelly just about an older Legacy 92 in 454 Casull. He was doubtful at first that it could handle a steady diet of full house 454 ammo too but he later amended that to say that evidently it could. As a note he is probably considered quite insane by some of those who think the 45 Colt brass is weak and cannot handle pressure but he shows 50KCUP loads (in the M92 action, NOT the Marlin 1894), so my inclination is that he has probably thoroughly pushed the 454 to the limit too.

I guess I am big enough to admit that I didn’t think the 92 design would take the 62,000 psi+ pressures of the Freedom Arms/Casull 454 cartridge over a sustained amount of shooting at that pressure. And I have stated that many times in print.

But so far my Legacy Puma 454 is still tight after 500+ rounds of 60 to 65,000 psi pressures, and another 250 rounds of my heavy handloads.

http://www.gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm

[pricedo]

My gun is also a Legacy Puma Amadeo Rossi M92/454 & is still rock solid.
One of Kellys loads as described on his website pushes a 335 grain bullet @ 2010 fps for 3004 ft-lbs of ME..........WOW !
My load pushes a similar 335 grain HC lead bullet @ 1950 fps for 2880 ft-lbs of ME.
If a bear is still standing after a well placed shot from such a load it was probably on a "Smokey the Bear" fire prevention bill board.

[pricedo]

Here is an older online article written by Paco Kelly just about an older Legacy 92 in 454 Casull. He was doubtful at first that it could handle a steady diet of full house 454 ammo too but he later amended that to say that evidently it could. As a note he is probably considered quite insane by some of those who think the 45 Colt brass is weak and cannot handle pressure but he shows 50KCUP loads (in the M92 action, NOT the Marlin 1894), so my inclination is that he has probably thoroughly pushed the 454 to the limit too.

I guess I am big enough to admit that I didn’t think the 92 design would take the 62,000 psi+ pressures of the Freedom Arms/Casull 454 cartridge over a sustained amount of shooting at that pressure. And I have stated that many times in print.

But so far my Legacy Puma 454 is still tight after 500+ rounds of 60 to 65,000 psi pressures, and another 250 rounds of my heavy handloads.

http://www.gunblast.com/Paco_Legacy_454.htm

Yup!......old Paco is certifiable & loves to pack those cartridge cases with powder ..........YOU GOTTA RESPECT THAT.
There's no danger of the bullets from his loads gathering any moss or cobwebs on the way to the target.
He apparently tests a lot of the loads himself ...... his shoulders must be made of solid rubber or he hides the pain really well cause he always seems to have a smile on his face.
I quote one of the loads from his website using 29 grains of H110 pushing a 325 grain Keith bullet to 2221 fps or 3559 ft-lbs (pressure - 54K CUP).
Jeepers Creepers!.......I'd hate to be on either end of that discharge !

[jmay]

Thanks for all the info guys! I have been trying to decide 454 or 45/70 R92 or RG. This decides it for me I think, because i'm a handloader I have a lot of options with the 454 R92. It seems it can go from plinker with 45LC or serious bear medicine with heavy 454 loads. I just wondered how durable the 92 action would be in this bruising caliber. I guess the only thing left to decide it is what kinda of range does the 454 in have in a rifle?

[Ranch Dog]

I guess the only thing left to decide it is what kinda of range does the 454 in have in a rifle?

With like bullet weights the "point blank range" of the R92 chambered in 454 Casull and the RG4570 would be almost identical.

[pricedo]

Like bullet weights?.........Hmmmm?
My hunting load for the 92/454 is the 335 grain hc lead @ 1950 fps.
My hunting load for my 45-70s is a 430 grain hc lead @ 1750 fps.
Pretty close to being equal in ME though I'd expect the 454 load to have the flatter trajectory with the lighter faster bullet.
All I can say is they'd both do the job.
The 92/454 is the lighter rifle and holds double the number of shots of the Guide Guns.