braztech lever rifles

[hesco]

  How do the new braztech rifles compare to the old puma, are they identical or have changes been made?

[Rangr44]

Although they are made by virtually the same machines, in the same factory in SA, the newer BrazTech Rossi's have a bolt top safety that the earlier Rossi Puma's didn't.

I found the safety a bonus, in that it afforded me a ready-made peep sight location, after I removed the one on my BrazTech.



They also don't have the pic of a puma on their side.

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[HAMMERHEAD]

I've seen two on the rack and they look good except both had rear sight slots that were cut out of square which left the rear sight leaning down and to the right. I wanted to get a .45 Colt version, but that scared me off.

[teamnelson]

I've got one of each and the only difference outside is the safety. When I took them apart to tune 'em up there were a few minor differences. The mag spacer has a post on the new one, follower is plastic (old one was blued steel), finishing was about the same though.

[retmech]

I bought a Braztech 92 in .357 a little less than a year ago and to date have put over 2K rounds through it.  It has been trouble free, feeds and ejects .38 spl and .357 both RN's and swcs.  The trigger out of the box was not great, about 5 lbs but I have not seen too many decent factory triggers on any lever gun lately.  I changed out the trigger return spring and ejector spring.  Polished the hammer hook and changed the sear angle slightly and polished it.  I now have a nice smooth 92 action with a 2.5 lb trigger that is a pleasure to handle and shoot.  I just ordered a 24" octagon .357 Rossi a couple days ago so that should give you an idea of my opinion of the Braztech Rossi's!

[jlchucker]

I've got a 357 Trapper made by Braztech.  The iron sights are cheap stampings--evidently a cost saving effort by Braztech, because my EMF rear sight was a lot better made. When I replaced the sights on my trapper with new Marbles ones, I found that the barrel was drilled and tapped at the factory, apparently for a scout-type scope mount.  Right now my trapper is at the gunsmiths for a little tuning.  Everything works fine except that after pushing about 5 rounds though the loading gate, the next ones hang up on something--probably cartridge rims are catching somewhere.  My opinion is that the Rossies imported by EMF and sold as Hartford models are/were much more nicely finished up.  All that having been said, my new trapper feeds magnums and 38 specials-- both the RNFP and semiwadcutters, flawlessly--once they've been loaded into the magazine.

[jimster]

When I was shopping for a Rossi 92 I noticed the same things jlchucker noticed, the EMF Hartford imports has nicer sights, wood, and fit and finish than the Puma's did, the late model Hartfords started to use the bolt top safety toward the end which I removed. I changed to a steel mag follower, removed the mag spacer, other than these things I have not done anything but shot it a lot to get it broke in and a couple of good detailed cleanings.  I think internally all the Rossi's were the same no matter who imported them.  I don't know anything about the Braztech rifles as I have not had the chance to see or handle one, I'm guessing they are basically the same internally as the Rossi rifles. They are good working rifles if you get any bugs out, you can always change sights and other things you want, you could even re-do the wood if you wanted to, and get a good tune up, in the end you'll have a great working 92 rifle.
I'm hoping to see some of the Braztech rifles at the next gun show, so far none of them are in this area yet.

[kingstrider]

Although they are made by virtually the same machines, in the same factory in SA, the newer BrazTech Rossi's have a bolt top safety that the earlier Rossi Puma's didn't.

I found the safety a bonus, in that it afforded me a ready-made peep sight location, after I removed the one on my BrazTech.



They also don't have the pic of a puma on their side.

.

That is sweet, is that a Skinner Lo-Pro sight?  I just bought an older Rossi without the safety but almost wish it had one now!