October 2007 Issue
by Stan Trzoniec

Gun World

Magnum Research’s New ‘PiCuda’ Pistol

By Stan Trzoniec

Magnum Research has been dabbling in rimfire rifles for the past few years. All contain lightweight carbon-fiber barrels and laminated stocks, resulting in a line of handy and very lightweight rifles that Magnum Research calls the MagnumLite series. These rifles are available with synthetic, walnut or laminated stocks, and chambered for the .22 Long Rifle and .17 Mach 2. I recently had a chance to test-fire a few of these rifles, and they proved their accuracy and reliability on the range.

Now, Magnum Research has applied this technology to create a shorter, handgun-configured version they call the “PiCuda.” I would venture a guess that the name PiCuda comes partly from their proprietary line of rifles they call Barracuda and the first two letters of “pistol.” At first glance, it rather reminds you of certain single-shot specialty pistols like the Remington XP-100 series, especially the late versions that had the pistol grip at the very rear of the gun instead of right under the bolt, as on the earlier XPs. This was done to improve the balance of the pistol in the field and make it easier to lay down on an improvised rest (read fallen tree, backpack) when a shooting situation presented itself. The designers of PiCuda have followed that lead and fitted the rifle-inspired action into a modern-style stock.

Measuring almost 16 inches in overall length, the stock is available in nutmeg, forest camo, and pepper. Sportsmen with conservative tastes may balk at the styling of this stock, but if you take a second look, the features all have functions related to field use. The pistol grip is contoured to fit most hands and features a palm swell for a more solid, comfortable hold. The pistol is widened at the bottom and has an extended tang at the top to aid the shooter in finding a “memory” groove every time he picks up the gun.

Forward of the trigger guard and magazine well, the stock broadens out and returns to a slight taper as it nears the muzzle to aid in resting the gun in the field or on the bench. At the end of the forearm, the stock is cut away, which allows for the barrel to be completely freestanding and aids as a handhold for the weak hand to steady the gun for offhand shooting. Like most stocks today, this one displays extremely precise inletting and is finely buffed on the outside and coated with a satin urethane type of hard finish. The present availability of stock laminates is the same as for its rifle counterpart—Nutmeg (coffee colored), Pepper (gray and black), and Forest Camo (green and tan).
           
To remove the action from the stock, remove the one stock screw, push the safety in a mid-position and pull the action from the stock. Looking at the action, it becomes obvious that the whole gun—either the rifle or the pistol version—was well thought out by the engineers at Magnum Research. Obviously inspired by the Ruger 10/22 action, this receiver contains a number of parts that go into the Ruger, including its traditional rotary magazine and ignition system.

The receiver is machined in-house, polished very well and then French grayed in a hard-anodized finish. It is called the MLP-1722 action by the company. A closer look reveals that the top of the receiver has an integral, machined, ventilated rail for scope mounting with the popular Weaver-type rings. Because this rib is an integral part of the receiver, it offers an exceptionally rigid platform for mounting optical sights. It should be noted also that this rib projects over the forward end of the receiver. This additional length permits it to accommodate almost any length of scope and objective lens diameters up to 50mm. As previously noted, to keep the weight of the pistol down, this rib has a number of horizontal scalloped holes that dot it from front to back.
           
One item that sure gets your attention in a hurry is the oversized bolt knob, and it is made that way for a good reason. To compensate for power levels of either two cartridge selections, the bolt knob is either solid and machined from steel for the .17 Mach 2 or made from aluminum and hollowed for the .22 Long Rifle. The bolt itself is machined with a minimum headspace from 4140 steel and is through-hardened for long life and smooth operation. The bolt has a very substantial extractor mounted on it to pull out the stickiest case and a mechanical ejector to ensure reliable semi-automatic cycling.

Like just about every rimfire self-loader, the action is blowback in operation. It uses a 10-round Ruger magazine mounted just forward of the trigger. Frankly, this is not one of my favorite types of magazine only because it can be a bear to remove or install, especially if you are in a hurry. I find that the best way to use this magazine is to not fight it: Press the release with your left hand, then grab the lip of the magazine with your right via the cut just forward of the magazine itself. The secret here is to pull the magazine out as level and straight as you can, or it will hang up on the rearmost part of the magazine well. Regardless of what you may hear, this magazine will not drop out by itself, as inherent design features just will not allow that to happen. Inserting it back in the gun requires that, again, you line it up straight, and then by tipping the forward part downward, push it home within the well.
           
The bolt lock is located forward of the button safety on the trigger guard. It takes some time to get used to because it is the most unconventional in design. To hold the bolt to the rear, pushing inward on the lower part of the lock keeps the bolt open. To release the bolt without any cartridges, pull back on the bolt slightly, and then push in on the top part of this lever. The manual safety is the familiar crossbolt type mounted on the trigger guard; it is simply a matter of pushing it from right to left to take it off “safe.” When it is in the “fire” position it will show a red ring on the left side of the trigger guard.
           
Inside there is a disconnector that prevents the PiCuda from going full auto. The trigger on my sample broke at 3 ½ pounds with just a hint of slack before the sear let go. The trigger is a wide target-type and is polished smooth.

The barrel is 10 inches long and measures .935-inch at the muzzle. It is unusual in that it is a combination of a steel barrel insert that is wrapped within an epoxy and carbon fiber shroud finished off with stainless steel tips on both ends. As quoted from factory literature, Magnum Research describes the Graphite Advantage as follows: “The patented uni-directional graphite fibers parallel to the bore axis result in barrels six-times stiffer than conventional steel. Barrel weighs from 7.75 to 8 ounces (depending upon caliber) save weight and dissipate heat faster than steel with a result of rimfire performance of extreme accuracy.”
           
Aside from being light and easy to carry, carbon fiber can dissipate heat faster than full steel barrels, which may be a moot point when shooting any .17 or .22 rimfire. In any event, the boys at Magnum Research proved that these special barrels would dissipate heat 43 percent faster than their steel counterparts could; this translates to tighter, more consistent groups at any range.
           
Another benefit is that the carbon fiber will stiffen the host barrel which can reduce harmonics, again keeping those groups tight. In actual field tests, Magnum Research found that when the gun was fired 500 times in 20 minutes, heating up of the barrel was kept in check, and the gun kept its absolute zero on the target. Finally, the overall gun weight is reduced, lessening in turn hunter fatigue.
           
To get the gun ready for the range, I mounted one of my spare Thompson/Center 2-7X handgun scopes in the Warne Quick-Detachable ring sets. I find using a quick-detachable mount like this is really the way to go, especially if one is to travel with the pistol. The risk of damage to the scope is now minimized since keeping it wrapped up and padded prevents any harm befalling it. When you arrive, a quick turn of the lever attaches it to the gun, and you’re ready to go.
           
My sample was chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge—a cartridge with a history longer than your arm. Some firearms chambering this cartridge can use the .22 rimfires interchangeably. My first gun was a .22 rimfire in the form of a Winchester single-shot, and the great thing about that rifle was that I would load it with Shorts in the morning to keep the English sparrows in check inside and outside the barn. Later in the day, I could switch to Longs for shooting out the farmhouse window at the crows in the garden (you never could sneak up on them!) and those neat Long Rifle cartridges for keeping the chuck population in check after supper. In between all this, I did some plinking was done on the hill above and behind the house just to keep the eyes in shape. However, since the PiCuda is a semi-automatic, better stick to the .22 Long Rifle for this gun; it alone will have enough power to cycle the action.
           

The popularity of the .22 Long Rifle ensures that its ammunition is always being refined. We’ve seen advancements over the years in bullet construction, powders and the evolution of so-called hyper-velocity rimfire ammunition. I gathered an assortment of target, high-velocity and hyper-velocity ammunition for a morning workout at the range.
           
At 50 feet, the testing began. With a brisk wind from my left, groups still managed to stay within my requirements for a small-game pistol. With samples from CCI, Remington and Winchester, the smallest group for the morning was .25-inch from Winchester’s high velocity hollow point. Remington’s Standard Target came in second with a tight 3/8-inch, followed by their Viper brand, CCI’s Mini Mag and Stinger. Overall, I was more satisfied with the pistol’s performance and the groups it produced.
           
The bottom line for me is that I find the new PiCuda fun to use and will try it this summer on the chucking fields in New York. Will it be a vein attempt to take me back to my rimfire roots or will be again a challenge to use the gun and stalk these varmints like I did back in the ‘50s? I know it will be the latter, and I look forward to the outings with this Magnum Research PiCuda.

Reprinted by permission from the January, 1999 issue of GUNWORLD. Copyright 1999, Y-Visionary Publishing, L.P. All rights reserved.

GUNWORLD is not responsible for mishaps of any kind which may occur from use of published loading data or from recommendations by staff writers. Any prices given were the suggested list prices at presstime for the printed issue and are subject to change.

 

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