edify me on the Colt Lightning pump repros

kcub · October 31, 2015, 06:34 AM

They seemed like the hot thing a few years ago but a little pricey as I recall from a perfunctory glance.

I'd appreciate any and all knowledge and experience regarding what's what with this genre.

I'm just an old boy who likes to blast (but not competitively).

James K · November 1, 2015, 06:31 PM

I don't know much about the repros, but the original is a POS (a well-made POS, to be sure, but still a POS). I could never see anything good about them; of course they are a valuable collector gun, and IMHO hanging on the wall is the right place for them.

Jim

idek · November 1, 2015, 11:35 PM

here's one reproduction: http://www.uberti.com/lightning-rifle

still not cheap, and it doesn't have the same nostalgic appeal to me as a lever gun, and doesn't look as practically designed as a modern pump such as the Remington 7600.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/uberti_lightning_rifles.htm
I'm not a big Chuck Hawks fan when it comes to opinions, but there's some factual information in there as well.

I'm not sure if the Taurus Thunderbolt has been discontinued or is just a rarity in stores, but they can be had quite a bit cheaper than Lightnings on auction sites.

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

eastbank · November 2, 2015, 05:02 AM

repo,s are iffy as to working well. eastbank.

kcub · November 2, 2015, 05:33 AM

Thanks gents. Forest sound as reliable as a lever gun.

kcub · November 2, 2015, 08:16 AM

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=519052140

It looks like there was also an American Western Arms; any good? Here's a John Taffin article I found.

http://gunsmagazine.com/web-blast-li...ice-awa-style/

Kosh75287 · November 2, 2015, 08:27 AM

A number of years ago, I had the hots for a Lightning repro, but was steered away from it by a couple of dealers. The main complaint was that the pump handles had a tendency to crack, and actuating rods were prone to bending. I don't think it's a QC issue so much as a design artifact,

If the piece is to be gently used, as in a shooting parlor, it shouldn't be a big deal. I don't think the designers anticipated the use of these rifles on the open ranges back then, nor in Cowboy events, today.

I'm no metallurgist, but I cannot help wondering if heat-treating the steels of which the actuating rods are made might fix most of the bending/binding issues. It would make an already expensive firearm more expensive, but it could solve part of the vulnerabilities. Similarly, some sort of impact-resistant polymer to replace the wood pump handle could do wonders. It might be difficult to make the material truly resemble wood, which might "cheapen" the overall looks. And let's face it, looks DO matter with such a firearm.

James K · November 2, 2015, 10:58 PM

"repo,s are iffy as to working well. eastbank."

You can't say they didn't continue the tradition.

Jim

WIN71 · November 3, 2015, 01:33 AM

What does

Quote:

"repo,s are iffy as to working well. eastbank."

mean. For just a casual shooter I have found pump actions quicker and easier to fire a second shot out of. Don't get me wrong, I have levers in 30-30, 32, 348, and 405. I have only owned one semi high powered pump rifle ( 30-06 ) and it was a Remington. I didn't like it much, but the second shot was fast. I shoot older pump actions in 22 and 22wrf and I just love them.

drobs · November 7, 2015, 11:44 PM

A friend of mine had the Taurus Colt Lightning - he nothing but problems with the gun.

kcub · November 20, 2015, 08:59 AM

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...c,48264.0.html

In this thread the Pedersoli and AWA are the only ones anybody has anything good to say about.

Idaho 45 Vaquero · November 20, 2015, 10:10 AM

Amazed that other people have problems with the Colt Lightning.

I haven't touched any of the repos or replicas, but my dads original in .44-40 always works great, and is just as accurate as any of the pistol caliber lever-guns. I also knew a rancher who used a Colt-Lighting as his saddle gun for 50 years or so. It must have been plenty reliable for him.

BlueTrain · November 20, 2015, 03:00 PM

As a general question, which perhaps should be in a separate thread, do you think cartridge firearms from before, say, 1900 were as well made and reliable as we imagine they were? I realize some were very cheaply made, same as some guns are now, and not particularly reliable but referring also to Colt, Remington, Marlin and so on. One acquaintance felt the early Colt Single Action Army revolvers were very well finished but were otherwise not so great as far as measurements and so on (don't remember his exact words). At couple of models, like the Colt Lightning, were supposedly unreliable, although I don't know in what way. Probably bad springs or something.

With absolutely no basis for saying so, it would seem that both lever actions and slide action firearms would be more prone to malfunction than a bolt action and definitely more so than a single-shot, although the comparison may be unfair. Who would want a single-shot over a repeater on the one hand, and on the other, when did bolt-action rifles begin to become popular or even available? 1890?

kcub · November 20, 2015, 08:47 PM

Mauser 98 as in1898. Some came before like the Krag but the 98 was perfected.

Unlicensed Dremel · November 22, 2015, 03:19 PM

Quote:

You can't say they didn't continue the tradition.

Ha ha, yep.

I've researched the Taurus pumps in .45 Colt, and the overwhelming consensus is "jammomatic".

I would love to have a pump in .45 Colt that worked, 12" SBR & suppressed of course. The perfect home defense rig.

If you can find an IMI Timberwolf in .44 mag, that'd be one way to go. I really wish someone would bring the Timberwolf back, then offer it in .45 Colt.

October 31, 2015, 06:34 AM	#1
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	edify me on the Colt Lightning pump repros They seemed like the hot thing a few years ago but a little pricey as I recall from a perfunctory glance. I'd appreciate any and all knowledge and experience regarding what's what with this genre. I'm just an old boy who likes to blast (but not competitively).

November 1, 2015, 11:35 PM	#3
idek Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Posts: 903	here's one reproduction: http://www.uberti.com/lightning-rifle still not cheap, and it doesn't have the same nostalgic appeal to me as a lever gun, and doesn't look as practically designed as a modern pump such as the Remington 7600. http://www.chuckhawks.com/uberti_lightning_rifles.htm I'm not a big Chuck Hawks fan when it comes to opinions, but there's some factual information in there as well. I'm not sure if the Taurus Thunderbolt has been discontinued or is just a rarity in stores, but they can be had quite a bit cheaper than Lightnings on auction sites. http://www.gunblast.com/Taurus_Thunderbolt.htm Last edited by idek; November 1, 2015 at 11:59 PM.

November 2, 2015, 08:16 AM	#6
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=519052140 It looks like there was also an American Western Arms; any good? Here's a John Taffin article I found. http://gunsmagazine.com/web-blast-li...ice-awa-style/ Last edited by kcub; November 2, 2015 at 08:28 AM.

November 2, 2015, 08:27 AM	#7
Kosh75287 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 820	A number of years ago, I had the hots for a Lightning repro, but was steered away from it by a couple of dealers. The main complaint was that the pump handles had a tendency to crack, and actuating rods were prone to bending. I don't think it's a QC issue so much as a design artifact, If the piece is to be gently used, as in a shooting parlor, it shouldn't be a big deal. I don't think the designers anticipated the use of these rifles on the open ranges back then, nor in Cowboy events, today. I'm no metallurgist, but I cannot help wondering if heat-treating the steels of which the actuating rods are made might fix most of the bending/binding issues. It would make an already expensive firearm more expensive, but it could solve part of the vulnerabilities. Similarly, some sort of impact-resistant polymer to replace the wood pump handle could do wonders. It might be difficult to make the material truly resemble wood, which might "cheapen" the overall looks. And let's face it, looks DO matter with such a firearm. __________________ GOD BLESS JEFF COOPER, whose instructions, consultations, and publications have probably saved more lives than can ever be reliably calculated. DVC, sir. انجلو. المسلحة. جاهزة. Carpe SCOTCH!

November 20, 2015, 03:00 PM	#13
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,141	As a general question, which perhaps should be in a separate thread, do you think cartridge firearms from before, say, 1900 were as well made and reliable as we imagine they were? I realize some were very cheaply made, same as some guns are now, and not particularly reliable but referring also to Colt, Remington, Marlin and so on. One acquaintance felt the early Colt Single Action Army revolvers were very well finished but were otherwise not so great as far as measurements and so on (don't remember his exact words). At couple of models, like the Colt Lightning, were supposedly unreliable, although I don't know in what way. Probably bad springs or something. With absolutely no basis for saying so, it would seem that both lever actions and slide action firearms would be more prone to malfunction than a bolt action and definitely more so than a single-shot, although the comparison may be unfair. Who would want a single-shot over a repeater on the one hand, and on the other, when did bolt-action rifles begin to become popular or even available? 1890? __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.

November 1, 2015, 06:31 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I don't know much about the repros, but the original is a POS (a well-made POS, to be sure, but still a POS). I could never see anything good about them; of course they are a valuable collector gun, and IMHO hanging on the wall is the right place for them. Jim

November 2, 2015, 05:02 AM	#4
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	repo,s are iffy as to working well. eastbank.

November 2, 2015, 05:33 AM	#5
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	Thanks gents. Forest sound as reliable as a lever gun.

November 2, 2015, 10:58 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	"repo,s are iffy as to working well. eastbank." You can't say they didn't continue the tradition. Jim

November 7, 2015, 11:44 PM	#10
drobs Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2015 Location: South Central MO / Africa Posts: 1,111	A friend of mine had the Taurus Colt Lightning - he nothing but problems with the gun.

November 20, 2015, 08:59 AM	#11
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...c,48264.0.html In this thread the Pedersoli and AWA are the only ones anybody has anything good to say about.

November 20, 2015, 10:10 AM	#12
Idaho 45 Vaquero Member Join Date: March 15, 2015 Location: Idaho, nothing but sagebrush Posts: 96	Amazed that other people have problems with the Colt Lightning. I haven't touched any of the repos or replicas, but my dads original in .44-40 always works great, and is just as accurate as any of the pistol caliber lever-guns. I also knew a rancher who used a Colt-Lighting as his saddle gun for 50 years or so. It must have been plenty reliable for him.

November 20, 2015, 08:47 PM	#14
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	Mauser 98 as in1898. Some came before like the Krag but the 98 was perfected.