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Post by nolongcolt on Apr 10, 2022 16:45:22 GMT -5
I became intrigued with the Colt Lightning pump action rifles and was vaguely aware of various clones, the least expensive being the Taurus offering which according to some is worth something between being a tent stake or crude club!
Having no experience with any version of this rifle, and not knowing if I will even like it, I opted for the Taurus as some have had good ones, they aint all bad I guess.
So I bid on one on GB the other day and won it, after dealing with another bidder who must have thought he was on Ebay and kept waiting till the last second to up the bid, thinking he would snipe me, but apparently not knowing you cant do that on GB, or maybe just wanted to piss me off, that part worked very well! Ended up having to pay about $80 more than planned but oh well.
The Taurus comes in .45 Colt or .38/357 only and .45 Colt is by far the most common so that is what I have coming hopefully by late next week.
I think this will be a funner and hopefully not too problematic and easily dealt with should issues arise.
Anyone else have one of these or other clone, Uberti etc.?
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akray
.30 Stingray
"Alaska is what the Wild West was"
Posts: 388
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Post by akray on Apr 10, 2022 18:09:10 GMT -5
I owned a Taurus pump action in 45 Colt for a while and it was fun to shoot. I only used cowboy action loads in mine and it fed, shot and ejected the empty cases fine. My gun had a rifle length barrel and mag tube. I don't remember any issues with it. I had the idea that for a practical reason for owning it I could hunt snowshoe hares or grouse but I never did. It looked good, worked fine and I probably should have kept it.
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Post by bradshaw on Apr 10, 2022 19:00:30 GMT -5
I became intrigued with the Colt Lightning pump action rifles and was vaguely aware of various clones, the least expensive being the Taurus offering which according to some is worth something between being a tent stake or crude club! Having no experience with any version of this rifle, and not knowing if I will even like it, I opted for the Taurus as some have had good ones, they aint all bad I guess. So I bid on one on GB the other day and won it, after dealing with another bidder who must have thought he was on Ebay and kept waiting till the last second to up the bid, thinking he would snipe me, but apparently not knowing you cant do that on GB, or maybe just wanted to piss me off, that part worked very well! Ended up having to pay about $80 more than planned but oh well. The Taurus comes in .45 Colt or .38/357 only and .45 Colt is by far the most common so that is what I have coming hopefully by late next week. I think this will be a funner and hopefully not too problematic and easily dealt with should issues arise. Anyone else have one of these or other clone, Uberti etc.? ***** First Colt Lighting pump rifle to grab my attention was a .44-40 in Norm Flayderman’s antique arms shop on the Post Road in Greenwich, Connecticut. Smooth action. Considerably more complex innards than the country simple Winchester 1873, I was told. Multiple decades later----USFA perhaps at the height of its distribution----a couple of shooting buddies and this shooter enter a gunship in New Hampshire. Friend walks out with Colt Lightning in excellent operating condition. He just had to have it. USFA had also got into the act and it would be a show to see a Colt and its distant offspring USFA and Taurus do their thing on the firing line. David Bradshaw |
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,648
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Post by jeffh on Apr 12, 2022 11:36:31 GMT -5
A pump carbine in a "pistol cartridge," like 357, 41, 44 Mag or 45 Colt WOULD be cool. I believe the 38-40 and 44-40 were originally rifle cartridges anyway, so they'd be cool too. Shoot, add the 25-20 and 32-20...
Remember the IMI pump-action 357 Mag? Sort of came and went quietly. Always thought those were neat and would make a great "homestead gun."
I know NOTHING about the Colt design, or the Taurus iteration either, I am just thinking in generic pump-action terms.
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Post by nhithaca on Apr 12, 2022 13:51:16 GMT -5
Happen to have one of those IMI pumps you mentioned; shoots real well. Feeds both 38s and 357s with no issues as long as they are no longer than spec length for 357. Action seems to be a mini version of a generic pump shotgun, loads through the bottom. Makes a good companion to a 38/357 revolver. Too bad no one will pickup the design and start making new ones.
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ericp
.327 Meteor
Posts: 506
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Post by ericp on Apr 13, 2022 8:57:43 GMT -5
I have no experience with the Taurus version but did own a high condition Colt in 38-40. Lot going on inside it, took me bit to realize how it locks up. Same principle as wedging a chair under a door knob.
The Colt was very picky about OAL but otherwise ran great. Was offered a trade for a pair of nice sporting rolling blocks and away it went. While I enjoy the rolling blocks I also miss the Colt.
Eric
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Post by patrick1948 on Apr 13, 2022 17:00:30 GMT -5
have owned several and all were problematic. Never could get them to be reliable. Few cowboy shooters will use them .Lassiter is able to make them work .Go over to the SASS wire and look him up.
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Post by nolongcolt on Apr 13, 2022 21:35:59 GMT -5
I got it home today, very nice shape, almost new, bore looks unfired. Pretty little thang...
I think it will be OK. I ran, by hand, 3 different bullet types in loaded ammo thru it, XTP jacketed, RNFP lead and a lead SWC, all went thru without a hitch. I put two pieces of empty primed into the chamber and both made a loud noise when the hammer fell.
I know the cowboys have some distain for these, but they put their guns thru hell compared to how most of us treat our guns. I am just a target shooter/plinker and have no need or desire to turn this into high functioning speed demon.
I hope to shoot it next Monday.
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Post by 38 WCF on Apr 14, 2022 7:31:41 GMT -5
I had one of the USFA Lightnings in 38-40 for Cowboy Action shooting. It worked okay if you ran it at a normal speed but it would not function if ran at a high speed as in Action shooting. It was sold.. Nicely made rifle though.
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Post by nolongcolt on Apr 18, 2022 14:38:00 GMT -5
Got this to the range today, what a blast! Quite accurate with the irons at 50 yds. With 10 grs of HS6 behind the Hornady 250 XTP, it put 5 shots in about 1.25 inches, all touching! Other loads were nearly as good but that was best.
Function was perfect as well, though getting that first round into the mag tube takes a bit of finesse, but the rest follow it in easily enough.
All in all in my view the little rifle is a winner, fun to shoot and plenty accurate for my needs.
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