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I just learned that the new Pedersoli Lightning - called the Silver Spur - has begun shipping to IFG, Pedersoli's US master distributor (IFG then distributes to the other dealers) . Pedersoli just went on August vacation - as most Italian companies do each August - so shipping will not resume until they return to work in September. RR

For the past two years Pedersoli has been undergoing a revision to its Pedersoli Lightning rifle, making some mechanical adjustments and trimming down the product line from several models to just a few models. I have just learned that Pedersoli will be introducing the first of the new Lightning models at the Shot Show in January 2025 in Las Vegas. The first model will focus on cowboy action shooting and will feature a 24˝ round barrel in .45LC (.357 version to follow) and a stock with a curved butt plate. While some shooters like the 20˝ carbine version, the extra 4˝ is helpful for stability and sight acquisition when working the action rapidly. I have heard that among the new mechanical features is the use of floating cartridge guides/ejection plates to improve feeding. I will know more when I get a chance to handle the new version at the Shot Show and will report back then. Roger Rapid

I purchased an AWA .38spl lightning and found that it is not feeding properly and also jamming. I would like to tear it down but I am fearful of doing so without a schematic or disassembly manual. If any of you have either please let me know. Smart Asterisk SmartAsterisk@outlook.com

After reading the article in the fall Gunslingers "Lightning fast: Navy Arms' New Pump Rifles" I decided to obtain one (357/.38spl). This turned out to be quite a drawn out process but I finally purchased a deluxe model with a 24" barrel. Fit and finish are very good and the gun and wood are as nice as the article describes. I will be taking the gun to a shoot this coming weekend and will report back on actual use and not just jacking rounds across the room. There are a couple of pictures showing the internals but nothing that would prove useful in dis-assembly or re-assembly. The documentation provided is next to nothing, so I called Navy Arms to inquire if any take-down or cleaning documentation was available or an exploded picture of the gun. I was put through to one of the gunsmiths and the jest of the conversation was to use a good aerosol cleaner and lube to clean the internals and to not attempt to take it down....ever. He said he spent two weeks in Italy at the factory and it still takes him 60-90 minutes to assemble. "It's a complicated firearm." I thought I would pass this along for any future buyers. I plan to run it hard as I shoot at several clubs during the month. I will update over time. Lake City Kid

So being the good husband that I am, I was going to clean my wife's new-only-shot-once Cimarron Lightning revolvers, and found out the hard way that these things have a base pin that only works one way. The base pin has dimples on only one side that the base pin spring goes over. To help with making sure you orient the base pin correctly, the top of the base pin is flat in one spot. You must have that flat part against the barrel of the revolver. It is very easy to accidentally turn the base pin as you're sliding it into the cylinder, and that's what happened to me. By the time I had this figured out, both revolvers were stuck. To fix it, I removed the base pin screw/spring to make my life easier, then gently tapped the base pin out a bit to free the top of it that had gotten stuck against the barrel. I then carefully made sure I slid the base pin back in correctly, and I was back in business. Flat top of base pin: Beveled part that goes over the spring:

I've got a couple questions about the Colt Model 1877/1878 Lightning/Thunder/Frontier Double Actions. 1) Could these be fanned like typical Single Actions? I ask this because I know a modern DA cannot be fanned but wondering if these used a different trigger/hammer mechanism more like a SAA. From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_M1878 ( Chicoine, David (28 September 2005). Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: The Comprehensive Guide to Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns. Iola, wisconsin: Krause Publications. pp. 76–77. ISBN 0-87349-767-8.) "The design of the Model 1878 was based on the Model 1877, which in turn was based heavily on the design of the earlier Colt Single Action Army revolver. The double-action revolver is not dramatically different in design than the single-action revolver. A strut is added to connect the trigger movement to the hammer. The top of the trigger slips beyond the strut so that the hammer will stay in full cock if it is pulled back manually." Sounds to me like it should work but I haven't been able to find a good image or animation. 2) Are there any categories that allow the usage of any of these period correct DA's? From my limited reading it seems these were popular with many Old West figures including George Armstrong Custer, John Wesley Hardin, Billy the Kid, and about 1,750 Beaumont-Adams purchased by the Union for use in the War Between the States. Certainly more appropriate than pump action shotguns Please note I am not advocating that fanning is a good idea and obviously Single Action revolvers are much cooler than Double Actions so please don't bring this into it. I just have an interest in history and things mechanical.