Texas Gator Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Has anyone had any experiance with an AWA Lightning? Is the AWA lightning worth having?
Tn Tombstone Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 I have two, one in 38 one 45, great guns, fun to shoot, both run wide open. I can miss faster with my 45 Lighting then with any other gun.
Outlaw Gambler Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Yes they are worth having. They run about $400 - $600 less than the others on the market and stock out of the box aren't any worse than the more expensive ones. I have one now that has been worked on by Eldon Penner and it is slicker than snot. No hick ups, misfeeds, or jams of any kind. It slam fires and the nicest thing about it is it loves 38spcl. This is my third AWA and except for my original Colt Lightning rifles it is as good as I have seen. By the way, my other two AWA's were sold so I could buy the original Colt Lightnings.
Yakima Kid, SASS #28088L Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 I have an AWA White Lightning (polished nickle) that runs like a house afire and has since day one. This model came from the factory with an action job by Russell and mine runs like a kitten. Always has. It is VERY fast, very slick, and LOTS of style points. Mine is simply beautiful.
Red Hooker Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Do not have one, but have been keeping tabs on info on the various Lightnings in case I ever get the $ to buy one. I hear the AWA-USA and the Pedersoli are the ones to get, the Tauruses are to be avoided like sin, and everybody else is in between.
Mad Dog Jack, SASS #77862 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 I have one in 45 cal, I think it's worth having. I've shot 45 LC black powder and 45 S&W BP loads, then mixed them together with no issues. I just prefer my 73 most of the time...
Mad Dog Jack, SASS #77862 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Do not have one, but have been keeping tabs on info on the various Lightnings in case I ever get the $ to buy one. I hear the AWA-USA and the Pedersoli are the ones to get, the Tauruses are to be avoided like sin, and everybody else is in between. Deadeye Dallas, I believe, has been posting here about a fix he has found for the Taurus version, might be worth getting one cheap and sending it to him to get fixed.
Trooper John Smith SASS 5561 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 I had an early AWA with factory action job--- ran like a BAR! Trooper
Badlands Beady Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 TIME OUT!!!!! I've been a SASS member for ~ 2 years, and in all that time EVERYONE has ALWAYS said to stay away from the Lightnings, no matter who made them. Now, it's a matter of who makes them. What have certain gun makers ((Pedersoli and AWA, it seems) been doing to make people change their minds? If we're in a transition phase right now, where new Pedersolis and AWAs are good and the old ones are bad, how do I tell a new/good Lightning from an old/bad one as I look at it in the store?
Korupt Karl Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Deadeye Dallas, I believe, has been posting here about a fix he has found for the Taurus version, might be worth getting one cheap and sending it to him to get fixed. He has done an excellent job of slicking the AWA and the Taurus. Shot the AWA at a monthly this month. Very nice. I would recommend contacting him if you get one. KK
Haole Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Has anyone had any experiance with an AWA Lightning? Is the AWA lightning worth having? I bought 2 of them several years ago in 45LC from a gun shop for $1,400 for the pair. This was when they were selling retail for about $1,100 each, so I was on notice. One shot real well. I kept that one and sold the other. I shoot it often but it isn't my main match rifle. Occasionally I would get a sprig of gas in my face. I asked many people about the problem and got too many suggested fixes to list here (some of them really off the wall). Then a post here or in CASCity suggested neck sizing Winchester brass that had been fired in a Lightning with this tendancy (especially 45LC). That fixed the problem. No more gas leaks. Winchester brass is softer. Fireforming it in your lightning's chamber gets a good fit. Neck sizing the brass reduces only the part of the case intended to hold the head (the projectile) in place. So now I'm gradually working my way thru my collection of 45LC brass seperating out the Winchester head stamps for use in my AWA Lightning.
Mad Dog Jack, SASS #77862 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 TIME OUT!!!!! I've been a SASS member for ~ 2 years, and in all that time EVERYONE has ALWAYS said to stay away from the Lightnings, no matter who made them. Now, it's a matter of who makes them. What have certain gun makers ((Pedersoli and AWA, it seems) been doing to make people change their minds? If we're in a transition phase right now, where new Pedersolis and AWAs are good and the old ones are bad, how do I tell a new/good Lightning from an old/bad one as I look at it in the store? The ones I heard had the "do not buy" problems were the Taurus and Beretta versions, especially the Taurus. Much less so with the Pedersoli, I don't remember anything negative being posted here or at CAS City about AWA's functioning.
Thaddeus O'Malley Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 How do you buy one? The company will not answer the phone or return messages. Beginning to think they would take a deposit and that is the end of you hearing from them. Thaddeus
Fingers McGee Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Has anyone had any experiance with an AWA Lightning? Is the AWA lightning worth having? I have an early Limited edition AWA in 44-40. It had some trouble with light hits and not releasing cartidges that re-arching the hammer spring fixed. While it's not my regular main match rifle, it's run like a well oiled machine ever since.
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