Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 2 hours ago, Cypress Sun said: I grew up on "Westerns" also. The "Western" that had the most impact on me was a movie that my Dad took me to see on one of his returns from Vietnam...The Wild Bunch. Up until that time, I was sure that the "old" west was like Rawhide, Wagon Train, Bonanza, The Big Valley and some others. The Wild Bunch movie sure wasn't Bonanza suffice to say. I've never used a pump action rifle in a match, I've actually only shot one a couple of times. The first time I shot one, a cowboy named Deadeye Dallas asked me to shoot one so he could video it. I'd heard about them, they sounded like a cool gun, so I tried it. I like it, a lot. Never had the inclination to buy one though. There's a video of it somewhere on YouTube. I've only seen a couple of them run decently. Deadeye Dallas and Pistol Packin Peanut had some that would run good, seen videos of others that ran good. Just don't seem as reliable or as easy to keep on target as a lever gun though. Yeah, Deadeye Dallas was the guy who figured out all the stuff that needed to be reworked to make the Taurus function well. It was quite a list. Obviously Lassiter can do it since he won some big matches with a Thunderbolt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Rapid Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 To Doc Roy L. Pain's comment on "expensive" the higher cost of Lightnings relates to economy of scale (lower production, ROI), and a more complicated action than, for example, a '73. To Abilene's and Cypress Sun's comment on "in western movies" I actually did see a Lightning in a western and can't remember the name of the flick, but always thought well of the armorer on the set who thought to include one. I think I mentioned it several years back on this site - I will snoop for it. And I totally agree on Griff's comment on Taurus. The Taurus Thunderbolt is one of the poorest examples of tooling and gun manufacturing I've ever seen. Compared to either a Uberti or Pedersoli, the Taurus is absolutely no comparison, as proven by how poorly they run without a ton of mods. RR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 In my humble opinion, the Taurus Thunderbolt looks more like the original Colt Lightning than any of the others and I’m very fond of my Pedersoli Lightnings. Pedersoli craftsmanship is exceptional and Taurus Thunderbolt craftsmanship is bottom of the barrel. I had an opportunity to buy a Taurus Thunderbolt last year and after talking to Lassiter at EOT and finding out what it would cost to make it run, I decided against it. Right now I’ve got a Pedersoli Lightning with him that will be chambered in 38-40 and have the slam fire mod, can’t wait to add that one to the stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc roy l. pain Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 Wife and I have 4 lightning clones. 3 AWA and 1 Pedersoli. All have had Lassiter’s work done to them and they run well. Also I have Roger Rapid’s downloads on assembly and disassembly along with some of his helpful hints on making them run smoother which I could never thank him enough for. The guns were a challenge at first to take apart and maintain, but after running them for a couple years, I don’t give it a second thought anymore. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 7 minutes ago, doc roy l. pain said: Wife and I have 4 lightning clones. 3 AWA and 1 Pedersoli. All have had Lassiter’s work done to them and they run well. Also I have Roger Rapid’s downloads on assembly and disassembly along with some of his helpful hints on making them run smoother which I could never thank him enough for. The guns were a challenge at first to take apart and maintain, but after running them for a couple years, I don’t give it a second thought anymore. Once you take them apart a couple of times it all makes sense and it’s more enjoyable than a chore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Gun Cole Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Lassiter tunes them. Boaz runs the heck out of a lighting… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pee Wee #15785 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 My main match rifle is a USFA Lighting in .44-40. I found that the action had to be worked like you were mad at it. In the last 10-15 years I don't have any problems as long as I get mad! The USFA was the best out of the box of all the ones made. Pedersoli's can be made to "run like a scalded dog", just have Lassiter tune it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 When was the last time you saw John Wayne using one? Nuff Sed 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 32 minutes ago, Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 said: When was the last time you saw John Wayne using one? Nuff Sed When was the last time you saw him using a '73? 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 Just now, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: When was the last time you saw him using a '73? Good question might be why I mostly shoot a 92 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 10 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: When was the last time you saw him using a '73? Didn't he use one in the Alamo, or was that a '92? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 My reason for never owning one and it may sound silly, but to me they're just not "cowboy" enough! Just MHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 The only Western I can recall, off the top of my head, that had a Lightning in it, was an episode of The Rifleman. One was hanging in the window of gunsmith's shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Run Butch Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 I did not like a pump because you lose your sight plain working the pump (cocking) where with a lever you can keep your sight plain with no adjustment while cocking the rifle. That was my experience Butch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 1 hour ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said: The only Western I can recall, off the top of my head, that had a Lightning in it, was an episode of The Rifleman. One was hanging in the window of gunsmith's shop. Many merchants in the "Old West" often put their tomato plants in the window so they could get more sun. Reminded them to water them more often also. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Rapid Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 Regarding Lightnings not being acceptable becuase they didn’t find their way to Westen movies, I guess we can now start shooting the Mauser C96 machine pistol since its debut in Clint Eastwood’s Joe Kidd. And it’s SASS legal since it was first made in 1896. Wild Bunch only, of course. Just sayin’ Roger Rapid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, Roger Rapid said: And it’s SASS legal since it was first made in 1896. Wild Bunch only, of course It should be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 A C96 with shoulder stock could be used as a rifle in WB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 26 minutes ago, DeaconKC said: A C96 with shoulder stock could be used as a rifle in WB! Since they did away with the caliber and power factor requirements for rifles, I think this should absolutely be allowed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 5 hours ago, DeaconKC said: A C96 with shoulder stock could be used as a rifle in WB! Absolutely! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORNERY OAF Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 On 5/9/2024 at 8:48 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said: My reason for never owning one and it may sound silly, but to me they're just not "cowboy" enough! Just MHO This, they don't fit in what I grew up watching and cheering for the hero...they just don't look cowboy, they look like you are trying to win a stuffed bear at the carnival.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 Getting back to the original question, I am more and more convinced that it all comes down to a matter of preference. It has been demonstrated that you can win with the 73, 66, Marlin, 92 and the Lightning. It's just that only a few pards want to give the pump gun a try. They prefer something else. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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