Spiritmaker Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 I recently picked up an original large frame Colt Lightning in .45/70. I would like to get in contact with Lassiter for some work on it. Could someone give me his contact info? thanks
Sixgun Seamus Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 10 minutes ago, Spiritmaker said: I recently picked up an original large frame Colt Lightning in .45/70. I would like to get in contact with Lassiter for some work on it. Could someone give me his contact info? thanks He is listed under Cowboy Gunsmiths in the FAQ section.
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 Tom's Single Action Shop 675 Crawford Tom's Run Rd New Lebanon, OH 45345 Phone: 937-687-1039 That's him. A great guy to go to to have your Lightnings worked on. And an even greater guy to just talk to from time to time. He has worked on several of my Lightnings, including my Large Frame one. Just an FYI, technically, it's not really a .45-70, it's a .45-85-285. This was a Colt proprietary cartridge that used a case with identical dimensions to the .45-70, but the lighter bullet had a much higher velocity. I can tell you from experience that if you use a 405 grain bullet, the OAL will be ever so slightly too long to fit through the loading gate. I switched to a 300 grain bullet which is a little shorter, and it fits just fine, and shoots great. (It's still .458" diameter) Also rifling was adjusted to work with lighter/faster bullets, so you may wanna keep this in mind. I stick to pressures that are deemed to be "Trapdoor safe" in this gun. Good lucK!
Spiritmaker Posted September 16, 2024 Author Posted September 16, 2024 You are correct on the caliber designation. I have been loading the 300 grain bullets. They work fine. I am loading on the trapdoor side. I would just like to have the action smoother. Tom worked over my medium frame .32/20 years ago. I have shot with him a few times back then. Thanks
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted September 16, 2024 Posted September 16, 2024 All things considered, I run "trapdoor loads" in everything I have in .45-70. Yeah, my 86 is stronger, but I figure going with the lighter stuff, that works just fine in the stronger guns, is something that can't hurt. Plus, the lighter loads have less recoil! This is especially important in, say a Trapdoor carbine instead of a rifle or even a short barrel 86. Lassiter has worked on 4 of my Lightnings, 3 medium frames, and one large frame. Two of the mediums and the large all had the same problem, an internal part that he describes as a "teeter totter" cracked and had to be repaired. He feels it is a design flaw. The 3rd medium doesn't extract properly after firing. I suppose he's working on a 5th, he is converting a Taurus to .44 Special for me. Yeah, a Taurus. He recommended using one in .45 as the "donor" rifle. I wasn't gonna argue with the expert. I heard from others that he can make a Taurus work, and he has even won some stuff using one himself. Good luck with your large frame.
Spiritmaker Posted September 17, 2024 Author Posted September 17, 2024 I shot with Lassiter in the early 90's. he helped me with a Colt medium frame in .32/20. A fine gent he is.
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