Lightning by Taylors/Uberti

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I just saw a Uberti made Lightning rifle in .45 Colt, imported by Taylors, on Gunbroker with an opening bid of $2500, or a buy it now of $2900.

Seems a little pricey to me for a Uberti.   Then again, my sole experience with a Uberti Lightning is several years in the past, and I found them to be not so great,   Maybe they are better now, but this is significantly more than what Pedersoli is charging for there's.

I am not gonna go for it, but I did find the price surprising.   It's been a while since I bought anything like this new, so I have no idea if this is what they are going for now.   For that price, I feel it should be good to go right out of the box...

[Lucky R. K.]

On 6/10/2026 at 8:41 AM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Seems a little pricey to me for a Uberti.   Then again, my sole experience with a Uberti Lightning is several years in the past, and I found them to be not so great,   Maybe they are better now, but this is significantly more than what Pedersoli is charging for there's.
 

I bought the Pedersoli a few years ago and slicked it up using Roger Rapid's tune up book. It is in 44-40 and works as fast as I can run it. If you want a Lightning, then you need the Pedersoli;

Lucky 😁

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

8 hours ago, Lucky R. K. said:

If you want a Lightning, then you need the Pedersoli;

 

Hmmm...

I have 3 AWAs.
.45 Colt
.44-40
.45 Colt Lightning Bolt pistol.

 

I also have 4 Colts.

.22 Long.
.32-20

.44-40
.45-85

 

Also, Lassiter has a Taurus (his suggestion for it to be the donor) that is being turned into a .44 Special.

But if I really NEED a Pedersoli, I'll have to get one someday.   Just need to decide on the caliber.  To be honest, if that weird, heavily modernized one in .44 Magnum was available in a standard configuration, I'd already have one.

When all is said and done, I have never had it as a goal to have Lightnings by as many different makers as possible.  Rather, I have a desire to have a Lightning in as many different CALIBERS as possible.

 

I guess that means the following...

 

Of the original calibers, that leaves .38-40.   I am not sure which, of any, of the replica makers did that caliber, so it might mean another Colt.  

As far as the large frame version goes, I am content with the .45-85 one, which is basically the .45-70 with a lighter bullet.  I am not interested is pursuing the various other big calibers.  And even if I was, the large frames are so expensive, or the calibers so obscure, I don't want to go down that rabbit hole.

Now, as far as other medium frame calibers go, while I have never been generally interested in .38 Special as a main match caliber, I came very close to getting a very fancy AWA in that caliber once that had a kind of silver colored, engraved receiver.  This was the way it was made, and I understand it was a specific variation they did on that caliber, not a custom one off.  And, it was not all that expensive.   I got outbid at the last minute.   If I ever find another one, I'll probably go for it.   Especially since my AWA .45 Colt runs .45 Schofields no problem.  I am curious to learn if one in .38 Special will run .38 Long Colt.   If it won't, it's not a deal breaker, but I still wanna find out.   I know .357 Magnum was also an option for some of the replicas.   I don't know if other calibers were available, or what they would be.

That being said, someone here on the Wire, I can't remember who for sure, I think know who, but don't want to say the name in case I am wrong, mentioned that he was building himself one in .32 H&R Magnum.   (I honestly wonder if it would run .32 S&W Longs)  Well anyway, if he ever decides that he doesn't want it anymore, I hope he'll give me first crack at buying it off of him. 

Now that of course brings up the idea of custom created ones in calibers of special interest.   If I could get one, .38 S&W would be great.  So would .45 ACP, or .45 Autorim.  And this point, I better shut up.   I am starting to look at seriously expensive things, and that's not a good idea.

[Lucky R. K.]

15 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

 

Hmmm...

I have 3 AWAs.
.45 Colt
.44-40
.45 Colt Lightning Bolt pistol.

etc. . .

My comment was directed to those who might be looking for a commercially available, reliable Lightning rifle. It had nothing to do with collectors.

Lucky 

 

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

9 hours ago, Lucky R. K. said:

My comment was directed to those who might be looking for a commercially available, reliable Lightning rifle. It had nothing to do with collectors.

Lucky 

One does not necessarily preclude the other. 

[SnakeM]

Waiting for the new model in 38/357 next year. Supposedly using the long carrier fixed the reliability issue. 

[Uncle Ethan # 94321]

6 hours ago, SnakeM said:

Waiting for the new model in 38/357 next year. Supposedly using the long carrier fixed the reliability issue. 

If this is the Pedersoli, I thought it was suppose to be out this year. 

 

[Dallas McBoomboom]

@H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 I am intrigued by your 45-85, the big frame colts are so cool. I have ridiculous dreams of finding one in 38-56 for less than a three bedroom house. Got Colts in 38-40 and 32-20,  AWAs in 38-40 and 44-40, but still chasing a big boy. 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

37 minutes ago, Dallas McBoomboom said:

@H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 I am intrigued by your 45-85, the big frame colts are so cool. I have ridiculous dreams of finding one in 38-56 for less than a three bedroom house. Got Colts in 38-40 and 32-20,  AWAs in 38-40 and 44-40, but still chasing a big boy. 

When I first started looking at the possibility of a Large Frame Lightning, I was put off by the calibers that it was offered in.   They were all ones I'd never heard of!   They were all marketed as "Express" calibers, big bullets going at, for the time, very high velocities.  

But then I discovered something intriguing about the so called, .45-85-285 cartridge.   As it turns out, the .45-85 uses a case the dimensionally identical to the .45-70.  Using the much lighter 285 grain bullet instead of the heavier 405 one created a much higher muzzle velocity.  WHY Colt did this instead of just chambering it for the very popular .45-70, I do not know.   The only difference in the cases is that the 85 uses a small rifle primer for some reason.

Well, suddenly, this became a priority to me.  Afterall, .45-70 brass is easy to come by, and I was already set up to load for it.   But when I finally got the rifle, I did discover one one other quirk of the cartridge.  The .45-70 loaded with a 405 grain bullet is just a tiny but too long to fit through the loading gate.   I'd also read that they did the rifling different in this gun, one suited to the high velocity lightweight bullet.   Even if you could get 405 grainers to work, they'd be going to slow to work with the rifling.   

No problem.   I figured 300 grain .45-70 bullets would be close enough.   Well, I was right.  They were just shorter enough to fit, and the gun is supper accurate out to some pretty decent distances.    I am using data for a "Trapdoor safe" loading with the 300 grain bullet, so it works quite well.   Once I run out of 405 grainers, I very well may standardize on the 300 just so I don't have to keep track of what is what.

If you really want a Large Frame, this is the caliber I'd recommend.   Proviso!   These are expensive rifles.   I was saving up for 2 years to be able to afford it!

You mentioned .38-56 caliber.   I am sure you know that this, in spite of the name, is nothing like the .38-55.   The 55 is based on the .30-30.   The 56 is based on the .45-70.   It IS possible to make .38-56 brass from .45-70 brass, but I don't know how involved the process is.  Still, I have SEEN many more of these in the .38-56 than the .45-85, so that might be a way to go.   They were also available in .40-60, but at this point, I have no clue what that means.  The differences between .40-60 Marlin, .40-60 Colt, 40-60 Winchester and .40-65 Winchester make my head hurt.   One source says they are 4 different incompatible cartridges, and another says they are all the same.   I'd avoid this caliber simply because I can't make sense of it.  They were also in .50-95, but apparently brass for it is now pretty much unobtainium, to say nothing of ammo.

And that's all I know for sure.

Good luck.
 

For contrast, Large .45-85, Medium .32-20, Small .22 Long  
All Colts

The Lightning Bolt pistol is an AWA .45.

 

[Dallas McBoomboom]

1 hour ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

When I first started looking at the possibility of a Large Frame Lightning, I was put off by the calibers that it was offered in.   They were all ones I'd never heard of!   They were all marketed as "Express" calibers, big bullets going at, for the time, very high velocities.  

But then I discovered something intriguing about the so called, .45-85-285 cartridge.   As it turns out, the .45-85 uses a case the dimensionally identical to the .45-70.  Using the much lighter 285 grain bullet instead of the heavier 405 one created a much higher muzzle velocity.  WHY Colt did this instead of just chambering it for the very popular .45-70, I do not know.   The only difference in the cases is that the 85 uses a small rifle primer for some reason.

Well, suddenly, this became a priority to me.  Afterall, .45-70 brass is easy to come by, and I was already set up to load for it.   But when I finally got the rifle, I did discover one one other quirk of the cartridge.  The .45-70 loaded with a 405 grain bullet is just a tiny but too long to fit through the loading gate.   I'd also read that they did the rifling different in this gun, one suited to the high velocity lightweight bullet.   Even if you could get 405 grainers to work, they'd be going to slow to work with the rifling.   

No problem.   I figured 300 grain .45-70 bullets would be close enough.   Well, I was right.  They were just shorter enough to fit, and the gun is supper accurate out to some pretty decent distances.    I am using data for a "Trapdoor safe" loading with the 300 grain bullet, so it works quite well.   Once I run out of 405 grainers, I very well may standardize on the 300 just so I don't have to keep track of what is what.

If you really want a Large Frame, this is the caliber I'd recommend.   Proviso!   These are expensive rifles.   I was saving up for 2 years to be able to afford it!

You mentioned .38-56 caliber.   I am sure you know that this, in spite of the name, is nothing like the .38-55.   The 55 is based on the .30-30.   The 56 is based on the .45-70.   It IS possible to make .38-56 brass from .45-70 brass, but I don't know how involved the process is.  Still, I have SEEN many more of these in the .38-56 than the .45-85, so that might be a way to go.   They were also available in .40-60, but at this point, I have no clue what that means.  The differences between .40-60 Marlin, .40-60 Colt, 40-60 Winchester and .40-65 Winchester make my head hurt.   One source says they are 4 different incompatible cartridges, and another says they are all the same.   I'd avoid this caliber simply because I can't make sense of it.  They were also in .50-95, but apparently brass for it is now pretty much unobtainium, to say nothing of ammo.

And that's all I know for sure.

Good luck.
 

For contrast, Large .45-85, Medium .32-20, Small .22 Long  
All Colts

The Lightning Bolt pistol is an AWA .45.

 

Tons of great info, thank you! First off, I'd like to know if you're taking applications for heirs. If so, please let my know where to send mine. Second, I never knew about the Bolt, and will have to start selling internal organs immediately to finance one. Anyone with nice internal organs, please shoot me a pm. 😉 I love the idea of the express rounds, I've got an 1876 in 50-95 express that has a custom 290 gr bullet that I cast for it, as it's persnickety about bullets also. I love oddball calibers, especially the dash ones. I have 45-70, 40-65, 50-70, 50-95, 50-140, as well as all the more standard cowboy ones. I've got the gear to load and cast 38-56, just looking for that lightning in my price range. And now a Bolt too 😅

[SnakeM]

5 hours ago, Uncle Ethan # 94321 said:

If this is the Pedersoli, I thought it was suppose to be out this year. 

 

It is out in 45long colt now.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

7 hours ago, Dallas McBoomboom said:

Second, I never knew about the Bolt, and will have to start selling internal organs immediately to finance one.

Well...

You may have a bigger problem than money.   Not very many of these Lightning Bolts were made before AWA closed up shop.   No one seems to know the exact number, but an excellent article Guns of the Old West magazine was able to confirm the existence of exactly 3 of them in wild, and estimated the total number ever made to be at 15 or less.   (I was VERY lucky to obtain mine.)   Granted, I have since then seen information that suggests there may be a few more, but we are not talking triple digits here for a total.

I want to start a Lightning Bolt owners society but nobody has responded to the inquiries.   I don't know why. 

 

BTW, a picture of my Bolt is shown in the article.

 

[Dallas McBoomboom]

46 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Well...

You may have a bigger problem than money.   Not very many of these Lightning Bolts were made before AWA closed up shop.   No one seems to know the exact number, but an excellent article Guns of the Old West magazine was able to confirm the existence of exactly 3 of them in wild, and estimated the total number ever made to be at 15 or less.   (I was VERY lucky to obtain mine.)   Granted, I have since then seen information that suggests there may be a few more, but we are not talking triple digits here for a total.

I want to start a Lightning Bolt owners society but nobody has responded to the inquiries.   I don't know why. 

 

BTW, a picture of my Bolt is shown in the article.

 

Well, at least I'll have something to obsess about... 🤠

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

1 hour ago, Dallas McBoomboom said:

Well, at least I'll have something to obsess about... 🤠

 

Obsess is perhaps a good word.

I knew someone who had one, whom I knew was selling off many of his guns because he was retiring.   I had in fact bought some things from him before.   One day, on a whim, I wrote to him and asked if he still had his Lightning Bolt and if he'd be interested in selling it.

 

He was, and he did, for $800.   

It was a deal.

 

[Dallas McBoomboom]

2 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

 

Obsess is perhaps a good word.

I knew someone who had one, whom I knew was selling off many of his guns because he was retiring.   I had in fact bought some things from him before.   One day, on a whim, I wrote to him and asked if he still had his Lightning Bolt and if he'd be interested in selling it.

 

He was, and he did, for $800.   

It was a deal.

 

Well offer to be adopted or first in line to buy it is standing 🤣

[Uncle Ethan # 94321]

18 hours ago, SnakeM said:

It is out in 45long colt now.

I know but I heard they were releasing one in 38 special this year 

[SnakeM]

On 6/15/2026 at 3:12 PM, Uncle Ethan # 94321 said:

I know but I heard they were releasing one in 38 special this year 

Contacted them they stated 2027.

[Giuseppe Calderoni]

On 6/14/2026 at 2:45 PM, Uncle Ethan # 94321 said:

If this is the Pedersoli, I thought it was suppose to be out this year. 

 

On 6/14/2026 at 8:13 PM, SnakeM said:

It is out in 45long colt now.

Yesterday, I asked Pedersoli when the Silver spur in 45 Colt was going to available for purchase.

This is what they said:

"Thank you for the interest in our new model V935 Silver Spur.

The rifles are in production and will be ready by the end of the year, unless there are unexpected production delays.

Below you'll find the direct links to our distributors' websites to see the price and, if you wish, to place the order.

 

- IFG-NA Silver Spur

- Taylor's & Company Silver Spur Lightning Rifle 24" .45LC    "

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

2 hours ago, Giuseppe Calderoni said:

This is what they said:

At least you got an answer.

When I wrote and asked them if they were gonna a traditionally configured one in .44 Magnum instead of just the modernized version, I got no response beyond the, "Thank you for writing, we'll get back to you," one.