The Saga of My .... Taurus Thunderbolt

Welcome to The Open Range!
Please consider registering to gain full access. Registration is free and it only takes a few moments to complete.

[Hedley Lamarr]

OK. Did some playing yesterday and tonight.
Last night I ran 10 rounds through the gun, with no problems other than operator error, i.e. not slamming the action back which resulted in the empties not ejecting and if the empty is not out, the new round cannot rise high enough to enter the chamber.
Tonight, I cleaned the bejesus out of it, moly greased the bolt and some other bearing surfaces, and have a good smooth action.
It ate my test rounds no matter what I did, except if I didn't pump the action hard enough, then the above problem happened.
1.585 oal on all 5 of my test rounds, with a 225 grain truncated cone bullet & a heavy taper crimp.

As far as the firing pin, the test rounds had fired primers in them, and the Taurus firing pin smacked the previous indentation and made it 1/2 again as deep. I don't think there is a problem with this one on light hits (Hedley crosses his fingers).

Oh, and it sure feels much heavier than 3 pounds for the trigger pull - I'd guess 6 to 8 (don't have a pull guage).

Next week, I'll have a chance to shoot a bunch of my standard match ammo with Winchester primers and see what happens.

[Hedley Lamarr]

Oh yeah, I did another test - held the gun straight up, dropped a pencil in the barrel (eraser end to the bolt), and pulled the trigger.

The pencil went out of the barrel and 4 feet further up in the air, and 6 feet down wind...

[John Boy]

Hedley, you are probably correct about a good cleaning will eliminate or minimize light primer hits.

I soaked the living hell out of the innards and dr owned the sliding firing pin in the bolt.  Then lubed it with Kroil oil.  Now the pin is free floating in the bolt - slides by gravity.

Tomorrow, if time prevails ... another test.

As for the trigger pull... I lied!   After the heavy duty cleaning, the average of 10 pulls ... is 2.09 oz    Gonna be mucho AD's with this rifle, especially folks that keep their finger on the trigger when they are racking the forearm.

Then again, this C45 is a roaring race gun.  Even better than my now illegal slicked up M1873 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[John Boy]

Hey, neat trick with the pencil.  Never heard this one.  I got the same results, so it's gotta do with cleaning

[Hedley Lamarr]

2 freaking oz?!
I'm serious; mine is 6+ pounds. Smooth, but heavy.

[Hedley Lamarr]

Ya, the pencil trick is one I learned a long time ago in benchrest:
"Are you sure you put everything back together the night before the big match?"
"Ayup"
"If the pencil don't go, it ain't so!"

[John Boy]

This new peyote weed I'm smoking is really good stuff ... it's 2.09 POUNDS!

[E.R.Beaumont]

Howdy Pards/Pardettes.

John Boy, Pard you ain't supposed to smoke Peyote, you are supposed to chew it and chase it with Tequila. Don't swallow the Peyote, just the juice as it will make you puke a bunch.

Hedley, Pard I used to do the pencil thing in The Guard to show the troops how to check for function with the M 1911A1.  It will work to some extent with all firearms.  Try it with your pistols. 

Remember that the higher the pencil goes, the stronger the firing pin strike.  A hard pin strike is the result of a stronger main spring.  I don't think that you will have a problem with any primer with that spring. 

I myself have always specified a trigger pull on my defensive pistols to be around 5.5 to 6  pounds, with a smooth clean break.  Most of my rifle shooting had been done with military triggers on semi autos.  I guess that I have a lot of time and ammo through lever guns now.  I have noticed that when you are shooting for real that trigger pull weight and recoil seem to fade into the background. 

That is all I think I know.
Regards, Beaumont.

[John Boy]

Saturday Range Report:
50 Smokeless Loads
50 Black Powder Loads

Results:
3 out of 100 - chambering jams.  Measured the OAL's, they were too long (1.596").  OAL of remainder rounds ... 1.585

2 out of 100 - misfires.  One definitely was a light primer hit (CCI's) and the other was me - bolt not completely closed

Shot fifteen bursts - 5 shots each.  Except for the exceptions above ... CHAIN FIRE!

On the way home, stopped at the gun store.  The sutler is a Browning Dealer and had a Lightning on the rack ... $1295.  Action is much smoother than the Taurus (no dust cover on the bolt), CC is vivid and plenty of it, Butt and forearm are Black or maybe English Walnut - gorgeous.  Checkering was perfect with no overruns and sharp points (18 point cut).  Bluing was a deep dark blue, not black.  Fit to finish was about a 99%.  All screw holes on the wood have brass line engraved escutcheons.  Just a real nice rifle... they did good.

[Outrider]

Howdy Pardners.

Couldn't help but read all your interesting reports on the new Thunderbolt.  I picked one up in January, just in time for our monthly shoot here in Tenn. (Ocoee Rangers).  I was able to get it to the range prior to the shoot and put several 5 shots strings through it.  Accuracy wise...perfect  three (3) five shot groups all within an inch (at 25 yds...bench rest).  I did however experience several misfires due to light hits of the firing pin. So...John Boy, you can add another one to your list.  I was using Winchester primers and also found that my new Taurus Gaucho was also hitting light.  I did some testing with both Federal and Remington primers and low and behold...no problem.

I used the Thundebolt in the monthly match and wow...is that thing fast...didn't miss a beat..no jams nor any misfires.  In fact on one stage I got shooting so fast that I missed the last target because I fired before i had acquired it.

I  think this rifle will be one that everyone will be looking for to add to their batteries.  I may purchase another one in SS when they finally get into production.

[Throckmorton]

Sure starting like a 'gotta have' rifle.I'll wait a bit while the bugs get noted and worked out at the factory.
A 2 pound trigger is gonna have folks sending rounds over the berms if thay are not careful.
That ejection problem needs to be addressed by Taurus.Too much hard slamming can't be good for any kind of tool or weapon in the long run.

[Wireman]

Any other "Clues" to operating this rifle?

I saw a similar gun, and ordered one that day! They sure look fun to shoot.

[John Boy]

Ya All Might Be interested ... Another Colt Lightning Replica!

Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 18:26:12 -0000
   From: "dicktrenk" <Dicktrenk@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Wanting to order Pedersoli catalog by phone or email

--- In Shooting-BPCR@yahoogroups.com, "real_texasmac" <texasmac@...>
wrote:
>
> Dick,
> Any new developments concerning Pedersoli possibly introducing a 1885
> High Wall?

As I posted previously.  I passed along a summary report from about 90 shooters, stating what they wanted in a HiWall.
Pedersoli has no plan to make this gun in the foreseeable future and is now comitted to production of the new Colt Lightning rifle and carbine which is showing great sales with the Cowboy Action type shooter and others.  This is in 45Colt cal. but will be offered in 44-40WCF by Fall this year.
Dick T.

[Lazarus Longshot]

I seem to remember reading that the Cimarron Lightning will be made by Pedersoli....
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/New2006/LightningMagRifle.htm

[L.G.]

OK, first match of the year under my belt.  The Thunderbolt is greased lightning!  As long as I did my job, it is capable of shooting quicker than I can. I had one cartridge split (a reload), and that slowed me down as you have to use a lot more force to rack the slide.  On a dump target and on straight sweepers, I shot faster than I have ever done with my EMF Hartford '92.   Between that and shooting my Schofields Gunfighter, I lot lots of comments today.