Taurus Thunderbolt Won't Slam Fire

[johnboy]

I finally got a thunderbolt monday. serial # begins with AT It will not slam fire. I called Taurus customer service and they said they will not slam fire. I've read on several forums that they will. Has Taurus changed them or could something be wrong with mine? I seems to shoot fine. when I try to slam fire the hammer follows the bolt down, but not even a mark on the primers. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, johnboy

[Pettifogger]

If you got a Thunderbolt that functions at all consider yourself lucky.  Simple solution, don't try to slam fire it.

[Capt. Augustus]

Mine will slam fire, but I never sent it back to Taurus, maybe it's a new feature.  I can't hit anything when I do slamfire.

[Cherokee Slim]

Mine is a "ZF" Thunderbolt & it will on occasion slam fire.  (Taurus says that s/n range won't slam fire.)
Cherokee SLim

[bounty hunter]

I have a Taurus Thunderbolt and it wil slam fire if I try.  It did not do anything elsve ry well though.  Sent it back to the importers who slicked it up under warranty.  It appears now to cycle reasonably reliably, shoot when I want it to shoot.  I have only put 20 rounds through it since I got it back.  Can not hit anything with it, so scrubbed the barrel and will see tomorrow. 

Bounty hunter
(from down under)

[Coffinmaker]

Just to throw a little mudd into the creek ....... None of the Lightning rifles, Lightning Copies, or Lightning close copies were ever intended to be slam fired.  Those that can slam fire usually have a little something wrong with them.  Neither the Lightning, nor any of it copies should EVER be slam fired. The basic gun is NOT a robust design.  They break way too often with nothing more than "normal" use.  "Race" 'em, they are going to break real quick.
The Lightning is not going to "revolutionize" CAS.  Run hard, they will not last and will not stay in time.  Shoot as it was intended, locked up, and be very happy when it does run 10 rounds without a hic-up.  Won't happen that often.
If you want to compete and go "fast" have a toggle ling rifle tuned and short-stroked.  Eventually they will break too, but it will take a while.

Coffinmaker

[Wild Ben Raymond]

Just to throw a little mudd into the creek ....... None of the Lightning rifles, Lightning Copies, or Lightning close copies were ever intended to be slam fired.  Those that can slam fire usually have a little something wrong with them.  Neither the Lightning, nor any of it copies should EVER be slam fired. The basic gun is NOT a robust design.  They break way too often with nothing more than "normal" use.  "Race" 'em, they are going to break real quick.
The Lightning is not going to "revolutionize" CAS.  Run hard, they will not last and will not stay in time.  Shoot as it was intended, locked up, and be very happy when it does run 10 rounds without a hic-up.  Won't happen that often.
If you want to compete and go "fast" have a toggle ling rifle tuned and short-stroked.  Eventually they will break too, but it will take a while.

Coffinmaker

Sorry to disagree with you Coffinmaker, but original Lightning rifles if properly timed ARE supposed to be able to slam-fire. Even Colt used it in their advertisements pointing out the Lightning's speed of operation, "by holding the trigger back, and using the reciprocating motion with the slide, the rifle can be fired with great rapidity and without further use of the trigger." This information came out of the Book; "Firearms of the American West" 1866-1894.
I do agree with you that the Lightning will not revolutionize CAS and that they are more prone to breakage than a lever gun. WBR

[Coffinmaker]

Agreed, the original hoopla from Colt touted the rifle would slam fire.  Unfortunately, Colt as everyone else has discovered, found that when pushed, the rifles broke.  They also brake rather quickly. 
Unfortunately, the design is one that is very difficult to make run correctly, let alone to run fast.  Slam fire with a Lightning is not a good idea.

Coffinmaker

[Travis Morgan]

    If any of you have one of these rifles you'd let go cheap, please gimme a holler.

[Cincinnati Slim]

I think "slam-fire" in a thunderbolt is like fanning the hammer on a six-gun...

Best done on somebody else's gun !

I looks cool but it's just really hard on the mechanicals and inards.

There's a lot of grippin' and hatefullness on various boards regards the T-bolt.

Mine feeds fine and shoot really good. I had misfires with some of my reloads, no problems with factory ammo.

Hammer spring seemed a little soft so I just slipped a shim under the end of it to increase effective pressure.

Now a pencil dropped into the barrel flys up 4-5 feet, before it lofted up maybe 2 feet. No misfires now. My long term solution will be a hammer tension or "strain screw" like on the front strap of Remmie and some S&W revolvers to easily adjust hammer spring tension. All I need is a #10 size set screw, drill and tap. The guts of these pumps have more in common with a slide action shotgun than a lever gun. It's too bad the factory support is so poor....

Cincinnati Slim

[Colonel Mortimer]

My TBolt experience is close to Cincinnati's. It will slam fire if pushed fast. Serial #prefix is ASxxxx. I too thought the TBolt would revolutionize CAS when it came out. Didn't happen, but that's ok. It has it's short commings, but considering its price it can still be enjoyed for what it is. Just don't get it thinking you're going to beat Lead Dispenser. I've changed out the rear sights and enjoy shooting it in long range pistol calibre and as a stage backup. It feels and handles good, provides variety in shooting motions and is accurate within the range of its intended uses. I like it and think it's a good bargain. Sorta like a cat; Usually cheap and If you don't expect em to act like a dog you can really enjoy them.

[Deadeye Don]

Pards,   Slow down and you will enjoy your shooting experience even more.