taurua thunderbolt

[dlamping]

Just got a taurus thunderbolt in 45 lc. I fired 13 rounds through it, and the extractor broke. I called Taurus and they are sending me a new extractor. Can anyone tell me how to put in the new one? Do I need to disassemble the action. I live in a small community so there are now gunsmiths here, but have a good friend who is a really knowledgable gun person. Does all his own gunsmithing. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dan Lamping

[Deadeye Don]

I see you are new to CAS city so you probably had not heard about the Thunderbolt problems before you bought yours.  Hopefully, somebody will be able to help you here.  Welcome to CAS City.

[Wild Ben Raymond]

I'm pretty sure you will have to disassemble it completely, Sorry!
Here's my standard reply to anyone whom asks how to disassemble a Lightning rifle;
Howdy! This question seems to come up every once in a while so I will keep this reply on file to keep from having to repeat it. First off the T-bolts are similar to the original Colt Lightning's so I will give you the breakdown in the order that I usually follow on my originals.
1. Remove the screw that holds the magazine on (keeping your hand on the end cap so the spring pressure won't launch it into the unknown) pull the magazine off and the spring & follower will come out of the magazine tube.
2. Remove the screw that holds the stock on & pull it off.
3. Cock the hammer but also pull the slide back enough so it free to move & is not locked up.
4. Remove the two screws (one on each side toward the stock end) to separate the bottom from the top part of the frame.
5. The muzzle down on the floor & holding the rear under side of the frame (where the main spring is) with one hand & holding the slide with the other. This is the tricky part, push down with the under side of the frame & once the frame starts to separate pull the slide away from the barrel. You may have to rock it back & forth a little, once you get the hang of it, it gets easier the more times you do it.
6. The bottom of the frame is nothing more than removing the screws for the main spring, the cartridge carrier, and the trigger spring. Then use a punch to knock out the pins that hold the hammer, trigger and the cartridge stop in place. Once the cartridge stop is free you should be able to pull it out from under the slide to pull the slide completely free. The cartridge stop has a small screw holding a spring to the under side of it.
7. The top portion of the frame/receiver has two screws for the extractor/guide bars & on original guns there is a pin that connects the bolt to the lockup lug (this connects the bolt to the slide when both are together).
8. If you remove the bolt from the frame/receiver there are two more pins one is on the top holding the extractor in place. The other is on the under side, this one holds the firing pin in place & a little elbow piece that disengages the firing pin when the slide is being pulled back. Again this is on original guns the T-bolt may be slightly different. 
Good Luck WBR

[dlamping]

Thanks for the info Wild Ben.
Dan

[dlamping]

would like to know if anyone can give me any info on smokeless loads (powder type, number of grains, weight of bullet, length of case and overall length for my thunderbolt. Aslo am thinking of black powder loads, any info on that also would be welcomed. I am currently shoting a 255 grain flat nose bullet with 30 grains of black powder in my ruger vaquaro, Is this a good load for the thunderbolt?
Thanks for any info,
Dan

[Paladin UK]

Ho Dan.
I think you will get more feedback to your loading questions iffn ya re-post it on the Darksiders Den 

Not every pard is interested in Gunsmithin..

Paladin (What hopes Dan gets sorted with his loads ) UK

[dlamping]

Thanks Paladin, I'll do that.

[coffee creek lee]

Picked up my new .357 Tbolt last Sat and wouldn't you know—the extractor broke at around the 20th round shot through it. Did yours break at the front end or at the back end over the little extractor spring? Called Taurus Mon AM and they said they didn't have any .357 extractors. Told them to send me a couple of .45 long colt extractors, which they did have, as I am guessing they are all the same part for both guns. Paying about $10.00 for them in total and they said they would send me a free one in return for the broken one. Lost the extractor spring that rides under the rear of the extractor too—went into the grass somewhere when I was trying to undo the resulting jam in the action. Said they were out of springs, even in .45, so will have to find something locally or on internet to make it all work. Extractor looks like cast metal to me. I would have thought these would be machined from solid stock. It is the only extractor I have ever broken on any gun made in my whole life! Hope the rest of the gun is better made!

Don Craig

[Deadeye Don]

I feel for you Pards.  I really do.

[Relentless Renegade]

Just sent mine back to Taurus for the second time.
Jams and head space problems.