USFA Lightning: to shoot, or not to shoot?

[gmkmd]

Newbie here again; I have a USFA Lightning (actually three of them), which I originally bought for CAS. But then I got out of CAS for a while and never shot them. Now I want to get back into CAS, but have found that these rifles are considered (at least by some) to be rare collectors items. So do I shoot them, or just shoot something cheaper (or at least less rare)?  I guess the biggest issue is spare parts. If I break a spring or extractor or something, is there any source of spares?

[texagun]

The answer would depend upon your intentions.  If you intend to sell them someday, don't shoot them.
If you intend to keep them forever, shoot them and enjoy them.

[Major 2]

Consumer or custodian    ?

I consider myself more consumer and there for shoot my guns.
I've never set out to be a custodian "from the sweet grass to the packing house " 

[Coffinmaker]

The internals of the Colt Lightning design are by design a mite fragile.  When USFA decided to go belly up, there were obviously parts to some of USFA's guns.  Who has em Is an ongoing question.  If you break one, it may well be very dificult to get it fixed.
As far as CAS goes, there are far far better choices than a prone to breakage lightning.  While the reintroduction of the Lightning was suppose to revolutionize CAS competition, the Lightning is a bust.
They may be of value to USFA collectors and you may want to investigate that before the break and get banged up.

Coffinmaker

[Pettifogger]

I had the same "problem."  After looking at what prices I could find over the past year the USFAs weren't going for much more than what a new Pedersoli costs.  I wanted to get a .44-40 Lightning up and running so, rather than spend $1,200.00+ on a Pedersoli, I already had the USFA and decided to use it for what it was intended for -- shooting.  Have you tried to shoot it yet?  Might be a moot point.  Mine does not function and I am having to get some Tig welding done to, hopefully, get it to work.  (Lifetime warranties only apply to the LIFETIME of the company that make's them.    )  I have 14 Lightnings, originals and reproductions.  The USFA is probably the best built, but it suffers from the same problems as all Lightnings.  It is NOT even close to competition ready out of the box.

[Good Troy]

I don't own anything that is currently a collector's item, and I shy away from purchasing anything that is considered as such.  I don't have a collector's mentality.  I equate being a collector to being married to Eva Longoria, and only getting to look at her. 

If I was faced with your situation, owning something that has potential for becoming a collector's item, I'd consider selling and taking the profit toward something I could shoot without remorse, guilt, or ridicule.

Again...that's just me.....

[Blackpowder Burn]

I have a USFA Lightning carbine, and I darn sure shoot it! 

I also have a Pedersoli (Cimarron) lightning which I shoot primarily, but both get used.  And with (Gasp!  ) black powder!

The Smith Shop in Warwick, Rhode Island bought out USFA's stock of Lightning parts.  I've bought some to keep as spares, as his prices are very reasonable.

I can also verify that the USFA's parts also work on original Colt Lightnings, and vice versa.  I used USFA parts to repair an original I picked up short time ago.  So, if need be, you can get a lot of Lightning parts from small shops, although they cost more than those from The Smith Shop.

[Coffinmaker]

My memory is shot (nasty stay inna hospital) so I don't remember of the USFA person I was talking to at one of the shows, but the comment to me was most of the USFA folks wished they'd never gotten into the "Lightening" business.  The few guns they built were eating their collective lunch in warranty costs.

Coffinmaker

[GaryG]

A lot of the 45s came back for feeding issues.  Much better luck o the 38-40 & 44-40s.

[Blackpowder Burn]

My 44-40 runs great!