Lightning Rifles: USFA vs. Pedersoli, vs. everybody else...

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Something that we almost never seem to discuss here on the forum is USFA's short-lived reproduction of the Colt Lightning rifle.  
At the time, a few years back, everybody in CASS seemed to want a Lightning rifle.  Problem was they didn't seem to work all that well (at least from the reviews that I read at the time).  There were, and perhaps still are, several manufacturers reproducing the Lightning.  Some seemed to work fairly well, others seemed to fail miserably.  Out of all of them (and please list any other manufacturers you know of) USFA & Pedersoli were touted as being the most reliable.
So here is my question - and I realize that very few among us have the actual shooting experience to answer - who made the better Lightning rifle reproduction, USFA or Pedersoli?

[LonesomePigeon]

I don't know but I just ordered a Pedersoli Lightning in .44-40 from Dixie Gun Works. They are on sale right now for $995. I think the sale goes to the end of July so just a couple days left. Actually I put it on lay-a-way so it might be a couple months before I actually have it. 

[LonesomePigeon]

Here's a video I found on the USFA Lightning rifle:

[Dave T]

...who made the better Lightning rifle reproduction, USFA or Pedersoli?

Until I read the last line of your post I was going to say Colt (smile). Back in the early 1990s a guy showed up at a few of my club's shoots with an original Lightning. If memory serves it was a 44 WCF. It worked fine shooting a light (as opposed to max) smokeless load. Nice guy and he was into originals, but not black powder. He asked me a lot of questions and I thought I had him ready to take the plunge, then he quit coming.

Anyway, his Lightning worked. As for the OP's question, the few people I've read about who actually shoot their USFAs say they work. Most just put them in the back of the safe for retirement.

Dave

[Coffinmaker]

I' ll stick a little opinionated opine in.  Based on actual use observation and from a Plumbers standpoint.  Of all the Replicant Lightnings I have seen being used in anger, The Pedersoli is at the top of the heap.  USFA is not well represented.  Well actually, there is a good representation of any others.  They have been too problematic.

When I was still poking my fingers into guns for fun and profit I never actually saw a Pedersoli in for work.  I saw Uberti, Rossi and also no USFA.  I did however have occasion to speak with a USFA representative at a show somewhere whom shared his opine that USFA was sorry on a daily bases, they ever went down the Lightning rat hole.  I presume USFA got lots of them back (no proof).

And those from South America were only useable as flash tomato stakes.

[Pettifogger]

I' ll stick a little opinionated opine in.  Based on actual use observation and from a Plumbers standpoint.  Of all the Replicant Lightnings I have seen being used in anger, The Pedersoli is at the top of the heap.  USFA is not well represented.  Well actually, there is a good representation of any others.  They have been too problematic.

When I was still poking my fingers into guns for fun and profit I never actually saw a Pedersoli in for work.  I saw Uberti, Rossi and also no USFA.  I did however have occasion to speak with a USFA representative at a show somewhere whom shared his opine that USFA was sorry on a daily bases, they ever went down the Lightning rat hole.  I presume USFA got lots of them back (no proof).

And those from South America were only useable as flash tomato stakes.

I have two USFA's.  Both are very pretty but neither work.

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Owning a Lightning reproduction is WAY down on my list of priorities.  But...
Back a few years ago when they were all the rage, it seemed, from the numerous reviews that I read, that USFA & Pedersoli were the two guns to beat.  It also seemed that the USFA, according to those reviews, took a bit more TLC than the Pedersoli.  I imagined, at the time, that USFA tried to stick to the original Colt specifications and that Pedersoli made some subtle improvements.  But what do I know?
The original Colt Lightning was something less than a success.  Interesting? Yes. Successful? No.
I guess what I am really asking here is which gun, USFA or Pedersoli,  would you trust your life to?
(and again, I realize that there are very few among us, with the possible exception of Pettifogger, who can honestly offer us a comparison)  

[Coffinmaker]

Hey!!  LARSEN E. 

My understanding .... USFA sold those rifles with an Iron Clad Warranty.  Ship em back for Repair??  Maybe??  Sorta??   

[Major 2]

The "lifetime warranty" you got is not worth the paper it is written on if the company no longer exists.

On the other hand .... The Box they came in has value even the shipping sleeve ....
maybe there is a cottage industry in rounding out the paper ....