Taurus Thunderbolt

sweettooth · February 17, 2006, 05:17:30 AM

o.k Thanks for the reply it is mornining and I am a little calmer. SO WHAT KIND OF BULLETS SHOULD I FEED THIS TEMPERMENTAL
PUGAL STICK, ( only a little calmerit is not a rifle till it shoots bullets ) I buy off the shelf and do not reload. ?
It sure is great to have a forum where people who know about these things can help .
Sweettooth

Capt. Augustus · February 17, 2006, 07:22:49 AM

Although I don't have one of these rifles, I can add some advice on the light primer hits. I have a old Marlin that had an extremely weak main spring, a replacement was not available until recently. I talked to Marlin and they said the headspace was off, which they couldn't do anything about. I was using Winchester small rifle primers at the time. I switched to Federal and never had a misfire again. Federal are definitely softer, it was a rifle in .32-20.

sweettooth · February 17, 2006, 07:27:12 AM

Thanks but I cant get a light primer strike till I can get a round in the chamber anyone know what bullet off shelve has a correct OAL.
Thank you, Sweettooth

john boy · February 17, 2006, 01:07:47 PM

Sweettooth: You have not mentioned what factory ammo you used in the C45. Would recommend, your not being a reloader, that you call Taurus and ask them what brand of factory ammo they use for testing the rifle. Then buy some. Here's their number ...
Phone: (305) 624-1115

I'm collecting data for my own references on these new rifles ... what are the 1st Two Letters of the rifle's serial number? Example: YF or YJ or YK or ? Please don't tell me what the numbers are in public ... just the letters. The letters represent the production run of the rifle - month it was made

Thanks

sweettooth · February 17, 2006, 01:43:31 PM

johm boy It was a yk model 26 in. blue c45 . I returned the rifle to McBrides Gun shop in Austin Texas I had my choice of taking another
Taurus or getting my $ back. Mr. McBride refunded my $ . They are well know in this part of Texas and friends from larger citys such as Dallas say they dont have anything like it up there. Lots of guns lots of knowledable people . Anyway
they told me they had sold 7 others and and mine was the first complaint . And I belive them they are not the kind of people that need to fabricate to sell guns. As they said,Taurus is a good reliable product .
However I decieded to take the refund and wait till the yq numbers come out . I like to shoot but do not want to work on them or send them back to the factory, I drive a GMC not a Jag. However I am sure part of the problem was my own ineptidude . you cant blame Chevrolet if some one doesnt put the correct oil ,water and gas in.
However I think that selling thes guns with out a manual is a bad idea .
I am not putting these guns down in anyway I just think I will wait for a latter production run.
^Till then the Marlin will do well. Thanks for all your replys and advice , This forum always seems to load,chamber and shoot straight. Truly Sweettooth

john boy · February 17, 2006, 02:19:18 PM

Sweettooth, some times discretion is the better part of valor and fully understand your position.

My own personal opinion ...
1. Until Taurus changes over to a 'ball point' firing pin instead of the flat end ... light primer hits will continue. We all will probably be seeing an after market firing pin for the TBolt with a ball tip. Then all primers will work

2. Though it would void the 'Lifetime Warranty' ... filing off a few thousands from the 'half moon lip' on the magazine tube in the receiver will allow 45 Colt cartridges with a SAAMI 1.60 OAL to properly chamber.

44caliberkid · February 18, 2006, 06:44:05 PM

Well I hope Taurus will redesign the firing pin and offer to send a free replacement or replace it themselves.
Sweetooth, you're comparing this rifle to your Marlin Cowboy Comp with after market action job, a box stock, economical basic rifle to one that has had factory and after market gunsmithing? Seems like apples and oranges to me. However, I do think you did the right thing in taking it back. I've only had one gun ever not work at all out of the box, and I returned it also.

sweettooth · February 18, 2006, 08:59:30 PM

your right of course about apples and orange BUT DOES ANYONE MAKE A RELIABLE pump action rifle preferable in .38
Since Tauraus is in ,45 only at the moment. I realize it would be much more expensive ,
Sweettooth

Griff · February 24, 2006, 05:14:46 PM

Yep, USFA. Very much more expensive. Check out http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/lightning_carbine.asp. But it's only available in .45Colt, 44WCF & 38WCF (which is .38-40) Ammo is available commercially and is probably readily available in your part of TX. If you can't find it at your local gunshop, talk to some of the folks at the Texas Histeorical Shooting Society

Dick Dastardly · February 24, 2006, 05:58:08 PM

Has anybody shot these new rifles with Big Lube™ bullets and Holy Black? I'm wonderin' how they handle bp.

DD-DLoS

john boy · February 24, 2006, 07:06:52 PM

Last range test was 50 rounds heathen and 50 rounds Original. In total, I had 4 problems:
2 chamber jambs - the OAL of these rounds were 1.598. The C45 likes em in the range of 1.580 - 1.590
2 light primer hits - this was down from 17 out of a hundred, then the best cleaning of the bolt any rifle has ever seen. Dick, I'm using CCI's, so folks say they are the hardest ones.

Bottom Line: Good Smoke. Thinking ahead though, how will the BP blowback foul impact the firing pin to possibly cause more light primer hits. But, a squirt of Ed's Red every now and then should keep it running.

Dick Dastardly · February 24, 2006, 07:28:15 PM

Thanks John Boy,

I have to think that at least some of the original Colt Lightnings must have digested BP. But I suppose they were in the slightly bottlenecked cartridges with thin mouths like the 44-40 etc. The reputation of 45 Colt and BP in rifles has been spotty at best.

I'll keep watchin'.

DD-DLoS

Taurus Thunderbolt

44caliberkid