.45 Colt Lightning Carbine

Doc Sunrise · July 04, 2006, 04:53:55 AM

I just got a hold of a new USFA Lightning Carbine in .45 Colt and can't wait to shoot it after the holiday. Fit & Finish is great, as expected. I like the deep bluing. This rifle is "snappy" in the arms and a lot of fun to handle.

Capt. John Fitzgerald · July 04, 2006, 01:25:27 PM

Way to go, Doc! Hope you will give us a detailed report on your shooting impressions.

RRio · July 04, 2006, 03:46:51 PM

Quote from: Capt. John Fitzgerald on July 04, 2006, 01:25:27 PM
Way to go, Doc! Hope you will give us a detailed report on your shooting impressions.

Plus pics on the "Picture Pages".

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,2677.0.html

Capt. John Fitzgerald · July 26, 2006, 07:01:27 PM

Hey, Doc!
Any report yet on how that Lightning handled at the range?
CJF

Doc Sunrise · July 27, 2006, 04:22:59 AM

I am going this weekend, and I will be using factory loads to start. I was informed that soft hand loads had trouble with the cases expanding far enough to prevent blowback, and after 30 or so rounds the action got dirty enough to prevent proper function. So my test will be with factory loads. I want to see if I can get 200 to 300 Winchester rounds through it for proper break-in. All of my USFA shooters have gone through this testing using factory loads without any problems, so my expectations are high!

Ed Clintwood · January 29, 2007, 09:35:15 PM

Doc Sunrise,
I have a question for you. Does your USFA Lightning bolt lock when the hammer is cocked? By that I mean that with the hammer cocked, you cannot pull the slide to the rear. I know that you may very well be able to hold the trigger and slam fire the thing, but in the normal course of events, my Uberti does not lock and that can lead to problems of the cartridge not being fully chambered when the hammer falls, it then goes kerthunk and I have to cock the hammer and go again. That is a royal pain, the work around is to really slam the bolt home when you cycle the action.

Doc Sunrise · January 30, 2007, 03:49:42 AM

Hi Ed Clintwood,

When my USFA Lightning's hammer is cocked and the slide is sent forward, which is very smooth and easy, she locks up as tight as a drum. That does assure that the hammer will fall properly and ignite off ammunition as well as protect pressure bleed off which can make accuracy suffer. I had no problems shooting smokeless cartridges.

Virginia Gentleman · January 31, 2007, 12:45:37 AM

Man, am I jealous! I need to save my shillings for one of these.