Feeding Colt 'Lightning'

Colt Fanning · February 08, 2015, 03:29:54 PM

Howdy
It is a first model with no dust cover. Do you have any tips for tuning it?
Thanks for replying
Colt

Pettifogger · February 08, 2015, 11:30:48 PM

Quote from: Colt Fanning on February 08, 2015, 03:29:54 PM
Howdy
It is a first model with no dust cover. Do you have any tips for tuning it?
Thanks for replying
Colt

Without knowing the condition of the firearm it is pretty hard to suggest any tuning. The first thing is to simply get it to operate reliably. Only after that has been done can you do any tuning. No one that I know of has prepared a tuning guide. I have thought about it but each of the clones (USFA, Uberti, Pedersoli, AWA and Taurus) and the Colts each have their own problem areas. And, the big problem with all of them is that what works on one gun won't necessarily work on the next one of the same make and model. First generations did NOT have a slide lock. If yours does it has replacement parts. If it does not don't worry about it, it is OK. The main area that causes the most reliability problems is the timing of the finger that allows rounds from the magazine tube onto the carrier. The most frequent jam is caused by rounds going over the finger and lodging under the carrier. Once that happens you are out of action.

Colt Fanning · February 16, 2015, 10:30:53 AM

Howdy,
What is supposed to limit the rearward travel of the bolt on a first model colt lightning rifle? In my case it is the elevator wedge striking the hammer and the wedging action is tight enough to freeze the bolt from being easily closed. Surely something more positive is supposed to limit the rearward bolt travel.
Regards
Colt

Colt Fanning · February 16, 2015, 04:14:31 PM

OOPS,
Please disregard the previous post. I found that the firing pin retainer had been installed upside down by a previous assembler
(possibly challenged) and this caused it to wedge against the hammer. BTW on the first model Colt lightning the firing pin is cammed back by this retainer not returned back by a spring as in the Uberti implementation.
Regards
Colt

Pettifogger · February 16, 2015, 10:19:39 PM

Quote from: Colt Fanning on February 16, 2015, 04:14:31 PM
OOPS,
Please disregard the previous post. I found that the firing pin retainer had been installed upside down by a previous assembler
(possibly challenged) and this caused it to wedge against the hammer. BTW on the first model Colt lightning the firing pin is cammed back by this retainer not returned back by a spring as in the Uberti implementation.
Regards
Colt

It is not simply a retainer. It is the firing pin retractor and is a major part of the safety mechanism of the rifle. If it is out of time the gun can fire out of battery.

Colt Fanning · March 11, 2015, 09:08:02 AM

Hi,
What is supposed to lower the cartridge stop finger when the cartridges are pushed through the loading gate on a Colt lightning rifle (first Model). When the action is closed a cam lowers it but no such action occurs on mine when the action is open. Is the firearm supposed to be loaded with the action closed? Does the inserted cartridge just push down the finger? Also the trigger guard has a milled slot for an action lock and the part on the finger leaver is present but no part is in the trigger guard. Does it need this part in the trigger guard to function?

Thanks for the help
Colt

Pettifogger · March 11, 2015, 09:43:32 AM

Quote from: Colt Fanning on March 11, 2015, 09:08:02 AM
Hi,
What is supposed to lower the cartridge stop finger when the cartridges are pushed through the loading gate on a Colt lightning rifle (first Model). When the action is closed a cam lowers it but no such action occurs on mine when the action is open. Is the firearm supposed to be loaded with the action closed? Does the inserted cartridge just push down the finger? Also the trigger guard has a milled slot for an action lock and the part on the finger leaver is present but no part is in the trigger guard. Does it need this part in the trigger guard to function?

Thanks for the help
Colt

The rifle cannot be loaded with the action closed. When you insert the cartridges they push the stop finger down. The slot is for the very early first gen slide lock. It did not work for squat. A lot fell out and a lot of original owners simply removed them. After Colt quit installing them they still had lots of trigger guards with the slot and used them up, so some came from the factory with the slot but no lock. The gun will work fine without it.

Colt Fanning · March 11, 2015, 09:47:47 AM

Hi,
Thanks for the info.
Regards
Colt