Tarus Thunderbolt and Holy Black?

[Dick Dastardly]

Has anybody shot the new Tarus Thunderbolt rifle with genuine black powder yet?  I'm wondering if there are any special considerations?

Thanks,

DD-DLoS

[Hedley Lamarr]

Well, I've fired a few with smokeless and it doesn't seal Starline cases AT ALL.
I have a huge black soot buildup on half of the case, from top to bottom, and that's with Clays powder, one of the cleanest.
And I have enough crimp to stop an elephant, so that's not an issue.
I don't know if the Thunderbolts have an oversized chamber or what, but it's ugly...

I hope to get a chance to run some bp thru it at Winter Range, since there will be an excess of BP shoters on my posse.

[Lars]

Seth,

All I have heard about thus far are in 45 Colt and, where the information was provided, there was lots of blowby with nitro loads. What I have not been able to learn is whether the loads were low pressure "cowboy" loads or full SAAMI max, 13.000-14.000 psi loads.

Lars

[Hedley Lamarr]

.45 is what I am using.
As Lars said, that's all which is avail. from Taurus at this point.

And yup, wimpy gamer loads.

5 grains of Clays under a 225 grain .45 slug.
Crimped hard enough that the bullet will not move if there is no powder in the case.

[litl rooster]

 I was to the understanding it was available in .38 sp also......My wife has been eyeing em.

[Sod Buster]

I was to the understanding it was available in .38 sp also......My wife has been eyeing em.

The Taurus website lists them in both .45LC & .38sp/.357

[Dick Dastardly]

I wish they would make one in 44 Magnum.  Usually the chamber specs are tighter for that caliber and there's less problems with blowback when shooting black powder ammo.  I have to think that the chambers in the 38 Special - 357Mag guns would have to be close to SAAMI specs because someone shooting full house 357 Magnum ammo is running pretty tall pressures.

DD-DLoS

[Sheriff A.E. Moses]

They tell me that the 38 cal Thunderbolt is at least 5 months away, which I have learned in the real world is closer to 2 years. Every time someone announces a new gun will be available in 6 months, it seems to always be a couple of years before they show up. In this country one still can not locate a Ruger New Vaquero in 38 spl.....

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Sheriff,

I think you hit on a marketing ploy used by a lot of manufacturers, including Ruger.  They announce a new gun, gin up a lot of talk and interest and finally demand, then they start deliverys.  I don't think we are supposed to know that, but that's what seems to happen far too often for mere coincidence.

I'd still like a TB in 44 Mag.  Then I'd know the chamber specs and the design pressure limits.

DD-DLoS

[Ed Clintwood]

I  don't have the Taurus, I have the Uberti Lightning and I use 7.8 Unique and a 250 RNFP bullet, don't get a lot of blowback, and I'm told that hearing the bullet hit the steel isn't a problem either