Taurus TBolt question...

[Panzercat]

That lucky bastard rbertalotto got me back to looking about the Thunderbolt again- against my better judgement, obviously -so I have a question for the handful here that own one: How does it handle hot loads? I'm looking specifically at the 45lc, but any experience in the arena would prove valuable. Thanks

[msmith1228]

I once had a Pedersoli lightning rife in 45 Colt and it was a pain in the rear. I don't think that the actions are very strong at all.

[Pete44ru]

.

While kewl, the circa-1880's-type actions (new/old) weren't designed for power - they were designed for speed. (as compared to the 1880's competition)

A local gunshop's had a new Taurus on their sales rack for more than a few birthdays, w/o a buyer so far - but I disremember the price tag at this remove, since I haven't been in there for almost a year.

http://www.fosterguns.com/


.

[Panzercat]

I'm pretty certain Taurus strengthened the action in regards to that particular weakness with the Lightning.
It's been a while since I've had to pursue that little factoid, so I'm trying to pin it down.

[Hobie]

You have to remember that the Lightning was designed around tapered cases, like the .44 WCF, not straight cases. I think that would help function. It was also designed around BP and so, no matter what steel is used now, a user ought to take that into consideration. The original guns had some problems and so have the reproductions. Still pretty cool.

[Ysabel Kid]

You have to remember that the Lightning was designed around tapered cases, like the .44 WCF, not straight cases. I think that would help function. It was also designed around BP and so, no matter what steel is used now, a user ought to take that into consideration. The original guns had some problems and so have the reproductions. Still pretty cool.

+1 all counts.

I haven't tried to hot-load mine. No need...

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

They are probably as strong as the toggle link guns like the Win 73. Maybe a little stronger. But surely not by much. The lockup is like a chair under a door knob. The top of locking brace #170 is pinned to the bottom front of the breech bolt #97 and when the slide #708 is sent forward the bottom of the brace is pushing down against the trigger guard/trigger plate #26. Under pressure the locking brace will push back and down. The Trigger plate is notched into the front of the receiver but the back is held with just two screws #167



All that said, Russell Simmons of AWA told me he built one in 454 . I don't have any idea what he did to it. may well have been based on one of the large frame guns

[Panzercat]

Lots of Good info. Sounds like a no-go from every angle, however.
Thanks again

[Hawkeye2]

A friend gave me his almost new Taurus Thunderbolt .45 Colt to try. After a little over 50 rounds of Cowboy level loads through it I returned it. It had feeding issues and jams no matter how you worked it and the accuracy was very poor. Had he offered it to me (I believe the reason he let me take it was in hopes I would make him an offer) for $50 I would have walked away.