Pedersoli Lighting ?

[hightime]

I've been asking about test rifles for my 357 mag. loads. Rossi '92's. Baby rolling block, and such have been on my mind. Now I've taken an interest in the current repro of the Colt Lighting made by Pedersoli. Does anyone have experience in these?

Owen

[Pete44ru]

.

Keep in mind that the repro Lightnings (there's about four different brands, IIRC - Beretta, Pedersoli, Taurus &Uberti) are fairly-faithful replicas of a 130 year old, early pump/slide action design - and, therfore, won't run as smoothly with modern configured ammo as you may be used to (like a M92 levergun, i.e.).

There's a special method to both loads & shoot one, and IIRC, the ammo cannot be replenished unless the gun is empty.

They're pretty sucka's, though - for sure !


.

[jmiller]

You might want to look in to how Pedersoli does it's warranty work in the U.S. I tried to own two Pedersoli lever guns last year and neither one would function as received, brand new in the box. The warranty shop was in Kansas and the gunsmith who did the warranty work lived in another state and traveled to Kansas when the stock of repairs built up enough to make the trip worthwhile. This could lead to days, weeks, or months of wait time. I ended up sending both of mine back to Cabela's, and to their credit they gave me a full refund. After the second defective gun I ended up buying a Miroku/Winchester and had no further problems. FYI, Pedersoli will sometimes answer your emails and sometimes will not....even when they are polite and sincere. They seem to be unconcerned after the sale. Just my experience, others may have fared better. One other thing....their 1874 Sharps replicas shoot great and function great and you can get parts and service at other places. Not so with the lever guns.

[AJMD429]

Depends on what you're testing.

I bought and kept for awhile a Handi-Rifle in 357 Mag, just specifically to see how accurate I could get my loads. Sub-MOA was kind of easy, since I mounted my 10-40x scope on the little Handi. I did the same thing with 44 Mag too. I realized that the same loads wouldn't necessarily be different in my Marlin and Rossi leverguns, but at least I proved to myself there was a potential far beyond what most people expect of those 'pistol' rounds. After the experimenting I sold both the rifles to pay for a Marlin 357 Mag...

[Bill in Oregon]

Avoid the Taurus version.

[pshort]

Avoid the Taurus version.

By all means... Especially the early ones..... Guess how I know?

Paul

[7.62 Precision]

Avoid the Taurus version.

From what I understand, the Taurus version was different internally from the Colt Lightning (like a different design) is this true?

[hightime]

I think Pedersoli, Uberti and Berreta are all the same.

Owen

[Mescalero]

Took me a long time to figure this one out.

[JerryB]

So,,, tell us what did you come up with in the final analysis?????

[Buck Elliott]

The Uberti and the Beretta are the same gun, with possible, minor cosmetic differences..

[Arminius]

I have the U.S.F.A. Version. One of the prettiest guns I know.

Jams ... but I have to work on that, it has hardly been shot.

Reloading with open action (?) and being forced to use one round less than possible for LA´s s*cks!!

Hermann

[firefuzz]

I have the Beretta version of the Uberti, it had to go back to the factory before I ever got to shoot it. But I guess they got it right the second time around. The Beretta version came out before the regular Uberti and has painted on "case colors", wish I had waited to get the Uberti model with real case hardening.

The breech has to be open to put shells thru the loading gate as the lifter/elevator blocks the gate when the action is closed, but you can top off the mag with a shell on the lifter. I strongly suggest you make a cartridge pusher, I made mine out of a slender, curved, 7" or so long piece of deer antler with a thong thru the base end and the tip ground off, to help properly seat the last cartridge you load. If you don't get a cartridge far enough in and it slips under the lifter it's a real PITA to get it forward into the magazine. A set of thin, curved needle holders are a great tool for this. The best solution is to avoid the problem with a cartridge pusher.

A buddy had the Taurus and had all kinds of fits with it at first, I'm pretty sure he finally got it ironed out now but he wound up spending more with the initial cost and gunsmithing than I did on the Beretta. It's my understanding that Taurus has got the bugs worked out now, at least for the main part.

Not counting the Taurus I've been around and handled 3 Beretta or Uberti Lightnings. All of these guns are EXTREMELY sensitive to bullet shape, case length and especially OAL of the cartridge. Once you get it sorted out they're plenty accurate and faster working, in the right hands, than any lever gun ever made. These guns do not like to be babied when you work the action, pump it like you mean it. You don't have to try and pull the forearm off, just don't baby it. PM me if you want the specs on what works well in mine.

I don't know anything about the Pedersoli but I'll probably look at the American Western Arms 51D Lightning in .38 Special for my wife. They also manufacture the rifle in .38-40 and .44-40, two of the original cartridges, which should eliminate some of the feeding problems that the .38/.357 and .45 Colt straight-wall cartridges have and will better satisfy the traditional shooters.

Rob