Lightning strike

[Jeff Michel]

Had one doe tag left for the bonus season this weekend and decided to dust of my Pedersoli Lightning. Spooked her and half a dozen of her friends out of their bed this afternoon. This one stopped with a tree between us and only left me with her head and neck showing. Normally I don't do neck shots but she was starting let out the clutch and at sixty yards it was the closest deer I had seen today. Dropped on the shot. 45 Colt, 255 Lee Flat point, 8.5 grains of Unique, sized at .454 and lubed with Lee alox. Attachment 273579

[rtyler8140]

Nice shooting! Gotta love it when they drop right away!

[richhodg66]

Neat rifle and it's nice to see someone using a long standard loading in a great cartridge, seems most want to try to hot rod the .45 Colt.

I have a Rossi '92 clone, pre-safety one, in .45 Colt I need to get out in the woods one day, it'll be using a similar load as yours.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

My Pedersoli 'Lightning' is in 44/40, beautiful rifle.

[missionary5155]

Good evening and Congratulations !
That was enough gun !! 45 Colt in a rifle is good corn cruncher medicine. And sometimes you just have to take the shot that is available.

[skeettx]

Well done, well done
and
Good eating

YEEEE HAWWW

[Bowhunter73]

Great shot I'm a firm believer in shooting them in the neck that's how I've harvested the last 3 deer I've taken and did I mention what a beautiful rifle and cartridge combo.

[Markopolo]

wooo hooooo.... fresh meat!

[swheeler]

Good job and just in time for Christmas ham!

[veeman]

Out of curiosity, Did you guys have to have your rifle worked over to get them to run properly? I've always wanted a Lightning, but kept reading how poorly they were made and needed alot of smithing to get them to work good, pretty much scared me off of them. Congrates on the deer, btw.

[Jeff Michel]

Veeman,
I currently have two, the Pedersoli and an American Western Arms in 38-40. Both of them worked great from day one. I did have a Uberti (discontinued) in .357 which was an absolute nightmare. I returned it to the factory for repair and they offered to allow me credit toward the purchase of a different rifle. It was a pretty paltry offer, I stated that they could return my rifle, they quickly agreed however it would be rendered completely irreparable before they sent it back. To this I went a bit sideways on her. She calmly stated that they had so much trouble making them work, they discontinued making them and the best they could do is to offer an exchange.......So there's your choices
Ended up ponying up another 500.00 for a '73 rifle and honestly it's a great rifle, I have several Uberti levers and they are excellent. But the experience has left a pretty bad taste and any future acquisitions will likely be Pedersoli. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a Pedersoli, in fact as soon as they start importing them in numbers again a .357 Lightning will be next on the list.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Never had any problem with mine. I took the magazine blocking rod out and shortened the spring 3 inches, now it holds 14 rounds and they are quite easy to load the magazine.

[shrapnel]

Here is a larger Lightning strike, an original 50 express..

[Jeff Michel]

Maybe you should say a REAL Lightning strike. Nice piece, and rare to boot.

[shrapnel]

Maybe you should say a REAL Lightning strike. Nice piece, and rare to boot.

I have several originals and shoot stuff with all of them...





SRC in 44-40



Large frame 40-60...

[Drm50]

Nice originals. I always wanted one but never came across a really nice one I could afford. I’ve never been interested in replicas. Same with Rem and Marlin pumps. Survival rate must have been poor in these parts. Rem 14 is oldest pump around here that nice examples are $600-$800. That’s because no BP had touched their lips.

[shrapnel]

Got one of those in a 14 1/2 38-40...

[Jeff Michel]

Beautiful collection... I've lusted for a 14 1/2 in 38-40 for many moons. That rear sight is a deal maker.

[shrapnel]

Beautiful collection... I've lusted for a 14 1/2 in 38-40 for many moons. That rear sight is a deal maker.

Shoot me an offer, I am planning on selling it...

[Jeff Michel]

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