.38 Colt 'Lightning'

[PJ Hardtack]

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I've had a nickle plated .38 Colt 'Lightning' revolver for years and I finally got around to shooting it today. It came to me with a junk barrel made from a cut down Mauser (!) barrel and it was plugged on top of that. I had it replaced with a modern Colt 4" .357 barrel, plated to match the rest of the gun. You have to look close to see the difference.

I cut down some .38 Spl. cases to 1.010" and loaded them with 12 grs fffg/130 gr RNFP. The bullets were commercial hard cast and lubed with smokeless lube. I wasn't expecting much accuracy, but was pleasantly surprised.

At 12 yds with a one paw hold, it put 5 rounds into 1", 1-1/2" below point of aim! It had all the smoke and noise I could hope for.

Question: I've been told that it would be better to shoot it in DA mode rather than SA. This is contrary to 'common knowledge', the word being that the 1877 Colt DA isn't all that durable.

What's the truth?

[Long Knife]

Question: I've been told that it would be better to shoot it in DA mode rather than SA. This is contrary to 'common knowledge', the word being that the 1877 Colt DA isn't all that durable.

What's the truth?
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 A gunsmith familiar with these pistols just recently told me the same thing. I don't remember the details behind it but the implication was that in DA mode there was less chance of things getting messed up. I have no personal experience with these pistols, but wouldn't mind getting one some day. They seem like neat guns.
 It sounds like your gun shot pretty good. If you get a chance, post some pictures of it. It's always nice to see the old stuff.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Back in the '80s I had a friend who was a Constable in Galveston County Texas. He carried a Lightning for awhile and liked it. He had a tough time finding factory ammo so switched to a .44 Spl.

[The Connemara Kid]

I picked one up last month for a steal!
I had been wanting one for almost 20 years (since Tombstone came out), but everything in my price range was either a rust bucket, parts gun or wallhanger.

I found one in nice shape, made in 1891 (80 serial numbers removed from John Wesley Hardin's) and under $600 as a bonus!
Shoots much nicer than I expected, Almost like the follow up shots after the first one feel lighter.

[Abilene]

Good lookin' Lightning.  Has that hammer been bobbed a bit?

[The Connemara Kid]

Good lookin' Lightning.  Has that hammer been bobbed a bit?

Yeah, I suspect it happened sometime in the past 120 years for pocket carry, whomever did it, did a pretty good job.
Can't tell from the photos but the triggr has a nice fire blue colr on the back, too

[HKUriah]

I've got one, and I have fired it both SA and DA mode many times.   As long as you don't try to run it hard, you should be okay.

But, I will say, stick to light loads with it.   I usually run .38 Short Colt in mine, make for a very light loading.  Have done Longs in it too, and it handles them fine, but given the age, I like to baby the thing.

[Trailrider]

I have a friend who does some 'smithing. When I want to pull his chain, I threaten to send him a boxcar full of Lightnings "that just need a little work"!    In other words, the M1877 is a gunsmith's nightmare when they get out of order...which is not that hard to do.

[St. George]

Unless one has spares and the knowledge and skills to repair them - they shouldn't try to 'run' the Lightning at all - they weren't built for 'shoot-fast'.

Not everything has to be some sort of a competition

They're fine for casual shooting, and double action seems the be the best way to get the most use out of their fragile springs, but shooting double action one-handed is a practiced skill, since you can't 'stage' the shot like you can with a Smith & Wesson.

Scouts Out!

[Arizona Trooper]

I have had a couple of them. Like a dummy I sold the Lightning that actually worked. The other one "needed a little tuning". Well....now it does work DA, but not SA. Sooner or later I'll send it to an expert.

Early ones have .375" barrels, but the post 20th century ones have .357" bores. When mine does shoot, it works very well with 150 grain RN bullets deep seated in 38 special cases. 

[bear tooth billy]

I recently got a lightning, it was made in 1888 and has the larger bore. I shot it with hollow base bullets (speer) and have
heeled bullets on order, any thoughts of which one works works better?

                     BTB

[Thumper]

I recently picked one up of GB, a parts gun really, but both the chambers and bore had been sleeved for 22lr and all looked good to go, which intrigued me. I refurbish antique SA revolvers as a sideline but have never worked on a 1877. My plan is to make it single action only and eliminate most all of the finikeyness, I can post pic's as I go if anyones interested. Also, any tips would be appreciated, this being my "maiden voyage" with a 77'.

[Texas John Ringo]

I have had a couple of them. Like a dummy I sold the Lightning that actually worked. The other one "needed a little tuning". Well....now it does work DA, but not SA. Sooner or later I'll send it to an expert.

Early ones have .375" barrels, but the post 20th century ones have .357" bores. When mine does shoot, it works very well with 150 grain RN bullets deep seated in 38 special cases. 

I have 2 Thunderers & 3 Lightnings.
1 Lightning made in 1886 and the other 2 in 1903.  The 2 made in '03 still have .375 bores, a .358 bullet will drop all the way to the cylinder from the muzzle end.
They all shoot pretty good with hollow base bullets.