Opinions on What Direction to Take This Colt Lightning In

[Daan Kemp]

Clean up, re-assemble. Minimum to make it shootablr. Fit new firing pin. Try out. If everything works, enjoy shooting it. Fix what needs to be fixed. Then decide what the future holds and how far to go.

[oldfoneguy]

Here's the current update on the lightning.
After extensive cleaning a bullet for a 5.56 NATO will travel the length of the barrel with a light push of a cleaning rod in certain spots. The majority of its length the bullet will just fall. There are slight abrasions on the bullet but no scoring. Meaning that this barrel is bad and will need to be sleeved. Depending on the cost of sleeving I may have nothing more than an interesting wall hanger on my hands. No great mystery now as to why it was left in the barn.

[Salt Flat]

I agree with Daan Kemp and the others. It's well worth replacing the firing pin and installing a liner. I've done a few 1890 Winchesters like this. It's quite satisfying to save these.

[oldfoneguy]

It's all a matter of economics right now. I'm not going to get rid of it so it'll be something I can get back to in a year or so. Again it's based on the price of lining the barrel.

[Daan Kemp]

Start with getting it shooting. You might have good accuracy with the bore like it is now. Or even close up plinking fun.

[painter777]

Have a friend with a brother in law that has a machine shop. It may take years but he will eventually make me a replacement firing pin.

Wonder if yours could be repaired? Looking at pictures, the end busted off looks like a flat head screw driver. See the picture in the Hog Island link down the page. If a tip of some type could be inserted / attached / spot weld / brazed /......

I ran across this today about if those firing pins are really brass. Thoughts were they are a mix by some machinists.

Gunsmithing | brass firing pin on colt lightning? | Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web

Also seen a few of the firing pins you need, but all were sold.
https://cfnparts.com/index.php?route...gory&path=1071

Hog Island:
Colt Lightning Small Frame 22 Rimfire Brass Firing Pin Factory Original Part

These 2 might be worth a try, but I'm sure pricey:
https://the-online-outpost-licensing...ng-rifle-parts
https://gun-parts.com/cowboyguns/

[oldfoneguy]

Wonder if yours could be repaired? Looking at pictures, the end busted off looks like a flat head screw driver. See the picture in the Hog Island link down the page. If a tip of some type could be inserted / attached / spot weld / brazed /......

I doubt it can be fixed. What's missing is completely flat and somewhat thin. I've never seen a brass of any composition that would lend itself to any type of repair. Except it can be drilled and tapped. So perhaps I can make the missing piece out of screw stock and thread it into the main body of the firing pin. That just hit me as I wrote this. I'll be in the shop once I get home as I'm out of state again. Thanks for kick starting my brain. It doesn't happen often enough.

$175 for a firing pin? Mister English thinks quite a bit about his work doesn't he?

[painter777]

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-3.jpg

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-2.jpg

[oldfoneguy]

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-3.jpg

https://cdn3.volusion.com/prmzd.wajf...CT328-43-2.jpg

Thanks for that it's going to help a lot

[painter777]

On Rimfirecentral I found a thread posted by TRAP55 that gives a walk thru on dis-assembly and re-assembly of the Lightning Small Frame.
A link: Colt Lightning Small Frame Disassembly | Rimfire Central Firearm Forum

BTW, I see he silver soldered his broken firing pin to use as a template to fit a steel replacement he got a hold of.