Colt's · Rifle
Colt Lightning Large Frame
Pump action · .50-95 Express · introduced 1887
Also known as Colt Lightning Express, Colt Large Frame Express Lightning, Colt Lightning Express Model
About the Colt Lightning Large Frame
The Colt Lightning Large Frame is a slide-action (pump-action) rifle produced by Colt from 1887 to 1894. Known as the 'Express Model', it was the heaviest of the three Lightning frame sizes and was chambered for powerful big-game cartridges including the .50-95 Express, .38-56, .40-60, .45-60 and .45-85. Designed by Dr. William H. Elliott, the large frame Lightning was intended to compete with the Winchester Model 1876 lever-action as a hunting rifle suitable for American bison and other large game. With only about 6,496 examples manufactured, it is by far the rarest of the Lightning rifles.
The Lightning's slide-action design was purchased by Colt from inventor Dr. William H. Elliott in 1883. The large frame 'Express' earned its name from its ability to chamber the hard-hitting .50-95 Express cartridge, making it a rare American pump-action rifle marketed to buffalo and big-game hunters of the late frontier era.
Colt Lightning Large Frame specifications
General
- Type
- Rifle
- Action
- Pump action
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Calibres
- .50-95 Express
- Magazine capacity
- 6 rounds
- Magazine
- Tubular
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 711 mm (28.0 in)
- Overall length
- 1168 mm (46.0 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 4.30 kg (9.48 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 475 m/s (1558 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 2188 J (1614 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 180 m
History
- Introduced
- 1887
- Discontinued
- 1894
- Production status
- Discontinued
- Country of origin
- US
- Designer
- William H. Elliott
Features
- Slide action
- Tubular magazine
- Round or octagon barrel
- Exposed hammer
Safety
- Half cock notch
Standard barrel length was 28 inches for the rifle and 22 inches for the carbine, available in round or octagon profiles. Far fewer large frame rifles were made than the small and medium frame versions, each of which numbered close to 90,000.
Similar models
Aero Precision SOLUS Hunter
Bolt action · 6.5mm Creedmoor
Ballard No. 1½ Hunter's Rifle
Falling block · .45-70 Government
Ballard No. 6½ Rigby
Falling block · .40-65 Ballard
Ballard No. 8 Union Hill
Falling block · .32-40 Winchester
Ballard No. 9 Union Hill
Falling block · .38-55 Winchester