Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires AMT Lightning

Anybody got one of these laying around?

Yep. A 5" bull barrel I bought new in the '80s. It came with Pachmayrs on it and has several thousand rounds through it

I assume these are pretty rare?

They were made one year in the 80's and Ruger put a patent infringement lawsuit on AMT and they had to stop making them. I've had this on for over 35 years NIB.
Haven't seen one since I bought mine.

Steve

Weird, I wonder why.

Who knows? Got into their sales probably.

I thought they made them for a while.
Initially a round stainless upper w various bbl lengths, tops grooved for 22 scope rings.'
Then they did the whole pistol, with flat sides.
I had an 8.5" round top taper, and a complete 10.5" taper Lightning.
The latter was a fantastic shooter, when it'd go off.

LGS sold a 5 1/2" bull Lightning not long ago. Not crazy priced but not cheap either.
IIRC $450, which I thought high........no box of papers and not mint.

Can check a Blue Book and see how many years they made 'em (I don't have one).

They did a 10/22 clone too, called 25/22.
LGS had one of them around 300. Folding stock (ugh) and 25 round mag.
But get this............the receiver was stainless steel.
Shoulda bought it just to build on.

In the 80's I had an 8.5" bull barrel, shot IHMSA with it. For silhouette the sights were much too blocky, much worse than the Ruger. Still shot a couple 38's and a 39. With good sights it would definitely have been a 40 shooter. But there was that rule about no changing sights on a production gun, even if they weren't right for silhouette. The bore of that thing was the rougher than rough, just awful. But the damn thing was also the most accurate auto I'd ever had. Shouldn't have sold it.

In the mid-90's I sent one of those back to Ron Pence, had him thread the action and put one of his super good cut barrels on it. Fluted. Was doing a laminated stock and never quite finished it. By that time I'd pretty much stopped shooting 22lr, still haven't used it.

Why?

Why what?

Why do you not finish/use the gun?

Never got around to completely finishing the stock. Lost interest in 22lr, and too many other guns to spend time with.

Have had several Pistoles and yet retain a coupla rifles. Threaded and slip-fit both.

I prefer 'em to Ruger........................

I have one of those stainless 10/22 clones. At the time I don't believe Ruger made their 22 in stainless. The magazine is different so Ruger would not sue them for infringing on patents for the 10/22 rotary mag. Have shot almost 1500 squirrels with mine and it has never malfunctioned once. Reminds me, I need to get out and shoot it some more as I haven't fired it up for over 10 years. Came in a synthetic stock. No sights, scope only.

Ruger has NEVER made a S/S 10/22...though Silver Alloy abounds.

I've a "few".................(grin)

I tend to pull recoil "lugs".............

Yes I have one just like the picture that was posted. Mine has the rubber wrap around grips by Pachmayr and target sights.

Shoots like a house afire. bought it new. When they were made Ruger was only making a Blue one if I remember correctly.