pistol pump

[clodbuster]

I probably know the answer already but your input is appreciated anyway.  Just looking at an auction for a timberwolf pump in 357 and the price is ridiculous.  Still I'd love one so why when there seems to be pentup demand for these, why doesn't a mfgr build a lightweight carbine length pump chambered in handgun cartridges namely 256 winmag 30 carbine 357mag etc?

[mannyrock]

     The timberwolf was manufactured by an Israeli firearms manufacturer (I think IDI), and they only made them for a few years (3 or 4).  They quit making them because NOBODY was buying them.
 
      Althought the timerberwolf was reliable, one of the problems was that when shoving the rounds up into the mag tube with your thumb, many guys had their thumbs pinched, or cut, because the space in this area was very small.  (Makes sense, since the area in which you had to shove your thumb was probably not much wider than a .357 round, and lots of guys have thumbs that are almost twice that thick.)  Some guys with really big thumbs couldn't even push the round all of the way in.

      I am at a loss to understand the high price of these used timberwolfs today, unless the people bidding on them are simply unaware of the above mentioned problem.

Best regards,

Mannyrock

[mannyrock]

    Forgot to mention, that since pumps have a straight tube magazine, they could only be made to shoot flat nose bullets, or blunted soft point bullets.  (Otherwise, the pointed nose of one bullet, sitting on the primer of the round in front of it, could cause that round to go off, and blow up the gun.)

   So, this would rule out a pump carbine for the .30 carbine, and any other cartridge with pointed ammo.

    (Exception would be if they made the tube much bigger around, with a spiraled metal insert, so that the rounds do not line up exactly on the primers of the ones in front of them.  But, this would be expensive, and may hinder feeding.)

    The worlds of pistol-round carbines is totally ruled by the lever actions, particulary Marlin and Puma.

Regards,

Mannyrock

[clodbuster]

I was actually hoping for a smooth action pump that function well and looked nice.  Ammo for the 30 carbine could easily be reloaded with flatnose bullets.  A kings patent loading gate or a bottom loader like the Browning shotgun  that doesn't cut the thumb seems doable.

[mannyrock]

Clodbuster,

    You are in luck (a little).  At the turn of the century, Colt made a pump action rifle called the Colt Lightening.

    AWA (American Western Arms) currently makes modern reproductons of these, in rifle and carbine lengths, in the following calibers:   .32-30,  .38-40,  .38 Special, .44-40, and .45 Long Colt. 

    If you go to the Cowboy shooting forum, you can probably read a few reviews of these, and ask any questions you want.  You would probably be limited to old fashion metal tangent sights (leaf and post).

   If these can handle the .38 +P rounds, they may be pretty neat.

   Hope this helps.

Mannyrock

[mannyrock]

Uh-Oh Clodbuster.

   More Bad News, Good News, Bad News.

   Bad News:  The AWA Lightning Carbines cost between $800 to $1,000. (See several on Gunbroker.com)

   Good News: Uberti company has just started making the Lightning Carbine in .357 mag.

   Bad News:  The Uberti Lighting is $1,200. (See one on Gunbroker.com)

   (Boy, that Cowboy Shooting crowd must have money to burn!)

   For those prices, you could get two or three Marlin 1894 carbines in .357 mag or .44 mag!

   My advice:  Convert yourself to a Lever Man. The cost of pumping is too high!

Regards,

Mannyrock

[targshooter]

For pistol pumps, the Taurus Thunderbolt is also offered. I believe it is less expensive than the above mentioned rifles.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/gunselector-results.cfm?series=TH3

[Shawnee Gene]

I would like to see one of these also, preferably in 357, with a 16" barrel and a reasonable price.(<$500)

[mannyrock]

   The Taurus Thunderbolt seems reasonably priced compared to the others, but  geez,  it only comes with a 26 inch barrel, and it looks like a very long skinny fishing pole.  In fact, it looks ridiculous.

   But again, it is probably for the Cowboy shooting crowd.

[clodbuster]

make me one of those in carbine length and I'M IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hillbill]

saw, recrown and dovetail the front sight in with a triangle file. mite be possible?

[Barbegris]

I'm pretty sure they've got them in 20" now...... but a 16" trapper would be sweet!
I've never pinched myself with my timberwolf but it's a .44mag and I don't have sausage fingers!