Does anyone know if they are still being made? Or are they discontinued? Were there any problems with them? I never see them in the catalog's anymore. does anyone know what bullet + grain has the best grouping @ 100yds using 2/50 grain pyrodex pellets? Thanks in advance for any replies.

I have a Lightning Lightweight my hunting buddy gave me - it wasn't snooty enough for him. He bought an Austin & Halleck. Big, heavy clunker IMO!!

I've had LESS TROUBLE (actually, no trouble at all!!!) with the Traditions than he has had with his Austin & Halleck. At first he couldn't even get his A&H to fire. He had to send it back for repair-they had "adjusted the striker too short", and it wasn't hitting the caps reliably! The Lightning also has a pretty slick adjustable trigger (if you can adjust a REM. 700 trigger, you can adjust this one safely.)

I don't know if they are still making them or not.(NOPE-THEIR SITE SHOWS SOMETHING THEY CALL A "THUNDER" BOLT ACTION, From the pictures, I can't tell if the action is the same as the Lightnings were....)I've had very good accuracy results with mine with the 295-grain PowerBelt, and the 400-grain White both in front of 90 grains of Pyrodex P. Both loads very accurate, and the 400-grainer makesa good elk load.... Here's the 400 White......

I have one with a 26" fluted nickle barrel with a spider type stock. The best bullet combo I can get is the 250gr Shockwaves with 2 - 50gr Pyro pellets. I can group a 3 shot sequence within an inch at 100yds. Shoots awesome. It's toppped off with a Bushnell Banner scope 1.5x. I use the 209 Kleenbores and they are exactly that, Kleen. They do not make them but you can still find them on auction sites just as I did. Mine was around $200 and in awesome condition, never shot, and boy was is never shot it was so clean. They are out there so if you find one they shoot great.

Go to the Sportsmans guide for a good deal on several of the Traditions. They have the premier evolution really cheap

I ordered a .45 Traditions from the Sportsman's Guide last year. It never came. And after fooling around with them for a couple of months, they finally "decided" they just couldn't get me one! They did finally give me a refund, but that too took a while. That rifle was about the third item I'd ordered from them that they couldn't come up with. I don't use them any more!

eldeguello ...

I had the same luck with Sportsman's Guide the last few times. All they are is a glorified shoe store and junk shop anymore. It seems every time I ordered a major item it was suddenly on back order. I've orders a couple rifles from them. Every one of them had to be sent back to the manufacturer for adjustment of some sorts. I almost wonder if they only get factory seconds or something.

So I stopped using them. Besides, after I compared their price and then added their shipping, I could usually get the same item for a few dollars more (sometimes even cheaper)around here. And if I bought it around here and it did not work out, I could take it back and they'd hand me cash. Plus it helps the local economy to buy local here. They still send me their catalogs and warn me that this might be my last issue, but that was a year or two ago.. and they still come in the mail like clock work.

I've never had that problem. I have bought lots of things from them with total satisfaction or my money back. Where can you buy something and keep it for 3 or 4 years then get a full refund if you have your receipt with no questions asked. It doesnt matter what it is except ammunition. I know I got a couple of Austin and Halleck rifles from bass pro that were in pretty pore shape. They had parts missing and the engraving on one was awful. If you are in the buyers club you get 10% off everything and you get special email deals that are even cheaper plus 10.00 rebate coupons ever so often. Theres almost all your shipping.The top of the lineTraditions Evolution Premier they have on there right now has the metal fiber sites,stainless fluted barrel not nickeled, brown laminated stock and ported barrel. It is the one that cocks on opening and not closing. I ordered one and it is nice. It originally retailed for over $400.00. My brother has one almost just like it and it will put three shots in an 1 1/2 at a hundred yards with 100 grains of American pioneer Powder loose and a 250 gr. Hornady sst sabot. Havent shot mine yet. Check it out. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=219326If you use this Item number I got through my email you can get it for a cheaper amount. E545E-99461-Evolution™ Premier .50 cal. Rifle with Laminated Stock. Hope this helps. Oh by the way they have other lightning rifles there also. Good luck and Happy shooting. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.