Best Seller: Taurus C45 Thunderbolt

There haven’t been any fresh-from-the-factory Taurus C45 Thunderbolt’s available since 2010, but it was one of the most popular pump-action rifles sold in 2020. It is chambered in .45 Colt and features a tubular magazine with a capacity of 14 cartridges. The guns have a hardwood stock, and metalwork is either finished in Sundance Blue, polished stainless and color casehardened.

The rear sights are authentic Buckhorn style and the barrels are button rifled. The curved crescent buttplate gives it a distinctive and timeless look and, for added safety, the external hammer has a de-cocking button and the gun came with the Taurus Security System lock.

Not much is recorded on the rifle, although the company lists it in its 2008 catalog as also being available in .357 Mag. and .38 Spl. By 2009 that chambering had been discontinued, leaving the .45 Colt version as the only option. By 2010 even that model had vanished from the company’s offerings.

Barrel length is 26”, regardless of cartridge. Overall length comes in at 43” and they tip the scales at 130 ozs. The C45 Thunderbolt made its first appearance at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in 2005, with a target audience of cowboy-action shooters. It’s total run in the United States was only five years.

Pump-action rifles have fallen out of favor with many enthusiasts, although many of the reviews for this rifle were nothing short of glowing. Enthusiasts noticed and even in March of 2017, sales drove it to the No. 1 selling pump action slot on Gunbroker.com.

Last year it was the No. 4 best-selling pump-action rifle in sales by FFLs using the services of the same website, the kind of enduring legacy that should make companies rethink the lack of pump-actions in their catalog.