[Fat Boy]

I have posted about this type of thing in the past- still trying to figure it all out.

The LGS has a Colt Cobra, .38 special, in what seems to be good shape.

I would like to buy it for a home defense gun, and future CCW-

PRO's-
1. accuracy
2. 6 rounds
3. Colt quality
4. Size; between 442 and k-frame? Better in my large hands
4. OK, I'll say it----cool factor

CON's
1. If it breaks, I'm done


So I am trying to convince myself not to buy the Colt; go with a Smith 442 which is smaller and doesn't fit my big hands as well. Or (sacrilege) go with a Ruger LCR....

Any encouragement on the Colt? I know this is my decision, but I guess I am wanting the best of all worlds.

BTW, I am not interested in buying multiple guns in case one breaks, etc....I need the gun I buy to be durable, everlasting, etc...

[Coyote3855]

Go to the revolver thread and look at the sticky that tells how to evaluate a used revolver. Personally, I like Colts and have several, but they are not my everyday carry gun. You don't say much about condition or price. All other things being equal, I'd buy the Colt.

Here's a couple I carried for a while.

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j467/Inusuit/007-2.jpg

[single stage]

Nothing wrong with my old Colt DAs. Carry one daily. If it breaks a good smith should be able to help. IF IT BREAKS

[hariph creek]

I carry a Detective Special, everyday. I say if you like it and it's in good shape, do it.
Yes, it concerns me, that if it needs repair, it won't be cheap. But, it's not a cheap gun.
As long as the timing is good? Decide if any other wear is in your ''comfort zone.'' If the timing is bad? You might want to pass.

I've heard two variations on checking the timing on these Colts.

1.) Pull the trigger all the way back and hold the hammer back. Try to wiggle (gently) the cylinder.

2.)Cycle the action. Don't let the trigger return forward. Try to wiggle the cylinder (gently).

Either way, the cylinder should be locked-up TIGHT. If it wiggles or has play, the hand(?) is worn. Then a new one needs to be fit. That's where the loss of those still knowing the Colt magic, gets expensive.

Colt says they still have the parts and expertise to fix these. Could be? At what cost?
If the frame is messed up, pass. They do not have those.

[Old Fuff]

Generally speaking, Cobra's don't have a reputation for breaking, and problems are more offten caused by somebody tinkering and doing something they shouldn't. That, and stupid abuse. With the exception of the aluminum frame and barrel they share other parts with the Detective Special and Police Positive Special revolvers made during the same time period. While they aren't common there a some 'smiths who are qualified to work on these Colt's, as is the Colt factory.

My much-favored Detective Special goes back to the mid-1950's, and has been both used and often carried. It has never been factory-serviced and still locks up like a bank vault door. I have no reason to think it won't out live me.

Unless you crack or bend the frame (which is unlikely) I don't see why a Cobra wouldn't be "fixable," it just might take longer and be more expensive to get it fixed.

If you decide against the Cobra, and/or a Detective Special, and have large hands, consider a S&W K-frame with a 2 or 3-inch barrel, rather then one of the J-frames.

Long experience tells me that it's a mistake to buy something you dislike from git-go. You will end up taking a loss when you sell or trade it in to get something else.

[Old Fuff]

Do it this way:

2.)Cycle the action. Don't let the trigger return forward. Try to wiggle the cylinder (gently).
The hammer has nothing to do with the way the cylinder locks up.

Also hands seldom wear. Wear is caused when two parts rub together under pressure. But the pin on the hand can get bent so the hand is tilted further out on the ratchet tooth, and after that the cylinder won't fully rotate to the next chamber. In other words it fails to "carry up."

[hariph creek]

I'll add...how better to appreciate a fine object, than by using it for what it's intended. Most the ''finer'' things in life, can only be appreciated by being used.

A Colt's bank vault lock-up, truly is a marvelous thing. It makes everything else look, kind of, sloppy or loose.

A K-frame is not a bad idea. Or, larger grips on a J-frame.

[hariph creek]

Old Fuff... Thanks for the correction.

[Fat Boy]

I am most appreciative of these comments. The shop also has a Smith model 12 w/short barrel & round butt. However the Colt seems a bit smaller overall while still offering 6 rounds- decisions, decisions.

[PabloJ]

Buy S&W Model 12 it is pro-grade revolver that was carried by Air Marshals and military intelligence personnel before pistols became popular. It's better gun then the Cobra.

[22-rimfire]

I have a Cobra 22 (actually several) and the Cobra should be fine. I personally find the Detective Special a more comfortable revolver. The aluminum frame on the Cobra makes it kind of front heavy or feel unbalanced to me. Mine are all collector grade Cobras and I don't shoot them.

I would not worry about it breaking. Years go by... you can always get another carry revolver.

[Chindo18Z]

4. OK, I'll say it----cool factor

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=142162&d=1305402940

Damn straight... ;)

[jhco50]

The Colt Cobra is a fine revolver. Colt was always a good company when it came to their handguns. I would buy it and carry it proudly.

I am carrying an Armscor M206 .38 Special, which is basically a copy of the Colt Cobra. I carry it openly everyday, everywhere I go and usually never feel the weight and I feel comfortable with it.

[FM12]

I have an Agent, early model, that sees use in my edc rotation. Personally I've never seen a "worn out" Colt. Buy carry and shoot it. If nothing else for the "cool" factor. As good a reason as any in my book.

[ColtPythonElite]

I also have never seen a truly "worn out" Colt and have probably had my hands on more Colt DA's than the average bear. I have more than one Cobra/Agent and wouldn't trade my most worn looking one for pair of the other guys alloy framed snubbies....My current Cobra for carrying around is a well worn looking 1966 model. I figure if it hasn't broken in the past 45 years, I doubt if it is going to anytime soon.

[Guillermo]

Colt Cobra is arguable the finest snub made.

Remember, Colt still works on them in the rare possibility it requires it.

[gbw]

I had one, factory nickeled, that had a small crack in the aluminum frame, at the bottom rear corner of the cylinder opening on the right hand side. I've no information on how it got there, nor how the gun was used before I got it. The gun overall looked in near mint condition. Probably a fluke, but may want to look there just in case. Otherwise I loved it.

[SwampWolf]

When comparing the pros and cons of the Colt Cobra with the Smith Airweight in terms of carrying a revolver concealed, objectively the Cobra carries 20% more ammunition than the Airweight (six rounds to five), weighs the same (16 ounces) and is about 1/10th of an inch wider at the cylinder (1.400 for the Cobra and 1.309 for the Airweight). Subjectively, I feel that, in general, Colt revolvers based on their "D" frame have a better da trigger pull than their Smith "J" frame counterparts. Conversely, and again subjectively, if you can live with the slightly heavier and more bulky K-frame based Model 12 Smith revolver, I think you'll find that the da pull on it is the best of the three being "interviewed".

[saltydog452]

This thread will be flagged, bookmarked, stapled to my forehead, and will eventually arrive in a folder titled 'Sweetie's Cobra'.

Since girl clothing options are waaaay different, 'Sweetie's Cobra' has Birami Hip Grip panels and a Tyler Grip Adapter.

sd.

[FM12]

And, by the way, thew cool factor is as good as any other. Thats why as a uniformed officer I often carried a 4" bbl Smith and Wesson 44 magnum Model 629. Lots of "oooHHHs" and "AAAHHHs".

[mmitch]

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/satcong_01/cobra.jpg

Why not?

Mike

[BullfrogKen]

I'd take a Cobra over an airweight Smith any day of the week. The trigger is much better - it pulls nicer, its lighter, and overall the gun fills the hand better.

I also imagine that Smith Model 12 in his shop costs a fair bit more than the Cobra.

[montanaoffroader]

DO NOT buy it! You will get much more for your $$ if you go with an RG or something similar.....Also, you can pm me the name and address of your LGS and I will help you out by eliminating the source of your temptation......:evil:

On a more serious note, Colt revolvers hold up just fine. I own a few and have had zero problems even though they have seen plenty of use. If it were me, that Cobra would already have a new home........

[Fat Boy]

Curiously enough, the Cobra is $30 higher than the Smith....both appear to be in good shape cosmetically and mechanical checks seem fine.

Montana- thanks for the offer to help out- it is tempting :)

[Jaymo]

Buy the Colt. It's a better revolver.
See, it works both ways.
I'd buy the Colt over the Smith. Call me crazy, but I like revolvers that actually have a great trigger pull from the factory.

[Clark]

I have a lot of Colt and a lot of Smiths, and Colts are better.

But I spent a lot of time fixing Colts with this book in hand
http://www.amazon.com/Colt-Double-Action-Revolvers-Manual/dp/B000IXMGDS

Some times I give up, and pull out the strut, spring, and pin.
Then I just use them as a single action revolver.
The hole in the frame for the latch pin gets enlarged.
A 100 year old revolver for $100 at a gun show will have problems like that.

[jhco50]

Buy 'em both and be sure.

[Cocked & Locked]

Cobra works. :cool:

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2169/3082611/6259764/333096988.jpg

[4v50 Gary]

I would buy it if I didn't already have a Colt Detective Special. You may be sorry later if you pass it up now.

[golden]

RECOIL is pretty bad in the first generation COBRA'S. I have one and while it is controllable if you have rubber grips, it is a painful weapon to shoot with just about any ammo using the wooden grips.

You may not be as sensitive to recoil as I am, but I carry a mid size .40 S&W with a polymer frame and that does not bother me. Even wadcutters were unpleasant out of the COBRA.
I also shoot the even smaller SMITH & WESSON and CHARTER ARMS 5 shot .38 Specials and they are not nearly as bad in the recoil department because I have rubber grips on them.

For a home defense gun, I think the COBRA is a very poor choice. A mid size .38 Special with at least a 4 inch barrel will be much more controlable and have greater stopping power due to the longer barrel and consequently higher velocity of the ammo.
You would also have the option of a +P load in the mid size gun. If you want a revolver and do not want to use .357 magnum ammo, then try a S&W model 10 with a 4 inch heavy barrel. The slightly bigger and heavier COLT Official Police (long out of production, but still common on the used market), the RUGER GP 100 and S&W 686 are much, more effective weapons for home defense.

The COBRA may be a good choice for Concealed Carry, but not with the wooden grips that it came with. At least to me.

Jim

[icanthitabarn]

I would not pass on a Cobra and didn't a few months back. It, so far, has shot a tighter group than my Gold Cup and 6" Dan Wesson, both with target hand loads. It was at a lesser distance and was a shocker !!. :what:

[PabloJ]

I would not pass on a Cobra and didn't a few months back. It, so far, has shot a tighter group than my Gold Cup and 6" Dan Wesson, both with target hand loads. It was at a lesser distance and was a shocker !!. :what:
"Miracles" do happen especially when we really want them to. In Ransom rest your results
might be different.

[icanthitabarn]

I recommend the load that shocked me. Fed red box 158 RN lead. My reloads fell far short of these.

[PabloJ]

I recommend the load that shocked me. Fed red box 158 RN lead. My reloads fell far short of these.
You can also get those in violet/grey box from local Walmart for about $18/50.

[icanthitabarn]

Too much. The big gunstore had em for $10 until last year, now $17 or $18

[Edarnold]

I found a Colt Agent last year, a relic of a friends' father who had shot it enough to wear a lot of the finish off the left side of the frame. Inside was immaculate and locks up tight. The only double-action I've ever encountered that was as smooth was (surprise?) on a 1960's era Python, and the single-action is amazingly light and crisp.

The one drawback were the original grips, which positioned my 2nd finger knuckle right where the trigger guard could smack it hard enough to create a bruise within 20 rounds. Fortunately I found a set of Pachmayr Gripper Pro grips that cured that problem. With light 158gr. range loads, this is now my wife's favorite pistol, which she shoots with deadly accuracy.

Best $140 I spent in a long time.

[LKB3rd]

I have some Colt revolvers and I like them. You can still send them back to Colt for repairs and service, and they do a good job, obviously it isn't as convenient as it could be..

[doc540]

You need to have a strong heart

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/doc540/Guns/Colt%20Cobra%202/DSCN3682-1.jpg

[Jaxondog]

Those Cobra's are nice looking pistol's. May have to look into shooting one.

[PabloJ]

If I reloaded I would have picked up S&W 'Airweight' with alloy cylinder. I just adore weird stuff.:D The gun was in top shape and would make interesting conversation piece plus be excellent carry piece stuffed with .38 specials loaded with solf lead hp slugs to .38S&W levels. Colt revolvers never did anything for me.

[BullfrogKen]

The one drawback were the original grips, which positioned my 2nd finger knuckle right where the trigger guard could smack it hard enough to create a bruise within 20 rounds.

The stock grips on the later generation D frames plain sucked. They do that to everyone's knuckles. I have three D frames, and none of them have the factory walnut grips on them anymore.

[smkummer]

Great gun for carry as its light and that means it will get carried. I believe it also is a great house gun as its very hard to grab a 2 in. barreled gun from the good guy. When checking out a noise, its simple to just put in in your pocket. Colt states after 1000 rounds of Plus P have it checked for wear. Who the heck is going to shoot a 1000 rounds of Plus P out of one of these anyway? Practice with standard and carry Plus P. I find myself shooting alot of mid-range wadcutters for practice as the recoil is very managable. If it has the post 1966 short grip frame it will have several options for rubber and wood stocks. All shrouded barreled cobras have the short grip frame. If it has the smaller service stocks, a pachmayr grip adapter helps to tame the recoil. What is the price and is it blued or nickel?

[Jaymo]

The 1980s Colt factory rubber grips for the D frame were very comfortable.
My mom has a Commando Special (Dick Special with parkerized finish) made around '87.
I love that revolver. It's a great shooter.

Damn, now I need to find one.

[Fat Boy]

Smkummer- the Colt is blue-steel with a non-shrouded ejector. Grips are wood- after/market. Price is $519.

[ssyoumans]

Colt states after 1000 rounds of Plus P have it checked for wear. Who the heck is going to shoot a 1000 rounds of Plus P out of one of these anyway? Practice with standard and carry Plus P. I find myself shooting alot of mid-range wadcutters for practice as the recoil is very managable.

I pretty much agree with the above. I use to carry mine quite a bit. Bought a 1969 Colt Cobra in 1996. It was a police trade in, decent shape.. $200. I've fired probably 500-750 rounds of 158gr LSWCs through it over the years. Best trigger of all the handguns that I own. Despite the warning below, I always carried mine with 158gr LSWCHP +Ps, then later, Corbon DPX +P, and then Hornady Critical Defense +P loads. Only fired maybe a cylinder or two of each +P load through it, to confirm function and chrono the loads. I have since retired Cobra to safe queen status. Today, I would probably opt for the Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP in the NON +P configuration. I WOULD NOT fire Buffalo Bore +P loads in a Cobra. Those loads are VERY HOT for a pre-72 aluminum frame Colt. I would even be leary of the Corbon DPXs, they were pretty hot too.

My understanding was that:
Post-1972 Aluminum framed Colt Cobra was rated for 1,500 rounds of +P, then they changed it to 1,000 rounds. The gun he describes w/o the shrouded ejector is a pre-1972 and was never rated for +P by Colt.

Here's an interesting thread on the topic from about 10 years ago..
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-2118.html


BUY it, you won't regret it!

[silversport]

I prefer my Cobra to my Smith 642-2 and it seems lighter despite the extra round over the Smith...in the Smith's defense...it is a Centennial but it has been worked on by Teddy Jacobson...nice but not the Cobra...Good luck with your choice...
Bill

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/silversport1/P1000169_edited-1.jpg

[Owen Sparks]

Why not a Colt Cobra?

Parts availability, that's why not.