New Colt Cobra Talo Edition

[vanfunk]

Hi Everyone:

I stopped into my LGS this morning on my weekly pilgrimage to see what was up, if anything. The owner deliberately tortures me by putting the Colt display just inside the door to the left, so I can’t not see them. Well what would my little eye spy today, hmmm? A new Colt Cobra .38 Talo Edition. The revolver looked like two 2.5” Pythons had a baby. The finish is the same “tumbled” semi-gloss of the Pythons, and the grips feature some kind of Altamont snakeskin pattern. Picked it up. Felt great. Cylinder release opened smoothly and the cylinder spun freely. Ejector stroke as nice and smooth. DA trigger? Smooooooth and light; 8.5 lbs maybe? SA trigger - so crisp and the barest hint of overtravel. Ok, this is a serious piece, they did this one right. The brass bead front sight is great and mimics the Wilson beads I have on my Pythons. Done deal, ring it up. Oh yeah, price? Same as the regular Cobras. Can’t be, this one’s finished much nicer. Nope, that’s it. Well ok then. Oit the door to the range…

I had only factory S&B 158 grainers on this inaugural trip but they, and the Cobra, didn’t disappoint. The first shots were on steel at 15 yards. Center hold… ease the DA trigger back and BANG-PING. Nice. Pretty hot ammo, this S&B. The bang-pings continued until the cylinder was dry. Nice, nice gun. The rear trench is wide enough to get a good sight picture with a little daylight on either side of the bead. Shooting maybe 2” high at this distance. Try the shooting tree with small squares. Bang-ping with relentless precision. Move over to the 50 yard gong. Center front bead on the silhouette and squeeze and… miss. Try again. Miss. Try again. Miss. Try again… ping! Haha. Ok the 50 yard shots need work but I think it’s up to the task.

Dislikes? Not much. I’m not hugely enamored of the grips, so those might have to go. That’s it for gripes. It’s REALLY well made and the trigger is cut of the same cloth as the Python. Nice job, Colt. Love the size and weight, about 25 oz. Lighter than my snub S&W 66. Do I care that it’s not a .357? Nope. +P .38s will be fine, thank you. Here she is:

 

[Old Dog]

SIgh. Another one to put on The List. I like shiny things, and this could replace my Cobra with the matte finish and fiber optic front sight. I've had great success with the excellent triggers on every "new" Colt snake gun I've picked up, so I'm not surprised you got another one with a good trigger.

Nice little review, @vanfunk.

 

[vanfunk]

Do it Old Dog. Do it. In my estimation, the final polish is much nicer than the bead blasted treatment of the other ones. It’s a perfect complement to the new Pythons and Anacondas. I forgot to mention that extraction was nice and smooth and the barrel/cylinder gap is tight. 100 rounds later it just needed an exterior wipe-down. And of course this finish is easy to clean up anyway. I think it’s the best fixed-sight .38 snub currently available. I love it and you’ll love it too, I know.

 

[Targa]

That is a very nice looking gun!

 

[vanfunk]

Question: will any Colt D-frame grips fit? Thinking about Pachmayr Compacs for shooting and nice classic walnut service stocks for carry.

Thanks!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Love it!

 

[Riomouse911]

SIgh. Another one to put on The List. I like shiny things, and this could replace my Cobra with the matte finish and fiber optic front sight. I've had great success with the excellent triggers on every "new" Colt snake gun I've picked up, so I'm not surprised you got another one with a good trigger.

Nice little review, @vanfunk.

I really think my new model Colt Cobra is the best 2” .38 I have ever owned or fired, with a .38 S&W 640 Centennial a distant second.

I, too love the DA and SA trigger and the sight picture on my Cobra. It lets me put shots where they need to go very nicely.

OP, thats a very handsome Colt! Excellent pick up at the LGS.

Stay safe.

 

[vanfunk]

Just back from the range… didn’t bring my handloads but had an old box of Remington 158 grain LSWCHP +P to shoot up. Here’s 50 rounds offhand double action at 25 yards as fast as I could load and shoot. Avg velocity per the new Garmin Xero chronograph was a decently warm 819 fps. The sights are very well regulated for 158 grain slugs I think. Single action, slow, aimed fire is capable of producing 3” groups at 25 yards. I’m pretty impressed by the thing.

 

[CZguy75]

Great! Another Pony I have to be on the lookout for! Looks like a very nice little revolver.

 

[1KPerDay]

Sweet! My only issues with these are aesthetic. I wish they hadn't squared off the trigger guard and pre-bulged the barrel.

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks Guys! 1K, the bulge in the barrel is a harken back to earlier models and is said to help with holstering; I don’t know if it does that but it certainly does look like vintage revolvers. The trigger guard is controversial but I can attest to its efficacy when firing with gloves on (today); the extra clearance helps. In person, I don’t notice and find the revolver very attractive.

 

[Targa]

I think I am the odd man out but I like the looks of the trigger guard. I only have one .38 Special revolver, this little beauty might change that.