Trade question: Springer Loaded for Colt Trooper MkIII

[Quoheleth]

A local fellow is looking to trade his Colt Trooper MkIII for a higher-end 1911. I have a Springer Loaded, stainless, with fixed sights, <500 rounds through it. I only have seen a cell-phone pic of the revolver, so can't verify it's appearance and haven't handled it.

Before I pursue this any further than a thought, would this be a fair trade offer, or is it out-of-balance one way or the other? From what I read, Troopers aren't quite as ticklish as Pythons with their hand-fitted parts. Are Troopers long-haul guns (i.e., me, my son and grandson can all shoot this some day) or are they more collector items?

Thanks,
Q

 

[Walkalong]

I love the Trooper Mk III guns. I paid between $400 and $550 for the ones I bought in the last 1 1/2 to 2 years. I bought one, fell in love with it, and bought more. Wish I had bought one sooner.

Here is one, with its cousin the Lawman. (Same action)

I see some like new on GB marked much higher. Not sure if they sell. Mine are all real nice. Not NIB, but very nice.

Trooper MK III's are very tough revolvers.

Your Springer for the Trooper plus how much cash is the question. $150, $200, $250?

 

[Walkalong]

Here is another. (GB pic. I have not taken any pictures of it yet)

 

[rmfnla]

The Trooper and it's variants will not have that silky feel of the Python but they are solid, reliable revolvers that, given decent care, will run forever.

I've had a few over the years and I like 'em!

 

[Quoheleth]

Can anyone try to compare the Colt trigger to a Smith K-frame (1980s era) or a Ruger GP100 (2005 edition). I have the Smith & Ruger - both are 100% stock, no spring or action work.

Q

 

[RippinSVT]

The Colt triggers are typically better than both Rugers and Smiths, at least in my experiences. The Custom Shop Smiths are very smooth, but apples to apples with production guns, Colt takes it IMHO.

 

[rmfnla]

I don't agree; I think a 1980s era S&W is smoother than the Trooper.

I know for a fact that Smiths are easier to tune; there's really not much you can do with the Colts.

 

[Starter52]

I agree with rmfnla. The S&W triggers from the 1980's are not the best the company ever made, but they are smoother than the Trooper MKIII revolvers.

The MKIII is a rock-solid revolver, but it's DA pull isn't smooth.

 

[MMCSRET]

I have a 1979 Trooper Mark III and a 1971 S&W Model 10, both never worked on. No parts added, changed, modified or altered in any way. In my hands the Trooper Mark III has a smoother, easier, finer, silkier, more velvety feel to it and the Model 10 has had many, many more rounds thru it. Personal opinion only!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RippinSVT]

My above post was just my opinion as well. I haven't shot a ton of Colt's, maybe 8, but on the whole they've been better than the 15-20 factory smith's I've shot, although a few were awesome.

 

[Walkalong]

The Trooper Mk III has a fairly heavy double action trigger pull, but not bad. The single action trigger pull is pretty nice. Not as nice as the better Smiths though. A smith can make it very nice.

Gun and Target - light loads. Someone gave this beauty one heck of a nice single action pull. Double action is OK, but still fairly heavy.