Colt Trooper mk III

Stainless? It might be a factory electroless nickel that they called "Coltguard," but is almost certainly not stainless. Do you have any pictures?

I never saw a stainless MKIII.

Look in a good loading manual, each gun is a bit different. Work up your own best loads.
The gun can handle a fair amount of full-bore .357s.
Denis

The Colt Trooper MK.III was built like the proverbial tank, a very strong and capable revolver with full house loads. Never made out of stainless steel though, more than likely it's as The Lone Haranguer posted, an electroless nickel finish which Colt called Coltguard.

The Python and the King Cobra were the first Colt revolvers available in stainless. This was several years after the MKIII was discontinued. In fact the KC replaced the MKV, which replaced the MKIII.
It may be a factory or aftermarket finish, but it is not stainless.

Upload a picture to photobucket, copy the image code on the right side and paste the image code here, I also don't think Colt made the trooper in stainless, I think it might be nickel. You can also open up the cylinder and see if there is a "S" stamp.

The Colt Trooper Mark III was made with blue, nickel, and electroless nickel (Coltguard) finishes. There were no stainless Trooper Mark III's made as regular production. The coltguard finish looks like a matte stainless finish. Ruger and S&W were the first companies to climb on board with the stainless "craze" and early on, they sold for a slight premium over a blued revolver. Colt came along later with stainless guns with the Mark V action and the Python which occurred after the Trooper Mark III was discontinued.

The Mark III is one of the strongest revolvers on the planet in terms of being able to handle full power 357 mag loads. You don't need to baby it, but at the same time, I would not abuse it. My Trooper Mark III is my favorite 357 mag revolver and I shoot it. It is not a collector piece.

The Colt Mk III series are approximately the same size as the Ruger GP 100, but the frame is made from a machined forging where the latter is investment cast. Both are far stronger then required, but of the two the Colt is generally believed to be the stronger.

The larger problem, which is now common to all Colt hand ejector revolvers with the possible exception of the Python, is that new spare parts are no longer available - at least at the Colt factory. Also if you break a firing pin (which is not common) installing a new one (if available) is a factory job.

The larger problem, which is now common to all Colt hand ejector revolvers with the possible exception of the Python, is that new spare parts are no longer available - at least at the Colt factory. Also if you break a firing pin (which is not common) installing a new one (if available) is a factory job.

Click to expand...

Which is why I don't shoot mine very much.

I bought it 3 years ago,,,
It truly is a sweet shooting handgun,,,
But I just can't make it a part of my regular shooting rotation.

It serves night-guard duty in an Uncle Mikes holster,,,
The holster is screwed to the side rail of my bed.

Aarond

.

The last thing I am gonna do is not shoot a gun due to fear of breaking it or wearing it out. If I bust it. I will fix it, or replace it....I don't own any shooter wheel guns that aren't Colts.

That's the point- out-of-production Colt revolvers are getting harder to "fix" when something does go out on them.
Denis

The Colt Trooper was a great revolver and can handle mag loads. Enjoy shooting it since that is what you bought it for.

DPris said:

That's the point- out-of-production Colt revolvers are getting harder to "fix" when something does go out on them.
Denis

Click to expand...

I called Colt to get a sideplate screw for an Anaconda; they said they could not help since that part was no longer for sale over the counter. I did eventually find the screw at a hoarder. Cost me $18.

Anyway, S&W has some of the same issues with parts for finishes they no longer offer, like nickel. This is not idle speculation on my part.

The last thing I am gonna do is not shoot a gun due to fear of breaking it or wearing it out. If I bust it. I will fix it, or replace it....I don't own any shooter wheel guns that aren't Colts.

Click to expand...

Your selection of older Colt revolvers may be impeccable, but given the present situation you may find that a broken small part can sideline an expensive revolver. It isn’t that you shouldn’t shoot your prized guns, but rather that you’d better think about investing in some spare parts while they are still somewhat available.

You are now faced with at least two problems: (1) Finding parts when even the manufacturer can’t (or won’t) supply them, and (2) finding a qualified gunsmith to fit them when the factory won’t do it.

Eh, if I bust one and can't fix it, I get another one and possibly use the first as a parts gun. As far as a qualified gunsmith goes, I have that covered....FWIW, I have some parts already squirrelled away.

Congratulations on your MkIII, looking forward to seeing pics and your range reports. The metallurgy on the forged Colts is some of the strongest on the market.

Having said that, I have a MkIII with timing issues. Since it's such a nice shooter, balance and accuracy, I sent it back to Colt to be fixed. After 7 months at Colt, they quoted me a price to fix it, I finally got it back, not only was the timing issue not fixed, but it now has a cylinder streak.

I agree about owning guns to shoot, so it pains me not being able to shoot the Trooper DA.

hopefully the OP will be more fortunate.

Time passes, along with the realistic practicality of continuing to shoot out-of-production guns.

You buy one & shoot it, you ALWAYS run the risk of busting something that may be hard or impossible to repair or replace.
Risk it or don't, an individual choice.
Denis

Eh, if I bust one and can't fix it, I get another one and possibly use the first as a parts gun.

Click to expand...

Perhaps. But owners of pre Mk (series) revolvers should understand that some lockwork parts were altered by hand fitting, and won't necessarily work in another gun - nor can they be fitted to work if the necessary material at certain points is gone.

In later models most of the parts are "drop in" but this does you little good if you can't get the parts.

The point of all this is not that you have to retire older Colt's or other revolvers, but one does need to understand the risks, and use them accordingly.

Having said that, I have a MkIII with timing issues. Since it's such a nice shooter, balance and accuracy, I sent it back to Colt to be fixed. After 7 months at Colt, they quoted me a price to fix it, I finally got it back, not only was the timing issue not fixed, but it now has a cylinder streak.

Click to expand...

Exactly - what are these unresolved timing issues?

Old Fuff said:

Exactly - what are these unresolved timing issues?

Click to expand...

Cylinder rotates and fails to lock on the following chamber. I manually rotate the cylinder to the next chamber to get the bolt to lock into the cylinder groove.

Since this thread is pic poor....

My (somewhat rare) Mk V

Cylinder rotates and fails to lock on the following chamber. I manually rotate the cylinder to the next chamber to get the bolt to lock into the cylinder groove.

Click to expand...

One time I bought a Trooper Mk III at an auction for a song because no one else would touch it. It was doing exactly what you describe. The cause was a cylinder bolt spring that was assembled backwards. I took it out, turned it around, and put it back.

Thereafter the gun worked fine...