New Colt Python First 100 shots

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Wondering if Colt provides a
.050 Allen wrench; I never saw
one in the Python 2020 box.

Ended up buying one just for
the few months I owned the
firearm.
 
Joe Texas,

You ask why DA only. Many revolver fans
do almost exclusively shoot DA only. This
is with the so-called mid-bore calibers.

The accuracy is better than you might think.

And I do shoot strong hand and "weak"
hand. And it's often done using only the one
hand.

As to magnums, seldom, since the blast/recoil
is beyond any benefits the round provides in
defensive shooting indoors and outdoors.
(Not interested in hunting.)

Haven't tried shooting on one leg while hopping
about but it's an intriguing thought. :)
 
UncleEd said:
Joe Texas,

You ask why DA only. Many revolver fans
do almost exclusively shoot DA only. This
is with the so-called mid-bore calibers.

The accuracy is better than you might think.

And I do shoot strong hand and "weak"
hand. And it's often done using only the one
hand.

As to magnums, seldom, since the blast/recoil
is beyond any benefits the round provides in
defensive shooting indoors and outdoors.
(Not interested in hunting.)

Haven't tried shooting on one leg while hopping
about but it's an intriguing thought. :)
Click to expand...
Obviously I was just giving you a hard time.

I’ve been known to carry a new Cobra that I practice DA with. I view the larger revolvers as target guns more than anything. I also have a old Vaquero in .45 Colt that is obviously SA only. Like the heavier GP100 and Python, it is more of a fun gun than a hunting or SD gun.

In addition to using them for target shooting, I like the larger revolvers paired with a lever action of the same caliber for walking in the woods. For urban SD/carry guns, semi-autos carry/conceal better, have a larger capacity, and have more options for night sights than a 42 oz 6-7 shot wheel gun.
 
Joe Texas said:
Obviously I was just giving you a hard time.

I’ve been known to carry a new Cobra that I practice DA with. I view the larger revolvers as target guns more than anything. I also have a old Vaquero in .45 Colt that is obviously SA only. Like the heavier GP100 and Python, it is more of a fun gun than a hunting or SD gun.

In addition to using them for target shooting, I like the larger revolvers paired with a lever action of the same caliber for walking in the woods. For urban SD/carry guns, semi-autos carry/conceal better, have a larger capacity, and have more options for night sights than a 42 oz 6-7 shot wheel gun.
Click to expand...
When my father-in-law was a Deputy Sheriff he carried a 6" stainless Python. Still has it, too. We were looking in over this weekend after rearranging his reloading area. It still looks new and has a sweet trigger, even after thousands of rounds and being carried in a patrol car five days a week.

Strangest thing... in all those thousands of rounds, after all these years, it's never gone out of time or been worked over by a gunsmith. Kinda weird, huh? :evil:
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
When my father-in-law was a Deputy Sheriff he carried a 6" stainless Python. Still has it, too. We were looking in over this weekend after rearranging his reloading area. It still looks new and has a sweet trigger, even after thousands of rounds and being carried in a patrol car five days a week.

Strangest thing... in all those thousands of rounds, after all these years, it's never gone out of time or been worked over by a gunsmith. Kinda weird, huh? :evil:
Click to expand...
Pretty cool. Smart people tell me that the more a trigger is pulled the better it gets. Most of the reviewers say the DA is better on the new Pythons and the SA is better on the old ones. I’ve never had the pleasure of even holding an old one.
 
Joe Texas said:
$1599. Crazy, I know. I’m actually kind of embarrassed to have spent that much on a handgun.

I paid $550 or so for my GP100 years ago. After polishing the internals, shimming the hammer, and changing a couple of springs, the trigger on my Ruger is now comparable to the Python out of the box. Aside from being a little “looser” than the Colt, when viewed strictly as a tool, there is no significant difference between the GP100 (w/trigger job) and the Python that justifies the extra $1000 in price.

The new Colt Python truly is a fine production revolver and a bucket list gun for many. I guess that’s me. I love the .357 caliber. It’s hard to think of a more iconic and stylish platform to fire it out of. At the end of the day, I get to say I have a Colt Python. Is it worth it? I guess that’s up to the person laying down the cash. One thing’s for sure - it sure is purty.
Click to expand...

You likely got a deal. At this rate they will be $2,599 next year. Enjoy the new gun, it is basically the crown jewel of most revolver collections.
 
Joe Texas said:
I’ll chime in here. I actually have a 4.2” GP100 also.

Ruger GP100:
• The double action trigger on my Ruger was almost unusable out of the box.
• The single action was just okay.
• After changing the springs, polishing the internals, and shimming the hammer, the double action is now about 8 lbs and the single action is about 2.5 lbs.
• The tool marks from the MIM manufacturing process are apparent in several places.
• The action is rugged but more than a little loose compared to the Python.
• I put Williams fiber optic sights on it and love them.
• It feels heavier than the Python even though it is two ounces lighter.

New Colt Python:
• Double action is about 9.5 lbs but feels lighter ‘cause it’s perfectly smooth.
• The single action is a crisp 3.75 lbs. It could be a little lighter but I’m spoiled by the excellent results of the trigger job I did on the Ruger.
• Out of the box the Python trigger is about as good as any new production Smith I’ve played with. So are the triggers on the new Cobra and new King Cobra.
• Only someone used to triggers that have been worked on and lightened would be likely to complain.
• Those that are only familiar with out of the box revolvers would probably say it's among the best.
• It is balanced almost perfectly.
• Lockup, fit, and finish are near perfect.
• My accuracy with it continues to improve as I shoot it. I believe it exceeds my Ruger in accuracy potential.
• My only complaint concerns the stock front sight and limited aftermarket options.

@uncle Ed - “I shoot exclusively double action.” Why? I understand practicing DA shooting. I don’t understand depriving oneself of the ease of using SA. Do you also only shoot full-house magnum loads to further increase the difficulty? Maybe try shooting with your weaker hand while standing on one leg? If that gets too easy try hopping up and down? I’m sure you’ll master it in no time. I personally need all the help I can get. SA helps.
Click to expand...
There are guys in the internet who say “never practice SA” and they give all of us new shooters a hangup about it.

I felt guilty because I didn’t like to shoot 44 mag DA.

It took a friend telling me “that’s stupid” for me to wake up and start cocking the hammer
 
pairof44sp said:
There are guys in the internet who say “never practice SA” and they give all of us new shooters a hangup about it.

I felt guilty because I didn’t like to shoot 44 mag DA.

It took a friend telling me “that’s stupid” for me to wake up and start cocking the hammer
Click to expand...
There’s a whole segment of revolver guys that enjoy SA only Blackhawks and Colt SAA and clones. I can’t imagine trying to be precise with .44 mag recoil in DA. Precision pistol competitors use single action exclusively. You are in good company. Now, little 38 special SD guns make a lot more sense in DA - not these .357’s or larger calibers with the factory DA triggers that act as a safety.
 
jeff-10 said:
You likely got a deal. At this rate they will be $2,599 next year. Enjoy the new gun, it is basically the crown jewel of most revolver collections.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Relative to street price it wasn’t too bad. Relative to the price of milk and bread or a car note a $1600 toy IS a little nuts.
 
Joe Texas said:
Agreed. Relative to street price it wasn’t too bad. Relative to the price of milk and bread or a car note a $1600 toy IS a little nuts.
Click to expand...
But you got something that is going to desired, forever, by people with money to spend. So you can always get something for it, even if you’re selling in a hurry.

I’m starting to thing that expensive guns are cheaper than cheap ones
 
I've been lusting after a new python to keep my old python company.
Finally see one on the shelf at Sportsman Warehouse.
Safety check, cock the hammer, and dry fire at the floor.
Guy behind the counter goes off about not dry firing the gun.
1600 dollars and I can't feel the trigger?
For that money I'd have at least expected him to get some snap caps or something.
Nope.
Part of me wanted to buy it still just to dry fire it 100 times in front of the guy.
Felt good for the 30 seconds I got to hold it.
 
Caplock,

I can understand the admonishment
not to dry fire. It's not the actual
dry firing, it's what some would-be
owners do to guns such as fast
DA pulls, flipping and closing
cylinder before being stopped
and generally treating the gun
poorly.

And the topper then is for the
would-be owners to be provided
a gun that hasn't been
manhandled by customers.
 
Caplock said:
I've been lusting after a new python to keep my old python company.
Finally see one on the shelf at Sportsman Warehouse.
Safety check, cock the hammer, and dry fire at the floor.
Guy behind the counter goes off about not dry firing the gun.
1600 dollars and I can't feel the trigger?
For that money I'd have at least expected him to get some snap caps or something.
Nope.
Part of me wanted to buy it still just to dry fire it 100 times in front of the guy.
Felt good for the 30 seconds I got to hold it.
Click to expand...
I tried one of those new Colts at a local gun shop. It was pretty nice. But my 28-2 puts it to shame and cost me a lot less.
 
dickydalton said:
I tried one of those new Colts at a local gun shop.
Click to expand...
Handling a revolver at a gun shop for a couple minutes isn't exactly like putting it through its paces at the range to the tune of a hundred or so rounds... Just sayin' ... Owning some of the newer Colt's revolvers, I submit that you really have to put some rounds downrange to appreciate the triggers and the accuracy, even if you don't like their looks.

Why is it that whenever anyone puts up posts about Colt revolvers, so many folks are compelled to come in and tout how much better they think Smith and Wesson revolvers are?

Seriously, I am quite curious about this phenomena. I try not to make it a habit to pop into guys' threads about their Smiths or Rugers (I appreciate pretty much most makes of revolvers) and brag on my Colt, Korth or Manurhin (well, truthfully, I don't own examples of the latter two), so why is it that the Smith guys so often do this?
 
Old Dog said:
Handling a revolver at a gun shop for a couple minutes isn't exactly like putting it through its paces at the range to the tune of a hundred or so rounds... Just sayin' ... Owning some of the newer Colt's revolvers, I submit that you really have to put some rounds downrange to appreciate the triggers and the accuracy, even if you don't like their looks.

Why is it that whenever anyone puts up posts about Colt revolvers, so many folks are compelled to come in and tout how much better they think Smith and Wesson revolvers are?

Seriously, I am quite curious about this phenomena. I try not to make it a habit to pop into guys' threads about their Smiths or Rugers (I appreciate pretty much most makes of revolvers) and brag on my Colt, Korth or Manurhin (well, truthfully, I don't own examples of the latter two), so why is it that the Smith guys so often do this?
Click to expand...
Sorry for ruffling your feathers. I didn't mean it that way. I just can tell you that the Colt I was handling wasn't half the gun my S&W 28-2 is. If you are personally insulting me take The High Road.
 
dickydalton said:
If you are personally insulting me take The High Road.
Click to expand...
No insult intended.

The phenomena I noted has been going for a bit, in numerous threads and posts, more frequently of late. There seems to be, strangely, a lot of shade, outright lies and vitriol as well, thrown at Colt products while S&W gets a pass (truly ironic considering the controversy about "The Lock.") Guessin' there's a lot of newer gun guys who don't know their history.

Given that so many gun preferences are purely subjective, I was simply asking a question; I'm not the only one that's noticed this. For the record, statements such as "the Colt I was handling [presumably a new Python] wasn't half the gun my S&W 28-2 is" strikes me as just more purely subjective hyperbole, especially considering you didn't even shoot the Python. As such, just another internet post sans credibility.

Funny thing is, even though I own upwards of a dozen Colts, I'm much more of a S&W fan (the pre-lock, pre-MIM variety, of course)..
 
Joe Texas said:
$1599. Crazy, I know. I’m actually kind of embarrassed to have spent that much on a handgun.

I paid $550 or so for my GP100 years ago. After polishing the internals, shimming the hammer, and changing a couple of springs, the trigger on my Ruger is now comparable to the Python out of the box. Aside from being a little “looser” than the Colt, when viewed strictly as a tool, there is no significant difference between the GP100 (w/trigger job) and the Python that justifies the extra $1000 in price.
Click to expand...

Well... GP100's are not 550 anymore...inflation and the falling value of the dollar account for a big part of the gap... years ago as a kid I bought my original 6 inch blued python for 469.00 by the time ya pay the almost 800 for a GP and spend hours polishing the internals the difference is not that crazy... and I doubt the triggers are truly the same... serviceable and even nice but....
 
UPDATE/ADVICE:
• The set screws for the front and rear sights are #4-40 size. They need a .05 Allen key. I put blue locktite on them. The locktite was stronger than the tiny Allen key. I ruined 3 Allen keys before giving up. I had to drill out front screw, retap threads a little, and replace the set screw. Rear blade set screw is gonna stay where it’s at for a bit. All good now but whew! My advice - I wouldn’t put even the blue locktite on sight set screws.
• Got Marble red fiber optic front to replace stock blade w/insert. Will sight in for elevation @ 25 yards today.
• Disassembled and polished where the trigger contacts the hammer. Both SA and DA lighter. There’s room for still more improvement. Maybe later.
EDIT add: Fiber optic front a liitle short. Bottomed out rear with 158 grain swc .38 target load @ 25 yards. Might work. I’ll test w/others later. Should be just fine at shorter distances anyway. Much better sight picture (imo).
 
Last edited:
tallpaul said:
Well... GP100's are not 550 anymore...inflation and the falling value of the dollar account for a big part of the gap... years ago as a kid I bought my original 6 inch blued python for 469.00 by the time ya pay the almost 800 for a GP and spend hours polishing the internals the difference is not that crazy... and I doubt the triggers are truly the same... serviceable and even nice but....
Click to expand...
All true. Plus, the more I hold the Python the more I realize how elegant it is compared to the utilitarian GP100.
 
Joe Texas said:
UPDATE/ADVICE:
• The set screws for the front and rear sights are #4-40 size. They need a .05 Allen key. I put blue locktite on them. The locktite was stronger than the tiny Allen key. I ruined 3 Allen keys before giving up. I had to drill out front screw, retap threads a little, and replace the set screw. Rear blade set screw is gonna stay where it’s at for a bit. All good now but whew! My advice - I wouldn’t put even the blue locktite on sight set screws.
• Got Marble red fiber optic front to replace stock blade w/insert. Will sight in for elevation @ 25 yards today.
• Opened side plate and polished where the trigger contacts the hammer. Both SA and DA lighter. There’s room for still more improvement. Maybe later.
Click to expand...
Be careful how light you go with the SA trigger. I made the mistake of over-correcting a Contender trigger once and ended up with an unsafe gun and a high tab for replacement parts. You can't put metal back very easily. ;)
 
I have been shooting a lot of DA with my 4.25” Python, and this has paid many benefits for everything else I shoot. Mine has an 8.5# DA and 4.6# ounce SA, which is far heavier in SA than my Smith 686-5 7-rounder at 2.5#.

However, the Python SA trigger is extremely crisp, with zero movement before the break, and zero overtravel, unlike my 686.

The DA is slightly superior on the Colt compared to the (PC worked) 686 as well.
 
I guess I am just nostalgic, but the new Pythons just do not have that super classic look of the old ones. I once held a friend's Python that had a five digit serial number. The mirror blueing was impeccable and unbelievable. The balance was intoxicating. I had never seen a revolve like it to that point and have never seen one better since, except a few similar Pythons in gun cases carrying astronomical price tags.

I am not criticizing the new ones. They actually may be better guns, mechanically. But, nothing matches the superb Colt craftsmanship incorporated in the Pythons made prior to the mid-1960s.
 
elktrout said:
I am not criticizing the new ones. They actually may be better guns, mechanically. But, nothing matches the superb Colt craftsmanship incorporated in the Pythons made prior to the mid-1960s.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree with your point of view regarding externals... but the internals of every vintage Python I've ever peeked into are absolutely crude compared to the new ones. I've seen better finished lawn mower parts.
 
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