Bought the Detective Special...

[Mastrogiacomo]

Decided to put the balance on my charge and picked it up and cleaned it today. Sharp looking little gun. I'll be getting a nice Pachmayr grip for it and later customize it with a new finish and a trigger job. Looking forward to using it soon.

 

[surfinUSA]

I think you'll like it, they are great guns. Although they are 6 shot, these guns will work with many of the holsters designed for the S&W J frame 5 shot. Although they do have their own specific speed loader they will also work with the S&W K frame HKS speed loader.

One thing you may not like is that the triggers are thinner than S&W triggers. Consequently, when using +Ps you may find it somewhat painful for your trigger finger.

These guns are right behind the S&W 3 inch 65 as my personal favorite self defense guns. Unlike the 65, these guns work just fine in a pocket holster if you use the right grips and their light weight cousin the Agent works even better. Also, Waller makes a nice copy of the Colt hammer shroud for these guns.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I typically use Winchester ammo in my guns. Any particular grain I should use or avoid?

 

[GrandmasterB]

I use 158gr LWSCHP +P's for defense work in my Detective Special.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Nice looking pic -- do the wooden grips cause any discomfort when you fire?

 

[stv]

GrandMasterB - What brand/model of grips are those? That looks like my ideal carry gun...

 

[GrandmasterB]

Those are Eagle Secret Service grips. They are small enough for pocket carry but don't do much to soften the recoil of the +P rounds. But the recoil is very manageable, and I bought them primarily for concealment reasons.

 

[proco]

That's a 10-4 on the sharp looking, congratulations on your new purchase. I shoot mine wearing pachmayr's. I use 158 gr. LSWCHP as well.

Enjoy!

- Pat

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Mine came with wooden grips, which I'm assuming were the originals. It's in good shape but I prefer the Pachmayr myself so I've ordered it from the shop. I think they help with the recoil and add a nice touch to the gun.

 

[Standing Wolf]

http://www.herrett-stocks.com

 

[cmsgt5]

grips and trigger

Greetings,
I finally found a Detective Special a couple of years ago. It is a keeper. Mine I believe was from '74, not a bad era for the DS, so I was told.
Anyway, the grips I bought were the wood grips from Hogue; and the gun looks great and has a nice feel to it to when shooting.
Second, I had a reputable gunsmith in MT do a complete action job ($125) cause in double action shooting, there was the stacking feeling before firing. The gun came back without any improvement! Later, I contacted Cylinder and Slide; and folks there said they knew how to fix the problem, and they did! I sent it there for a super action job ($245), and I was told they would be reforging a spring. They sure got it right! The process took a few months, but it was worth the wait, and they deserve their top reputation.
cmsgt5

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I hope I won't have to pay that much for a basic trigger job. Has anyone had any experiences with Colt's gunsmithing?

 

[tex_n_cal]

I actually saw one of the rare 3" models a couple months ago, but wasn't smart enough to buy it at the time. I think I was feeding my 1911 habit, or something. :banghead:

I think the 3" heavy barreled S&W with adjustable sights is a little better, but the DS is never a bad decision.

 

[Erich]

I'm glad to see someone else kicking himself for not buying a 3" DS. I saw one in '03 in a gun show, in NIB condition for $495, and I"ve regretted not having even tried.

I have a couple of the 3" J-frames, btw. Really nice guns.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I just bought Winchester 38 SPL. +p 125 GR. JHP and 38 SPECIAL 130 GR. FMJ. Which of the two is better for the Detective Special?

 

[Majic]

Action jobs on Colts are more expensive than that of a S&W. There's more labor involved (there are no drop in springs) which raises the price. Couple that with the few really qualified gunsmiths and you should understand why.
As you mentioned the recoil, generally it doesn't bother most shooters ( I know we are all different). A change in the design of the stocks can help drastically without resulting to using rubbers. Remember though to use the +P ammo sparingly. Shoot it with standard pressure ammo and check the POI of you chosen +P and just keep that for carry use. The Dick Special was never rated for +P ammo untill it was redesigned in the 90's just before it was taken off the market.

 

[JCM298]

I sent my Magnum Carry back to Colt about two years ago because it shot patterns rather than groups. I don't know what they did to it but it is now my second most accurate snub I've ever shot. The action is smooth and it feels very good in my hand with Mustang grips.

The only snub that is more accurate is my Smith 649,

John

 

[slick6]

Detective Special prices?

1)What are these Detective Special's(With the shrouded ejector rod)going for in various regions of the USA, in NIB or LNIB, condition? What is considered a good price(Or, an average price?)?

2)Are the Detective Special's anywhere near as popular(Or, as good an investment, to collect?)as a Colt Diamondback(Or, if not, do you expect these to ever get as valuable as the Diamondback's, in the near future?)?

 

[Majic]

Generally a NIB Dick Special won't be no more than $400 to $450.
As to the popularity they are more popular than the Diamondback, but for a different purpose. The Dick Special is an excellent defensive revolver. It is well suited for pocket carry.
They will probably never reach the prices of the Diamondback (except for maybe a few special models), but they are quite collectable as they have been made for 70+ years in several generations, finishes, barrel lengths, grip frames, and calibers.

 

[BluesBear]

The Dick Special was never rated for +P ammo untill it was redesigned in the 90's just before it was taken off the market.

MYTH!

Colt was admitting in the late, late 1970s that the Detective Special was OK for +P.

 

[Majic]

Colt issued an ok for limited use and recommended that the revolver be sent back to the factory for inspection (frame stretching) at a certain round count.
They never RATED it for +P use till the improved SF frame was put on the market.

 

[Erich]

Yeah. That +P "round count" in the post-1972 guns was, IIRC, 1500.

I strongly suspect my 1976 Agent will never see that many +Ps. But I carry 158-gr +Ps, and I've made sure they work in the revolver.

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt rated the DS for +P ammo with the 1972 shrouded barrel model.

In the 1970's to 80's the factory manual gave the standard for up to 3000 rounds, with a factory inspection and possible frame replacement after 3000 rounds.

In the later 1990's, Colt changed the standard to a factory inspection every 2000 to 3000 rounds with no stated maximum limit.

The early 1972 shrouded aluminum framed Cobra and Agent were rated for 1500 rounds, changed in the 90's to factory inspection every 1000 rounds.

In the 1990's, the Colt manuals stated that the "D" framed guns were good for "Limited amounts of +P ammo", with the caution about having them inspected, and a statement that this would accelerate wear of the gun.

The manuals were very specific that ANY use of +P+ would damage the gun AND void the factory warranty.

For those who'd like to see one, here's a link to a 2000 era Colt factory manual.
http://www.stevespages.com/page7b.htm

Since there ARE no frames available for replacements, a wise owner holds the shooting of +P ammo to the barest possible minimum.

 

[BluesBear]

Thank you for your update dfariswheel.

As a Colt dealer in 1978 I remember getting official notification (as well as ad slicks and posters) in the mail as to the suitability of +p ammo in D-frame revolvers.

 

[JNewell]

Has anyone had any experiences with Colt's gunsmithing?

I have had bad luck with Colt. Things go in one way, come back worse, go back again, come back the same...