Colt Cobra..+p or not to +p

[sibedog]

Buying a Colt Cobra revolver. The gun was made in 1974 and it looks like it was used as a backup weapon because of all the holster wear on the barrel. .38 special is not to hard to find but self defense rds not in +p are not too plentiful. I have read Colt recommends you dont shoot +p thru it but there is much discussion pro and con to this being that the older loads were not designated + when the gun was made. So shoot just the 38 special for the range and carry +P for self defense?

 

[PistolPete45]

Sounds like a winner to me the +P would be good for Self defense. the old 38 round was a 158 grain bullet . hit hard the newer ammo seems to be lighter wight HP hoping to expand. I like the heavy bullets slower but so what how fast is you average bad guy .. can he out run a 850 fps bullet

 

[Ron James]

The Colt Cobra is an alloy frame firearm. First issue is 15 oz. the second issue is a little more. Your gun, if it were mine I would not shoot +P in it. I have a Model 36, steel frame. I shoot 38 Special and when I did carry it, I loaded +P. but in a LW alloy frame, no way would I take a chance on loosing the frame and cylinder. Your gun, your decision, Colt says no and remember, Colt gunsmiths are few and far between.

 

[finnfan]

Colt says no and remember, Colt gunsmiths are few and far between.

This. You could always just buy some Buffalo Bore standard .38 ammo. That stuff is hot,hot,hot but still okay for alloy frame guns.

 

[Ron James]

Like I said, his gun, his decision, there is nothing wrong with standard .38 Special as a defense load. People haven't gotten harder to kill., but they are not making anymore LW Colt Cobras.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a D frame manual from a later gun. If I recall correctly, Colt recommended sending the gun back for a check up after so many rounds of +P. Off the top of my head, I don't recall if that number was 1k or 3k.

You really want to open a can 'o worms? Start a debate over whether today's +P labeled rounds are hotter than .38 loadings from decades ago.

Personally, I will carry/practice I like outta an aluminum D frame shooter grade gun and not worry about it. I doubt if those activites will wear it out. If it does, big deal. There are plenty of them out there.

 

[Old Fuff]

Back when what would become the Cobra, Colt made a special prototype chambered in .357 Magnum.

Now don’t get any ideas because they didn’t simply rechamber a .38 Special. The cylinder was custom made using a special steel alloy and heat- treating process.

Anyway, they fired about 1000 rounds of .357 cartridges back when that round still had hair on its chest. The revolver stood up all right, but the folks doing the shooting complained so the test was aborted.

The real problem is when using especially hot .38 loads is that the hand can get pounded by the cylinder ratchet causing to gun to have problems relating to carry-up (full cylinder rotation from one chamber to the next).

Usually this situation can be corrected, but it takes a gunsmith, who is skilled and knowledgeable when it comes to this model Colt, and they are becoming fewer and fewer, and those who are good at what they do tend to be expensive.

Never forget that the Cobra and other early alloy revolvers were expected to be carried much and used little.

Admittedly it is getting harder to find appropriate ammunition for these older guns. The solution is to load your own ammunition, at least for practice.

 

[dfariswheel]

Starting in 1972 with the heavy shrouded barrel, Colt rated the aluminum framed "D" models like the Cobra and Agent for "up to" 1000 rounds of +P ammo, and the steel models like the Detective Special for up to 3000 rounds of +P.
After that amount the gun was to be returned to Colt for inspection and possible frame replacement.

Since Colt no longer has any frames, a smart move is to limit +P use to an occasional practice session with a couple of cylinders full, and do most practice with standard .38 Special ammo.
Load the +P for carry use.

Here's a late model "D" frame owner's manual that lists the suitable ammo and how much +P is allowable:

http://stevespages.com/pdf/colt_det...ack,_police_positive,_agent,_cobra,_viper.pdf

 

[sibedog]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to run some .38 special thru it ( 50 rds) and evaluate the gun. I'm buying the gun from a shop that I frequently buy so I trust that the gun is in good shape. I have a jframe S&W 60 that I carry often and a revolver is easier to shoot.

The Cobra shows wear so it has a history of not being boxed up in a closet. Saw the gun. Went home and did some researching and decided it would be a nice gun to have.

Thanks for the manual.

 

[oss117]

Interesting that the manual recommends these revolvers to be carried with only 5 rounds and an empty chamber under the hammer. I thought they had a safety device that allowed for a fully loaded cylinder.

 

[SwampWolf]

Interesting that the manual recommends these revolvers to be carried with only 5 rounds and an empty chamber under the hammer.

I'm also surprised. I can only assume that this "precaution" is lawyer inspired.

 

[rcmodel]

I thought they had a safety device that allowed for a fully loaded cylinder.

They always ALL did, since the first one in 1907, or whenever it was.

Whatever the manual said about 5 rounds in a Colt DA made since then is total BS Lawyer-Language.

rc

 

[REB]

Starting in 1972 with the heavy shrouded barrel, Colt rated the aluminum framed "D" models like the Cobra and Agent for "up to" 1000 rounds of +P ammo, and the steel models like the Detective Special for up to 3000 rounds of +P.
After that amount the gun was to be returned to Colt for inspection and possible frame replacement.

Since Colt no longer has any frames, a smart move is to limit +P use to an occasional practice session with a couple of cylinders full, and do most practice with standard .38 Special ammo.
Load the +P for carry use.

Here's a late model "D" frame owner's manual that lists the suitable ammo and how much +P is allowable:

http://stevespages.com/pdf/colt_det...ack,_police_positive,_agent,_cobra,_viper.pdf

If I remember correctly the rating was changed when colt changed the alloy for the frame in 1966, this is the short frame. The shrouded barrel didn't come along until 1972

 

[788Ham]

Thank you for posting that dfariswheel, I was told not to shot +P's in it when I bought it, haven't needed to shoot any in it anyway, have plenty of others more than capable to handle those rounds. Thanks! Mine was made in '57.

 

[BSA1]

Check out Hornady Critical Defense FTX non+P ammo.