Colt Metropolitan Ammo Question
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doc2rn
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I have been told it is not a good idea to consistently shoot +p out of older revolvers. It can cut the top strap. But if you are just using it for carry and using standard loads at the range I think your revolver will have a long life.
rswartsell
Member
This revolver is a .38 spl version of the Mk III Colt series that included the
.357 Lawman (Trooper Mk III with fixed rear sights). It was produced as issue bait for agencies (LE) that used .38 spl ammunition exclusively. Hence the name, implying city use.
The Trooper/Lawman Mk III revolvers it was scaled down from (shorter cylinder, and engineered to fit that cylinder), are easily among the strongest .357 revolvers ever commercially produced. They are based on a ".41 frame", Colt designated it the "J" frame. Sort of the equivalent of the Smith "L" frame. From a purely safety standpoint, it will eat (if in good condition) an almost unlimited number of +P rounds and simply shrug them off. If you wouldn't hesitate to shoot +P through a Smith Model 10 (and I wouldn't), you shouldn't here either.
From another standpoint, it is one of the vintage Colt revolvers with the shortest production runs. As such few were made and fewer still are available as good condition survivors. Pristine examples are the subject of "collector value" speculation among Colt collectors, rapidly gaining in "collector value".
Shooting any ammo in any gun produces some amount of wear, shooting higher pressure ammo produces more than lower pressure. Depending on the guns current condition and your interest in preserving as speculation on increasing value, you might elect for these reasons not to shoot +P or not shoot at all.
The fact that vintage Colts of certain eras were designed for periodic maintenance that may no longer be available is a much lesser issue with the Mk III and later guns than with previously produced Colts. It is prudent to remember that Mk III and later Colts with frame mounted firing pins should only be dry fired with good quality snap caps as the replacement of these firing pins requires an astronomically expensive piece of equipment found only in the Colt factory and, if you are a pessimist one day will no longer exist at all.
Use snap caps and decide if you have a shooter or a safe queen to one degree or another. If this is a shooter and you accept a lifespan of say only twice as long as your own lifespan, it will eat +P (current SAAMI standards) like candy. I make no claim or comment at all for rounds that exceed current SAAMI standards for +P. You can blow up anything if you try hard enough.
I am a bit green with envy.
Hope this helps.
.357 Lawman (Trooper Mk III with fixed rear sights). It was produced as issue bait for agencies (LE) that used .38 spl ammunition exclusively. Hence the name, implying city use.
The Trooper/Lawman Mk III revolvers it was scaled down from (shorter cylinder, and engineered to fit that cylinder), are easily among the strongest .357 revolvers ever commercially produced. They are based on a ".41 frame", Colt designated it the "J" frame. Sort of the equivalent of the Smith "L" frame. From a purely safety standpoint, it will eat (if in good condition) an almost unlimited number of +P rounds and simply shrug them off. If you wouldn't hesitate to shoot +P through a Smith Model 10 (and I wouldn't), you shouldn't here either.
From another standpoint, it is one of the vintage Colt revolvers with the shortest production runs. As such few were made and fewer still are available as good condition survivors. Pristine examples are the subject of "collector value" speculation among Colt collectors, rapidly gaining in "collector value".
Shooting any ammo in any gun produces some amount of wear, shooting higher pressure ammo produces more than lower pressure. Depending on the guns current condition and your interest in preserving as speculation on increasing value, you might elect for these reasons not to shoot +P or not shoot at all.
The fact that vintage Colts of certain eras were designed for periodic maintenance that may no longer be available is a much lesser issue with the Mk III and later guns than with previously produced Colts. It is prudent to remember that Mk III and later Colts with frame mounted firing pins should only be dry fired with good quality snap caps as the replacement of these firing pins requires an astronomically expensive piece of equipment found only in the Colt factory and, if you are a pessimist one day will no longer exist at all.
Use snap caps and decide if you have a shooter or a safe queen to one degree or another. If this is a shooter and you accept a lifespan of say only twice as long as your own lifespan, it will eat +P (current SAAMI standards) like candy. I make no claim or comment at all for rounds that exceed current SAAMI standards for +P. You can blow up anything if you try hard enough.
I am a bit green with envy.
Hope this helps.
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Kernel
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Pictures!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Not gonna happen with .38 Spl of any modern pressure spec.
Top strap cutting is a known problem with some magnum class revolver calibers using large charges of slow burning magnum class power.
The .38 Spl +P load does not fit that description.
The Colt Metro was built on the same .41 frame size as the .357 Trooper and .357 Python.
When chambered in .38 Special, it should last just about longer then you will, +P, or no +P.
rc
I wouldn't dream of getting a 95% Colt DA revolver hard chromed, unless you like the sound of half its value flushing away. This would be especially true for an unusual model like the Metropolitan. Keep it oiled, shoot it now and then and watch the value rise.
If you must have a Colt for everyday carry, find one that's been everyday carried and shows it.
P.S. +1 on no strap cutting with 38 special +Ps. Heavy use of 125 grain full house 357s maybe, 38 SPL, no.
tipoc
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"Hard chromed"! In this case that's sorta like finding a 1964 Mustang in 90% condition then spray painting it black cuz you want a black Mustang. Not a wise move I advise you against it.
It's your gun and you can do what you want but why would you think about doing such a thing?
tipoc
It's your gun and you can do what you want but why would you think about doing such a thing?
tipoc
From what I can find out it seems to be a $500 gun. I wouldn't think that value is quite collectors quality. It seems like a solid build though so I considered using it as a carry gun. I don't have the box or any of the papers.
tipoc
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The Metropolitan was only made from 1969 to 1972 or so. As a low production Colt DA revolver in 90% or so condition it is potentially collectable. It's value is somewhere between $500. to $600. dollars depending on where you live.
If kept in it's current condition and used as a range gun or home defense gun or even occasional carry it's value will only increase.
If used as an everyday carry gun it's value will decrease rapidly. If hard chromed, nickel plated, etc. it's value will be cut in half or less. It will cost between $150.-$200. to properly hard chrome it so now in addition to what you paid for it you have extra money into a gun the resale value of which is lowered.
I'll set aside the issue of whether a carry gun needs hard chroming unless you live in Alaska or frequent the bayou and get wet alot or take dips in the ocean.
As an everyday carry gun and shooter, the piece will eventually need tuning up. Fewer smiths know how to properly tune Colts these days and the supply of spare parts is less.
For $400. you can likely pick up an excellent used S&W or Ruger da wheelgun in stainless. Stainless does not need hard chroming, blued guns usually don't either but some fellas like it.
If the gun was beat up externally but in sound mechanical condition I might have a different opinion. But you say the gun is in 90% condition. Collectors often like examples of guns in very good to excellent condition for casual shooters and examples of the type that don't have to live in the safe.
So anyway that's my small opinion. It's your gun though and your decision.
tipoc
If kept in it's current condition and used as a range gun or home defense gun or even occasional carry it's value will only increase.
If used as an everyday carry gun it's value will decrease rapidly. If hard chromed, nickel plated, etc. it's value will be cut in half or less. It will cost between $150.-$200. to properly hard chrome it so now in addition to what you paid for it you have extra money into a gun the resale value of which is lowered.
I'll set aside the issue of whether a carry gun needs hard chroming unless you live in Alaska or frequent the bayou and get wet alot or take dips in the ocean.
As an everyday carry gun and shooter, the piece will eventually need tuning up. Fewer smiths know how to properly tune Colts these days and the supply of spare parts is less.
For $400. you can likely pick up an excellent used S&W or Ruger da wheelgun in stainless. Stainless does not need hard chroming, blued guns usually don't either but some fellas like it.
If the gun was beat up externally but in sound mechanical condition I might have a different opinion. But you say the gun is in 90% condition. Collectors often like examples of guns in very good to excellent condition for casual shooters and examples of the type that don't have to live in the safe.
So anyway that's my small opinion. It's your gun though and your decision.
tipoc
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rswartsell
Member
I agree with tipoc, we are singing from the same hymnal. That does not mean I am immune to the allure of selecting a vintage Colt for use. Far from it. I carry a 70's Detective Special and occasionally a 2" Lawman Mk III. I do so because they are fine revolvers and I feel good shooting them and depending on them. They however are not exactly "rare".
Again the periodic maintenance issue with pre-Mk III Colts can be overstated, but it is very real. Mk-III and after? I would say they require very little "additional" maintenance when compared to a contemporary Smith. They are no doubt different though and familiarity with them among contemporary gunsmiths is indeed an endangered species. The action is entirely new with these models and designed with an eye toward both production cost reduction and durability. "MIM" parts were introduced by Colt with these models, and hand fitting each internal part of the action went the way of the Dodo. They designed an action that simply did not require it. That does not mean that this action is in any way more delicate than it's predecessors, in fact the opposite was achieved by trading a bit of refinement for brute strength. They still maintain to this day a reputation for excellent accuracy, long a Colt hallmark.
This series (Mk III, including your Metro, assuming you buy it that is) is tough, accurate, rugged (is that the same as tough?) and strong as a bull. From that standpoint I would consider you well armed strapping a good one.
I did NOT say that I would carry the Metro. I have witnessed the Colt Police Positive go from obtainable pretty easily at about the $ 150.00 level, to today where a good example can often fetch $ 600.00 and north of that at auction (say gunbroker). And Colt produced a blue million Police Positives over many years. Over and over again Colt double actions, as each is "discovered" in turn have well outstripped the market in value inflation. This is no secret to Colt aficionados. They don't make Colt DAs at all anymore, but Colt fans are being made by the thousands as they discover that Colt set the quality bar very high indeed and that the vintage Colt is classy. They will charm a novice beyond what any Ruger would and will also capture the imagination beyond a Smith. Rightly or wrongly.
I would definitely buy it at a good price, but refinishing in any way or selecting for the rigors of carry duty I would not even consider for the twin reasons of rising value if kept at 95% and historic preservation. I would occasionally shoot it and likely with a few +P. You will not see it's like again in new production.
Again the periodic maintenance issue with pre-Mk III Colts can be overstated, but it is very real. Mk-III and after? I would say they require very little "additional" maintenance when compared to a contemporary Smith. They are no doubt different though and familiarity with them among contemporary gunsmiths is indeed an endangered species. The action is entirely new with these models and designed with an eye toward both production cost reduction and durability. "MIM" parts were introduced by Colt with these models, and hand fitting each internal part of the action went the way of the Dodo. They designed an action that simply did not require it. That does not mean that this action is in any way more delicate than it's predecessors, in fact the opposite was achieved by trading a bit of refinement for brute strength. They still maintain to this day a reputation for excellent accuracy, long a Colt hallmark.
This series (Mk III, including your Metro, assuming you buy it that is) is tough, accurate, rugged (is that the same as tough?) and strong as a bull. From that standpoint I would consider you well armed strapping a good one.
I did NOT say that I would carry the Metro. I have witnessed the Colt Police Positive go from obtainable pretty easily at about the $ 150.00 level, to today where a good example can often fetch $ 600.00 and north of that at auction (say gunbroker). And Colt produced a blue million Police Positives over many years. Over and over again Colt double actions, as each is "discovered" in turn have well outstripped the market in value inflation. This is no secret to Colt aficionados. They don't make Colt DAs at all anymore, but Colt fans are being made by the thousands as they discover that Colt set the quality bar very high indeed and that the vintage Colt is classy. They will charm a novice beyond what any Ruger would and will also capture the imagination beyond a Smith. Rightly or wrongly.
I would definitely buy it at a good price, but refinishing in any way or selecting for the rigors of carry duty I would not even consider for the twin reasons of rising value if kept at 95% and historic preservation. I would occasionally shoot it and likely with a few +P. You will not see it's like again in new production.
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