Colt Revolvers Are Beginning To.....

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SharpsDressedMan

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really annoy me. I have a nice Colt Python that I got slightly used, but my 300-400 rounds is beginning to cause the slightest timing issue (two chambers don't quite lock when cocked slow, but then lock when the hammer falls). It will be scheduled for a trigger job soon with C&S, which will solve that. However, today, my Detective Special started to hit off center on the primer on three chambers, and does not lock up when slowly fired DA, even after the hammer falls. That is no good. I don't want to keep spending gunsmith fees to keep any and all Colts running properly, so I'm beginning to get cold feet. I will probably let Colt address the Detective Special, as they are a little less expensive than C&S. Anyone else suffering these experiences?
 
If you're that annoyed, you should them and get a Taurus or Rossi.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
The Colt revolver was not meant to be fired in "slow DA." Slowly pulling the trigger in DA mode or slowly cocking the hammer to full cock will often result in the cylinder failing to fully index. Try using the guns as intended.

Also make sure the mechanism is clean. Dried grease, lint or other crud in the action can cause malfunctions. I bought an older Trooper last year and it failed to index until I scrubbed out the innards. After that it worked fine.

I have a number of I frame Colts built between 1930 and 1967. All have been used extensively and all work just fine. Unless I try to shoot them slowly...
 
The old style Colt lockwork was known for going out of time due to wear on the tip of the hand. Only thing you can do to delay it is make sure it's clean and properly lubed and you have no cylinder drag from excess headspaced ammo etc.

As for not being meant to cocked shoot slowly, baloney. If it doesn't carry up all the way when slowly cocked that means its out of time, period. May not be bad enough yet to send for repair but it's out of time.
 
Another theory is that they were made with a soft hand (pawl). I have a 1978 made Python that went out of time in 3 years (about 2500 rounds). It was sent back to Colt and they replaced the hand saying when it was installed it was too soft. The hand they put in was harder and I have not had any problems since. I would send it back and have Colt check it and repair as needed.
 
The following comes from Grant Cunningham's website:

Colt revolvers utilize the hand to lock the cylinder at time of ignition; the hand pushes the cylinder against the bolt, locking it solidly in place. A Colt cylinder, when in full lock, should NOT MOVE AT ALL. This has been referred to as the "bank vault lockup", and is what made the Colt DA revolvers famous. By the nature of the design, the hand will wear over a period of time and requires occasional replacement. The owner is expected to check the action regularly, and have the hand replaced when it shows any sign of wear. If the gun is used past the point where there is discernible cylinder play, the other parts of the action - the functions of which are all interrelated - will experience uncharacteristic wear, and need to be replaced. This can evolve into an expensive undertaking, and can be prevented by having the hand refit whenever it starts to wear.
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http://www.grantcunningham.com/colt-revolver-gunsmithing.html


And here is an even more interesting read: http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/colt_python_delicate.html
 
'The Colt revolver was not meant to be fired in "slow DA." ' I've never heard that. I've had more than 1 gunsmith tell me that a lot of rapid fire will create timing issues with a python. So, you can't fire them slow and you can't fire them fast, and you pay a lot for them. I see why I stick to S&W's and Rugers.
 
The Colt revolver was not meant to be fired in "slow DA
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That's absolute nonsense. If the OP's Colt is having timing issues, he's got a problem and the gun needs to be fixed.
 
Creating a drag on the cylinder and slow cycling is a way of testing for timing issues. Correct, the revolver is out of time.

If the revolvers are slightly used, I'd check with Colt about a warranty repair.
 
I have owned two Pythons and used factory 125gr. JHPs in them for bowling pin and IPSC competition ----- NEITHER lasted for much more then 5000 rds. before going " out of time" etc.

I really LOVE the look , handleing , trigger pull , and the FACT it's a COLT ---- BUT -- for the last 15-20 years , ALL my competition revolvers have been S&Ws . My old S&W 610 and 625 both have WAY OVER 10,000 rds. of IPSC Major power factor loads thru them and still are tight and accurate.
 
Go out and buy a American pickup truck and a Italian Ferrari.

Guess which one needs more maintenance and up keep to run correctly?

The other brands are mass produced guns made to withstand abuse and keep working acceptably while offering good quality and good accuracy.
The Python was a semi-custom revolver specifically intended to be the best quality, best finished, most accurate revolver ever made.

For that level of accuracy and a hand built action it requires more maintenance.
If you take a Ferrari off-roading you'll destroy it, but if you want the fastest most maneuverable car possible you have to accept the higher maintenance needs.
Complaining about the Pythons routine maintenance is like complaining that your Ferrari needs a oil change and new plugs more often than a pickup.

This holds true for any top of the line piece of high performance equipment. The higher performance comes at a price, and its higher maintenance.
 
I guess it just depends on how you look at it. I admit, the Python is the most beautiful gun ever produced (in my opinion, of course), but, I have owned a few with really top action jobs and shot more with nice action jobs and will always prefer a nicely tuned S&W. And, yes the tapered barrel and extra time spent on the Python will translate into more accuracy, but as accurate as the 686 and GP-100 are, we are talking about a difference that very few people are even good enough to tell.

Years ago, I went along while a friend of mine shot a 4" Python and 4" 686 from a Ransom rest at 25 yards. The difference was maybe a 1/2 and inch. They're gorgeous and if someone wants to spend $$ for one that's great, but I've never bought the Chevy/Ferrari comparison. In real world performance and action smoothness(S&W) they are too close. Just my opinion.
 
Dfariswheel, I guess I'm missing the "performance". Beauties, they are, but if you owned a Ferrari and it only went 1000 miles before you had to spend money for a tuneup, you'd soon be looking for a car that could look just as nice, but do better. The tuneups would soon double the cost of the car before you wore it out. I guess Pythons were meant to be hung on the wall and admired, rather than shot.
 
However, today, my Detective Special started to hit off center on the primer on three chambers, and does not lock up when slowly fired DA, even after the hammer falls.
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If those 3 chambers are one after the other I suspect a sprung crane. The crane is the part the cylinder swings out on, and the condition is often caused by abuse. To see, swing out the cylinder to be sure it's unloaded and then relatch the cylinder. Hold the crane firmly against the frame with the thumb and forefinger of your weak hand while cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger with your strong one. See if the cylinder still fails to rotate and lock up as it should. This test won't fix anything, but it may identify the problem.

Since the middle 1950's I have (off and on) carried a Detective Special. It is slightly smaller and lighter then a similar S&W K-frame snubby, has better sights, and is combat accurate out to 100 yards or a bit more. Also mine still locks up like a bank vault door. I admit it has had some TLC, but it's worth it.

That said, you do need to return it to the factory for a tune-up, and they might do it for free.
 
Old style Colt lockwork

The old style Colt lock work will go out of time not because of soft metal in the hand but because the tip of the hand is small and bears the brunt of the work. In the S&W or new style Colt the tip is a bit bigger and does not complete the carry up, the side of the hand does that. Hence the exact timing for the tip of the hand is not as critical as well as wearing slower.

But let's not panic! Just because the old style lock work will go out of time sooner doesn't mean it's going out of time after 50 rounds. I've never had one of my Colts go out of time although I can't say I've put 500,000 rounds through them either.
 
The silliness about how delicate Colts are is hilarious. I shoot my Detective Special every month as it is my daily carry and I believe that it behooves me to be competent with it. Maybe only 50 rounds but EVERY time. I would guess that it has 5000 rounds through it since I bought it used. It locks up with no movement whatsoever.
 
In this case delicate is a such a relative term. Compared to a Smith or Ruger, they simply don't hold up as well. There is a reason you don't see competition shooters who shoot a lot of rounds in a hurry use Pythons. I'm not saying they are not worthy guns to own and shoot, and they definitely have an aura that few guns can match. For me, all I'm saying is that considering the action issues (that I've personally experienced) and the prohibitive cost of pythons now days, I simply don't see a corresponding increase in performance to justify that cost. Plus, while not the works of art that pythons are, (externally), the 686 and GP-100 are super handguns at a fraction of the cost.
 
This holds true for any top of the line piece of high performance equipment. The higher performance comes at a price, and its higher maintenance.
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Well , I got to TOTALLY DISAGREE with that statement. I have/had custom hi-dollars 1911s in .45acp , 10mm , and .38 Super built by some of the finest gunsmiths to have ever been born -
Jim Clark Sr. , Bill Wilson { when he was still a 1 man shop } , Steve Nastoff , Jim Boland , and others. These were all full custom , very high performance guns with almost No Colt parts left in them when finished ----- NONE of these guns needed " more maintance " ----- some of them I fired 5000 rds. thru without doing ANY Cleaning , just relubeing every 500 rds. --- almost all of them would shoot 2" at 50 yards -- never bigger then 3" at 50 yards --- out of a proper bolted down Ranson Rest.
 
There is a reason you don't see competition shooters who shoot a lot of rounds in a hurry use Pythons.
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L-Frame got that right !!! In over 20+ years as a Action Shooting competitor , I know of NO ONE above a "C" class shooter who uses a Python.
 
easyrider

glad you sold your Python to someone who might appreciate it.

For you to have it would be like Liberace being married to Sophia
 
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