Colt Revolvers?

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nightcrawler

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
6,950
Location
Utah, inside the Terraformed Zone
Who here is a Colt revolver buff? I had never really given them much thought, but...

I saw a 6" Anaconda in .44 Mag in a local shop. I never really considered a .44 Magnum and I swore up and down that I'd not buy another six inch revolver (and it is pricey), but that thing's awful pretty.

So how strong are the Pythons and Anacondas? How accurate? How reliable? How do they compare, accuracy and durability wise, to S&Ws, Rugers, and Tauri?

I know they don't make them now, but have they ever made an Anaconda in .45 Colt? I think I'd like to get my hands on one of those...

Oh, and if you have a Colt revolver, this is a GREAT place to post a picture! :D
 
Allow me to mislead you!

Now, realize I don't own a Colt revolver, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

From what I understand, the Colt Python is an extemely accurate weapon, due to it's bore being slightly under caliber. As for ruggedness, I have been given to understand it is not in the same catagory as say a Ruger GP-100. It is not a good idea to give it a steady diet of full house loads.

I am not sure if the same things also apply to the Andaconda or not.

But, you are right...they sure are pretty....


someday....:(

greg
 
Colt .357

standard.jpg

Colt .22 Officer's Model Match

standard.gif

Detective Special

standard.jpg

And my favorite Colt shooter, a .22 New Service

standard.jpg

I like my Colts, but they don't hold a candle to a good S&W in my opinion; of course, there are several qualified folks who vehemently disagree with my opinion, so I could be wrong - after all, there's a first time for everything.
 
Nothing like 'em, as long as you're talking single actions!

I wouldn't trade my Colt SAAs for anything, except more of the same maybe.

If you're talking double action revolvers, make mine Smith & Wesson.

I don't have any problem with the quality of Colt double action revolvers; it's just that I've never cared for their grips, or especially for the cylinder latch operation. I want to push to open, not pull.
 
That's a terrific photo of the early Trooper BulletBob. That Officer's Match model 22 is inspiring too. I almost bought one of those but didn't want to pony up the $475.
 
Colt makes some nice revolvers or did anyway. But they do go out of time faster than others.
Pat
 
I only have one Colt, and it's a Python. I love it! I shoot it, and it is VERY accurate. As to it's reliability? I shoot it often and have never had a problem with it. I have had it about 5 years now and it was bought used. The person who had it before probably didn't fire it very very often, if at all, as it looked brand new, and it was made in 1972. I also have a S&W, but the trigger action isn't near as nice as the Python, and it has a nice trigger action too.
 
Yes, they did make a .45 Long Colt Anaconda but it's hard to come by these days and you'll pay upwards of $1,200 for one NIB - providing you can find one. Colt still manufactures the Anaconda, but only as a custom shop offering and new models will run you just about as much. I've seen several used .44 Magnum models recently and am considering purchasing one myself since I've always wanted one. The problem is that each time I look at that nearly $900 price tag I cannot help but recollect that I've bought two used .357's for less than that. :eek:
 
My post didn't go through. Let me try this again.

In general, the older the Colt revolver, the better. The Colt mechanism is older and more complex than the Smith & Wesson, and therefore more expensive to manufacture and more difficult to work on—but more likely to deliver a truly crisp single action pull.

Current production Colt revolvers are inferior to Rugers.
 
The Python and the Anaconda are really different guns. The Python is a very old lock design and is not, shall we say, particularly overbuilt. The Anaconda is by all accounts a tank, but it's a successor to the MIII/MkV action.
 
Great Pics Bullet Bob, love the Colts you have shown!

Nightcrawler,

I have only one Colt revolver, a King Cobra .357 mag. It's not a Python or Anaconda in price, nor is it in quality, I assume? However, I don't know how you would make a revolver any nicer in feel, finish and trigger action than this King Cobra? I would like another if I can find one at a decent price. I have a hunting buddy that owns a Anaconda, like me with my KC, he doesn't shoot it a lot but, I promise you it's a whale of a firearm! When I bought my Super Redhawk I looked at the Anacondas but, like others here, I just couldn't see ponying up the twice what a Ruger SRH costs.

My King Cobra looks identical to the following pictures, it's one of my favorite handguns, mostly a safe queen now. BTW, this ones sold.
:(

King Cobra in Bright Stainless
 
You cannot have too many Colts. Mine are older actions. My modern Colt Trooper MKIII in 357 Magnum was my duty weapon. It has never loosened up, gotten out of time or gone squirelly on me.
 
I'm not a Colt buff or historian but I do own a Python.
It is a new model 6" S/S Elite.
The single action trigger is the finest I have ever tripped. Double action is smoooth. When I first bought it I put a Trijicon reflex II on it to test ammo. At 50 yards it put any load into 3-1/2" or less. With Win Supreme 180 noslers it will do about 2". CCI .38 Blazers went 2-1/2" (!). With a real scope it would probably do better, the reflex has no magnification.
Lockup is amazing. When you pull the hammer to full cock it locks up tight. When you pull the trigger it locks up tighter! I havn't figured out how they do it, but they do.
I spent nearly a grand on it and don't feel like I overpaid.
I shoot the best groups I ever have with the Python.
 
My brothers a smith&wesson fan. Has himself a 44mag with the 8" barrel. I let him put 6 shots down range with my 6" python. :D He about dropped a load in his pants. I ended up selling it to him...
 
My Python has the best revolver action I have ever felt.
Better than custom Smiths I have owned.
Both Smiths and Pythons are great guns, I prefer the Python in 357.
My 41 is a Smith and my 44 is a Taurus. Go figure. :cool:
 
The absolute smoothest, most accurate revolver I have ver fired was a 6" blue Python I bought brand new in 1976 for $300. I carried it on duty for several years until we switched to .41 Magnum. It is truely the one gun I most regret selling.

As for going out of time easier/faster.. I have seen no proof to that. It appears to be states as a fact primarily by people who don't own any Colt DA revolvers. Now I ain't saying it hasn't happened, nor that I haven't seen any, just that I have seen plenty of S&Ws, Dan Wessons & Rugers that have jumped time also. I doubt that a Colt has had any more problems in proportion than that of S&W, Ruger or Dan Wesson.
 
Colt Python Quality

As the Fitz Pistol Grip Co. from 1920 to 1979. We made an awful lot of aftermarket grips for Colts. Customers loved their Diamondbacks, Agents, Police Positive, Police Positive Specials and Cobras that I still have a few grips for. But on the Python, Officers Model and Trooper my customers preferred the MK1&2 models made before 1972 even though the top of the grip frame was strengthened in the MK3 models they were not the same quality overall.

Everyone that has a Python loves them with their 9mm barrel that spits out 38 bullets very accurately. Whenever a shooter appears at the range with one it is natural for the bystanders to watch to see how well the shooter does with it as they are impressive looking weapons.

To tell the difference in the models, in looking at the top of the bare grip frames, on the right side in the older models there is a sort of a half moon shape cut out whereas on the later model there is a squarish section of added steel at the top of the frame. I have several target grips left for these quality weapons. I would appreciate a picture of a Colt Mk 3 grip frame for my files. I have an early Colt frame.
 
As for going out of time easier/faster.. I have seen no proof to that. It appears to be states as a fact primarily by people who don't own any Colt DA revolvers.
Click to expand...

No kidding.

Anyway, the Python is not a "fragile" gun in the usual sense. It is built on a .41 frame under-bored to .357ish. It is comparable to a S&W L-frame, if not heavier, and made of very good forged steel. Having guys shooting K-frame 'smiths in .357 tell you that your Python is "fragile" is a joke.

Pythons were designed for accuracy, period. They have a tight bore, tight lockup and can have superb triggers (though some later Python trigger pulls sucked). People who wanted their 'smiths more accurate would put Python barrels on them, hence the mutant known as the "Smython." The one I saw looked just as wierd as that sounds, not the least because the barrel was blued and screwed into a stainless N-frame. :scrutiny:
 
Well if you are right handed it's NOT advisable to use a "high thumb" hold ala your 1911...
don't know WHAT I was thinking sunday when I touched off a 158gr bullet on 6.5 grs of Red Dot from my Magnum Carry. Result was a split thumb nail and using a cleaning patch to wipe the blood off my revolver.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Comparison: Python vs Anaconda?
Replies
16
Views
19K
4thHorseman
4
S
  • Locked
Colt Anaconda in .44 Mag?
Replies
16
Views
1K
old4x4
O
I
  • Locked
Are Colt Revolvers DEAD?
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
Majic
M
eastbank
  • Locked
this colt came for a visit and stayed.
Replies
2
Views
501
Reloadron
Reloadron
brutus51
  • Locked
Speaking of Colt revolvers
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
bannockburn
bannockburn
Back
Top