Colt Trooper .22LR With 8" Tube - How Common?

[Tracy Ohrt]

I had a .22 revolver itch I had to scratch and I bought a .22LR 8" Colt Trooper for a not bad price, in about 95% condition with only a little storage and handling wear. I missed picking its 6" brother by a couple weeks, which would have been my first choice.

I have tried to find even a pic of one, let alone any information, with no luck. I have found info on 8" .357's but little on this .22.

Does anyone else have one or owned one? Any advice on Troopers in general? Does anyone market grips for them anymore or is a gun show/ebay the best bet?

 

[Majic]

You have the Trooper MkIII as the Trooper only came with a 4" barrel in .22lr. I have one also. My buddy is in love with it so I let him keep it. It's rather accurate and has a decent MkIII trigger. There aren't a lot of aftermarket stocks for Colt's J-frame. A set of Herrets would be a good choice.
You don't see a lot of them around and the .22 magnum version is really scarce and commands a premium price tag.

 

[dfariswheel]

The 8" barrel is the least common in the Trooper Mark III.
Only Colt knows how many were produced, but probably not that many.

Many custom grip makers will make grips for the Mark III, but the most readily available, and the best feeling are the Hogue.

The only "watch-out" on the Mark III is to not dry fire it.
The firing pin "might" break, and firing pin replacement is a factory ONLY job, since special presses, support dies, and contour press punches are needed to do the job without damaging the frame.

Other than the firing pin replacement problem, the Mark III is an absolute tank of a revolver, and is certainly the strongest, toughest .22 handgun ever made.

These are large, heavy revolvers, with massive cylinders. Because of the weight and mass, the Mark III in .22LR is one of the all time greatest guns for shooting double action.
Once that massive cylinder starts to turn, it tends to continue to turn all the way to lock on the next chamber.

 

[Socrates]

Good looking, and, they shoot. The poor mans Colt Python...

s

 

[17RemFan]

I have two Trooper MKIIIs.Both are 6" and one is .357 and the other 22lr.One day while in a local gun shop I spotted through the display glass a Colt Trooper MKIII .Thinking , I already have one but this thing better not be a 22lr version.I asked to see it and the barrel read 22lr. I bought the gun that day .They are two of my favorite revolvers.Ill never sell them ...best of luck with yours.

 

[XavierBreath]

Here is my Trooper III in .22 LR and a Range Report.

 

[Eightball]

Those are .22's? Dang, I want one now. Thanks, guys........

 

[ak_milsurp]

.22 Mag Trooper MKIII

I have had my .22 Mag Colt Trooper MK II for ages! I bought mine between 1986 and 1987 used in a gun SHop In Mesa, AZ for $165.00. The guy said he just could not sell it, and had it marked to move.... I think the Shop had a gunsmith Biz called "Black Forest Bluing"... damn that'a long time ago!

It's always been an accurate gun just heavy for what it is....lol. Mine is a 4" bbl, with colt Grips and a red insert front sight blade, and about 95% condition. The action was worked long ago and single action is about 3 lbs, double action maybe 9.....

I had no idea what they are worth today so I did a search.... Damn they are selling in the $450-650 range!!!! And I almost traded it on another Milsurp! Good thing I saw the internets seach info! I'm not selling it now...

Dave Anchorage, AK

 

[Eightball]

And I almost traded it on another Milsurp!

I'll give you a Spanish Mauser and a Mosin Nagant 1891/30 for that worthless .22. Please? C'mon........

Eh, well, it was a long shot anyway

 

[22-rimfire]

I have an 8" Nickel Trooper Mark III in 22 WMR. Really a nice revolver. I don't shoot it as it is as-new and somewhat rare. My 6" Trooper Mark III 22LR is also NIB. I traded a 4" Diamondback 22 for it that I bought cheap ($250) about 10 years ago. The Diamondback was about 98% maybe a tad better. I have a number of them, so a 98% DB was not missed. I did love the way the dealer jumped at the opportunity to trade that revolver even. I'm sure the Trooper had been sitting around and he'd sell the DB in a week. He did good and I got a revolver that I did not own at that point.

Main thing about the Trooper Mark III is don't dry fire it. In fact, I don't dry fire any 22 revolver. They are fine premium 22 revolvers by today's standards.

My Trooper Mark III 357 is my primary shooter 357 these days. Love that revolver.

 

[Onmilo]

I can give you an edumacated guess,
Maybe one in every one thousand Trooper revolvers was produced with an eight inch barrel and that makes the guns very uncommon.

 

[Litlman]

I have a 6 inch , one in E. Nickle, with a beat up box numbered to the gun. The gun is in about 95 % or better shape and is a TANK!. Balls out accurate. Paid $ 400 for it about 2 or so years ago. Saw one on Guns America a month ago , used in good shape for $ 899. Don't know if the got that for it. Did I say that it is a huge 22?

 

[mjb]

I have a two Colt Troopers Mk III in .22LR. One in 4 inch barrel and the other one in 6 inch barrel. The only other one I hve seen in my lifetime was at a gun auction back in 1992. You can get grips for them on E-Bay. I have been able to purchase Colt Pachmyr grips from that site.

 

[nikonshooter]

This is the first time I have found anyone talking about this series of guns. I have always wondered what mine was worth but could not find any info online and the gun shops were all over the map with estimated values. It is an 8" .22 wmr in e-nickel (colt guard??). Condition is good/used, I have fired it for hunting but it is not beat up. Also I have the original box, grips, etc. I will try to get a picture of it when I wake up this afternoon. Any ideas of value would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

 

[Ala Dan]

A very timely thread, as we just took in a prisitne 4" barrel
Colt Trooper MK-III in .22LR this week. Its a'bout a 98%
firearm, with pretty original bluing (no dings, marks, or
scratches at all); but with NO box or docs~! I had too
give a little more than I wanted too, but its a very nice
handgun, and would make a nice piece to any type of
Colt collection. Its new to our inventory, so a firm price
has not yet been set; but if interested you may contact
me at the office Monday thru Wednesday this week at
(205) 425-4720 and I will be glad to discuss it with you.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I also saw a 4" .22 magnum Mark III at The Gun Rack in Kernersville NC this weekend. I think it was marked for $550.00, but I don't remember for sure,.

 

[22-rimfire]

Nikonshooter: E-nickel 8" 22WMR Trooper Mark III; that is most uncommon gun. You have essentially grouped the least common features all into one gun. I believe I'd retire that one to safe queen status. You looking to sell it?

 

[nikonshooter]

No, I'm not open to sell it. I'm more of a buyer than a seller so I guess I better put it back to factory. I bought it in 1988 when I turned 18 as my first gun purchase from a local gun shop that had it on consignment. I have used it for small game and plinking with the family. Everyone likes to shoot it as it is very heavy (stable) and has a nice trigger. It is also very accurate with no recoil. Attached are a couple of pics I have taken before heading back to work. Thanks for everyone's information,

Jeff

 

[elric]

Well, I know Colt made at least two of them!

 

[Starter52]

Since we're talking 8" .22 MK III revolvers, I have one in bright nickel #Y255xx. Anyone have an idea of when it was made? Proofhouse was no help.

 

[22-rimfire]

Starter52: Looks like a 1980 gun based on the Wilson serial number listing. 1981 starts with Y40584.

Elric, that is a nice pair!

 

[dfariswheel]

nikonshooter:

If I had to guess, I'd guess that Colt produced no more than a few hundred at most of the satin Electroless Nickel (Also known as "Coltguard") Trooper Mark III's in an 8" barrel and .22 Magnum.

This would likely be the MOST rare of all the Trooper Mark III's.

 

[22-rimfire]

The Trooper Mark III was only cataloged between 1979 and 1982 in 22 caliber. It was not listed in the 1983 catalog. The 8" barrel was introduced in 1980 as I recall. The revolver was produced in Blue, bright nickel, and Coltguard finishs.

The Trooper Mark III's in 22 are a good one to keep ahold of. They were not well loved when they were available retail as the Diamondback was also availabe. Thought you Mark III 22 owners might want to be aware of some trivia.