Colt Trooper MK III .22lr questions...

[default]

A friend has loaned me his early '80s Colt Trooper MK III blued .22lr 6" revolver, perhaps with an option to buy. It's very clean, seems to lock up tight, weighs a ton and looks like a million bucks, to my eyes anyway, and as I am looking to economize on practice, as well as own a wheelgun, and also to have a real Colt™, of some sort, it could help me achieve several goals. I don't know exactly what he wants for it, if it's in fact for sale and I decide I want it, but I expect I'll be bending over backwards to overpay and he'll be looking for ways to undercharge, so that's not an issue.

I know that dry-firing rimfires is a no-no, particularly with this model. Any other issues I should be aware of?

Revolvers are ammo quality-insensitive, within reason, right?

Clean from the muzzle to the breech, right?

Brass brushes are okay - bore and charge holes? Break-free CLP will be suitable to clean this firearm?

Finally, I assume that dry-firing does not include miscounting and dropping the hammer on a spent case - pulling the trigger 7, rather than 6 times won't hurt the gun, as long as the hammer falls on an empty cartridge?

Finally, in addition to the sheer fun of shooting a nice .22lr handgun, would it be reasonable to expect that mastering double-action shooting with a rimfire revolver might have side effects in the quality of my centerfire autoloader shooting?

Thanks for any info - I know my garden-variety autos reasonably well but wheelguns and rimfires are sketchy territory for me, at the moment.

 

[Majic]

Revolvers are ammo quality-insensitive, within reason, right?

Well not really. Poor quality ammo is generally inconsistent and that will translate into poor groups. Also all rimfire firearms are ammo sensitive. You have to shoot various brands and styles of ammo to find what one particular firearm likes.

Clean from the muzzle to the breech, right?

Brass brushes are okay - bore and charge holes? Break-free CLP will be suitable to clean this firearm?

If you could clean from the breech it would be much better, but cleaning from the muzzle is almost a necessity. Also brushing a rimfire's bore isn't all that necessay. A bore snake is fine, but a lot of rimfire shooters seldom clean the bore unless you are switching between different ammo.

Finally, I assume that dry-firing does not include miscounting and dropping the hammer on a spent case - pulling the trigger 7, rather than 6 times won't hurt the gun, as long as the hammer falls on an empty cartridge?

Not a problem in fact a lot of rimfire shooters use spent cases as snap caps.

Finally, in addition to the sheer fun of shooting a nice .22lr handgun, would it be reasonable to expect that mastering double-action shooting with a rimfire revolver might have side effects in the quality of my centerfire autoloader shooting?

Mastering the trigger of a double action revolver generally improves the trigger control of any type of action.

 

[Sunray]

"...Revolvers are ammo quality-insensitive, within reason, right?..." Yep, but it isn't just revolvers. ALL .22's require you to try as many brands of ammo as you can to find the ammo the firearm likes. It's more important with a semi-auto though. The amm ohas t ocycle the action as well as shoot well.
"...would it be reasonable to expect..." It's like the difference between driving an automatic and a standard transmission vehicle. Or shooting a semi-auto rifle or a bolt action. Same thing, but different. You adjust your techniques according to what you're shooting at the time. Sight picture, breathing and trigger control don't change, but your grip will. A proper trigger job will matter if the Colt hasn't had one.
"...dropping the hammer on a spent case..." That'll do, but snap caps are better.

 

[22-rimfire]

Default, sounds like you're in for a lot of fun. You have it all about right. The only biggie with the Trooper Mark III is dry firing on an empty chamber. Don't do that. You can break the firing pin and that is a factory job to replace.

Most 22's will prefer a certain brand of ammo. That is a pure accuracy thing and has nothing to do with function.

Wish I had a Trooper Mark III shooter in 22. It's my favorite 357 shooter. You might want to find some grips for it if you keep it if it has the factory walnut stocks on it. Save them. Pachmayrs will probably improve your shootig somewhat. The only negative to that revolver is that some feel it a bit heavy for 22. Reminds me of the Official Police model.

 

[default]

Thanks for the information and advice everyone, much appreciated!

 

[welldoya]

I've got the same gun and you described it perfectly - seems to lock up tight, weighs a ton and looks like a million bucks.
But, you forgot to add extremely accurate.
Mine is so smooth I thought it had an action job.
They are great guns and are only going up in value. If you get a chance to buy it at a reasonable price (less than $400) jump on it.

 

[default]

But, you forgot to add extremely accurate.

I haven't shot it yet, but I hope to confirm that soon.

 

[Ash]

My grandfather gave me one is brushed nickel many, many years ago. It was my first handgun (he gave it to "my dad" when I was 14 or 15). I took full possession of it after I graduated from college and moved out on my own. It is a wonderful shooter.

It also taught me a lesson about gun shops. I took it in a shop, not long after graduation, when I was looking for a centerfire pistol for self-defense (all I had was that .22). The guy behind the bar said the best the shop could do was give $40 towards it, or $60 in trade (in 1996). I left and have never bought a thing at that shop. I still have the Colt and would most certainly never sell it now.

Ash

 

[jdomin]

buy it they aint making any more

 

[default]

Thanks for the information, sounds like a gun with a good reputation!

 

[slow944]

I had a Trooper made in '65 and I sold it to finance a Python. I really like the Python but I miss the Trooper. Went back to where I sold it and it was already gone. Asjdomin said "they ain't making any more.

 

[.22LR_Colt_Owner]

I just recently was gifted a Colt Trooper MKIII in a .22LR caliber from my grandfather. I have shot this revolver a few times and it is as most people will agree and gun that will last a life time. It is a bit heavy, but from my understanding it was a produced in limited quanity in comparison to its larger brother the .357 mag. Does anyone know of a way to find the approx. value of these timeless guns?

 

[welldoya]

Look at the completed auctions on Gunbroker.com to see what people are really paying. They have gone up a lot in the past few years.

 

[Ty 357]

If you get a chance to buy it at a reasonable price (less than $400) jump on it.

I know that a nice/tight .22 trooper would sell fast, quick and in a hurry for $400+ in my neck of the woods.

I believe the Colt troopers were undervalued somewhat while the Pythons & Cobras were moving up. Now the troopers are starting to catch up and be recognized for the fine revolvers they are...my 2 pence.

 

[Bill B.]

I know that a nice/tight .22 trooper would sell fast, quick and in a hurry for $400+ in my neck of the woods.

In my neck of the woods they are asking $600.00!

 

[welldoya]

YOu guys are right about the price of them now. If you notice the date on my original post saying to buy it if it was less than $400, it was 3 years ago. This is an old thread. My post yesterday said that prices have gone up quite a bit the last couple of years. And your experience proves it.
I saw one that was NIB go for $1100 a couple of months ago. Nice ones regularly go for $600 +.

 

[TonyT]

I have both the Colt Officer Model framed and S&W K-framed 22's. I shoot bothj of them without any clear preference. The Da trigger on the S&W's is slightly smoother than Colt's but that may be a function of their lock up sequence - it seems the Colt's lock the cylinder virtually simultaneously with hammer release while the S&W lock the cylinder just prior to hammer release.

 

[Checkman]

I found a 22LR MK III Trooper yesterday in a local shop. It was in good condition and the action was tight. Price tag was $575.00.

 

[unspellable]

The difference in double action pull between a Colt Officer and a K frame S&W has more to do with the difference in how the main spring is set up than with the difference in lock up.

If you have a 22 Trooper, be kind to it. They ain't all that common and have a bit of collector value over the 357 version.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Clean from the muzzle to the breech, right?

Many rimfire shooters never clean the bore of a .22. The bullets are soft lead and well-lubed -- the fouling actually protects the bore. If you feel the need, use a bore snake or a pull through. No need to clean from the muzzle.

 

[22-rimfire]

Welcome to the forum 22LR Colt Owner.

The 22's are certainly less common than the 357 mag version. Values have been climbing as you probably noticed. It was not uncommon to buy one for $350 in 2007. Now you are often looking at a few hundred more for ones in good condition. As was mentioned, check closed auction prices to get a feel for present values.

 

[CajunBass]

Does anyone know of a way to find the approx. value of these timeless guns?

I saw a nickled one at my favorite dealer a few days ago, box included. It was on consignment for $699.00.

I didn't look at it closely, but in the display case, it looked to be at worst in very good condition.

 

[BullfrogKen]

This thread began before the Current Era of Nuttiness™. Everything has gone up in cost, but .22 rimfire guns seem to have increased at a steeper rate. And .22 rimfire hasn't had the volatility in inventories like primers, so sometimes .22's are the only things I own that I've been able to play hard with.


I found one at a gun show early this summer, and with a deposit had the dealer set it aside for me. I'll pick it up sometime next week. It's a heavy piece, but they certainly hold steady.


I own about a dozen blaze orange plastic training rounds in all my handgun calibers. Those are enough to slip into the chambers and protect the piring pin during dry fire practice.

 

[bayouboy]

Couldn't let this thread die without pics

4 inch blue 22lr


8 inch nickel 22lr

 

[Walkalong]

Very, very, nice revolvers there bayouboy. I have a 4", and two 6" Trooper Mk III's , but all in .357. I have an 8" up for sale locally. If I run into a good deal on a TMIII in .22, I will jump on it. I really like that 4" gun.