Handled a new .22cal Colt King Cobra at the LGS yesterday

Frulk

Frulk

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First time in maybe 2 years that I asked the guy working the counter to pull something out from under the glass. He truly looked shocked!

I have to say I was significantly impressed. The first thing that came to mind was how svelte the gun was.

Second to that was the ‘Oh so shiny’ flawless finish followed by the smoothness and exacting nature of the mechanical movements. I was REALLY surprised how much I liked and admired the chrome finish appearance vs the matte stainless steel of my S&W 617. To me the gun is simply beautiful in its proportions and profile.

I have a small sticker on a Harley that reads ‘Ride eternal, shiny and chrome’. A reference to Mad Max Fury Road. If I bought that Colt I’d be compelled to put one on the truck that said ‘Shoot eternal, shiny and chrome’.

$990 was the price of entry. I have a number of nice .22’s in revolvers so this is not a NEED. I truly struggled with handing it back to the clerk. I wouldn’t have been able to had it been a .22mag.

Lastly, while the rubber grips fit my hands well a gun this close to a museum level work of art just screams out for a quality aftermarket exotic wood grip.

Anyone have one? If so share your thoughts.
 
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I have yet to see one in the flesh. My FFL buddy has been trying to get one from his distributor for ages.

Like you, I don't really need one- I have tons of nice .22 revolvers- but they are definitely tempting!

Buds had them in stock, last I looked- $1100 IIRC.
 
A friend of mine got one for Christmas from his 4 month old. That kid seriously knows how to give a gift. Not sure how he completed the 4473 though since he can’t read, write, speak, or stay awake long enough to fill out the form AND he has no ID of any kind. Something is up…

He is supposed to bring it to work so I will get to see it when I make a delivery.

And I would tend to agree that 22mag is much more interesting than 22lr. 22mag seems to generally be made to more tightly controlled tolerances and has bullets which are more conducive to accuracy at range. You can do the same with a 22lr with high end ammo, but poly tip CCI 22mags seem to be about as good as any 22lr ammo I have ever seen in all of the revolvers I have ever seen. My single six is a laser with CCI mags, and to match that accuracy with 22lr I have to forego the revolvers completely and use a rifle.
 
These have been updated after the first batch and seem to be out in the wild at retail again. Wish I had the cash.
 
It seems like they should have given it a different name , a snake less deadly than a cobra and keeping the snake line going with the different calibers for their own identity .
 
Pictures are as close as I have come to one but I haven been into a gunshop since early summer. I have had trouble reconciling the name from the first. King cobra seems a huge exaggeration for a round as puny as a 22 rimfire. Copperhead or perhaps Garden Snake would have been more in line with its capabilities. :p That aside, it is a very appealing revolver to me.
 
After I put up the OP, the thought of that gun had been gnawing on me for the past 2-3 days. Was pretty much going to go and get it even though I’d be more interested in it as a .22Mag.

Then out of the blue yesterday my buddy offered to sell me his brand new Razor UHD 18x56 binos at a crazy price so that derailed me.

Doubtful it will still be there when my allowance is released on 1 Feb.
 
I looked at/handled one a few weeks ago and like you was highly impressed. The only thing that has kept me from buying one, is a K-22 Smith and Wesson turning up a few weeks later. Now I just have to resist the urge to ask to see it again. :)

A 22 magnum wouldn't interest me, but the only thing I'd shoot it at would be a piece of paper. I wouldn't be surprised to see one before too long. Colt seems to have their ear to the ground these days.
 
I've been eyeing em up when I come across em, as I love my KCT 357. But my LGS still has that Diamondback 22, and last time in there he shot me a number on it that has me not happy I didn't at least put it on layaway. But I had other concerns at the time that thankfully ended up working out without crushing my wallet. We'll see if it's still around tomorrow....if not, I certainly will be in the market for one of these. I'm definitely very happy with my new Colt, so I'm right sure I'd be very happy with one of these. Hopefully the Wilson Combat sight goes right on one of these, too. That would be the first change, then some nice woody grips.....
 
red rick said:
It seems like they should have given it a different name , a snake less deadly than a cobra and keeping the snake line going with the different calibers for their own identity .
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Venomous or non-venemous?
I agree with above. Copperhead, not exceptionally lethal but certainly dangerous enough to induce misery. Name may already be taken though?
 
We have one in the case. So far, I have resisted handling it, or the .357 King Cobra, or the 8" .44 Anaconda sitting right next to it. Maybe down the road, but there's another classic revolver coming down the timeline, and I have some $$$ socked away for it......
 
Frulk said:
$990 was the price of entry. I
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Eh, I thought MSRP was $899 -- and the new .357 KCs and Pythons are all selling right at MSRP.

Regardless, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna buy the first one I see. A 10-round .22LR, 4" barrel -- and if the triggers are as good as those on my three new Pythons, my King Cobra and Cobra, well worth it.

For comparison, take a look at what the new S&W 617s (with considerably more MIM parts, likely a lesser trigger and the "Hillary Hole") are selling for -- if you can even find one.
 
Just watched Hickok forty five's video on it...a good shooter it would seem and he didn't have a bad word to say. This is the first time I've looked closely at it...and it's a beauty, but for the grips.

I wonder if Altamont makes a pair of their solid wood "Roper" targets that would fit? I've owned a Diamondback .22 for over twenty years now....like the gun for its size as it's a smidge smaller in all dimensions than Smith's venerable M-18, but the Smith is definitely a better gun from its superior accuracy and better DA trigger.

All that notwithstanding....I'm looking for one now....further words if and when I find one...Best Regards, Rod....Pic below of my M-18 Smith and the Diamondback, giving a rough size comparison.

​
 
Walkalong said:
That's it, gets my vote. Unlike some of y'all, I don't have a single .22 LR revolver, so............
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NIGHTLORD40K said:
What!? How can these words go together in a sentence....😳

Lol.
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It might just be time for a rimfire intervention… To the Enablers Unanimous clubhouse gents! <insert Batman scene music>🎶

All kidding aside, I was pining forever over a 6” .22 King Cobra, but they just weren’t being made. I bought a 6” S&W 617 instead.

If the KC .22’s ever get the OK in CA, I’ll be buying one and selling the 617.

Stay safe.
 
I wasn't gonna post as it just seemed like there was a bunch of b1tchen' about the name, but anyone who's examined -- or better yet, had the chance to shoot one of these -- is going to see they are really, really sweet revolvers.

Sublime DA trigger pull, so smooth. Superb fit and finish. 10 rounds. Makes the 617, loaded with MIM, its mediocre trigger, meh finish and Hillary Hole look like an old Rohm. MSRP on the Colt is now up to $999, the S&W 617 is $979.

I swear, some of y'all would find something to complain about if you found yourselves suddenly single and Salma Hayek showed up at your front door wanting to have some beers. watch football and then spend the night with you.
 
Old Dog said:
I wasn't gonna post as it just seemed like there was a bunch of b1tchen' about the name, but anyone who's examined -- or better yet, had the chance to shoot one of these -- is going to see they are really, really sweet revolvers.

Sublime DA trigger pull, so smooth. Superb fit and finish. 10 rounds. Makes the 617, loaded with MIM, its mediocre trigger, meh finish and Hillary Hole look like an old Rohm. MSRP on the Colt is now up to $999, the S&W 617 is $979.

I swear, some of y'all would find something to complain about if you found yourselves suddenly single and Salma Hayek showed up at your front door wanting to have some beers. watch football and then spend the night with you.
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Indeed I would: I'd be wondering what her angle was.
 
I don’t own a Colt but the shininess is what makes them attractive to me. I saw Colt is going to start offering a matte finish. To me, that takes away the best thing about a Colt! My Taurus revolvers are matte. That’s no fun.
 
Got a chance to handle the .22 version of Colt's King Cobra KY Gun Co., yesterday. Found it to be a generally well turned out revolver.

Feels good in the hand and at 32 oz's. it's just right for long meadow/woods walks. Weighs in about the same as my Diamondback from ~1960. I've long appreciated the DB's light weight on the belt, just right for the diminutive .22 LR and its minimal recoil, but with enough fwd hang to make offhand shooting up to the gun's inherent accuracy limitations.

Cylinder: While I do prefer the recessed cylinder chambers enclosing the .22 rim...it's strictly from a cosmetic point of view, as I've never in almost 70 yrs of shooting experienced a blown out .22 rim. It did seem a bit odd to find Colt's method of chambering...

Fit and trim were good, about as good as I've seen on my best, older Smiths in fact. The whole gun was well polished as bright as a 1960 new quarter. With good solid wood stocks or good, really good imitation ivory, it'd be a pretty BBQ gun.

Trigger: in DA mode it was smooth, with zero stacking; very similar in fact to my beloved Smith Model 18. The SA trigger was noticeably heavier than my M-18, but not a deal breaker. I'm not into sub 2 lb. triggers on any gun I plan to take to the field. This one I'd estimate at 3-4 lbs.

Sights: Definitely not a fan of its fiber optic front sight and the rear looked not quite up to par for an eleven hundred dollar handgun. A bit cheap was the thought I had. I forgot to check to see if the front could be changed out however. I've heard that some are changing out the rear sights on KC's for one of the custom maker's offerings...should have been a part of the original package, IMHO.

Grips; Rubber....while I can stomach them on a really heavy recoiling handgun out of respect tor my thumb joints, a pussycat .22 of this quality should have quality grips up to the quality of the rest of the gun. Again, should have been a part of the original package, IMHO.

Price: $1100 plus tax....I didn't buy it....but it lingers in my imagination....hmmmmm sights, new grips...maybe.....

Rod
 
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