i need a new gun... python?

[dakotasin]

its time for a new gun. really been having a hankering for a colt python for awhile because i think they are gorgeous guns. i'm just having a tough time justifying the price (~1k locally).

the gun will likely be used for nothing, or everything, or maybe some of this and that (meaning i already have carry handguns, and i already have hunting handguns, and i already have strictly range handguns...), so there is no defined purpose for the gun.

what i want to know... is the colt python twice as much gun as a s&w 586? i found a dealer locally that has 3 pythons on hand, one of which interests me and also has 2 586's... i don't mind spending 2-3 times as much on the colt, but need to know why i'd want to???

so... what are your thoughts on the python? how about on the python vs 586?

thanks for your input!

 

[Monkeyleg]

I own both a 6" Python and a 6" S&W 586.

The Python's trigger and action is incredible right out of the box.

For a few dollars, I had a gunsmith tune the trigger on my 586, and it's hands-down better than the Python.

Unless I'm very hard-pressed, I'll never sell either. The Python is a piece of art, and the 586 is a real piece of solid craftsmanship.

In terms of dollars, the Python is going to set you back. I see deals from time to time. And I see prices that are through the roof.

So, the question is how bad do you want a Python, and how long are you willing to wait before buying?

 

[dakotasin]

want it bad enough, and am willing to pay the price, if the gun is markedly better than a 586 (which is tied w/ the colt for 1st place on my want-list). unfortunately, i know nothing about colt revolvers, so wouldn't know if it is truly a better gun than the smith, or just expensive because of its manufacture status (but then, why isn't the 586 priced as high??)

 

[GP100man]

when i was younger& snakes were cheaper i owned a royal blue 6"python ,could not keep it in time after about 4,000 rnds fact. 357 it would spit at you so bad i thought i had a cobra,my last colt was a king cobra4"with magna porting& mag loads with lead boolits & hot lead would rain on you ,it never went out of time though, the trigger wasnt no python though.!!
now i shoot rugers & polished & springed, there smooth but long
and all the rugers ive had none spit on me& shot where ive looked at if id do my part, 6"gp100 has over 6,000& redhawk 71/2 barrel has over 10g shot thru it 4" gp is the newby only 1,800 so far but im working on it.
GP100man

 

[10-Ring]

I had always wanted a Python - blue, 4" version but I either didn't have the $$ back in the day or they just lost 'it' in later production years. IMO - they were just soo purdy & the reputation for smoothness & accuracy just added to the attraction.
Then last November, I ran into a 4" blue Python circa 1969 that was functionally perfect and even w/ the wear to the finish was because a old copper carried it - even saved his bacon once or twice - short story long, I bought it and she has been a joy to fondle & even more to shoot!

 

[Owen]

The reputation is the the S&W revo's are more durable than the Colt revo's

FWIW, I've never shot a Colt, and I have yet to wear out a S&W, despite some concerted efforts.

 

[Sunray]

Pythons are a grand because the trigger job is done by the factory. It's all hand work. Other than that, it's just a .357 revolver.
Any Python you find now is used. Colt quit making them, even in their 'Custom Shop' in 2003.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

go with the snake...nice gun and a solid investment

 

[dfariswheel]

Here's something I posted on another forum about why the Python is NOT "just another .357".

The Python is one of the few things that actually lives up to the hype.

The Python is like a Rolls Royce car, Rolex watch, or Purdy double gun: It's the absolute best and is the top of the class.

The Python was really a semi-custom built, totally hand assembled, hand tuned, hand polished gun that's equivalent to owning something like a custom made 1911 by one of the very top builders.
The action really IS "different" from other guns, and is a very complex design, that has the reputation of being a "watchmaker's gun".

The Python will almost certainly be the most accurate revolver you'll ever own, and it was specifically made to be that.

The Python had the finest blue job of any factory handgun ever made.
Colt made their own wooden, leather-covered polishing wheels, and the Python was polished only by the very best Colt polishers who had many years of experience.
The final polish was done with a polishing media the consistency of flour.
It has an unbelievable deep BLUE color that looks like a blue mirror.

The Python's action is the old Colt "Bank Vault" lockup design in which the cylinder is tightly locked in place in perfect alignment with the barrel at the moment of ignition.
Since the bullet enters the bore perfectly centered, the bullet isn't distorted and it's more accurate.

The Python barrel had a tapered bore. It got progressively tighter toward the muzzle, so it gripped the bullet better.

Colt was about the only pistol maker who manufactured their own barrels, and Colt barrels were famous for their quality.
The Python got an additional treatment no other revolver of any make got, and that was the mysterious "Silver ball" treatment in which a ball made of some secret metallic material was hand pressed down the bore, leaving the Python barrel with a perfectly smooth, mirror-like finish.

The Python was originally intended to be a "Super Target gun" and no effort was spared to make it the most accurate and highest quality revolver ever built.
All of this accounts for why the Python has a well-earned reputation of being the most consistently accurate double action production revolver of all time.
The only revolvers better than the Python were true custom made guns, turned out in minuscule numbers.

So, the Python really does live up to the legend and the hype, and really is the finest quality DA revolver of all time.
If you've ever wanted JUST ONCE to own the finest item in it's class ever made, buy a Python.

 

[Croyance]

"Twice as much" is an interesting question when it comes to quality, because the results are not linear - for example, under ideal conditions the average groups you get will not be half the size of that from an average 586. The real world results are kind of incremental - it costs a lot to get a small amount of real world gain, once you have crossed a certain threshold of quality.
I think a Python is worth having, even at double the cost of a 586. After all, they still make the 686, brother to the 586.

 

[dakotasin]

good input - thanks!

i have 686's... but i want a blued gun this time around...

by measure of 'twice as much', i don't necessarily mean group sizes alone. things like strength, durability, etc etc...

 

[Sundles]

Heres the facts. Been shooting Pythons and L frame S&W's for a long time.

The Python is not very durable. You'll have to rebuild the lockwork after 4,000 to 5,000 rounds of full power ammo.

The L frame S&W is twice as durable as the Python.

The Python is a work of art and is much more of a classic than the 586, but the 586 is more functional and will probably even shoot as good as the Python, or at least very close to the Python.

Python velocities will always run slower than S&W vleocities, if that matters to you. Just last week I was shooting a Python against an L frame S&W with several loads. My 6 inch Python was almost 100 fps slower than my 4 inch S&W Mt. Gun which is a 7 shot L frame. Both revolvers shot equally well.

There is no double action revolver that is quite as neat as the Python, but how much value do you put on "neat"?

 

[Majic]

If you want a Python then comparing it's price to another model means nothing. If you buy the cheaper model you may later find out you still want a Python. Second choice seldom fills the want list.

 

[10X]

If you have fired S&Ws a lot and have not experienced the Python you may want to try before you buy. I have owned several Pythons over the years.
I found them all to be more accurate (by a bit) than S&Ws. However, the grip, trigger DA and SA and angles were very different than S&W. I never could get used to them. The S&Ws worked better for me.

The Pythons look great, but for me I prefer a S&W to shoot.

 

[bobbytm]

PYTHON

Colt Python.Really a Great Gun!!!!!!!

 

[Standing Wolf]

what i want to know... is the colt python twice as much gun as a s&w 586?

I own a bunch of Pythons. They're wonderful guns; realistically speaking, however, no, they're not better than top of the line Smith & Wesson revolvers.

By the way, your keyboard has a shift key for a reason.

 

[Brass Balls]

I own both and like both, but the Python has a better feel and finish to it.

Also there isn't too much risk even spending that much because if you don't like it for some reason there will always be a strong demand for a Python should you choose to sell it.

A S&W Performance Center gun would be a better direct comparison to a Python imo.

 

[Black Knight]

I have 2 Pythons and 1 S&W 686. I know people that hate the Python and I know more people that love it. The Python is a gun that you either love or hate, there is no in between. I like my 686 and would carry it into he-- if necessary but I love my Pythons and would do the same. The only way you will know whether or not the Python is for you is to try one. If you get it let us know and then check out the Colt forum.

 

[Confederate]

Pythons are gorgeous guns when you can get them with the beautiful royal blue. Their two primary weaknesses are: 1) they need fairly frequent retiming due to their older design. Although sturdy in frame size, the hand/pawl is tiny and wears down quickly, throwing the gun out of time. This can be remedied to a large degree by having the pawl hard chromed, so the wear will be less. 2) The grips are designed for a gorilla. They're small at the top where they should be thick, and thick at the bottom, where they should be thin. This was fixed on the later Mark Vs, but the Python doesn't appear, to me, to be designed for human hands.

The theory was that the index finger would have to use the room to reach the trigger and that the smaller, end finger would have more to hold onto. But it's like Earth Shoes. Works well on paper, but not real life.

By getting a nicely blued 586, you'll be getting a gun that's more robust, just as accurate, more comfortable to grasp, and far less expensive. That said, in 10 years the Python will be worth its weight in gold. So if you're going to shoot it, I'd go with the 586. If you're going to tuck it away in the safe, I'd go with the Python and just take it out every once in awhile and look at it.

The only thing I wouldn't do is get a Python in stainless. A Python without bluing is like a snake without scales.

 

[Radjxf]

The Python is certainly a very well-fitted beautiful gun, but I have to laugh at the emotional attachment, tales of unreal accuracy and "silver ball" treatments. I've owned many, many revos and my Dan Wessons (monson, mass guns) have always outperformed my Colts and S&W's, albeit by a small margin in terms of accuracy.
That said, I reach for my S&W's most often because I like the feel, cylinder release and trigger. The Colt's stacking DA trigger will never compare to a nice S&W. I'm also one of the few that likes the "gorilla grip" for some reason.
Great guns to buy to look at or as an investment. Anyone seen what the Pythons and .22 Diamondbacks are bringing on GB

 

[RIDE]

If you are wanting to shoot (a lot) of rounds through it, I would suggest the S&W revo's... If you are wanting an investment/fine gun, go for an old Python.

This past Christmas my Father-In-Law gave me the 6" Colt Python that he bought new in 1959... it's SN# is low 8XXX. It is an absolutely amazing piece. My Father-In-Law estimated that he only put about 60 to 80 rounds through it. It is perfectly flawless, but not something I plan on shooting very often.

Long Story Short:

Investment= (old) Python

Shooter= S&W

my $0.02

 

[Croyance]

Straight out of the box, an average Python is going to be better than an average 586. With the price difference, I have take that stock S&W to a Smith and have work done on it to make up for whatever quality differences there are.
But like somebody said - if you want it, you want it and a 586 isn't going to scratch that itch.
If you take care of your gun, there isn't much reason (to me) not to shoot a Python. I would hesitate to carry it around if you think you might sell it down the road though.

 

[Magnumite]

I've shot and owned K frame Smith's, shot a friend's 586 - fast, Ruger Sixes and have a Python.
The Python factory action is smooth, it stacks, not too bad, but it does. It is accurate, but not the most accurate revolver I have, but it is a close call. The Python recovers and tracks well in fast DA shooting. Grips are BIG, but the factory installed Grippers with the Colt medallions on mine shave some of the size off the grip size.
I have read and heard of the Pythons being fragile. Take a look at the lockwork, thin parts in there. If I wanted to shot the thing forever, I'd get a Ruger or 686.

Personally, DA rapid fire, goes to a good N frame underlug barrel Smith with moderate handloads. A little lift and it is back on target.

If you want the Python, because it is the Python, go for it. There is much to admire. I like mine. So does my son. He says it is his...

 

[L-Frame]

IMHO the python is the most beautiful, elegant handgun ever made. It is truly a work of art. Is it a better handgun than the 686/586, no. Is it twice as good. HELL NO!!! Why?

I don't like the stacking trigger. Give me a S&W action any day.
Lockwork is weak. (I once sold a python to a collector. It was his 26th python. He had pictures, like most people carry for their kids. He told me as he was examining mine that a large number of pythons he looks at he has to reject because of timing issues). But, contrary to what many python bashers say, the frame is actually very strong. Solid frame, weak lockwork.
Yes, they are more accurate but is it really worth extra money because a python can shoot 1" at 25 yards while a 686 can shoot 1 1/2 " at that same distance. Not for me.
Much harder now days to find a gunsmith who really knows his way around a python. Heck, many won't even work on them.

All that being said, if you want one buy one. A piece of art you can shoot. I just get tired of all the hype both for and against them.

 

[Combat Controller]

So what if it goes out of time? It was designed as a wearing part according to Colt. Think of it this way, they not only don't make it anymore, the can't. The bluing is for all intents and purposes impossible to recreate, and the hand work is top notch. I have a safe full of both pythons and S&W's. For a heavy shooter you have to decide if it is worth the trade off. If you compete (like my Clark Custom Pin Gun) it may just be worth it to you, if you plink, a S&W will be a better choice. But the Python is a real work of art, and only goes up in price. I have carried one on occasion, and I do not hesitate to trust my life to it. 586's are a dime a dozen.