My new (to me) Colt Detective Special

[Pat Riot]

I was going to add to my prior thread about trading a G26 for a Colt Detective Special but decided my new Colt deserves it’s own thread. If you wish to see the old thread it is here: I hope this is okay with the Mods.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...trade-a-glock-26-for-a-colt-detective.876412/

I picked up my new (to me) Colt Detective Special today and took it to the range with my other .38 Special “Cop Guns”.
It shot very well with Federal 148 grain Wadcutter rounds. No issues with that ammo at all and accuracy was good (for me )
I did have some light primer strikes in double action with some reloads I was shooting that I used CCI and Winchester primers in, but the Federal stuff went bang every time.
I am not the least bit upset about the light strikes. Heck, the gun is 48 years old. There may be some gum in the works or the hammer spring may be weak. This is my very first Colt revolver so it will be a learning experience.

Here she is...my new Colt Detective Special





Here it is with my S&W .38 revolvers (left to right S&W 10-7, 442-1, 36-2 and the DS)


My first target in double action at 10 yards 1second between shots. I am not crack shot but I am happy with this.


All in all, I am very happy with my new Colt.

 

[Boarhunter]

Congratulations. You done good.

BOARHUNTER

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I find the D-frame DS much easier to shoot well than a J-frame Smith, in exchange for only a tiny bit of bulk and weight. Nice gun.

 

[Alte Schule]

Can’t go wrong with a nice pick up like that. I carried this 1974 vintage Detective Special as a back up gun and off duty piece for several years. Use to get a lot of “hey that’s really old school” when I had my quarterly qualification. Long retired now I recently sold it to a young city Fire Marshall.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Nice pick up. I think you did well in that deal. Enjoy your new Colt.

 

[barnett]

To my eye, the DS you have there is one of the most beautiful revolvers ever created.

 

[bannockburn]

Pat Riot

Let's see...a garden variety Glock for one of the greatest snubnose revolvers ever made! Yeah, you definitely came out way ahead with that deal!

 

[Tallball]

It looks to be in very nice condition. Congratulations.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Great trade! I'd do that in a heartbeat as well, are you going to carry it?

 

[Risky buisness]

Nice. Glad for you.

 

[Pat Riot]

Great trade! I'd do that in a heartbeat as well, are you going to carry it?

No, not here in California. In a couple of years when I retire and move, probably.

 

[Riomouse911]

Another “Yea!” vote here. I would’ve made that swap in a heartbeat.

Congratulations on finding a little piece of firearms history .

Stay safe.

 

[Dframe]

Very nice. Glad you're pleased with it. I've been collecting and shooting D frames for years and think them to be about perfect for snubbies

 

[jar]

The last qualify I had to shoot I used my DS.

 

[brutus51]

Color me green with envy, always wanted one like that, top on my bucket list. Bought a new Cobra which I really like but it ain't the same.

 

[Dframe]

I have let's just say I have "more than one" cobra. I shot a qualification this year with my new king cobra. Shot like a dream.

 

[brutus51]

There's just something about a blued steel Colt revolver.

 

[Pat Riot]

Well, I removed the grips and the side plate and flushed the works out with Hornady One Shot. The internals looked okay with no gunk or gum. The mainspring did not appear to be modified from the pictures I found. After cleaning i reassembled it and took it to the range.
I will get light primer strikes in double action with CCI primers but not Federal so I will be ordering a new mainspring for it.

 

[Dframe]

With VERY careful bending you may be able to get enough tension on the mainspring to eliminate light strikes. It requires patience, trial and error and great care. Bend the spring slightly, replace in the gun try for function, repeat. Then repeat as many times as it takes. Be aware it's pretty easy to go too far and break a spring but you may be able to restore normal function without replacing the spring

 

[Pat Riot]

With VERY careful bending you may be able to get enough tension on the mainspring to eliminate light strikes. It requires patience, trial and error and great care. Bend the spring slightly, replace in the gun try for function, repeat. Then repeat as many times as it takes. Be aware it's pretty easy to go too far and break a spring but you may be able to restore normal function without replacing the spring

Thank you. I went ahead and ordered a new factory original spring today. I will definitely keep this advice in mind for the future.

 

[Buckeye63]

Great trade for u !!!

 

[crestoncowboy]

a garden variety Glock for one of the greatest snubnose revolvers ever made! Yeah, you definitely came out way ahead with that deal!

Gander outdoors has them (det. Specials) in stock for 550. Look a bit used as they are trade ins but if anyone is interested not terrible

 

[armedwalleye]

A trade?? As in "even up"??? You able to sleep at night?? Very nice. I've been jonesing for one as a mismatched pair to my J frame Smith model 60.

 

[Paul7]

I was going to add to my prior thread about trading a G26 for a Colt Detective Special but decided my new Colt deserves it’s own thread. If you wish to see the old thread it is here: I hope this is okay with the Mods.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...trade-a-glock-26-for-a-colt-detective.876412/

I picked up my new (to me) Colt Detective Special today and took it to the range with my other .38 Special “Cop Guns”.
It shot very well with Federal 148 grain Wadcutter rounds. No issues with that ammo at all and accuracy was good (for me )
I did have some light primer strikes in double action with some reloads I was shooting that I used CCI and Winchester primers in, but the Federal stuff went bang every time.
I am not the least bit upset about the light strikes. Heck, the gun is 48 years old. There may be some gum in the works or the hammer spring may be weak. This is my very first Colt revolver so it will be a learning experience.

Here she is...my new Colt Detective Special

View attachment 963905

View attachment 963906

Here it is with my S&W .38 revolvers (left to right S&W 10-7, 442-1, 36-2 and the DS)
View attachment 963907

My first target in double action at 10 yards 1second between shots. I am not crack shot but I am happy with this.
View attachment 963908

All in all, I am very happy with my new Colt.

That shooting would convince a bad guy to go pick on someone else.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I find the D-frame DS much easier to shoot well than a J-frame Smith, in exchange for only a tiny bit of bulk and weight. Nice gun.

While I normally carry a J- frame, I agree100%, the DS is easier to shoot well. Mine is an older DS, 1957 vintage. Nice looking DS, enjoy it!