I will probably only ever own 1 Colt revolver. That’s my Detective Special. I had wanted one since I was a kid watching old police and detective shows.
All I have to do is look around my shop and see the quality of the people who are LEFT out there for us to hire. The old German gentleman that iI apprenticed under would be rolling in his grave. I'm sure that's the case with alot of manufacturers these days, Colt, Ruger, Smith, etc included. Unfortunately it is what it is.
I do not doubt that you are right.
Kinda why they all had to go to MIM and CNC. I hate to see what the future holds for employers. Problem I see, is quality and hard work, once a priority for employees, has been thrown out the window. Employers themselves are to blame because they no longer see quality as a priority. They see quantity as the priority. Everything is now considered disposable. Why make it last, and decrease your demand? All one has to do is look at the life expectancy of appliances, HVAC systems and even homes themselves anymore to see customers don;t want them to last.......because they will replace them in 5 years anyway with something new. I see the same with domestically made firearms. While many of us still shoot grampa's old SxS, many folks out there always want the newest and the baddest out there, no matter if it has a painted finish and plastic. In 4 or 5 years when something else comes out, like a computer, it will be outdated and looked down on.
My parents recently retired from a textile mill in North Carolina. Knitting machines, they tried to train young folks to replace them, none could do the set up and change over jobs on these 50+ yo machines. So I know what you’re saying, Automation is the future of manufacturing.
I've held the opinion for some time that manufacturers of all products have decided that that replacing the Quality Control Department with end users is far more cost effective than paying people to do the testing.
Long time before I buy a New Colt! now Used Colt is a different story
you .41 Mag Club Members are like Crows! Smart & Annoying!Circling back to Marky Mark buying the wrong pistols... instead of a .41MAG...
I bought a S&W 657 .41MAG Classic Hunter many years ago... the first release of them, so... unfluted cylinder, full-length underlug, 6.5" barrel. What I didn't see was the barrel and forcing cone looked like it was cut with a hacksaw by a drunk piano player... the off side gap was over .020". Not only did you have to wear safety glasses, but gloves as well. Back to S&W it went....
What I got back was a fantastic shooting pistol... I put the first 5 rounds into one hole...
So... let Colt have their pistol back, let them work on it, and then see how it does when you get it back. What seems like a glaring lack of quality control might be fixed quite readily by the factory... and then you'll have your Colt.... even if you do trade it in for a .41MAG.
I like that so much I may have to buy that instead of a new S&W 3-5-7 series with the 7 inch barrel.
Been there done that I had one of those also it was a piece of junk it was at Colt more than I had it. I finally sold it to a guy that was a Colt fanatic took that money and bought a used blue S&W 586 in 357, then a 627 Performance Center , then a S&W 686 and a Taurus Tracker in 357 sold that Tracker a couple years later for what I paid for it that was 20 years ago the guy still has it and has never had a problem with it. All my revolvers are S&W, Ruger and a Taurus Raging Bull in 44 magnum. Sadly no more Colts for me especially now.
I need to finally try a 686! they all feel good in the showroom!
You will never regret buying a 686 or a 586 they are the nicest handling 357 I have ever shot.
This Summer! Then I’ll have all the Modern .357 mag to compare
This is my 686 with a Vortex Venom on it .
Love the finger groove grips!
I have Hogue grips on all my revolvers some people like them some hate them but I like them especially there new Tamer grips on my big bores . The red dot mount is from TK Custom.
They never did. I had a 38 M&P not too long ago that the S/N indicated was made in 1916. On the butt was a factory mark indicating that it was returned to the factory in 6/16. No idea why, I'm too cheap to spring for a letter. And it locked up on me after a few rounds in 2024, so I guess not much changed over the years. Dealer gave me my money back.you .41 Mag Club Members are like Crows! Smart & Annoying!
I’m looking at a .41 Mag Freedom Arms!
Keeping the New Blue Colt as a reminder of “they don’t make them like they use too!”
I resisted a 686 for years, actually from the time they were introduced until six months or so ago. I finally broke down and bought one of the "bad" ones. You know the ones. A -6 with MIM parts, ugly rubber grips, and (GASP) the lock.
It might be the best revolver I've ever fired. It's right there with my Python, and maybe, just maybe a little better, but I suspect someone layed magic hands on it. The D/A trigger I just have to think about it and it fires. The Python is stock out of the box and is close. Really, Really close.
I’ll get my Python Fix! was examine it and my loads, my cartridges are well in SAMMI spec. But that cylinder is messed up. Gap move when hammer is back to no gap. End shake is bad. Latch is all messed up.They never did. I had a 38 M&P not too long ago that the S/N indicated was made in 1916. On the butt was a factory mark indicating that it was returned to the factory in 6/16. No idea why, I'm too cheap to spring for a letter. And it locked up on me after a few rounds in 2024, so I guess not much changed over the years. Dealer gave me my money back.
I resisted a 686 for years, actually from the time they were introduced until six months or so ago. I finally broke down and bought one of the "bad" ones. You know the ones. A -6 with MIM parts, ugly rubber grips, and (GASP) the lock.
I've replaced the factory rubber grips with a set of Altamont Ropers round/square grips. The Python edges it out in looks still but it's a lot closer now, Shooting is about even. Which one I like best depens on which I shot last. I tell myself, I need to take them both to the range one day when I'm feeling good and shoot them side by side, but then I think..."Why bother? I like them both." Just keep liking them both and don't worry about it.
