New Colt King Cobra Trigger Return

[4thHorseman]

I just wanted to share with you my thoughts about Colt’s New King Cobra. I have loved Colts for over a half century now.
I have had the New Colt King Cobra revolver for about a year now in the safe.
I will not carry it for personal protection or even use it in my house for things that go bump in the night.
The trigger pull is very nice, however the trigger return is anemic at best.
In use, I continue to short stroke the trigger and of course it will not function until I fully release it. It appears to have multiple trigger return clicks as the trigger return pressure continues to get weaker during the return sequence. Then on the last click, the return pressure on the trigger is so weak, I feel the return sequence is complete, and that is when I try to pull trigger again and it locks the pull force of my finger, (short stroke). The clicks gives me addition false concepts of the trigger return sequence being completed, when it is not. I have many revolvers and none of them have such a weak trigger return as this one.
I did quite a bit of research on the weak trigger return. It appears to be a common fault of this Colt model.
Every article I read on the revolver relates back to the issue. One article, the writer comes down pretty hard on the revolver, as his daughter and him have same problem, when Colt told them it was there fault. Colt said they were use to semi automatic triggers is why.
I even tried to bend the main spring a bit to get a better return at the expense of a heavier trigger pull. That did not work. Warning: There is more small springs and small parts inside the New King Cobra than stuffing inside a Christmas turkey! Just a note to you guys that love to dabble inside revolvers.
So there a $1,000 revolver sits in it’s permanent home in the safe, never to see the light of day again.
Those of you that are considering buying one, give a once over and some consideration.
Good luck, guys.

 

[brunowbe]

No issues with mine, but I’ve only had it to the range once, put 100 rounds through it (50 .357s and 50 .38 specials), cleaned it, and put it away. I’m sure it’ll work fine next time I take it out. It’s the 4 inch target model.

 

[SteadyD]

I short stroked the Night Cobra I owned while shooting quickly. It’s one of the reasons I traded it off. I don’t have that issue with other revolvers and many people don’t have that issue with the new Colts.

You know what they say, different (short) strokes for different folks.

I’ll show myself out.

 

[UncleEd]

See
TheRevolverGuy.com

Report on the Colt Night Cobra. Mentions mushy trigger.
Review appeared about a month ago.

 

[dbluefish]

Being new to revolvers, not sure what is meant by 'short stroking'? With my new Colt Cobra, when I pull the trigger until the hammer falls, and then slowly release it, there is a click and if I pull again, no go. Actually have to let the trigger go fully to the rear for it all to work. There are actually two clicks and then a noticeable last click(first 2 are faint). Not being used to revolvers, when I was at the range, I did not notice any of this. I pulled the trigger, fully released and pulled again and grinned. So is the above the 'problem' folks are talking about?

Thanks for listening.

paul

 

[shoebox1.1]

My 3 inch had a mushy return too. I struggled with misfires from day one. Went two times to the mothership before the misfires were fixed. When it came back fixed for good this last time the trigger return feels GREAT. Much much improved. Both warranty visits were approx 1 month each in their shop

 

[shoebox1.1]

Of course they don’t tell you what they do to the guns.. SSHHHH.. it’s a secret....

 

[UncleEd]

Short stroking is when you are shooting
fast, fairly fast or real fast in double action
and you jam the trigger before it has fully
reset. A weak spring does not push the
trigger forward, especially when the finger
is riding on it.

The jam usually occurs when the trigger is
about midway in its movement. Sometimes
the jam is bad enough you then cannot move
the trigger forward or backward at all. It sits
midway in its normal travel. The gun has to be
taken apart to attempt a fix.

S&W has traditionally used heavy trigger return
springs so that the chance of a short stroke is
lessoned to nearly zero. Of course, under really
dire circumstances, one might try to shoot again
despite the heavy trigger and lack of reset. A
California officer was wounded in a firefight bcause
ot this.

To get an idea of what this is all about, dry fire the
gun and then with finger pressure only allow the
trigger to move foreward about half or three-quater
way . Then gently apply more pressure as if trying
to fire. The trigger will not go rearward. That's a short
stroke. DON'T apply a lot of pressure in this test,
just enough to feel the trigger not go backward.

 

[SteadyD]

Lots of folks struggle with short stroking the LCR but for whatever reason it’s not really been an issue for me, whereas the cobra was an issue for me. I reckon a lot of this just has to do with how a gun fits someone’s particular hand. Length of pull, grip size, etc.

There’s no denying the smoothness of the new Colt revolvers and the vast majority of folks have no problems it would seem. Just didn’t fit my hand quite right.

 

[Old Dog]

Too many people used to chasing the reset on their semi-auto pistols. You just don't do that with a DA revolver. Remember what Jerry Miculek says: "I don't know that I've ever felt a trigger reset." Or watch Rob Leatham shoot a revolver.

Two Cobras and a King Cobra, have not had a problem with mushy triggers nor a "weak" trigger return; in fact, they've all good pretty spectacular triggers in both DA and SA.

 

[Master Blaster]

Folks who are not used to shooting revolvers buying them need to learn that you must let the trigger fully return in DA shooting!
It is not a defect. the trigger on a double action revolver has to rotate the cylinder to bring up a fresh round under the firing pin and cock the hammer. That means it has to go full a full cycle for the gun to fire.
Jerry Miculek actually has an extra power return spring in his competition guns so he will not over run the trigger return speed.

 

[UncleEd]

Of all things. I have been consistently critical of Colt's mushy
triggers. But today I purchased a 1974 Detective Special which
has a strong trigger both in pulling back and resetting. It's nothing
like I've experienced in other DS models I've owned.

As far as I can tell, everything is stock including the shape of the
V-spring which is all important in the Colt actions.

So, now I have a Colt that acts like a S&W.

 

[Master Blaster]

Unfortunately one of the ways to reduce the DA trigger pull is by putting in a lighter return spring. I bought a S&W 625 model of 1989 that had an incredibly light DA trigger. I had to replace the rebound spring because in DA The trigger barely reset. The previous owner had clipped off a couple coils of the rebound spring.

 

[Riomouse911]

I’ve heard and read that those types of trigger jobs can work, but they can also lead to a ton of issues if not done right.
I shoot DA revolvers almost every time I go to the range to keep familiar with their operation...plus I just like being one of the only people there not having brass flying around with every shot fired .

Stay safe.

 

[Boom Vang]

I've been shooting DA revolvers for 50 years, and in fact started with Colt revolvers. I carried many different revolvers in law enforcement work for decades, and continue to do so in retirement, including Ruger, S&W and older Colt revolvers. I'm also a firearms instructor and a S&W armorer.

Sorry to say, the many of the new Colts are just not up to the task of defensive shooting. Specifically, the new Pythons and King Cobras are lacking. They have extremely weak trigger return, which is not reliable in a defensive piece. I say this having several Colt DA revolvers from the 1940s through the 80s which are perfectly fine in that regard.

A new Colt King Cobra came into the LGS where I work this week. If anything, the trigger return has gotten WEAKER than the guns from last year. The sample I handled was finished as well as modern standards allow, and the trigger pull itself was quite light. But the trigger return was wholly inadequate, and took conscious effort and concentration to avoid having the trigger lock up due to inadequate reset. I could not recommend it for defensive use.

Since since this issue is not new, and Colt has had adequate time to remedy it, the situation tells you all you need to know about how Colt views it's customers. Hopefully, CZ will correct this.

 

[Old Dog]

So you've handled one new KC and are comparing it to your older Colts, hence your non-recommendation.

Sounds as though you must have also done quite a bit of dry-firing on a new revolver your shop intended to sell? Assume the rest of the chaps that work there also got some "handling" of the piece in? And that'd be why I don't want to buy any display models at retail shops.

Meanwhile, on the rest of the internet, there seem to be a number of very satisfied owners of the new King Cobras (including myself, which I will occasionally carry as a defensive piece) and Pythons out there...

 

[Boom Vang]

So you've handled one new KC and are comparing it to your older Colts, hence your non-recommendation.

Sounds as though you must have also done quite a bit of dry-firing on a new revolver your shop intended to sell? Assume the rest of the chaps that work there also got some "handling" of the piece in? And that'd be why I don't want to buy any display models at retail shops.

Meanwhile, on the rest of the internet, there seem to be a number of very satisfied owners of the new King Cobras (including myself, which I will occasionally carry as a defensive piece) and Pythons out there...

Worship at the altar of Colt much?

Please tell us your extensive experience in DA revolvers for defensive use, as it's not really coming across in your acrimonious post. Over the past 34 years, I've probably trained north of 30,000 law enforcement officers in revolver and pistol shooting for DEFENSIVE use, that is, when someone is trying kill you or an innocent person. I've been involved in, debriefed, studied and had more training from actual gunfight victors to fill several volumes. I've competed in - and won - dozens of pistol and revolver shooting matches. MY EXPERT OPINION - which I am not alone in - is that the trigger reset on these guns is too light for defensive use, under all circumstances and factors. For bullseye and target and casual shooters, it's probably fine. But under stress when someone is trying to kill you, it's clearly lacking.

Also, please read my post, and not read into my post. I've examined many of these guns, as stated. As someone of your vast opinion should know, 2-3 dry fires will tell you all you all you need to know about a trigger press. Surprise fact for you: display guns in a shop get handled by customers, including dry-fired. If you want a pristine gun for your safe, untouched by human hands, feel free to order and pay for it in advance sight unseen, and take your chances. Many have, and found out.

You are free to disagree, and have the right to be wrong. Great country, America!

 

[UncleEd]

Boom Vang,

Thank you. Hopefully many
posters/readers will see your
response. Your posting is
valuable for its incite into
the world of DA revolvers.

 

[Old_Grouch]

MY EXPERT OPINION - which I am not alone in - is that the trigger reset on these guns is too light for defensive use, under all circumstances and factors.

There's a reason that, according to what I've read, Jerry Miculek has stronger than factory standard rebound springs installed in his S&W revolvers. Stronger spring=faster rest. Faster reset=faster follow-up shots.

 

[UncleEd]

Old Grouch,

Where did you learn of Miculek installing
"stronger" than standard springs in his
S&W revolvers? I wouldn't doubt it since
I believe his fingers and grip are super strong.

 

[kidneyboy]

I occasionally short stroked my Colt King Cobra until I trained myself not to.
Same thing happened with my first 686 and my first 617.
I've been shooting revolvers my whole life. Each one is different. Either you train yourself to adapt or change the gun to adapt.

 

[Monac]

Worship at the altar of Colt much?

Please tell us your extensive experience in DA revolvers for defensive use, as it's not really coming across in your acrimonious post. Over the past 34 years, I've probably trained north of 30,000 law enforcement officers in revolver and pistol shooting for DEFENSIVE use, that is, when someone is trying kill you or an innocent person. I've been involved in, debriefed, studied and had more training from actual gunfight victors to fill several volumes. I've competed in - and won - dozens of pistol and revolver shooting matches. MY EXPERT OPINION - which I am not alone in - is that the trigger reset on these guns is too light for defensive use, under all circumstances and factors. For bullseye and target and casual shooters, it's probably fine. But under stress when someone is trying to kill you, it's clearly lacking.

Also, please read my post, and not read into my post. I've examined many of these guns, as stated. As someone of your vast opinion should know, 2-3 dry fires will tell you all you all you need to know about a trigger press. Surprise fact for you: display guns in a shop get handled by customers, including dry-fired. If you want a pristine gun for your safe, untouched by human hands, feel free to order and pay for it in advance sight unseen, and take your chances. Many have, and found out.

You are free to disagree, and have the right to be wrong. Great country, America!

Wait - Old Dog's post is acrimonious and yours is not? Dang, now I have to go look up what acrimonious means. I must have it wrong.

"ac·ri·mo·ni·ous: adjective: (typically of speech or a debate): caustic, biting, or rancorous, especially in feeling, language, or manner"

Nope, that's what I thought. Well, apparently you are one of the great experts on guns and stuff, but I have to say you seem weak on the meaning of acrimonious. I would have called your post the acrimonious one of the two. I hope this does not come up too often in your line of work. Given the way you lay down the law, that would just make you look foolish.

BTW, are replacement trigger return springs available for this gun? Does Wolff Springs make that kind of thing?

PS - Sorry you got a lemon, 4thHorseman, especially on such an expensive gun. If it happened to me, I'd probably get all acrimonious about it.

 

[UncleEd]

Monac,

You ask about replacement springs via Wolff;
I assume you are referring to the Colt which
features a U-shaped spring that does double
duty, hammer and trigger return. It is a
completely different design than either the
Smith & Wesson or Ruger revolvers. And
no, I'm not aware of Wolff making some sort
of after market spring for the new Colts.

The older Colts such as the Python had
what was more a V-shaped spring system
but essentially the same as the new U-shaped.

One positive about the new Colt Python
is that the cylinder/bolt design now copies
the S&W system. I believe the new Cobras
also have this upgrade.

Schematics of the Smith and Colt systems
are quite revealing in the different approaches
in design.

 

[Mizar]

The new King Cobra has a variation of the Mk III/V trigger mechanism - i.e. it has a dedicated trigger return spring.
P.S. Pic taken from thetruthaboutguns.com

 

[UncleEd]

Mizar, thank you for the Cobra pix; didn't
realize it has a dedicated trigger return spring.