New Colt Python First 100 shots

External changes are not glaringly obvious. Other than being in stainless, the overall look is pretty close.

No offense intended to anyone, but I do think it's pointless to compare the craftsmanship of the old Pythons to current production models, especially insofar as the finish, as we'll never see that level of bluing again on production handguns.

I still believe the new Python maintains the classic look. The trigger is great, and the accuracy is there. It handles, points, balances just like the old Python.

Question: How many old revolver fans does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: Twelve. One to hold the ladder, one to actually perform the bulb swap-out, and ten to sit around drinking coffee talking about how great the old lightbulb was...

 

I respectfully disagree.

Update at 1000 rounds (including 480 full-power .357, which included 80 Underwood 158 grain hollowpoints):

Trigger weight in SA is now at 3-1/2 lbs, DA is at 7 pounds 5 ounces, and the SA crispness and DA smoothness is even better than out of the box.

Accuracy-wise, I shoot it (considerably) better at 25 yards than my S&W 686 Plus. I think the lighter DA and crisper SA of the Colt are the reasons, even though the Smith has a lighter SA and better (for recoil management) grips.

There’s also the faster twist rate of the Colt to consider here.


.

In my hands the Python prints 2” groups offhand at 25 yards DA with the rather spicy Underwoods (790lb/ft, 1500 FPS from their test barrel).

I’m hard-pressed to shoot that well with the Smith.

 

Send it back, there's something wrong with it, or you. It ought to print one hole groups at that range.
I shot a cheap 2" Charter Under Cover 38 with 5 holes touching in the 10 ring at 50 feet.
That expensive Python ought to do as good or better.

 

Clearly you’re a better shot than I am.

 

Well I did shoot on a pistol team but that's not the point.
I always test a new firearm on shooting bags to see how they perform with factory ammunition.
Forty feet is not that far and an expensive revolver like the Python should perform with spectacular results.
Now the gun may be fine, it could be your eyes but I doubt it. It could be the way the gun is mounted on the bags, you will have to determine if that's the case.
It might be the ammo, not sized to the barrel.
It could be the cylinder throats, you need to check them out.
You might check the cylinder gap also, .005" - .006" is about perfect.
The crown on the barrel should not have any visible defects.
The single action trigger, unless it's just awful should not be the problem, you'll have to decide that for yourself.
Now if the gun checks out with properly sized ammo, go have your eyes checked.
I'm not trying to criticize you or your fine handgun, I'm just trying to help.
I've been there and done that.

 

It might have saved you a lot of unnecessary typing if you had noticed I mentioned that was OFFHAND. Not off bags.

It shoots one ragged hole at 25 off bags with everything I’ve put through it.

 

You said your arms were resting on the bags and your photos showed the results.
I didn't see where you said it would shoot one hole groups at 25 yards.
And no, I didn't read the whole entire series of post.

Quote*All shots were taken in single action with my arms resting on my bag at about 13 yards. Here’s some pics of the gun and my targets. Unquote.

 

Ah, I get it now- you simply don’t understand you are commenting on a DIFFERENT POSTER on the thread.

 

Archer, I fear that at 7.3 pounds DA
I would end up turning the gun into
a jamamatic by short stroking. I
think the trigger return would be just
too soft for me.

Any way, enjoy as the Python is a
fine revolver, no doubt about it. It's
just not my choice.

And since the date is advancing so
quickly, Happy Holidays to All.

 

You are correct. I failed to notice that I was not replying to the original poster.
My bad.
Then perhaps I am a better shot than you, we may never know.

 

Well, I see that besides the usual Colt naysayer, we have a new one. Again, I ask, why is it that when a member starts a thread to spotlight his Colt, guys pop up to poop in his thread by saying that their S&Ws will outshoot the Colt?

This really grows tiresome. Notice how Colt fans post in S&W brag threads that their Colts will shoot better than the Smiths? Nope; didn't think so.

 

I’ve been a member of this forum for 19 years, and I can say, the standards of some of the posters do not meet the original intentions of the founders. It’s sad to see.

 

OP here. Now for something completely different -

I have shot 1000’s of Hornady 148 grain LHBWC in .38 special cases over either Bullseye or Titegroup. They are smoky, dirty, accurate and glorious.

I just shot some Xtreme plated DEWC over N320. They were soft and accurate. They were also CLEAN. I just finished processing about 120 cases and my hands were clean afterwards. No lead on the forcing cone or cylinder face. I’m gonna save the swaged load for the GP100 and start shooting these from the Python.

(3.7 grains of N320 in .38 special cases or 4.6 grains of N320 in .357 cases were the most accurate for me.)YMMV.

 

Just logged back on to THR and saw some of the additions to my thread. Guys like that are the reason I’ve stopped visiting this site as much. The gun-guy demographic seems to include more than its fair share of know-it-all types that seem to be incapable of passing up the chance to boast of their superiority. I suspect that they are usually overcompensating online for their real life deficiencies. Who knows? Maybe they really are all crack shots who actually do know everything. That’s the nature of the internet I guess. Folks can say or be whatever they want without any real consequences.

 

Arrogance, denial, it's a few things going on. Some guys refuse to believe that there are other products out there that can do what their chosen brand does, as well or even better. The problem worsens when these guys resort to snark, ridicule, sarcasm and outright hostility, which I'm seeing across the board on almost every internet forum. People say stuff they'd never say face to face to another person.

 

I just plunked down a batch of $$ on a nice trade-in Glock 22 .40 and a nib Kimber Stainless Target II 9mm… now I’m kind of wishing I had passed on both of those and picked up a Python.

Darn it…

Stay safe.