Well, see that's very open ended. How much shooting and what type of shooting are we talking about?
To some "to shoot" means occasionally and informally. To others, it means rapidly shooting 10k+ rounds per year through it in competition, all while drawing from a kydex holster and slamming speedloaders into the back of it. And to some others, it might mean shooting in bullseye competition.
Generally, IMO, the Python is overrated as a shooter, and for my needs, I can't see myself buying one, 686/586 or not. However, if I were to shoot, say Distinguished Revolver Bullseye competition (and be serious about it), where accuracy really matters, it's shot in SA, and the gun must be essentially stock, I wouldn't entirely rule out a Python.
Good points, but even then, I'd have to say the Python is not a practical or sensible purchase.
How would it make sense to buy a python if you are going to shoot occasionally and informally? I'd rather buy ammo.
How would it make sense to buy a python if you are going to shoot 10k + rounds a year through it? They aren't known for being a very robust design able to withstand hard, constant use, hence in part the Trooper MKIII, King Cobra, etc...Accurate, yes...smooth, yes...robust, no.
How would it make sense to buy a python if you are going to compete with it? They are reputedly getting harder and harder to repair, and smiths who can work on that lockwork are getting fewer and fewer. It would make sense to go with a gun that could be repaired easily with easy to find parts rather than risk losing a competition to a broken Python that has to go back to Colt, or one of a few good smiths still working on them that you'd trust a $2500 gun to.
Seems to me the people that really prefer the pythons are people who bought them when they were a reasonable buy. Heck yea I'd buy a python if it were 25%, even 50% more expensive than a 586/686. But 400% more than a good S&W? Prices DOUBLING the last five years or so from what I saw? That's not superiority. That's collectibility....and more collectible to ME doesn't necessarily mean better in any mechanical way. See my Colt Patterson reference earlier.
How many would under the same circumstances they bought their Pythons then, would still buy them now, if everything were the same except for the price?
If the neighbor or friend you traded for, wanted the equivalent $2500 of your guns/stuff instead of what you traded then?
To me, the only reason to purchase a Python is if you've got more disposable income than I do, and you want a Python specifically to have a Python...or if you come across one that is priced much lower than current market value, and can turn it over quickly.
Sure wish I'd bought at least one Python back when they were reasonably priced. I wasn't really collecting then though...
I'm half tempted to start listing pictures of S&W's I bought recently instead of a python, once I saw the market value of Pythons these days.
Hell, here we go.
66-1 for $400
28-2 for $400
Custom PPC gun...think a Python trigger is nice? This one will run with any Python trigger, without stacking. $350
586's, top one for $600, bottom one for $400
1967 Colt diamondback, $375
Those are all revolvers I bought after looking at buying Pythons.
All that for the cost of one nice python. I for one, think my money went a lot further on S&W's and that diamondback. Far enough to feel comfortable saying that since Pythons have come up so far in price, to me they are no longer superior to a S&W in any practical way. Any slight mechanical superiority is lost to the difficulty of repair and cost to acquire.
I'll admit the diamondback was a complete steal, and I wouldn't have bought it either at current market value for the same reasons as the python.