Smith Equivalent of a Python?

[SaxonPig]

#39

Python & 27 as top of the line.

39. The Python is the top of the Colt line and the Model 27 (post 1957) or “Registered Magnum” (1935-1939) or simply “357 Magnum” (1939-1956)... depending on date of manufacture... is the comparable top of the S&W line. Some people make the huge mistake of asserting that the Models 586 and/or 686 are comparable to the Python but they most definitely are not. These models were intended to be service grade revolvers and in absolutely no way, shape or form do they compare to the quality of either the Python or the Model 27. The 586/686 bears a passing, superficial resemblance to the Python due to its barrel contour but that’s where the similarity ends.

 

[Brian Dale]

...the Python, which is massively over-rated. In fact, it might be the over-rated handgun in America.

Rolls-Royce might be the "most over-rated car brand" in the world, too. After all, it's just a car; it doesn't bestow immortality.

But it's still a Rolls-Royce.

Olympus, since you wrote,

What are my options? Spare no expense!

I'll join previous posters in answering: The Registered Magnum.

 

[Blue Brick]

Skip Smith and get a Ruger GP100.

 

[Hawk]

Seems I missed the "cost no object" part earlier.

That being the case, I forgot one brand that has a vent rib:
http://www.korthusa.com/revolver_en.htm#

 

[jbbaldwin]

Dan Wesson's are great revolvers! You could get both the 4 and 6 inches barrels so that way you don't have to settle on one.

For more info on DWs visit www.danwessonforum.com

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Yeash, the poor guy asks about a Python & a S&W and you guys have him buyin' a Korth, a Ruger GP100 and a Dan Wesson.:banghead:

Big help, big help.


Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Olympus]

Yeash, the poor guy asks about a Python & a S&W and you guys have him buyin' a Korth, a Ruger GP100 and a Dan Wesson.

Big help, big help.


Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[BlindJustice]

SInce the Python is out of production, the equivalent out of production
S&W is the N-frame 27-2 - it got the high polish deluxe blued finish as well
as the interior got extra polishing.

Randall

 

[BlindJustice]

THe 27 came in 4", 5", 6" and 8 3/8" Bbl. Lengths,
many consider the 5" the best balance and looks for the
large N-frame. They are also among the fewest produced
and get a good price.


I have the 625 5" stainless in .45 ACP. It has the Master Revolver
cylinder action job and is a nice range gun. I'd love a 27-2 with a 5"
Bbl. especially with the .357 Mag.

FWIW - the action of PYthons are known to shoot loose and need
re-timing more often than the heavier frame and S&W action.


I have 5 Smiths and hang out at the S&W Forum - still learning

R-

 

[harmonic]

THe 27 came in 4", 5", 6" and 8 3/8" Bbl. Lengths,

You forgot 3 1/2 inch.

 

[Hawk]

Yeash, the poor guy asks about a Python & a S&W and you guys have him buyin' a Korth, a Ruger GP100 and a Dan Wesson.

Big help, big help.


Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

Hey!

At least the Korth is current production.
And, come to think of it, half the price of the last 3" Python I saw auctioned and about even with a 95% registered magnum.

The Ruger doesn't have the vents.

 

[Brian Dale]

Yeash, the poor guy asks about a Python & a S&W and you guys have him buyin' a Korth, a Ruger GP100 and a Dan Wesson.

Jeff, you already knew that we luuuuuuuve to spend other people's money. Sometimes a bit of artistic license takes hold.

 

[Black Knight]

DickM - Thanks for the info. I didn't know that they had been discontinued and brought back. I knew the 28 had been discontinued but thought they had kept the 27.

 

[Bubba613]

Rolls-Royce might be the "most over-rated car brand" in the world, too. After all, it's just a car; it doesn't bestow immortality.

The Rolls Royce is not overrated. It is highly rated. Justifiably so.
Can't say the same about the Python, which has an OK trigger and limited durability. A tuned Smith 686 will shoot the pants off one.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

The Rolls Royce is not overrated. It is highly rated. Justifiably so.
Can't say the same about the Python, which has an OK trigger and limited durability. A tuned Smith 686 will shoot the pants off one.

Hey Bubba, just how many Pythons have you wore out in your lifetime ?
How many rounds did you go through in each to make you talk bad about your experiences with their "limited durability" ?
I'm serious. Did you carry one as a duty gun ? Did you just have a lot of range time with them ? Did you put nothing but full house loads through your Pythons ? What was the actual problem when they went bad for you ? Did you have problems with Colt's service dept ?

Thanks for your time, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Olympus]

I wasn't trying to turn this into a Smith vs Colt argument. Everyone has their preference and reasons for choosing either side. I wasn't asking which of the two was better either. I'm sure you can "tune" any gun and make it shoot better than a factory gun. It's apples and oranges really. I'm sure you can find a gunsmith good enough to make a Rossi trigger shoot better than a Python too. Everything has a price. But that's not what we're talking about here...apples and oranges.

My preference is Colt, but I'm having a hard time finding one that the price is comparable to the condition. So I wanted to know if Smith had a revolver that was the flagship of their line. I thought if I knew what model that was, then I could keep an eye out for one of them too and if I found one I liked then I would go for that instead of the Python.

And the word "overrated" is a relative term really. What's overrated to someone might not be to someone else. I think the AR-15 is the most overrated gun in history, but you don't see me going over the AR threads and telling all of those enthusiasts that those guns are overrated. Because to those guys, they're not overrated. So it's all relative. What's overrated to me may not be to you. And who's to say that someone is the single authority on rating?

 

[BlindJustice]

I think I answered your question Olympus.

Question - just curious what do you want to do with this
Deluxe American Python or 27-2?

FWIW/IMHO- for the RUger GP100 kool aid drinkers - it's a nice
working girll but not in the class of either of the aforementioned
Deluxe fiknished top of the line in their day revolvers.

Randall

 

[Guillermo]

A tuned Smith 686 will shoot the pants off one

That is simply not true. A 686 can become as accurate and easy to shoot well, but "shoot the pants off" is just not the case.

(BTW, I own both)

 

[Olympus]

VICTORY IS MINE!

Just happened across a 6" blued Python for $750! Cha-ching! I'll be picking it up this afternoon. Not a mint condition gun, but the only thing I can see is some slight bluing wear around the muzzle, likely from holster wear, and a small worn ring around the cylinder. I think this will be a good "shooter" Python. Not necessarily a show piece, but then again, I paid less than $1000 so I'm happy with it. At that price, I still have some cushion in the gun fund so I can quickly build back up for another Python purchase. Or maybe a better quality Diamondback. I'll get some pics up tonight!

 

[Brian Dale]

Sweet. Well done, Olympus. Let us know how it shoots, when you can.

 

[DickM]

Wow! A reasonably good condition Python for $750? I have a couple holes in the safe for a nice Model 24 and a 6" M29 - would you consider working on commission? (Congrats - I can always tell how good a deal someone else got by how jealous I feel, and I'm turning several shades of green at the moment.)

 

[CSA 357]

i dont think the python can even come close to the smith& wesson mod 27! say what you want, the smiths a better gun in every way, ok now flame away!
csa

 

[JohnBT]

No flame needed. You're wrong.

John

 

[Bubba613]

Hey Bubba, just how many Pythons have you wore out in your lifetime ?
How many rounds did you go through in each to make you talk bad about your experiences with their "limited durability" ?

I've owned one since 1986. I haven't shot it much. It doesn't perform well with magnum loads and every smith I've talked to talks about having to re-time the things. It sure doesn't feel durable shooting it and I'm not going to start wearing out a $1k gun. Their issues are well-known in the revolver community.
A 686 is just a lot more durable and the trigger pull, when properly tuned, is better in my experience.

 

[Brian Dale]

I've only read about Pythons being worn to the point of going out of time when used as race guns by by serious competitors, years ago; PPC, maybe? Many thousands of rounds of rapid fire DA shooting were involved.

I've no concerns like that.

Get a Python as the OP just did, or get a Model 27; they're both good. They were made to be used. Hey, I shoot an 870 instead of a Benelli, or a Beretta, or a Krieghoff. Each of us can follow his own taste.