I took my recently acquired 1966 era Colt Cobra .38sp snubby the range today. The Cobra was actually the first of the 'snakes', being offered as an aluminum framed Detective Special. These only weigh 15oz vs 23oz for the steel Det Sp....actually a half ounce lighter than the mod 442 Airweight J frame in my pocket.



This is an outdoor bullseye oriented range, so fixed targets at 25 or 50yrds, I went with 25. Ammo was HSM 158gr plated flat points, Magtect fmjfps and five Black Hills 148gr HBWC's left over from my last two trips here.
The Magtech has chrono'd right at 700fps in my other 2" revolvers, the Black Hills wadcutters low 600s in the LCR .357 and 442 Smith. Dunno about the HSM stuff, but it felt lighter than the Magtech by a bit.



I warmed up with the Ruger MkII before throwing some HSM plated reloads downrange on the same target in hopes of getting some idea of the POI before ceasefire.
It wasn't horribly consistent, but more or less 'on' with elevation and about 3" to the right POA. It didn't group especially well though, and the best six shot effort went 5-6" on one corner of the target.
I switched out targets at ceasefire and started with the Magtech 158gr. This ammo had more bark to it and some decent flash...but I couldnt consistently hold black with it at all. Normally that's not so big a deal given a lightweight snubby at 25yrds offhand, but after the last session with the LCR and 442 at this range, maybe I expected a bit too much...I dunno.
Mostly I was disappointed, but it did hold middle pretty well, mostly just strung up and down....but maybe it just didn't like jacketed ammo, which isn't unheard of with older revolvers- or my shooting sucks today.
It bugged me.
Last ceasefire, I put up a third target as a sort of clean slate and
put up a shoot n see sticker. I'd bear down with those last five BH wadcutters, thinking maybe they would be a little easier to hold something together since they are light shooting and don't torque stuff off center as much as the faster heavier loads.
I shot single action and made mental note to maintain the same POA regardless of where they went on the target.

I'm target #7



So I guess it likes the wadcutters.
I probably looked like an ***** taking the picture, but dammit this doesn't happen all that often at 25yrds with snubbies offhand.


Soooo, it does shoot.
Either I shot it poorly with the 158gr stuff, or it simply doesn't like the stuff... ammo picky, maybe.
I will say this gun has a nice DA trigger, despite what one might glean on the Internet about Colt DA revolvers. It does stage up before the break, unlike a typical DA S&W five shooter. But this one is smoother in take up and fairly light up to that stage, and the SA is very nice for such a gun.
Sights are also very good, bigger and deeper than even a recent J frame, no complaints about the sights.
Recoil with the 'stronger' Magtech stuff was still not objectionable, a good std pressure load like the Nyclad or a Bufflao Bore (non plus P) would be brisk I suspect, but not difficult to handle.

I'm gonna have to stock up on more BH wadcutters, I'm thinking....

(that's an even 2")

Very nice!

Glad you like it, I really need to get a D-frame snubby before the prices go as high as some of the other Colt DA revolvers.

I sure like my Detective Specials......nice group!

__________________
Even older, even crankier....

That's some durn fine shootin'.

there's a reason they have been in business so long

__________________
SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I've got a Dick Spl. that is a sweet shooter as well. Otreb......that is mighty fine shootin' at 25 yards!!!

My Cobra throws Wadcutters all over the place, but is right on target with some 158 grain lead Roundnose I have, I guess Cobra's are picky. The Buffalo Bore stuff might be standard pressure but it kicks very hard in mine. I found a box of Nyclads and that's what mine is loaded with.

__________________
LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

I bought my Cobra new in 1968 for $85 (a Smith was around $65 +/-) b/c my duty weapon was a Colt. Still have the little Cobra and even though I don't carry it much anymore it does go to the range now and then. I wish Colt would make them again.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

A few months ago, I took my Cobra out to shoot side-by-side with my 442. The perk of having an extra round on board is enticing, especially at roughly the same weight.

In the end, I decided to stick with the J-frame. I prefer the enclosed hammer, but mostly, I shoot it better DA. The Colt trigger is not bad, just very different. They are cool to handle, though, and if that's all I had, life wouldn't be too bad!

__________________
Because of the metric system?

I can't fault your logic, I also pack a 442-2 everyday. I have several snubbies, including models 49, a Kit Gun, mod 242 (l frame 7 shot .38), Rugers LCR and Sp101 .357 and others, but the 442 is what I use.

Nice shooting! 25 yards IMO is a heckuva long range for a belly gun, altho you've shown it can be done. It's called a belly gun because it's designed for up close and personal. Any chance your range has a shorter distance, say 25 feet? Then you can really see what you and your gun can do. Two-hand DA would be a better test of its capabilities.

As you have done, I would stick with wadcutters and service style ammo in your aluminum frame gun. I envy you your nice Cobra.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I like to use a standard paper plate at 3, 5 & 7 yards. I shoot my 442 empty as fast as possible, reload using a speed strip or speed loader, and repeat. If all 10 shots stay on the plate I consider that a successful outing. Now and then I do run the target out past 15 yards just to see how I do, but these targets put me to shame.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Great shooting and nice report.

I've got a twin to your gun ... a couple years newer ... and it too is a fine little shooter.

Good shooting & good story!

I have a Dick Special and like it. See a Cobra available for sale local or perhaps on here I might be getting another Colt.

__________________
14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Those old Colts are GREAT guns. I like that they will take a K-Frame speedloader without too much fanfare.

The Cobra is (and still) is one good revolver. Big enough to shoot well and small enough to hide. The only issue with the Colts are repair parts and enlisting somebody to fix them.

I recently passed on a VERY much carried Dick Special. It worked fine, but had way too much rust damage.

Your Cobra looks like a wonderful example of an older Colt. I happen to like the 2nd (?) Gen Colts over the newer ones. They just look "Jack Ruby-ish" to me.

You did good!

I carried my wife's 1951 Cobra for a few hours today while working out my 642 at a range that doesn't mind if you carry concealed as long as it stays that way. Really didn't want to reload in the parking lot.

Appreciate you comment on the weight. My pocket felt lighter with the Colt. Glad it wasn't imagination.

__________________
I need ammo, not a ride.

I frequent two ranges, one being an outdoor bullseye type with fixed longer distance targets, the other an indoor with with the typical rail system allowing powder-burn to 50ft in most lanes.
I'll be going there next time for the Colt and my Snubby match submissions. They don't allow exposed lead ammo, but I have a hunch it will shoot Nyclads just fine.

I have a number of Snubbies that fall in that 15-18oz range, I'd hazard the extra round of the cobra offsets the 1/2oz weight advantage...but IMO the colt feels lighter too.

I was able to do some more shooting this week, put the Cobra over the chrono with a few loads, including std pressure 110gr Hornady CD.
It's not a load I'd trust for defense...needs to be getting another 150fps IMO with such a lightweight bullet even in standard pressure .38.
110gr/800fps is .380 performance.

I own three of them, a very early and very late .38 and a 60s vintage .32. Very nice guns indeed. I carried the late model .38 for several years as my off-duty gun.

Still beats yelling for help.

__________________
Release the Kraken

I see that invoice for a Glock grip reduction...you ain't foolin' nobody here!

OP...Excellent range report and photos, thanks for sharing!

__________________
NULLI SECUNDUS

I still can't drop my liposuctioned G20 in my pocket.
Turned out very good though.

Absolutely, but so does Federal Nyclad 125gr with more bullet weight and velocity. It was a little cooler, never helps chrono numbers but the CD 110gr picked up another 100-125fps from an extra 1/2" of bbl in the 242 L frame Airlite. My guess is the older Colt thrives more with lead bullets.

Local pawn eporium has a mint one in box they just put out two days ago. $999. I have two and an Agent already. 1963 mfg. Not a hint of a turn line or anything. I passed.

__________________
Bill
Dis B. Leaf

The shop I picked this one from also has a 3" Det Spl in nice shape, I was very close..... Got this one instead, for half of what they wanted for the Det Sp. But man, I really want that gun too.