Colt question

[4011]

I'm going to do some firearm instructing next week. The lady has a snub Colt Lawman Mark 111. I've never fired a colt revolver. Can they be dry fired like my Super Smiths? It belonged to her late husband. Grips look large for a woman. The cylinder turns backwards also don't they? I'll take a Smith J frame to let her get a feel of what a firearm really is!!! Never met the lady. I'm doing this for a friend as a payback for his putting up with me as a friend for about forty seven years now. Bless his heart.

[2152hq]

Any of the Colt MkIII series guns have a history of the hammers cracking, usually from dry firing. I wouldn't say it was a tremendous problem, but I've seen more than a few.
The hammer, trigger and most of the internal parts of the MkIII are sintered metal 'castings'. Something along the technology lines of the MIM process S&W uses but Colts was late 60's technology of course.

I'm not saying that dry firing a MkIII series will result in instant failure of the hammer,,but they do have a higher rate of failure than the parts produced as a cast or machined piece.

In '82 or 83 when Colt discontinued the MkIII series and replaced it with the MkV,, the one big difference was the sintered metal hammer, trigger, ect internals were replaced with steel machined castings.
Otherwise the guns were pretty much the same save for some cosmetic changes and others to make for easier production.

Just some thoughts

[gunfish]

I have a few Colts. My rule of thumb is not to dry fire a Colt that has the firing pin in the frame. If the firing pin is mounted on the hammer, dry fire is OK unless it is a .22 caliber.

[Biggfoot44]

A Colt person will tell you that a S&W revolves backwards. Colt DA pulls are *different* . Personally I prefer S&W , but ultimately it's personal preference.

Actually , the comparitive experience would be shooting a snub K Frame. Don't tell me about frame size per se , the Balance is closest to a 2in K Frame.

[dant]

Basically what 2152hq said above, it is now in the realm of "collectible" ( most all Colts are these days, stupid,BIG money) yes a rather large gun for a woman or small hands, depending on condition, and if all the packaging is there ,she is better off to either put it away ( aha, the "safe queen") or sell it for the big bucks, buy something more practical for HER, and pocket the money difference,but if its 'family' she should keep it, just show her "how" to "properly use it".............

[m1gunner]

My wife likes that size Colt revolver. She tried a J frame S&W and said she would rather shoot the Colt. And she shoots the Colt better than I can

[Dennis The B]

The MKIII frames were larger even, than the K frames. More like an L frame.

[Frizzman]

I had a Lawman MKIII snub that I carried off-duty in a Bianchi 9R shoulder holster. The two inch came with slim service type stocks. The trigger reach was pretty long and not comfortable for my average size hands. I didn't like the trigger much with its long pull. I sold it later when I was issued a M10 snub that was lighter and had a very nice trigger...A Lawman snub doesn't seem like a very good choice as a teaching revolver. A four inch K Frame with mild .38 Spl target ammo would be a good start when going beyond a .22.

[CO_Kid]

Do not dry fire without snap caps. Period.

Even WITH snap caps, my Lawman broke and is bound up tighter than Richard's hat band.

[jack the toad]

+! on what has been said regarding the Lawman Mk3.
The only DA Colt I currently have is the 2" RB version and there's not a S&W around that I'd prefer the Colt to.
Dunno for sure but IMO there's several good reasons why Colt DA's are where they're at and the S&W's are still very much with us.
And no, I'm not a hater. It just is what it is.

[Cyrano]

Some years ago a friend bought a Mk III at a gun show. He laid it on one of those metal folding chairs. It slid off the seat, onto the floor, hammer first. The hammer thumbpiece broke off.