After this discussion ended yesterday, I got curious and pulled out my Ed McGivern book. There were some targets using just flashlight illumination. It was crazy what he could do.

Yes, it entertains us. The fact that you are reading this means that you are getting entertained as well, I hope.

Personally, I’d take a 686 over a Colt Python every day of the week.

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Some Might Say.

Bullseye shooting "back in the day" was all one handed single action

This is an interesting hobby because we all like different stuff. A lot of folks see a Colt revolver and their eyes glaze over and they have got to have it if only for the brand. The S&W fires bullets and functions exactly as the COLT, but it is not a COLT and fewer folks will buy it only because it is an S&W. Though they are functionally identical, years down the road, the Colt will sell for more than the comparable S&W because of the "Colt Mystique" its followers have. If you cannot tell, I only own S&W and Ruger revolvers.

This is a great point. When people started shooting revolvers DA more, the Smith's started to dominate.

The Smith DA trigger was just better. So for law enforcement, action shooters and such, the Smith was the better revolver.

While they do the same thing; they don't function identically. IIRC the
Colt cylinders even rotate in the wrong direction.

The .357 Python was always the COOoooool Kid's gun.... to look at... and lately to kill Zombies with....

But S&W was and still is the COOooooolest .44magnum in the world; the Colt Anaconda a bit of a dog on the market.....the Diamondback was cool but couldn't match the 19 in versatility.

Smith .357s came in more flavors ......... K L and N..........; N-frame 27s are right up there in price...... and pre-war Reg. Magnums are the priciest of all.

Police work was dominated by the S&W N frame .357, 27s and 28s for 30-40 years ( Colt offered a .357 New Service before the war)..... and they couldn't make 66s fast enough!!!!!!

The best of both worlds would be a .357 L-frame 686 "Smolt"

As I recall, there once was a cottage industry putting Colt barrels on S&W revolvers. Best of both worlds.

Kinda like mine....Doesn't have the woodpecker hole in the sideplate.

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S&W Accumulator

Just watched a Jerry Miculek video in which
he shot a 686 and a Python. Naturally he
shot the Smith superbly and he did so as
well with the older nickeled Python.

But he short-stroked the Colt on the first
trigger try and started over. He complained
that as usual the Python with its V-spring
has a softer, slower trigger return which
necessitates taking the finger off the trigger.

The video was made well before the Python
2020 was introduced this year but I believe
the new Python still "suffers" from the soft,
slower trigger reset.

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Ubi Est Mea

Maybe, but Colt has never betrayed supporters of the Second Amendment.

Google "the Ruger Letter" if you don't know...

Or 25 Phoenix .22 s

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John

Yep: years ago I shot bullseye and PPC on our local police competition squad. In production class, six of the eight of us shot 6" Pythons due to a fine SA trigger. But for PPC, we all shot either Models 19 or 15 Smiths; the Smiths were a bit more robust over the long haul, and didn't have the "Coltish" stack in DA..

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John

All of us want and need colt to continue to exist . Smith will not necessarily be a better company if colt slides under. If you think they are over priced now just wait till they close the doors.

There's a target framed and hanging in ADM Arms in Southlake, Texas that the owner's dad shot a possible on with a Python and Remington wadcutters.