Korth Mongoose Observations

I decided that "YOLO" (You Only Live Once) and 'invested" in a new Korth Mongoose revolver. I shoot revolvers in NRA Action Pistol Competition (AKA Bianchi Cup) and I'm NRA Distinguished with Open, Metallic and Production. Revolvers I shoot are K-Frame S&W in Open and a Colt Python in Metallic and Production. Here are my observations and comments about the Korth Mongoose.

1. Appearance: The gun is a "looker" especially with the custom walnut grips.
2. Fit and Finish: First rate as you might expect. The DLC finish is perfect and I've done a bunch of presentations in a Kydex holster and there is absolutely no wear at all on the finish. Cylinder Barrel Gap a very tight .004.
3. Handling: The gun handles well and balances like a L Frame S&W. The Cylinder charge holes are chamfered and L Frame speedloaders work well-- I used HKS, Safariland Comp-II and Comp-III and no problem with reloading. Cylinder release next to the hammer is very nice and convenient. The Cylinder comes off the gun without tools press a button and it slides off.
4. Sights: Comes with a nice LPA plain black rear sight and the front sight is a partridge with a McGivern "Gold Bead". Nice set up.
5. Grips: The Mongoose comes standard with a Hogue rubber monogrip and mine has optional walnut grips that look like KN NilGriffe. Hogue make hardwood grips including their "Big Butt" grips for Korth.
6. Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged with a beautiful looking crown. BAD: Its polygonal rifling so no lead bullets--jacketed only! And I like to shoot lead wadcutters so thats not good. I put a pin gauge through the barrel a very tight .3415. (Cylinder throats measured .357) I tried some of my lead wadcutters through it and after one cylinder full the cylinder started seizing up and not rotating smoothly. I called Nighthawk Custom and they told me because of the tight cylinder gap and polygonal rifling its not a good lead bullet gun.
7. Trigger: One of the very best-- infinitely adjustable-- a hex nut at bottom of mainspring adjusts the coil mainspring weight and two screws on the frame can adjust SA trigger pull weight and trigger return. BAD: I shoot exclusively DA and there is WAY to much over travel on the DA stroke which is very annoying. The trigger stop screw on the trigger is set up for SA firing and is not long enough to adjust for DA firing.
8. Accuracy and shooting impressions: Its an accurate gun --because of the tight barrel mine tends to like 9mm (.355) jacketed bullets best. Is it more accurate than a well tuned K or L frame S&W or Python? I can't tell much of a difference. But its a Korth--the Porsche and Mercedes of revolvers! German engineering at its best! Will I use it in NRA Action Pistol competition? Because I can't shoot lead wadcutters probably not.

That doesn't sound like a very good gun for the price to me. Bad DA and canbot shoot most ammo available for it or that is typically handloaded.

You can get it fitted for a 9mm cylinder, right?

People that buy them rave about them. When they first came out just under 3 grand would buy you one. Now it’s a different story on prices. Using jacketed bullets only isn’t a big deal. Post a couple pictures so we can enjoy it also.

Have a Korth .22 half lug, it’s a nice accurate gun. The double action is different then S&W so I shoot it single action mainly. Also have a Manurhin mr73 in .357 and .32 long, love em both. Double action is how I shoot both. Enjoy your new gun, Larry

I bought a Mongoose with 9mm cylinder. I agree with the above poster's review. Easy to change to 9mm cylinder. I have not adjusted the trigger. No problems good gun to shoot.

For the price you'd think that they could have done a bit better than a rubber Hogue monogrip. Nice piece though. I'd love to see one with a blue or otherwise shiny DLC finish sometime (and a half underlug variation would be appreciated in my book!).