A C&P of a post I just made on the Oklahoma forum.

This is just my inital impression of my new Colt Viper 357. My stepson took my grandkids along with us to pick up the Viper from the gun shop in Wichita today. The gun is made of stainless steel and a side-by-side look tells me that the new Viper's frame is slightly larger than that of my old Police Positive Special. It looks, in fact, like a somewhat more robust verson of the D-frame.

Here, from the Colt website, is a picture of it. Mine is a 4.25" barrel. It also comes with a 3" barrel.



My brother has a King Cobra and except for the barrel and the grips, it is essentially the same gun. He told me that the trigger pull on his is good. On mine, it is superb, being very smooth and without the 'staginess' that old timers like myself often associate with the Colt name.

I think I'll enjoy mine.

When I get a chance to shoot it, I'll do a more complete review, this, like I said at the beginning, just being the initial impression.

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Let's be careful out there

I like the Viper and nearly all of Colt's new offerings. Picked up a few in recent years. That said, I wish Colt would have reserved names like "Viper" and "Cobra" for alloy-framed revolvers, like the originals. Would like to see Colt bring back the alloy frames, at least for the D Frames.

Colt Show is going on right now in San Marcos, Texas.

I love these revolvers, just wish they had adjustable rear sights. Not a fan of the current setup but lipseys or tallo may do something in that regard at some point.

I'm a big fan of seeing any new revolvers with partial underlugs. Minus that odd bent trigger guard, the new Viper looks good. Especially considering the 3" model is comparable to the highly desirable 3" K-frames of bygone years.

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AKA SixToEight

The KC Target model has adjustable sights. Personally, I was holding out for a 4" with fixed sights.

The KC target model

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Let's be careful out there

Other than the new Pythons I haven’t had any interest in the other new Colt revolvers. Until now. I recently saw a 3” Viper locally and I really like it. I considered getting it but I had just recently bought 4 guns and knowing that Colt will continue making them I figure I can wait. Also waiting for the blue version of the 2-1/2” Python.

I was in Scheels yesterday. Low and behold
they had the Viper. Nice looking Revolver; fit
and finish was great, just like all the other
Colts they had.

Congratulations and enjoy your new purchase.

P.S. I’m still holding out for that reintroduced Colt
Anaconda in 45Colt.

I'm a big fan of the old Colt "D" frames. The new 3" Viper has caught my eye. But I haven't seen one in person yet. I'm hoping they do it in blue.

And yes, I, too, want to see the new Anaconda in .45 Colt.

It is very nice. It handles like a 640-1 with an extra round, weighs less than 2 oz more. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

I like the 3” barrel length, but the trigger guard on the current Colt revolvers of this size, is a deal breaker. If I didn’t already have several 3” K frames, I may reconsider. Notwithstanding the 4” blue Python with its 3rd vent, I really like the new Pythons, especially the 2.5”.

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213th FBINA

The blue 2 1/2 Python comes first. �� Come on already Colt.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Viper reminds me of the Model 65. Basic no frills fixed sight stainless steel revolver-everyone should own a basic no frills stainless steel 357 revolver. As I already own a 681, alas I will not , at my stage in life, buy another-but I'd like to

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Forum consigliere

CDNN has them for $999/ FFL cost: for me +7.5% tax=$75, shipping free but $7 "adult signature, $40 FFL+ background check = $1121. Not too bad but I also have a 3" 65, heavier but better with .357 loads. Now if'n they don't sell and CDNN drops them to $699 a year or so from now.........Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

I like the 3 inch Viper. I too am waiting for a blue version.

That didn't stop me. I have a 681 and I still bought the Viper. NOW what's your excuse? Huh? Huh?

Just messing with you!!!

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Let's be careful out there

Here, my Viper sports a set of the older style service stocks that I picked up on eBay. I'm used to these grips and I used a Colt Police Positive Special with this style grip when I went to Massad Ayoob's class in Long Beach, California in 1985.

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Let's be careful out there

Have the 3” king cobra with the fixed sight, I like the Viper too

Got a three inch last week. Supposedly a blem but I can't see a mark on it. Very nice piece. Colt got these right. I also have a King Cobra three. Virtually the same thing.

Looked at the viper and Kodiak. Kodiak is in my safe.

Attached Images

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213th FBINA

How is the fit with these grips with the new frame?

I have a 3" Python and a 3" King Cobra which is mechanically the same as the Viper. The MIM hammers have been known to break on the King Cobras (38/357 models). Not a lot of them mind you, but enough to make me pull the sideplate and inspect mine for cracks after every range session before going back into my EDC holster.

Attached Images

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Still can't understand that kink in the trigger guard. Guess if I held and fired one I might think otherwise. But to look at it!?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Frankly, it could be a bit better, but I'm pretty happy. I first got this type of grip back in the early 1970's and I'm used to them. Plus, they look good, IMO.

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Let's be careful out there

Yeah, I agree with you there.

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Let's be careful out there

And conceal well. I have service grips on my KC and Python.

Agreed; they do conceal better.

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Let's be careful out there

FINALLY!!! I got to shoot the Viper.

The main purpose of today's session was to function-fire the little Colt, with the object of seeing how reliable it was using an ammuntion brand that has given me lots of problems with a few S&W revolvers; namely, Winchester.

I put 96 rounds of WWB 130 FMJ through the Colt and was please to see that they all went 'bang'.

Since this was, like I said earlier, primarily intended to test the reliability with a brand that has harder primers, I didn't pay too much attention to accuracy, but even there the Viper did well. Since this is a fixed sight fighting gun, the range at which I shot was fairly short (5 yards). Accuracy was very adequate for the primary purpose of the gun, as I clearly ruined the bad guy's (an NYPD-style silhouette) day.

I now have a new hot-weather carry gun.

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Let's be careful out there