Its funny. It seems to me that the people agreeing with me don't have a python, and the people who are poopooing my post are trying to justify having one...
It is kind of funny, but not too surprising... I haven't responded to your post until now, so haven't had the chance to 'poopoo' anything. But, I do have 3 Pythons (a 6", 4", and a 2.5"). And own over a couple of dozen Smiths, including 3 Model 27s, 3 Model 15s, 3 model 14s, 3 Model 17s, 3 Model 29s, a couple of Model 19s, a Model 28, 25, 586, 686, 66, etc., etc... I've been shooting a long time, and my observations are not brand biased, or based on a whole bunch of ignorance (always room for some ignorance...).
That said, the Pythons are hand fitted, fine shooting revolvers; always very accurate for me. Tough to compare, as every gun is a little different, but overall, I'd say that my Pythons are as accurate, or more accurate than any of my Smiths. My 4" Python is an absolute tack driver. That said, I've got a few Smiths that are also tack drivers, including a 66-2, which is a relatively newer Smith, so it's not just an older guns are better thing either. The v spring Colts have generally been deemed to be inherently more accurate due to the unique nature of how the cylinder locks up just prior to the break of the trigger. This is why most of the top bulls-eye shooters/champions back in the day preferred to use Colts. Also, with the Pythons, I find the overall fitment to be just beautiful. From how well tuned the actions are, to the finish, they are hard to beat, IMO.
People that are used to a Smith trigger, and not used to v-spring action Colt triggers often have issue with the Colt trigger. Personally, I've always loved the stack of the Colt trigger. If you get familiar with the trigger, in double action you can stack it to the point right before single action. Doing this gives you the nice single action 'final break.' Most non-Colt guys just complain that it stacks because they're not used to the action. I have found it to be preferable. In quick double action shooting you just pull right through the stack, nice trigger. In slow/target double action shooting you can stack the trigger to get a really nice single action break. Of course, the single action break is beautiful on these Colts. On a Python everything I just described is just so smoooooth.
I have a couple of Smiths that have very nice triggers, as well. A couple of them have been tuned after leaving the factory, and a couple are pretty nice right out of the box. I also have a some that are nothing to write home about. Again, every gun is a little different. With the special attention to fitment and tuning that Pythons received when they were made, their triggers are consistently very nice. I know that all the ones that I've ever shot have had great triggers.
Now, of course, if you are really used to a particular gun and have a lot of trigger time with it, and then you shoot some other gun that has a different action for the first time, I would not expect you to be as proficient with that new gun. I can also understand you not thinking much about it due to not doing as well with it. This happens to us S&W guys when we shoot a Glock for the first time; ugh! That said, I've know guys that have always just shot Glocks, and they can't shoot a double action revolver trigger to save their lives, literally...
Opinions will always differ on the Colt vs. Smith thing, and that's just fine. Different strokes for different folks. When it comes to 'poopooing' Colts in general, and Pythons specifically, it I've observed that it generally comes from those that don't own them. Now please, I understand there are plenty of guys that have owned them and are not a fan, I'm saying this as a general observation. Traditionally, Colts, and especially Pythons, have been more expensive than Smiths. There has been animosity forever for this reason, e.g., that high dollar Colt/Python is no better than my Smith, Ruger, etc... So, Dillyp, this fits with your observation above, everyone wants to justify their purchase/ownership, and other people poopooing Colts because they want to justify not owning one...
Not saying you weren't impressed, I'm sure you weren't.
Like I said, to each their own. I love both Smiths and Colts, and really appreciate the workmanship found on the pre-war Colts, and the Pythons, and also of some of the pre-war Smiths and some of their flagship models.
Just my thoughts, thanks for sharing yours, too.
