New Colt Revolvers

[mike campbell]

"Python.... deep Royal Blue finish, fitting and attention to detail..."

No workmanship there, eh? just bling?

"...but the M586 is just as smooth, more robust, is more easily tuned and over all will stand up better to Magnums."

Funny. I've owned, shot, competed with and generally spent a lot of time around both Colts and Smiths over the last 40 years. I know of an 8" Python that won state IHMSA titles shooting 185 grain cast bullets and reliably knocking over 58lb steel rams at 220 yards.

I've yet to hear of, much less see, a Colt with a cracked barrel.

I saw a 586 last summer with a cracked barrel....not a 66, but a 586. Smith fixed it for a mere $350.

To each his own.

 

[Ribwizzard]

"Python.... deep Royal Blue finish, fitting and attention to detail..."

No workmanship there, eh? just bling?

"...but the M586 is just as smooth, more robust, is more easily tuned and over all will stand up better to Magnums."

Funny. I've owned, shot, competed with and generally spent a lot of time around both Colts and Smiths over the last 40 years. I know of an 8" Python that won state IHMSA titles shooting 185 grain cast bullets and reliably knocking over 58lb steel rams at 220 yards.

I've yet to hear of, much less see, a Colt with a cracked barrel.

I saw a 586 last summer with a cracked barrel....not a 66, but a 586. Smith fixed it for a mere $350.

To each his own.

That's the cool thing about Google, all you have to do is Google " colt python with cracked barrel " and you can see all you want.

I'm going to 2nd the 586 being the better handgun.

 

[stansdds]

Colt Pythons were not made with hot 110 and 125 grain ammo in mind, but treat them nicely and they are quite durable. If you want to use those light weight bullets, I'd recommend a more modern design, such as the S&W 586/686 or Ruger GP-100. I expect even the S&W 27/28 are better at surviving hot loads and light weight bullets, but the Python was made for accuracy with the use of 140 to 160 grain bullets.

The old Colt action also is not the best for rapid double action firing. If you are competing and need rapid double action firing, S&W and Ruger are far more durable.

Just my dos centavos, take it for what it is worth.

 

[shocker]

Colt Pythons were not made with hot 110 and 125 grain ammo in mind, but treat them nicely and they are quite durable. If you want to use those light weight bullets, I'd recommend a more modern design, such as the S&W 586/686 or Ruger GP-100. I expect even the S&W 27/28 are better at surviving hot loads and light weight bullets, but the Python was made for accuracy with the use of 140 to 160 grain bullets.

The new K frames should hold up to hot light bullet loads as well, and if it doesn't, changing the inner sleeve in a hybrid barrel assembly should cheaper than swapping a 1 piece. If a part of a machine wears out, it should be straightforward to fix it.
That's part of good design.

Why shouldn't Colt produce a mass production friendly version of the Python? I don't go nuts on GM because the 2019 Chevy Malibu isn't exactly identical to the 1964 original.

 

[mike campbell]

Yeah, Google's really cool. Who needs a firearms forum when you can just google....

 

[BigBill]

My '75 colt python 357/6" blue to this day is unmatched in quality, fit, finish and accuracy. Nothing comes close. She had pin point accuracy at 100yds. With my hand loads. I chose a Python over a smith model 19 which was known to hammer itself apart with a steady diet of magnum loads. My ruger and colt have no screws to come loose on the modern revolvers. If colt offered the snake guns I buy them.

When the manufacturing numbers increase the quality can go down seen it with many products. The car industry is a fine example.

I think all the gun manufacturers have lost the real craftsman in building guns. This is why there doing the mim parts. My brand new s&w m58 & m57 had two different triggers. One smooth, one rough on the let off. Putting moly on the sear smoothed out the rough trigger. I like all my triggers and actions to have close to the same feel.

 

[BigBill]

For 4.5 decades I wouldn't buy a s&w because they were black marketed by the wholesalers during the Dirty Harry times. Recently I purchased a k22 for my new grandson(baby). This 1948 craftsmanship opened up my eyes to s&w. I like colts, ruger's and s&w guns. Old h&r 22 revolvers.