Better than the S&W model 65? Say it isnt so!

dandyrandy said:
I forgot to mention you can replace the front sight easily on the King Cobra with an Allen key. Dont get me wrong the copper dot front sight post is new to me but it works great! So I can put a fiber optic sight on the gun or a night sight. I prefer the night sight option. Just one bright night sight on the front is a great option for a self defense gun.
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I have the new model Python and Cobra. With about 5 minutes work S&W front sights can be modified to work in the Colts.

Using the interchangeable S&W front sight just clip the wings of the base down to a post. Then shorten the post and drop it in. Works fine. I have a Patridge front sight on my Python and a red ramp on the Cobra.
 
JWintergreen said:
I have beat this dead horse for years, but it is still one worth kicking. The curse of the SP101 is that it is a D frame sized revolver with J frame capacity. It should have always been a small frame six shot .38/.357. Ruger should have went with a slightly taller frame size, and a 1.40" diameter cylinder, instead of a 1.35" diameter cylinder. Now that other companies are making small frame .38/.357 six shooters, this is the time to correct this mistake. Ruger also has the LCR lineup and a seven shot GP100, so there are no reasons not to do this.

When it comes to small frame revolvers the .327 thrives in turning a J frame sized gun into a six shooter. A new LCRX in .327 with a 3" barrel would make a lot of .327 fans happy. It would also be nice to see S&W offer steel .38 only J frames and .327 J frames again.
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I couldn't agree more. I'd love an SP101, especially in the 3-inch model, but for its size and weight it really should have been bumped up a little more to make a six-shooter.
 
My shootin' bud has a 101. It's a great little gun, but heavy for its size. He put a spring kit in it and the DA is excellent now, and reliable as well.
 
Yup

I posted somewhere on this forum sometime ago that S&W was tone deaf by bringing out the new M66 with the 2.??" barrel. The adjustable sights don't help either.

Anyway, they should have simply brought back the 65 with the new K frame updates & the ability to accept any aftermarket J frame pinned front sight. I think they would've had an awesome seller!

But noooo, they did not despite people clamoring for one. I think Colt nailed it with the new king cobra 3 inch. Likewise, front sight system on this new Cobra series is pretty slick!
 
PR24 said:
I posted somewhere on this forum sometime ago that S&W was tone deaf by bringing out the new M66 with the 2.??" barrel. The adjustable sights don't help either.

Anyway, they should have simply brought back the 65 with the new K frame updates & the ability to accept any aftermarket J frame pinned front sight. I think they would've had an awesome seller!

But noooo, they did not despite people clamoring for one. I think Colt nailed it with the new king cobra 3 inch. Likewise, front sight system on this new Cobra series is pretty slick!
Click to expand...
Ya for real? What are they smokin over there? Colt Ruger Kimber and Taurus heard the call for a 3 inch revolver and they sold em like hot cakes but S&W is still Awol??? If they do bring the 65 back you know it will have that hideous Un-American Communist hippie key lock on it though you know they will! I can taste the vomit in my mouth already...
 
426e9006ecd848803a4771ffef3ff5453ed4fc2c-1 by Dandy Randy, on Flickr
I mentioned the S&W Performance Center in my review of the King Cobra. I need to talk more about the place. They actually do amazing work and they are quite affordable for what they do. I had my model 640 reworked by them and got the whole shabang bamalama ding dong job to it and they turned it into some thing total different and amazing!
 
Did the Pachmayrs fit the new King Cobra out of the box without any modification? That combo looks surprisingly sharp IMO, and I generally don't care for the full-underlug look on anything but the Python and the SP101.
 
PR24 said:
I posted somewhere on this forum sometime ago that S&W was tone deaf by bringing out the new M66 with the 2.??" barrel. The adjustable sights don't help either.

Anyway, they should have simply brought back the 65 with the new K frame updates & the ability to accept any aftermarket J frame pinned front sight. I think they would've had an awesome seller!

But noooo, they did not despite people clamoring for one. I think Colt nailed it with the new king cobra 3 inch. Likewise, front sight system on this new Cobra series is pretty slick!
Click to expand...

Except you can't get parts from Colt.
 
NY-1 said:
Did the Pachmayrs fit the new King Cobra out of the box without any modification? That combo looks surprisingly sharp IMO, and I generally don't care for the full-underlug look on anything but the Python and the SP101.
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Yes all Colt D frame grips fit on the KC because its a d frame.
 
dandyrandy said:
Yes all Colt D frame grips fit on the KC because its a d frame.
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Excellent. I read some sporadic complaints about the trigger guard causing a clearance issue and requiring the grip to be trimmed in the front, but I'm glad to hear that isn't the case. Might have to look into one of these in the near future!
 
NY-1 said:
Excellent. I read some sporadic complaints about the trigger guard causing a clearance issue and requiring the grip to be trimmed in the front, but I'm glad to hear that isn't the case. Might have to look into one of these in the near future!
Click to expand...

I use the post 73 grips on the new Cobra. You'll need to get a grip frame pin to secure the bottom, the new model Colts don't have them. Easily available & cheap from Numrich.

I was originally going to use the older model grips with a BK grip adapter but a) didn't look right on the new stainless revolver and b) there's a small gap on the gun between the sideplate and the frame that shows when using them. The post 73 covers it.
 
I am glad this thread is still going. As a die hard revolver guy, it warms my heart to see the D size frame comeback, folks interested in steel J frames, and lighter barrelled 3" medium frame revolvers.

I'm glad to hear that the Pachmayrs fit without modification. I have heard folks try other D frame grips with mixed success. I wish Colt had not changed the trigger guard on their new small frame guns. Also, Colt should have kept the Detective Special and Magnum Carry nameplates along with offering a .38/.357 Diamondback instead of the King Cobra Target. With that said, I am very grateful that Kimber and Colt got the ball rolling with new D frame size revolvers.

Call me crazy, but when it comes to mid size .357 Smiths, I think they should give the 619 and 620/686 Mountain Gun another chance. The lighter barrelled L frames are just about identical in weight to the K frame Magnums and you can still have a gas ring, unlike the new 19/66 models. A seven round cylinder would also be an option. A three inch 619 would make more sense than a new three inch 65. S&W should also offer a three inch, round butt model 64 and a 3" fixed sight .38 only model 60 in their "Classic Series." Three inch barrels are hot and this would be great for folks that want a nice .38 (like myself). I have never understood why S&W does not offer retro styled brushed stainless guns in their Classic Series.

As for Ruger, they need to get off the pot and finally offer that 6 shot .38/.357 SP101. People have been requesting this for years. There are so many reasons that a second SP frame revision would be worth the costs. If anyone is interested in this, use Ruger's "Tell the CEO" feature and let them know!
 
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Just to remind the uninitiated, my El Cheapo bead blasted 65 complete with Pachmayr Combats.

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sipowicz said:
I love my DS and 69 Cobra but I can't wrap my head around the look of the new Cobra....that trigger guard shape kills it for me.
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Yes sir, that was a horrible decision on Colt's part. The DS, Diamondback, original alloy frame Cobra, PPS, SF-VI, and Magnum Carry are some of the best looking revolvers of all time. I am still in shock that Colt did this and confused the buying public by calling a new DS a "Cobra" and a new Magnum Carry a "King Cobra." That has caused some real frustration, when it comes to accessories (esp. holsters). Also, bringing out that hideous King Cobra Target instead of a new Diamondback was mind numbingly stupid. The barrel is so massive on that model that the weight was ballooned up to 36 ounces. This is medium frame territory and defeats the purpose of a small frame, 4" revolver. A "mini Python" with D frame handiness was a great idea in 1966 and it would go over even better today.

I am very glad that they brought back D frame sized revolvers. The new Cobra/King Cobras are very size efficient little guns. However, they should bring back a DS or Diamondback line that is identical in appearance to the originals. Sorry for the rant, but Colt's marketing decisions never cease to amaze me. The "gloved hand" explanation was a solution in search of a problem.

Hopefully this D frame reniassance will push Ruger and S&W in the right direction.
 
sipowicz said:
I love my DS and 69 Cobra but I can't wrap my head around the look of the new Cobra....that trigger guard shape kills it for me.
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Colt is supposedly bringing out a Diamondback. Which makes sense as it's mostly a prettied up D frame - ribbed barrel, adjustable sights and nice grips. I hope to heck they don't use the currently offered squashed trigger guard and, like the Anaconda redo, stick with the original.
 
dsf said:
Colt is supposedly bringing out a Diamondback. Which makes sense as it's mostly a prettied up D frame - ribbed barrel, adjustable sights and nice grips. I hope to heck they don't use the currently offered squashed trigger guard and, like the Anaconda redo, stick with the original.
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The Diamondback is my favorite Colt of all time. I agree with you on that god-awful triggerguard. Another fear of mine, is that the gun might be relegated to rimfire only status, due to the presence of that darn King Cobra Target. I hope that Colt offers a .38/.357 version. The King Cobra Target needs to be given the Old Yeller treatment. I sure hope Colt does not screw this up.

As I previously alluded to, you do not need an MBA in marketing to see that a "Mini Python" that is much easier to carry would be a slam dunk.
 
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