586 or Python?

[johngalt]

My old eyes love the red ramps!

My Dad's 93 year old eyes detests them too.

 

[Mehutch]

Nothing beats the look of any Python, great gun. However, expensive and more money that I care to spend when I can have a great solid shooter of the 586 or 686. You would never baby the S&W guns. The Python you might.

 

[Travis Montana]

Will not be able to test a new Python against my S&W's but purchased a 1960, 4" barrel, Python today. In IL so will have to wait till next week to pick it up and get to the range. First Python purchase after all these years so I am anxious to see how they perform.

 

[Valmet]

While lots of folks like them, I've never been drawn to the Python myself. S&W 586 every time for me.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Will not be able to test a new Python against my S&W's but purchased a 1960, 4" barrel, Python today. In IL so will have to wait till next week to pick it up and get to the range. First Python purchase after all these years so I am anxious to see how they perform.

I have a 1960 Python 6" and shot it alongside a 2020 Python 6". I used identical grips and ammunition from the same box to make things as equal as possible. There were two variables I had no control over…I had no idea the round count from the older gun plus it balanced slightly different as that vintage Python has a hollow underlug where later Pythons do not.

The 1960 Python shot superbly…the new Python shot even better…a tighter group but not substantially so.

You will be happy with your purchase.

 

[ruger 22]

I had a Python and it was great. My brother swears by his Python and it is a great gun. Ideally it is good to have both but if I could only have one I would pick the Smith every time.

 

[diyj98]

I've owned several examples of both over the years. I prefer the 586/686 for my own use.

 

[JonE406]

I do have fond feelings for the 586

My outdoor carry rig with the 586

 

[saemetric]

I like both

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I will take my old 586 shooter any day, but I have had been shooting it over 20 years only cleaning it and adding ammo so I have gotten a bit attached.

 

[Engine49guy]

Oh you done gone there...
Python is prettier with its vented barrel rib.

586/686 has a better trigger /action and factory support.

Are you gonna shoot it or show it off?

 

[jeeps]

I just had a New Python and it was unreliable with lite primer strikes and miss fires. Go look on the Colt forum they are not good,run as fast as you can. The SW and Ruger are better wheelguns,New Colts are a joke.

 

[johngalt]

I just had a New Python and it was unreliable with lite primer strikes and miss fires. Go look on the Colt forum they are not good,run as fast as you can. The SW and Ruger are better wheelguns,New Colts are a joke.

Not a single malfunction with mine so far. In comparison my 686-6, new out of the box, had to go back due to excessive end-shake.

 

[tew3006]

In the 80's I had a S&W 66. i bought it used and got a good deal on it. One of my friends had a 586 that he loved. I had another friend that had just bought a python from the 70's it was beautiful. He talked so highly about this gun that me and my friend with the 586 were ready to sell our guns and start looking for a python. That is until we both shot the python. It was nice, but it wasn't the magic he described. I haven't seen any reason to get rid of my 66 and buy a python.

 

[Bhfromme]

OP here. Love reading everyone's experiences with their 586s and Pythons. Realizing this is the Smith forum, I went over to the Colt forum and asked the same question. Even over there the responses were mostly pro 586 over the Python.

The Python's a beautiful revolver and a great shooter but the 586 is clearly getting more votes on both forums.

This is probably all somewhat of a moot point because I'll most likely end up with both anyway!

Thanks for all your feedback and keep it coming!

 

[KalamazooKid]

Moot point …. Go figure.

 

[Bhfromme]

I was joking. Love hearing the comparisons.

 

[rincar]

The Colt Python is for looking. While The S&W 586 is for shooting. I have owned both I liked the 586 better.

 

[71vette]

I've owned four Pythons over the years, own none now. I never could warm up to the stacking double action pull. I got a healthy bonus in December and thought I'd pick up a new 3" Python just because. Went to my preferred LGS and they had a pair of new Pythons, a 3" and a 4.25". They also amazingly enough had a 586 ND in the bottom of the case, used of course. I handled all three. The Pythons were very pretty but the trigger PALED in comparison to the 586. I brought the Smith home and didn't look back.

I have several Colt (and Smith) revolvers now but no Pythons anymore. I do like my Diamondback but the only real reason I haven't replaced it with another Smith is merely that there's no way I could replace it for what I bought it for. Once it warms up I'll be shooting the Diamondback and 586 back-to-back with my wadcutters to see who wins……

586 ND

Diamondback

 

[ChargerBill]

Pythons can be pretty, but the old S & W bluing is also beautiful. For me, I have never pulled a trigger on ANY Colt that was as smooth and refined as an older Smith & Wesson. And that Colt cylinder release… hate it. Smith & Wesson all day long.