M12 2" vs Colt Cobra?

[Norton 750]

Texas Star is right, Colts go out of time pretty quickly. If you carry more than shoot maybe, but for the long haul I would go with the Smith. Having said that, I carried an alloy Agent for a lot of miles and it is an easy carry. Just a little bigger than my airweight Smith, but the sights are much better.

 

[WILDPIG]

The Cobra. Lord forgive me for I have sinned. But that is my preference.

WILDPIG

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I consider them approximately equivalent, and believe that the three main differences are DA trigger pull, fit to your hand, and accuracy of the individual sample that you have in your hand.

The DA trigger pull of the Colt definitely stacks. Whether this is good or bad is a personal judgment that may depend on your hand size and the use to which you put the gun. All I can say is that you will not be surprised when you shoot someone or something with DA on a Colt. It could conceivably happen with an S&W. For best accuracy, one is about as good as the other SA, if you leave that capability on the gun.

Fit of gun to hand varies with hand size. For my hand, the older Colt Cobra, unshrouded, comes with stock grips that combine with a Tyler to be slightly better than an RB 12 with Tyler, which is somewhat better than an SB 12 with a Tyler. YMMV.

I own three Colt 2" D frame revolvers (old DS, old Agent, old Cobra), and none of them is particularly accurate. Both of my 12s are better, and my 2" 15 is significantly better yet. However, I believe that it could have turned out almost the opposite. I don't own enough 2" medium-frame revolvers, however, to support my belief.

 

[stiab]

Texas Star is right, Colts go out of time pretty quickly.

While Colts can have timing issues, it seems many posters in this thread would not agree with your statement. I assume eveyone bases their comments on their actual personal experience, and apparently you have owned some Colts with problems. I have owned many over the years, but never any problems. As others have said, I do prefer the S&W, but also appreciate the Colts, which for me have been completely trouble free.

 

[OLDFED]

NO QUESTION!

S&W goes click, click, click.
Colt goes clack, clack, clack.

I don't own any more Colts.

 

[Don Dineen]

You guys are making me feel bad. I just bought a NIB condition M12 - 4" and now it sounds like I shouldn't use it. I love the K-frames in 3" - 4". This is my first M12, the weight and NO key safety, pushed me to trade a M60 - .357 - 2.125" (NIB) for it. I lost money on the M60, but it was too heavy for pocket carry. If it is a belt gun, it can be a medium frame gun, instead of a 5 shot. A M642 continues to be the pocket gun.

 

[gunblade]

Oh man...I can't believe I didn't pick up on that before. Also, the cylinder of my Cobra closes with a tinny "schlack" sound whereas all my Smiths close up like a Moeller. My little Cobra does shoot good though.

 

[Onisius]

For a daily concealed carry gun, would you prefer a 2" M12, or a Colt Cobra, and why?

Thanks

Both are great guns, but I would go with the Cobra. Lighter to carry and a little smaller overall.
I drop my Cobra in my front pocket and off I go, wouldn't do that with the K-frame. I do carry a J-frame in the front pocket from time to time though.

 

[David LaPell]

My last snubbie that I owned before I bought my Model 10 2-inch was a Colt Agent, if I recall they are somewhat similar to the Cobra. I liked that gun but the Smith's always suited me. I carry my 2-inch Model 10 everyday and don't have any issues. What I found was that when I started carrying pocket guns was to first make sure I had comfortable enough clothing. Even my shorts that I wear in the summertime allow me to carry the 10 comfortably in my right pocket with no issues.
If it were me, I would go with the Smith, just because that's what I am used to, but in a Model 12 I would stay away from +P's.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I actually have both, a 2" SB nickeled M12 and two old Colt Cobras, one with hammer shroud. I vote for the Cobra with shroud. I carried this one a lot and road many miles with it in a small pouch on the handlebars of my bicycle (back when I was in college, we won't discuss how long that has been). The Cobra has developed issues however and I no longer trust it for carry. Yes, Colts will get out of time, but then I have had Smiths with issues too. These days I have a S&W M38 for walking the dog in the neighborhood and a no-lock +P rated 642 in the truck console to drop in my pocket when I am away from the house and feel the need to carry. But just to hedge my bets, I did recently pick up one of the newer parkerized Colt Agents. It came with some nice little bitty grips that just cover the bottom of the grip frame (these newer Colts had a shorter grip frame than the older ones). I fitted it with the appropriate Tyler T-Grip and when I wrap my fist around it with my pinkie curled underneath it feels just right in my hand. Comfortable and comforting with 6 shots on tap and not that much bigger than my M38 or 642. Or I could carry my 3" SP101, Speed Six, or snubbie 19-6 all in .357 or even my 9mm Speed Six but they are all even heavier and MUCH farther off topic.