New Colt Python

[daveboy]

The new Python I bought cost me $1299 without the 7% Va sales tax. Stainless, real wood grips and beautiful. I got $400 off the list price at a Pawn shop that was changing hands and the owner loved the cash I handed him. It sits next to my bed upstairs with 5 rounds in the cylinder

If you don't mind my asking, why only 5 rounds? I know the reason to carry old SA revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer. But, why do the same with a modern Python on a nightstand? It's your business to do as you wish, I'm just curious is all.

 

[McPherson]

In what way is it "overpriced?" It's about the same price as a S&W 627 PC, and in every respect, it is better made than the Smith. I own both revolvers and many others to compare it to. The 627 is very nice, among my favorites. Truthfully, I prefer the overall internal lockwork design of a Smith because it is easier to work on, easier to tune, and has better aftermarket parts availability. Otherwise, the Python is made of much better, more expensive stainless steels, uses more CNC machined parts, is better fit and finished, has a smoother action out of the box, and has better attention to details. The finish is much more flawless than any Smith or Ruger, with more shop time to produce. The Python is quite a bit more costly to manufacture with more CNC machining and finish time involved. It has more geometrically complex parts, which means more machine cycle time to produce those parts. So naturally from the standpoint of cost to produce and getting a normal profit margin, it will have a higher retail price than an average Ruger or Smith. Despite this, it is roughly the same or only a couple hundred less than the higher end Smiths. Given the price of competing revolvers, its $1300 - $1400 going rate is about what you can expect at today's gun prices. Mine is my second most accurate revolver I own behind my Dan Wesson 44 with 8" heavy barrel. It shoots circles around the rest of my revolvers. The SA pull is mediocre out of the box, but is very easy to correct, and that feature has no impact on the production cost to Colt. I think overall it's a bargain for what you get compared to competing revolvers, and I truly believe with no hyperbole and no brand loyalty that it is the best USA made revolver on the market today.

Way too much emotional investment in these responses….just turn the page

 

[greenwellg]

After shooting it to adjust the sights to my eyes there were only 5 rounds left. I also have a 44 MAG Marlin rifle a couple of inches away from the Python. Not really a reason just a coincidence. The rifle has 10 rounds in the mag and an empty chamber. Maybe I don't trust my wife HE HE.

If you don't mind my asking, why only 5 rounds? I know the reason to carry old SA revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer. But, why do the same with a modern Python on a nightstand? It's your business to do as you wish, I'm just curious is all.

 

[cec66]

Yesterday I brought my new Anaconda 45LC 4 inch to the range along with my S&W Nickel 25-5 . The Colt is a heavy well finished revolver that makes shooting heavy load 45s a pleasure and I had no problems with the sights other than the windage lock screw being loose. Single action hammer pull is very light but the trigger is not crisp. Double action just feels stiff with no staging. Accuracy is very good. It is a nice revolver and I'm sure will loosen up over time, if I give it time. It's no 25-5, but it has promise and is more accurate than my Ruger Redhawk 45LC. (attached target is Colt at 25 yards hand held with 220 gr flat point 780 fps}

 

[phoebeisis]

Then don't buy one!

Thanks all for this posting
.I am not young 74 and the new Python has caught my eye.Years ago I sold my 3 or so 1970s vintage pythons 2 of which were nickel plated yeah I like gaudy and pretty Pythons blue nickel or SS are both
Nothing in this posting would discourage me from getting a new Python not sure which blue or SS probably blue just for the look thanks all charlie

 

[phoebeisis]

Needless to say I regret a bit selling trading off the Pythons One I traded for a new M 59 Smith wonder 9 which had a miserable trigger pull DA SA CRUMMY! OH well trading a 4 inch nickel plated python for a nickel plated model 59 Thanks all charlie in 1980 or so.hi cap 9s were in

 

[JwesleyN]

You did not read my post in its entirety. Smith hard chromed hammers and sears in their stainless guns because they had to many problems when they made them out of stainless.

Like I said I never really thought about it in the 45 years I've owned that S&W 629. From what I have researched it appears that they did flash chrome those parts. It seems they did that because of galling on the parts where they contacted the frame. Back then stainless guns were a new thing and the early automatics had a tendency to gall using the same steel for both the frame and the slide. That is not an issue today because they use different alloys. I have 2 stainless steel 1911s both have a nice frame to slide fit and I've never had any issues with galling. They are just as smooth as my carbon steel 1911s. I lubricant them all with synthetic motor oil. I started working at a company in 1978 that made jet engine parts for GE, P&W and Rolls Royce. Those are the aerospace companies I can remember. They machined parts from titanium, inconel and stainless steel and many other alloys. Everything we made there was a ring of some kind like the burner cans we machined. The first time I machined stainless steel they brought in the rough rings from out in the yard where they have been out in the weather for who knows how long. I was young and new there and was surprised at how much rust were on these stainless rings. I asked an engineer there about the rust. He just said " There are many types of stainless alloys and this type you won't find in a kitchen sink" that was in the late 70s early 80s. I highly doubt they would use an inferior alloy in a jet engine. Now jet engines and revolvers have only one thing in common, they are both made from some type of metal. What S&W used in the early stainless guns I'll admit I don't know. I do doubt at that time they used anything like what they used in the aerospace industry due to the costs involved. Stainless alloys in firearms today is not a new thing and the problems they had early on are not an issue now. I own a new SS Python and I can say the DA trigger pull is very nice. My 629 has a nice DA pull. I can only say that I don't think one is better than the other, just different due to the mechanics of the revolvers. Some people will have their guns worked over to get a great DA pull just so they can pull it out when their pals are over and say " feel how smooth that is". When they do shoot the gun they rarely do in DA. I have friends with old Pythons and S&Ws that I have for many years shot with and they always shot their DA revolvers in SA. One guy I remember had a M 19 that he was always talking about how smooth and easy his DA pull was but never shot it in DA. Once I asked him if I can try it and shot it DA and 2 out of 6 didn't go off. Light primer strikes. He said he had taken the strain screw and backed it out. The thing with shooting DA in any revolver is practice. I say don't worry about the durability of the new Python in stainless or blue. I will say this though with the crappy QC of all firearms manufacturers today I would not buy one sight unseen. I waited for a few years after the new Python came out because I heard about the problems they had at first and there were hard to find any LGS that had one. I pay a few bucks a month to subscribe to AL and found mine not far from me NIB way below what they were going for. I have been very happy with this Pythons performance. I say if you want one buy one! Compared to where a new car will be 10, 12 years from now if you drive it daily a S&W or Colt revolver that you enjoy shooting and maintain will outlast just about any other thing you have.

 

[jkbrecht]

Like I said I never really thought about it in the 45 years I've owned that S&W 629. From what I have researched it appears that they did flash chrome those parts. It seems they did that because of galling on the parts where they contacted the frame. Back then stainless guns were a new thing and the early automatics had a tendency to gall using the same steel for both the frame and the slide. That is not an issue today because they use different alloys. I have 2 stainless steel 1911s both have a nice frame to slide fit and I've never had any issues with galling. They are just as smooth as my carbon steel 1911s. I lubricant them all with synthetic motor oil. I started working at a company in 1978 that made jet engine parts for GE, P&W and Rolls Royce. Those are the aerospace companies I can remember. They machined parts from titanium, inconel and stainless steel and many other alloys. Everything we made there was a ring of some kind like the burner cans we machined. The first time I machined stainless steel they brought in the rough rings from out in the yard where they have been out in the weather for who knows how long. I was young and new there and was surprised at how much rust were on these stainless rings. I asked an engineer there about the rust. He just said " There are many types of stainless alloys and this type you won't find in a kitchen sink" that was in the late 70s early 80s. I highly doubt they would use an inferior alloy in a jet engine. Now jet engines and revolvers have only one thing in common, they are both made from some type of metal. What S&W used in the early stainless guns I'll admit I don't know. I do doubt at that time they used anything like what they used in the aerospace industry due to the costs involved. Stainless alloys in firearms today is not a new thing and the problems they had early on are not an issue now. I own a new SS Python and I can say the DA trigger pull is very nice. My 629 has a nice DA pull. I can only say that I don't think one is better than the other, just different due to the mechanics of the revolvers. Some people will have their guns worked over to get a great DA pull just so they can pull it out when their pals are over and say " feel how smooth that is". When they do shoot the gun they rarely do in DA. I have friends with old Pythons and S&Ws that I have for many years shot with and they always shot their DA revolvers in SA. One guy I remember had a M 19 that he was always talking about how smooth and easy his DA pull was but never shot it in DA. Once I asked him if I can try it and shot it DA and 2 out of 6 didn't go off. Light primer strikes. He said he had taken the strain screw and backed it out. The thing with shooting DA in any revolver is practice. I say don't worry about the durability of the new Python in stainless or blue. I will say this though with the crappy QC of all firearms manufacturers today I would not buy one sight unseen. I waited for a few years after the new Python came out because I heard about the problems they had at first and there were hard to find any LGS that had one. I pay a few bucks a month to subscribe to AL and found mine not far from me NIB way below what they were going for. I have been very happy with this Pythons performance. I say if you want one buy one! Compared to where a new car will be 10, 12 years from now if you drive it daily a S&W or Colt revolver that you enjoy shooting and maintain will outlast just about any other thing you have.

Re: "I pay a few bucks a month to subscribe to AL..." What is 'AL' (other than the abbreviation for Alabama)? Thanks.

 

[phoebeisis]

Then don't buy one!

Pythons are beautiful and in general have very very nice trigger pulls Unlike ugly Glocks whose original models had triggers very similar to my1959 cap guns No Kidding first time I tested a Glock trigger it brought to my a 1959 cap gun .Pretty with a very good trigger-the finer points of the metallurgy Heck they are rarely fired enough for that matter Smith vs Colt both experienced manufacturers Python slightly prettier I will own one more thanks all charlie

.

 

[MyTurn]

Glock triggers aren't great for target shooting and that's for sure. Just fine for urgent needs because you really don't notice the trigger that much then and the guns are almost always highly reliable.

 

[Yendor357]

If you don't have a trigger pull gauge, your opinion on trigger pull weight is worthless. Opinions vary.

Mike Heffron makes a lot of money replacing hammer and triggers on new Colts because someone decided to grind on them.

Just pay Mike to do do the trigger job.
Nobody buys Colt Pythons or Anacondas to save money.

 

[JwesleyN]

Re: "I pay a few bucks a month to subscribe to AL..." What is 'AL' (other than the abbreviation for Alabama)? Thanks.

Armslist. A nationwide firearms classifieds with vendors and personal sales. Guns and accessories. I think it's $6.99 a month and you can cancel anytime. If you're looking for a handgun you can search just personal sales. Here in Ohio you can still buy a handgun person to person. Most people selling a gun just want your drivers license to make sure you are an Ohio resident. Everyone sellers and buyers just pay the monthly fee. No fees for buying or selling.

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

If you don't have a trigger pull gauge, your opinion on trigger pull weight is worthless. Opinions vary.

Mike Heffron makes a lot of money replacing hammer and triggers on new Colts because someone decided to grind on them.

Just pay Mike to do do the trigger job.
Nobody buys Colt Pythons or Anacondas to save money.

I couldn't agree more. Just for basis of comparison...

Here are the SA and DA pull weights of my new Python 5" and Anaconda 6" compared to the SA and DA pull weights of my S&W 627 PC 5" and Dan Wesson 44 8VH (8"), in that order. In each photo the SA trigger pull is shown next to the gun followed by its DA pull.

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

Full disclosure:
I stoned the SA hammer notch to remove the "Cali bump" on both the Python and Anaconda. Each took about 15 minutes total. I did nothing to the mainspring. DA is close to what they were out of the box, but by polishing the trigger ledges (they were already pretty nicely polished), the sides of the transfer bars, and the contact surfaces of the rebound levers, plus lots of shooting, both are now about ½ lb lighter DA than they were when new.

I did some work on the S&W trigger. Out of the box, it had about a 4 lb SA pull and a 12 lb DA pull. I changed to a TK Custom trigger I already had from a previous project, plus changed to a Wolff "Power Rib" style mainspring and 13lb rebound spring, plus polished up the rebound slide and mating surfaces inside the frame.

I did no work whatsoever on the DW 44 and never even opened it up. Its trigger was great from day 1 when I bought it. I bought it used, so it is possible whoever had it before me had trigger work done, but again I have never taken it apart to confirm. I only changed to aftermarket grip and front sight.

 

[ZGrand]

I've been following this thread for a while, and find the information useful. That said, I don't have any issues with the single action trigger pulls on either of my new Pythons. They are only marginally less pleasing than my classic model 27-2. Lots of people on the Colt forum have mentioned that the cocked hammer travels rearward slightly before falling when the trigger is pulled. Maybe I got lucky, but I can detect no rearward travel on either of mine. I also have no issue with the number of slots in the barrel rib. I did replace the rear sights on both - one Wilson and one Eliason (I like the Wilson better). I also replaced the grips on both - one with new Deer Hollow grips and one with classic Python grips.
I love my Colts and my Smiths equally.

 

[AJ]

He bought a 2.5 inch to go with the 4 inch. Shot it on Friday. Double action is acceptable, but the single action is atrocious. My opinion.