I've got no experience with HP but I do have lots of experience with Colt Revolvers.
I have shot the living heck out of them and I have never had to repair them in any way. The new Pythons are even more durable than the originals and again, I've never experienced any failures of even the originals.
The new Pythons don't need anything done to them from what I've seen so far. Just shoot 'em! As far as the 686 goes, unless there are issues with it, what do you mean by "a good going over"? Action job? Deep cleaning?
This is Mike from Heffron Precision©. You nailed it with the new Pythons. In summary, the barrels are made using the same process as the old, the mechanism is similar to the old mechanism in some ways, but highly problematic areas were redesigned while everything else was "beefed up". In addition, all of the new Colt double-actions use entirely new metallurgy, which frankly, is harder and tougher than any currently manufactured domestic double-action revolver. The new Cobra, King Cobra, Python, and Anaconda are more uniform with tighter tolerances, stronger, and more accurate that their ancestors. The new Python and Anaconda even have some internal part polishing done just like the old Pythons!
Where we come in is final refinement. We take them from being excellent revolvers to being World Class revolvers. The Python and Anaconda both have single-action trigger pulls that run around 5.5 lbs out of the box. They also have some creep. The root cause is due to sear design. They needed to pass mandated drop testing in some states, hence the odd single-action pull. Many people get used to it. Many want better. At this time, we have performed various levels of action and trigger tuning on over 1,200 of the new Pythons. Between new Cobras, King Cobras, and Anacondas, it's an additional 900+. Yes, we know these guns well, and I marvel at their uniformity. The price of these guns is for things you don't "see". Much of the price is about "the internals of the engine" so to speak. It is here where they exhibit tolerance and uniformity rivaled only by brands like Manurhin or Korth.
Our tuned new-series Colt double-actions exhibit crisp zero creep single-action trigger pulls of 2.50 or so lbs and slick double-action triggers of 8.50 or so lbs. Ignition reliability is 100% because we DON'T lighten springs. We are the Colt Recommended company for new series Colt double-action revolver tuning.
We also offer accuracy tuning as well. It must be realized that currently, we are sending out tuned new Pythons and Anacondas that are capable of 2" and smaller groups at 100 yards (from a Ransom Rest)!
My personal (New) Python has been fired a lot! I have put VERY close to 20,000 magnum loads through it, and it's fine. An old Python would have required retiming at least 5 times over. Their mechanisms were fragile. The new Colts are fantastic revolvers, and with sales into the hundreds of thousands, the new Colts are here to stay. -Mike Heffron
