Trooper Vs. Highway Patrolman

[Horseless Trooper]

I have a 28-2 and a Colt Three Fifty Seven that were both my fathers duty weapons at one time. Although I like the 28 I find the Colt to be a little better handling and easier on the hip for me. I carry the Colt occassionaly at work and it is the gun I throw in the car if I am just CCing a mouse gun.

 

[feralmerril]

I have/had both. I packed the trooper on my job many years and prefer it. It`s lighter. The troopers real competitor is the model 19 or 66. The 28 and 29 are fine but overbuilt to be carrying on the job in comparison to the 19 or trooper. I also own a 4" python and feel the same way about it, I would rather pack the trooper for the same reason-, weight.

 

[Frank46]

I've fired a model 19 and my colt trooper III, and having cataracts does pose problems for me with typical revolver sights. I actually shot better with the trooper III. I took the front sight blade off the trooper and removed the horizontal lines and had a buddy blue it in a matte finish. Worked out well for me. Frank

 

[kennyb]

i have both...i carried a trooper as a duty weapon for several years...both are fine weapons

 

[armsmaster270]

I carried the Trooper, Trooper MkIII, M&P 38, Model 19 and issued Mod 15. I rue the day I sold my Trooper MkIII. I prefer S&W with the exception of the MkIII.

 

[ikor]

Have carried both in my day as well as the Python and M27. Between these two I would always go for the M28...seen several take everything LE could throw at them and keep running just fine. Must be why I own 3 now.

 

[Andy Taylor]

I have owned a few M28s over the years, ended up selling them all. Good reliable guns, and good shooters, just to heavy for me. I carry my 1969 4" Trooper .357.It is fantastic. Accurate and smooth. I liked it so much I bought an identical one from 1967 to keep it company. It gets shot some to, but mostly sits in the safe.

 

[DFrame]

Excuse the noob question; is the Colt built on their .44 size frame? Great looking pieces for sure! Thanks.
-Jesse

The Colt in the pic shares its I frame with the Python (Based on an earlier 41 frame). This one's a toss up as far as I'm concerned though I'd give a slight edge to the colt in terms of accuracy.

 

[Dennis The B]

The Trooper was built on Colt's medium frame, same size as the Official Police and later Python.

The Colt Trooper Mk III, in 1970, was built on the Colt J frame. The J is larger than the Colt I frame (Python, Officer's Model), and is about the size of the S&W L frame. The Colt I frame is also larger than the S&W K frame.

I believe that you're correct on the pre-1970 Trooper's frame size.

 

[bnz43]

The S&W Model 28 would be the winner. For an automatic pistol I prefer a Colt 1911A1 but for a revolver the S&W is my choice. No logic to the decision just personal preference.

 

[Engine49guy]

While the Trooper III and Highway Patrolman have similar names the
Trooper III (L) is actually closer in size to the Model 19 (R) and shares most holsters.
The Trooper III has a slightly larger cylinder and barrel diameter but IMO comes up closer to the Combat Magnum in the end.

Pretty sure the 586/686 series L frames share most holsters with the Python series Colts.

 

[stevieboy]

I own and enjoy a Highway Patrolman. I've fired an older Trooper. I found the Trooper to be very accurate and it balanced very nicely in my hand. But, I could not get used to that Colt trigger! Perhaps it's my upbringing, I've owned exclusively S & W revolvers, but that "light, now heavier" feel to the Trooper's trigger just didn't seem to be right.

 

[bobbyjack]

I had the Troopers and Cobra Magnums ,but never could get over the way

the firing pins had to be pressed into the frames. The Python fireing pins were more like the Mod 1911's ,just remove the rear sights and replace the pin!

Only the 1911 just remove the firing pin block ,and remove the firing

pin spring and pin.

Having to put a revolver into a frame vice just to replace a firing pin

is just JOB securety!

I'll take the Colt or Smith with the firing pin on the hammer ,It;s my

money and I don't have enough to gamble on bad designs!


My only 45/70 is 126 years old and will push a 405 grain bullet@1300 FPS

It"s slow and big and like my Smiths will get the job done,well into my

Grandsons lifes. Can any pistols made with todays standards ever


match the hand matched.hand buffed,hand fitted features that were

just standard back then?


Colt Pythong or Mod 27/28,or any other revolver that has the pin on

the hammer!

Bob

 

[ky wonder]

the year was 1976,

the place was fort cambell, ky,

the challange was a new 6" trooper, markIII, versus a old 6" k38 masterpiece smith and wesson.

i was friends with a guy from new york,city, that eat slept and dreamed about becoming a LEO, nice guy but one of those whos stuff was always better than, what you shere shooting, or at least that was what he thought.

after listening to him brag up his trooper and bad mouth the smiths, i offered a gun for gun contest, so the next weekend i brought the old smith from home and we headed to the range,

i still own his tropper, i did not win it because it was a poorer gun, but because he was the poorer shot, he grew up in the city and i grew up squirel hunting with a 6" k22 masterpiece.

i have ran a truck load of ammo through the trooper and find it to be a superb pistol, but no better than a old smith, the (k38 has been long gone)
i also have a model 28-2 that has spent most of its life in a drawer, but i prefer the smaller frame, 38/357' like the model 19 and the troopers