Colt Trooper MKIII opinions?

I am not the human bench rest. I shoot offhand, therefore my shooting error exceeds the shooting errors of my revolvers.

I did take my Colt MKIII out and shoot hundreds, if not a thousand rounds through it. It shoots well, not inferior to my S&W 357's. The recent Python I am shooting appears to be outstandingly accurate at 50 yards. Perhaps it is due to improved technology, or luck of the draw.

If you can actually determine with a high statistical confidence that one is more accurate than the other, you are one damn good shot.

vanfunk said:

Hi All:

One of the surprises I came by in a little-visited LGS today was a Colt Trooper MKIII, 6”, .357. It’s in 98% condition with just the faintest trace of edge wear at the muzzle. Has the old wood-grained cardboard box and inserts. It’s been fired, but sparingly. Blue looks great, not Python great but much better than any more modern firearm. It’s a handsome gun. I had an electroless nickel Trooper years ago that I liked but used it for trade fodder pretty soon after I got it, so we never “married.” The trigger on this example is superb and better than any current revolver for sale (save for boutique examples). The price is right. So can I expect the same/similar accuracy from this that I get from my 2020 Pythons (1-1.5” 25 yard guns with handloads)? Any other thoughts on the gun?

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How much they want for it? my Local has a Lawman MK3 for $1200 with box and extra grip

It's a Colt so can't be too bad. Think these were used mainly in or around the 1970's. If it is affordable and won't break the bank then go for ir.

The pressed in firing pins in all brand revolvers "can" break, and almost all newer designs use pressed in firing pins.
Colt no longer offers any service for any of the older models, but Frank Glenn and Heffron Precision both can service the older Colt's including firing pin work.
Today on the Colt Forum Heffron said that in 35 years he's only had to replace a very few pressed in firing pins.

DO NOT try to drive a pressed in Colt firing pin out with a hammer and punch, that can ruin the frame. A special press device with support dies and press punches are needed, in addition to a special circular staking punch for installation.

To avoid any possible problem just use snap caps to dry fire.

Master gunsmith Jerry Kuhnhausen thought the Colt medium frame Mark III, Mark V, and original King Cobra were the strongest medium framed DA revolvers ever built.
They're tanks, specifically designed for unlimited firing with Magnum ammo.

If a part breaks, the only repair is new parts, and Jack First Gun Parts sell most of them.
Due to the thin surface hardening, no "polishing" of parts can be done without risking breaking through the coating and exposing softer steel.
A trigger job is installing a Wolff spring kit.

I also had a 4" Colt Trooper Mark III in electroless nickel back in the 80s. Came from the factory with Pachmayr Presentation grips with silver colt medallions. I had to return it to Colt as the elevation would not zero (too high) with standard loads. Came back right on the money. It was my favorite .357 Magnum. Factory trigger pull was heavy, and I replaced the springs on it.

Carried it quite often in the winter in a Safariland Model 19 upside down shoulder rig. The oversized grips were not ideal with that holster, and one evening it slid out while running to get out of a blizzard. Thankfully, I secured it before it slid out of my parka!

Just checked my shooting notes. Practiced with .38 Specials, but shot a lot of pre-warning Blue Dot loads with Sierra 125 and 140 grain JHPs, and the old Speer half-jacket 146 grain SWC-JHP, with nary a bobble. The loads were right out of Speer Number 9, and the 140 grain loads made 1410 fps over the chrono screens. Two-hand standing groups at 50 feet were all under 2.5", and I was a new shooter back in those days. Winchester 145 grain STHP shot best, with 1.0" rested groups at 50 feet.

Sold it because I went into LE we used S&W guns, which of course have a different trigger pull and cylinder rotation.

Walkalong said:

I love mine, and it's very accurate. Any revolver can break, I don't worry about it.
View attachment 1206229

Target at 7 yards, chrono at 5, two hands.
View attachment 1206230

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M330! I need some new powder!

dfariswheel said:

Due to the thin surface hardening, no "polishing" of parts can be done without risking breaking through the coating and exposing softer steel.

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Long ago I saw a Mk III in blue with nickel hammer and trigger. VERY smooth DA. I think the plating leveled and smoothed the sintered metal parts.

vanfunk said:

I am so thankful guys! This sounds like a good buy. Mark, it’s well under $1k so I’m pretty comfortable. I hope to get it tomorrow!

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Under $1000 for a nickel Old Colt!

My wallet would have been moving at 187,000 miles a Second!

the PNW probably has the best section of Classic firearms for 20%-50% discount of what you would find in Arkansas to Texas to Florida. It’s due to our aging Boomers who heirs are anti-gun. Anyway… Seen Colts go 30% up here in the last 6 months. So I think you got a Good deal waiting , if it’s still there tomorrow

Original box, papers, grips, and 98%? Anything under $1k is a bargain.

ColtPythonElite said:

Original box, papers, grips, and 98%? Anything under $1k is a bargain.

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don’t forget nickel too

Mark_Mark said:

don’t forget nickel too

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I believe it's blue

I have a blued 4"- very accurate, smooth action.

The sintered triggers are a weak spot. I laid away a spare just in case.

It's a very nice revolver, though I prefer the ergos on my original Trooper by a tiny margin.

We need pics when it’s home!!

vanfunk said:

Thanks Guys! It’s a 6” and I suppose I’d prefer the 4” if I had my druthers, but a phrase about a gift horse definitely applies here. Mark Mark, it is blued - I had an electroless nickel one back in the day and foolishly traded it away on something I can’t even remember anymore, shrug. The store opens at 11 today so it looks like I owe it to myself and to you guys to get it!

Just like Walkalong’s, this one has a case colored hammer and trigger and the action is old-world smooth. Not like a 1930’s Officer’s Model, but really nice. The grips are in perfect condition but I’ll probably throw Pachmayr Presentations on there for shooting (I know, blasphemy) unless I can find some nice Ropers somewhere. Thanks for the advice on the trigger - I’ll see if I can find a spare somewhere and sock it away for a rainy day.

Thanks again guys!

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There are usually quite a few on Ebay at any given time. Jack First has made runs of new billet triggers, but availability has been hit-or-miss and they are $$$. Still, if they had been in stock when I bought mine, I probably would have gone that route.

I picked up a 4" last yr. It's as good accuracy wise as my King Cobra Target, trigger is very smooth. It too came in at well under 1k, pretty good compared to what some of these old Colts go for. I bought a spare trigger as well, on the advice of @NIGHTLORD40K , just in case. Got that from Jack First

I picked this Trooper up last year for just under $800. Came with the factory box, which had seen far better days, but I think I was the first person to ever fire it. 1976 according to Colt.

I wouldn't be scared of picking it up if you're comfortable with the price and want it. Mine shoots great - comparing directly to my 2020 Python SA is better but DA is not as good.

Ignore that pesky Highway Patrolman that snuck in there.

4v50 Gary said:

The initial batch of MK III Troopers had poorly sintered (MIM) parts that fell apart. Colt did a better job with the later MK III Troopers.

I would buy it.

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When I was shopping for a spare trigger on Ebay, it appeared that some were thicker in the hinge area where they normally fracture. I suspect Colt made a running improvement at some point in production, but haven't been able to find any documentation or dates to confirm it.

I replaced two broken Mk3 triggers for buddies years ago with NOS Colt parts, but don't remember them being significantly different. Of course that was before the Internet was a thing too, so images and information about the issue weren't readily available.

vanfunk said:

So, basically, I got a LNIB Trooper .357 for less than a new S&W 686.

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Wow. I am in awe. Amazing deal.

(We should run year-long threads, 1 January to 31 December, in the revolver, auto, rifle forums for "Deal of the Year," members post pics of their most recent great score, with a copy of the store receipt, and then in December we could all vote for who got the best deal -- it's only April, but @vanfunk would appear to be a front-runner.)