2020 Colt Python update at 1000 rounds

[UncleEd]

Owners of Pythons with the older internal design fall into two camps, I believe.

The first used the guns in competition, not only shooting thousands and
thousands of rounds but doing so in constant rapid double action. As a
result the Pythons' hands took a beating and the guns were known to
go out of time. (Same thing could happen with the S&W design but it
took longer, much longer.)

The second group for the most part I'd describe as more casual Python
users even if shooting thousands upon thousands of rounds. They never
stressed the older design as did the first group and probably shot as much
if not more in single action.

Colt with the 2020 re-introduction of the Python addressed the shortcomings
of the earlier internal workings. Will the new design really take a
substantial pounding from double action use? I suspect it will.

Once again I praise Colt for the re-introduction. The revolver world is much,
much better for it.

 

[roval]

i was able to take my new python to the range over the weekend. first things first, it didn't make me shoot a whole lot better, ha ha. just same as my other DA revolvers. i mainly shot it at 10 yrds in DA and just used SA a few times. the grooves on the trigger didn’t bother me as much shooting in DA as much as i thought it would. it's actually more bothersome when dry firing but i only shot about 100 rds. the SA pull though heavier compared to a smith doesn't really affect my SA shooting. no light primer strikes. i had an appropriate sized allen screw so i centered the rear sight leaf and then tightened the set screw before the range. i adjusted the elevation for 10 yrds as it shot 2 inches high.first 2 shots went in the same hole in DA though but that may be luck. the rear sight does move compared to a model 617 i brought along but i don't know if it affected my shooting. i wasn't getting erratic groupings just a comparable group compared to my other guns. i shot 38 spcl DEWC, 38 SPCL 158 gr swc, mid range 357 mag swc. one thing that i discovered is that the python's cylinder is shorter that a smith and wesson and a ruger gp100. the cylinder wouldn't close on a 158 flat point truncated cone from SNS casting 357 load. as i pushed it in, the top cartridge starts pushing back against the recoil shield. the end was protruding slightly from the cylinder. i loaded the same rds in a gp100 and a model 19 and the cylinder spun freely. i enjoyed shooting the python. i don't know how but i got my first scratch on the top of the backstrap. i was sbooting without gloves. shallow but noticeable.

 

[vanfunk]

Well my Six Pack Pro has been humming and keeping me flush with ammo. My 6” Python just passed 3000 rounds and my newer 4” has 1000. Most are 158 grain Zero JHPs over 14.5 grains of 2400 now, my go-to load. These hit 1350 fps avg so they’re pretty hot I’d say. Both Pythons are holding up with no discernible wear and are very accurate. My Korth might edge them out a bit but it’s close. Triggers have continued to smooth on both but I haven’t re-measured them. I’m tempted to pick up a 3” but the Standard Manufacturing SAA is speaking to me presently; we’ll see.

Roval, the cylinder is short to be sure. I check OAL and do the plunk test on all my handloads to make sure they’ll fit. Never been a problem with 158s but might be with 180s? My S&W 66-8 has a longer cylinder for sure; I have no other .357s to compare it too.

Edited to add: I seat jacketed bullets to the cannelure and LSWCs to the crimp groove and have room to spare in the Pythons.

 

[entropy]

Dang it, now I really want a 3" new Python. (Since the old ones are still in the stratosphere price wise...)

 

[ericuda]

They sell em.

 

[westernrover]

I wanted a Python back in 2018 when I chose a 686+ instead.

When the new ones came out in 2020, I didn't balk at the price because it was so much less than the originals had been selling for, and most of which I found for sale were not worth it (used and in bad condition).

Of all the new Pythons I've pulled the trigger on, I've not found the trigger to leave anything to be desired. My (non-stock) S&W is lighter, crisper, better, and doesn't stack, but it's lighter than I need it to be. 9 pounds is light enough and I don't have a problem with anything about the Python trigger -- except maybe the light/slow/long reset. I'd learn to deal with it.

I don't really care about the rear sight because I use a red dot.

I would miss the 7th chamber. I think Colt has done well to revive what was good about their past, but now they could look forward and introduce 7 and 8 shot 357's, maybe a 7-shot 4x-cal., and cut their cylinders for moon-clips. I would not want an IDPA/USPSA/IPSC special like the Super GP-100. If there's a market for that, fine, even do it in 9mm, but I don't care.

I think the stainless finish is too bling. Maybe the Python itself is too bling. It looks almost like nickel-plating. Even if they offered blue, no doubt it would have to be mirror-polished royal blue bling. Honestly, my SS S&W isn't much better. I like S&W's blued guns but the SS is so carefree I don't regret it.

S&W grip selection is still much better. I could probably find some Colts I like, but everywhere there are far more choices for S&W.

 

[vanfunk]

All great observations, Westernrover! I think it all goes to show the importance of personal proclivity and how very necessary it is to try guns for yourself, rather than to rely too heavily on input from others. My experience with current Colt and S&W triggers has differed from yours; I’ve found the Colts to have uniformly butter-smooth actions with absolutely no stacking, although there has been variation in SA/DA pull weight. The new S&Ws I’ve tried of late have had remarkably lousy, notchy, heavy DA pulls but very light and crisp SA pulls. None of the models I’ve handled would be acceptable without reduced power springs and a little stoning. With that, though, they have become great. i have a new 66-8 and 629-6 and both now have suberb actions after $15 in springs and a half-hour of judicious stoning.

To my eye, the Colt Python finish is not too blingy - unlike “mirror” finishes it does have some texture. It is very smooth, though, and makes cleaning a snap. The S&W finish is more utilitarian and makes me think “Scotch-Brite” right away. That’s no criticism - they’re much easier to touch up with a grey scrubbing pad and the utilitarian look is quite handsome in it’s own right. I can see how S&W stainless guns remind some people of a kitchen sink, though! . Surprising to me is that many don’t seem to like the bead-blasted finish S&W is offering on some models like my 66-8. To me, it is superbly done and the satin finish looks great - to others it looks “cheap” for some reason I don’t understand. Light scratches to the “eggshell” finish cannot be touched up, though, if that’s your thing.

What’s really great is that we have such excellent choices to make for new revolvers these days. Increasingly so, I have found myself reaching less and less for the autos and almost exclusively for my revolvers when I am packing my range bag. I love not chasing brass around, I love reloading nice, tall straight-walled cases with sharp-shouldered SWCs and not worrying whether they’ll cycle. I love how easy they all seem to be to shoot accurately. Viva la revolver!

 

[Barmcd]

I guess I'm just another fanboy because I really like my two Pythons. I've probably got a couple thousand rounds through mine now. Most have been 38's but a few 357's just for grins and giggles so to speak. I really can't think of anything I don't like about them. I've never noticed anything particularly wrong with the rear sight, but then I don't adjust it. They're both just like they came out of the box. I treat them as if they're fixed, something I do with most all adjustable sight handguns. I'm not shooting at long ranges, and I don't change loads often. Once I see where they're hitting, Kentucky windage gets me as close as I can shoot.

I'm sure I've fired them in S/A at some point, but I don't remember anything about the trigger. The DA is so good the guns just beg to be fired that way, and I'm happy to oblige. That's gotten me to doing more DA shooting with my other revolvers also.

I like the grips on the new guns better than I did on the old Pythons (I used to own one of those btw). The old ones were wider at the bottom and narrow at the top...like a wedge, driving the gun deeper into my hand under recoil. The checkering was so sharp it was like holding onto a wood rasp when shooting. They looked good though. The current ones fit my hand much better, and the checkering is less pronounced. Maybe not perfect, but about as good as anything else I've ever used. And unlike most it seems, I actually like the muted color against the bright shiny SS steel. A good contrast IMHO. I've thought about some aftermarket stocks, but decided why bother. These work for me, just fine.

This one is one of the early ones I suppose. S/N is in the 5500 range. It was the first 4" I saw. I got it back in May of 2020, so I've had it what? Three years now? I doubt I'll live long enough to put 20,000 rounds through it, but it's a nice goal. The other one (my wife's actually) looks just like it. I have to check the S/N's to know which is which. Her's doesn't get shot as much though.

Not a fan of the plywood looking grips. A nice set of walnut or cherry grips would have looked nice on that gun. I understand that these new ones are a better design than the vintage guns. I'd like to pick one up one day.

 

[vanfunk]

I could live with the “plywood” Altamont grips; they’re fit very well to the gripstrap and are far more appealing than the ubiquitous Hogue nylon/rubber grips that seemingly come stock on everything these days (no disrespect, I like Hogues for shooting and have a pair on my 629). But the Python does cry out for prettier grips, for sure. I caved in and spent a pretty penny upgrading my Pythons and Anaconda with David Brown and Deer Hollow grips. Happiness.

 

[roval]

I could live with the “plywood” Altamont grips; they’re fit very well to the gripstrap and are far more appealing than the ubiquitous Hogue nylon/rubber grips that seemingly come stock on everything these days (no disrespect, I like Hogues for shooting and have a pair on my 629). But the Python does cry out for prettier grips, for sure. I caved in and spent a pretty penny upgrading my Pythons and Anaconda with David Brown and Deer Hollow grips. Happiness.

talk about fitting well. it was hard taking off the grip to inspect the frame. it was snug and there's hardly any gap to pry it off from.

 

[CajunBass]

talk about fitting well. it was hard taking off the grip to inspect the frame. it was snug and there's hardly any gap to pry it off from.

When you get one like that, loosen the screw, but leave a couple of threads attached to the female side. Then gently and I mean GENTLY, tap on the exposed end of the screw and use it to force the opposite side away from the frame until you can free them. Then you can tap the other side off from the inside. GENTLY.

 

[roval]

When you get one like that, loosen the screw, but leave a couple of threads attached to the female side. Then gently and I mean GENTLY, tap on the exposed end of the screw and use it to force the opposite side away from the frame until you can free them. Then you can tap the other side off from the inside. GENTLY.

i ended up using the flat end of a plastic 1911 widget tool to gently pry it from the top of the grip close to the trigger part and then pry it off elsewhere. once one side was off i reinserted the screw to the remaining grip and tried tapping it but wasn't too successful till i inserred the widget at the same spot on the remaining grip. i will try your method next time.