Colt Trooper In .22lr: Almost, But No Cigar.

[Phydeaux642]

I was in my LGS today and spied a Colt Trooper in .22lr with a 4" barrel for $499. I got kind of excited, although not as excited as I would have been had it been a S&W model 18. I've been wanting a .22 wheelgun with a 4" barrel. I asked if I could look at it and check it out. The fellow behind the counter removed the trigger guard lock for me and away I went. The gun looked as if it had not been shot much, but it didn't lock up tight at all. There was quite a bit of wiggle side to side and a little tiny bit of end shake. I figure all Colts should lock up like a bank vault, so, I passed. My search for a reasonably priced .22 revolver with a 4" barrel will have to continue.

 

[BCRider]

It's a big let down when the anticipation wells up and then gets stymied isn't it.....

 

[dfariswheel]

Depending on which Colt double action Trooper it was, you may have missed a good one.

The original Trooper in .22 was the same action and frame as the Python and Officer's Model Match.
The Trooper Mark III in .22 was the same action as the later King Cobra.

The later Trooper Mark III is supposed to not lock up like the older model did.
This is because the later guns have a totally different design that requires that the cylinder be slightly loose when the trigger is pulled.

Here's the Colt original Trooper in .22: Colt probably only made about 2200 of these and only in 4".


Here's the Trooper Mark III in .22. Its not supposed to lock up tight like the older models.

 

[earlthegoat2]

+1 to dfariswheel

Works that way on the different Trooper variants in centerfire too.

 

[MMCSRET]

And neither of them lock up like S&W, they are all different and take different techniques to check them out. You can't compare using the same criteria evaluations.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Well, what do you know. Someone needs to make a list of what revolvers do what when you're checking them out. It's sometimes confusing. It is a MK III, but I wasn't aware of the differences since I have never really got into Colt's all that much. Thanks for the input. I may check tomorrow and see if it is still there. Does $499 sound about right?

 

[popeye]

I had a 4" MKIII until recently. The one I had was very nice, as new. $500 is a great price. My issue with the gun is the .22 bore, and chambers in a large frame makes it pretty heavy for a .22. If its a collector/range gun fine. If it's main purpose is as a companion in the field it's kind of heavy. I've got a Smith pre 18 that fills the all around bill better for me. I hope I'm making sense.

 

[Old Fuff]

Darn! dfariswheel can type faster then I can, and unfortunately Phydeaux642 has discovered that ignorence in not bliss.

The only revolvers that have (in theory, not always in practice)an absolutely no wiggle lock-up are some Colt's made between 1908 and the middle 1970's. The Python, and most D-frame models are exceptions that belong with the earlier guns.

Others, including but not limited to: Smith & Weson, Ruger Taurus, and Mk. III / MK. IV Colt's can be expected to have a lttle wiggle. If it seems excessive it probably is.

 

[popeye]

BUY IT! You'll probably regret it if you don't. Hell the grips if they're original in good shape bring $150+. It is heavy for a .22, but you probably won't see another for under $600. The blue on these guns is beautiful.

 

[rmfnla]

Colts lock up tight when the trigger is pulled.

On a Smith the hand disengages from the ratchet once the cylinder has turned; on a Colt the hand stays engaged and presses against the ratchet to remove that last bit of play.

Go look at the Trooper again, dry fire it and try the cylinder while keeping the trigger fully depressed; I'm betting the lock-up will be nice and tight.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

If you buy it and want some Colt rubber grips for it, PM me, I've got some I don't expect to use.

 

[popeye]

Don't dry fire any .22, and especially don't dry fire any Colt with the firing pin in the frame. Damage to the pin/bushing can result in an expensive repair. Check that the gun is empty, hold on to the hammer, pull the trigger and lower the hammer slowly. This method to check lock up works on D, E, I, frame's I've had, all with pin in hammer. I don't know about MKIII's

 

[Phydeaux642]

I went back today and it was still there. I'm having a difficult time deciding. I would really like to have a model 18 or a .22 kit gun and that $499 would go a long way towards one of those. popeye is correct when he says its a lot of weight for a .22.

 

[ShakyJake]

Hi P-642
The quickest to find the S&W you are looking for is to buy the Colt. That is a given.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

 

[Old Fuff]

While the Colt is an excellent revolver, it is heavy - somewhat more so then a K-frame Smith & Wesson and much more so then a J-frame Kit Gun. If the Colt doesn't really ring your bell you'd be better off to save the money and wait. Unless of course you can afford to buy both.

 

[Guillermo]

I can't believe you passed on that one.

 

[Phydeaux642]

It's still there, but for some reason I just can't seem to pull the trigger, so to speak. If it was a model 18 I would be on it like a duck on a junebug.

 

[ShakyJake]

Hi P-642
I am with you on this one. It might be the most desirable gun going, but if it does not pull at your heart strings, I can not see spending hard earned money and regret it later. Even if the disgretionary fund is available. The model 18 will be available sometime.

TaKe CaRe
Ted

 

[22-rimfire]

Where is this old heavy Colt 22 revolver?

Both the Trooper and Trooper Mark III are heavy revolvers in 22LR. The Trooper has a non-tapered barrel (bull barrel so to speak) and the same frame as the Python. The Trooper Mark III has a larger frame and it seems heavy with the smaller holes for 22 versus 38 caliber. I like both. Would buy either depending on condition.

 

[jt1]

Phydeaux642 - In this area they go for around $600.00. Mine's a MkIII. It locks and shakes just about the same as my X42's...You know I'm a S&W guy but this is an excellent revolver.

 

[Phydeaux642]

You guys are going to talk me into yet. I was thinking about buying some silver (Silver Eagles), but I just might have to go for some blued steel.

And, it looks just like yours jt.

 

[jt1]

Precious metal = [strike]Gold[/strike],[strike]Silver[/strike],Ordnance Steel...and lead...

 

[Phydeaux642]

Okay, you guys talked me into it. I went back twice to today to ponder in it's presence. I approached it from another direction and talked to one of the guys about a trade. I hava a Walther P22 that I have never been excited about. I was going to try and sell it for $275. They offered me $270 trade. So, I get rid of a gun that doesn't float my boat and get a classic in the trade. It doesn't float my boat as much as a model 18 would, but floats it a bunch more than the P22 did. I pick it up Monday.

 

[WC145]

Congrats. We're waiting for pics.

 

[jt1]

Phydeaux642 - Now, if you decide not to keep it you at least have something worth trading...