Colt's Cobra: Verdict?

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I'm pretty happy with mine, but not fight-to-the-death enamored... after all, it is just a plain-Jane production .38 snubby with nothing fancy about it at all ;).

I bought it at a police-only retailer with really good pricing. It was still a bit more coin than a snub from Ruger (LCR/SP101) and the 442/642 new Smiths, but less than the Kimber.

I liked the Kimber too, but don't need a snub .357 so that doesn't factor in. Honestly, absent the apocalypse and I am down to just .357 ammo I won't ever fire a small frame 2" or less revolver with magnums. (My 3" M-13, 2.5" M-19 and Dan Wesson 15's with 2.5" and/ or 3" VH barrels/shrouds are PLENTY obnoxious with magnum rounds!)

I'm not a die hard Colteer, as I will admit (outside the earshot of my wife) the Cobra was a total impulse buy. I have a M-642, nickel M-49 and an SP 101 in .38 already...and I had a 640 and a butchered 2" Victory model years ago but traded them off. I have never owned a Colt brand handgun, and since I also have three 1911's I just couldn't spring for a fourth just to have a Colt. (Now if a nice Delta 10 or a 9mm Colt has a hang-tag that just screams "Purchase now!!" at me that just may change!) The Cobra just called out my name, and the 6th shot in a similar package to the other small frame .38's sold it.

Like I said, the fit and finish was really good and the out of the box trigger has no stack and is better than any out of the box snubs I own or have fired. But the price, and Colts corporate uncertainty, may be a turn off... and I certainly understand that. :thumbup:

Stay safe!
 
At the $699 MSRP, I was thinking street price of $599. After reading the reviews about the nice trigger and messing with one at a gun show, I started saving up for one. Still hoping production will increase this spring to bring the price down and availability up.
The 38 only chambering is ok with me. I don't intend to shoot 357 mags out of a small snub.
 
CraigC said:
IMHO, it's silly to buy a warranty when it comes to firearms. Automobiles, absolutely. Electronics, you bet. Tools, sure. Cell phones, without a doubt. Guns? Never. Ruger has no warranty at all but do they not take care of their customers? You really want to deny yourself the pleasure of owning/shooting/hunting with a firearm just because the factory won't fix it any more? The idea is absurd.
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I didn't say anything about buying a warranty. Only that "The minimal one year warranty against only manufacturer defects, does not display a lot of confidence to me as to whether or not they will be serviceable by the mother ship a decade or so down the line.". While a good warranty or lack of one is not the deciding factor in a handgun purchase for me, it does contribute, along with price, reputation and functionality. Just like Customer Service. While Ruger stands behind their firearms now, the lack of warranty means they don't have to in the future. Knowing that does not make me not buy Rugers, but then they aren't priced considerably higher than the competition, as are the new Colts. As for denying myself the pleasure of a firearm because the factory won't fix it any more or parts aren't readily available for it, I already have. Kinda the reason I sold my old Ruger model 44 carbine. Only absurd thing would have been to keep it for a shooter, altho I would have liked to have kept it and shot it.
 
Zendude said:
At the $699 MSRP, I was thinking street price of $599. After reading the reviews about the nice trigger and messing with one at a gun show, I started saving up for one. Still hoping production will increase this spring to bring the price down and availability up.
The 38 only chambering is ok with me. I don't intend to shoot 357 mags out of a small snub.
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When I shoot .357 mags out of my SP101 snubnose, it's both painful and inaccurate (flinching) and hard to make follow up shots. I did it on one or two range visits and said never, ever again. I have some concerns about Colt staying in the market, but I have zero concerns about this not being rated for .357 Magnum.
 
Got my hands on one the other day to check out. The one thing that jumped out to me, other than the cylinder release going the wrong way, is it's a single lock cylinder. Other than the pin in the star into the frame there is no other cylinder lock mechanism. Nothing on the crane and nothing on the end of the ejector rod. Not a huge deal but someing to consider.
 
Pudge said:
Saw and handled one side by side with a Kimber K6. The Colt was $6ish and the Kimber $8ish if memory serves. I just think Colt has placed it in a difficult niche. It is more $ than a Smith or an LCR, and holds an additional round, but it is limited to .38. So, you're paying a premium for the extra round, and the fit and finish and trigger were nice, but the Kimber was nicer, and the .357, while not always fun to shoot, is an option denied the Colt. It seemed to me to be a good gun, and the price for what you get was about right, however you can save money by going Smith or Ruger, and if you want something really nice, there's the Kimber. I would sure own/carry/shoot the Colt, but I haven't bought one.
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That's exactly where I am. Between a $600 S&W 60/640 or the Colt I'm going to go S&W for .357 capability. As it is right now, I'm cool with a $400 SP101. I do kind of want 6 rounds so I'll probably just cough up the extra money for a Kimber, since it's chambered for .357 mag. While I do only shoot and carry .38sp in my SP, for some reason I still want it to be able to handle .357 mag should the itch hit me. I get the feeling a lot of other potential buyers feel the same, regardless of if it's rational or not.

The Colt probably would have been a bigger deal had Kimber not released he K6.
 
I'm right the opposite, I don't want any more than .38 +P out of a J-frame sized snubby. Which is why I got the 442 instead of the 640.
 
mcb said:
Got my hands on one the other day to check out. The one thing that jumped out to me, other than the cylinder release going the wrong way, is it's a single lock cylinder. Other than the pin in the star into the frame there is no other cylinder lock mechanism. Nothing on the crane and nothing on the end of the ejector rod. Not a huge deal but someing to consider.
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It's a Colt, and the cylinder rotates clockwise (as seen from the rear.) This means the hand serves as a second lockup. S&Ws rotate counterclockwise and as a result they need a second lock.
 
Vern Humphrey said:
It's a Colt, and the cylinder rotates clockwise (as seen from the rear.) This means the hand serves as a second lockup. S&Ws rotate counterclockwise and as a result they need a second lock.
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Yeah Colt and S&W try to do everything as opposite of each other as they can and still have a revolver.

Not sure the hand can actually do much to lock the cylinder close even even with the way Colt does it, but even if it does, it does nothing for the front of the cylinder. For 38 Special you certainly don't need more lockup but I like the ejector rod clock up on a S&W and its pretty transparent to the use with not much down side except the occasion cookie cutter ring you might get on your palm when trying to execute a fast reload and have a stuck case. Ruger add the crane lock for even a more positive lockup. Again not a big deal on a 38 Special but it was something that caught my attention when I picked it up.
 
mcb said:
Yeah Colt and S&W try to do everything as opposite of each other as they can and still have a revolver.

Not sure the hand can actually do much to lock the cylinder close even even with the way Colt does it, but even if it does, it does nothing for the front of the cylinder. For 38 Special you certainly don't need more lockup but I like the ejector rod clock up on a S&W and its pretty transparent to the use with not much down side except the occasion cookie cutter ring you might get on your palm when trying to execute a fast reload and have a stuck case. Ruger add the crane lock for even a more positive lockup. Again not a big deal on a 38 Special but it was something that caught my attention when I picked it up.
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You can see high speed videos of S&Ws momentarily unlocking, but not Colts. Guns like the Python and 357 all rely on the hand and cylinder latch, with no need for a front lock.
 
CraigC said:
I'm right the opposite, I don't want any more than .38 +P out of a J-frame sized snubby. Which is why I got the 442 instead of the 640.
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I don't really see the 442 as in the same league as the Cobra or 640. I own a 442 and regularly carry it, but it's a 15 oz aluminum framed gun with a painted finish that can be found for well under $400. And while .357 is tolerable out of my SP101, there's no way I'd want to shoot .357 in an Airweight/Airlite.
 
Vern Humphrey said:
You can see high speed videos of S&Ws momentarily unlocking, but not Colts. Guns like the Python and 357 all rely on the hand and cylinder latch, with no need for a front lock.
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Share the video links, I did a quick search and did not find anything. I can see it possibly happening from inertia during recoil given the push forward motion of a S&W release but the recoil would have to be heavy and/or a light weight revolver. A S&W cannot unlock until the hammer has completely fallen (thus already fired). An unmodified S&W cannot unlock with the hammer even partial cocked back.
 
mcb said:
Share the video links, I did a quick search and did not find anything. I can see it possibly happening from inertia during recoil given the push forward motion of a S&W release but the recoil would have to be heavy and/or a light weight revolver.
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Yep.

mcb said:
A S&W cannot unlock until the hammer has completely fallen (thus already fired).
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That's the point -- S&Ws sometimes unlock on firing. It's not noticeable to the shooter, but it happens.
 
I only have 150 rounds through my Colt Cobra, but so far I am very satisfied with its appearance, handling qualities, and performance. The extra round over Smith is appreciated. And although it is not near as slick and flashy as the Kimber, I just don't think a bad guy will notice the difference....

BOARHUNTER
 
bassjam said:
I don't really see the 442 as in the same league as the Cobra or 640. I own a 442 and regularly carry it, but it's a 15 oz aluminum framed gun with a painted finish that can be found for well under $400. And while .357 is tolerable out of my SP101, there's no way I'd want to shoot .357 in an Airweight/Airlite.
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So you can save money, weight and recoil all at the same time! If it's the same frame size, same barrel length, fits the same holster and has the same bore size, how can it not be in the same league??? IMHO, the tiny grip has more to do with it than weight. I really don't think the all steel construction of the 640 makes it any better. Shooting full loads out of a 3" model 60 aggravates the tendinitis in my elbow worse than any full sized .44Mag.
 
I gave myself a Cobra for Christmas, I put on a 3 month lay-way at the end Sep. I had a Colt gunsmith work on the trigger and he told me to get some snap caps and the trigger would get better. And it has, but it still not as good as my S&W triggers.
 
ColeK said:
I gave myself a Cobra for Christmas, I put on a 3 month lay-way at the end Sep. I had a Colt gunsmith work on the trigger and he told me to get some snap caps and the trigger would get better. And it has, but it still not as good as my S&W triggers.
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That is surprising. From the reviews, the Colt trigger out of the box was supposed to be better than a S&W even if the S&W had a trigger job.
 
Zendude said:
That is surprising. From the reviews, the Colt trigger out of the box was supposed to be better than a S&W even if the S&W had a trigger job.
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I though the trigger on the Cobra was better than my 442 was from the factory, a lot better. That said its not nearly as good as the trigger on my N-frames that have had work done.
 
"I thought the trigger on the Cobra was better than my 442 was from the factory, a lot better. That said its not nearly as good as the trigger on my N-frames that have had work done."

A medium or large frame gun has more leverage in the action to allow a lighter trigger. I think the greater mass of the bigger gun also allows one to notice the lighter trigger, also. That said I think the trigger on mine is better than a J frame or SP101 if comparing apples to apples. Eventually, will have mine tuned and some mods done to it. Even comparing within the same family the larger gun all other things equal will have a better feeling trigger which my GP does compared to the SP with comparable work and the same springs.
 
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