Do not feed your Python magnums....

[ColtPythonElite]

or it will go out of time and do it very quickly...At least that's what lots of naysayers like to over exaggerate. Some of us are wise enough to know better or are too foolish to believe it. I'm one or the other. Just today I decided at the last minute to go plinking. I took one gun and a good sized bag of 125 gr. JHP's. I shot her until I got tired of shooting. I'd guess this particular gun has seen 1k or so magnums in less than a year. I wish she would hurry up and go out of time so I can send her back to Colt for a makeover. You woulda figured a 1974 model would be worn out by now, but it still locks up tight.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I can't tell you why Pythons go out of time, but I know that they occasionally do. Can you explain why a Python might go out of time?

 

[Owen Sparks]

Can you explain why a Python might go out of time?

Can you explain why they went out of production?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Can you explain why a Python might go out of time?

The way it was explained to me was that the action sustained more battering due to it's tighter lockup than a comparable S&W.

It is like a suppressed semi-auto whose action is locked to reduce the noise signature of the action chambering the next round

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Them going out of time has to do with wear on the hand. The hand basically pushes the cylinder tight. Recoil can take it's toll in the hand....The hand is also a pretty easy part for a knowledgeable person to replace if and when the time comes. The hand can also be peened instead of replaced, which is basically beating it into the right specs with a hammer. Personally, I would choose to replace.

 

[ThomasT]

Okay so your gun does what it was designed to do. Whats the point?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Can you explain why they went out of production?

Several good reasons, most of them pointing to the late 80's/early 90's:

1.) Because Don Johnson carried something other than a revolver in Miami Vice, along with every other Hollywood hero. I believe that lead to a sharp decline of revolvers wants.

2.) Because cops quit carrying revolvers. People wanted semi's like cops.

3.) Colt focusing on building military rifles.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Okay so your gun does what it was designed to do. Whats the point?

Just making conversation and stirring the pot a bit....Much like your post....LOL.

 

[ThomasT]

CPE I was indeed stirring the pot. Unlike some folks I always thought that a Colt was a brute strong gun. But no gun is wear proof.

The late, great Dave Arnold, a huge fan of Colt revolvers stated that with fullpower loads a Colt 357 should make around 2500 rounds before it started to have timing issues. And like any other mechanical device that number is subjected to so many variables as to almost be useless.

Any gun can and will wear out. Some sooner than others but there are just too many old guns that are in perfect mechanical condition for there to be any hard and fast rules.

If I had a great collectible gun like your Python you can bet I would shoot it. But I do think it would be with less than full power rounds all the time. But that just me. I do like light loads and thats why I am such a fan of the 32 caliber guns.

 

[EVIL]

You are right CPE, that old colt is an obsolete piece of junk ... please send it to me for prompt disposal... , then you will be able to buy one of the improved S&W revolvers with the hillary hole that is safer.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I hear you, Ratshooter.

I am blessed enough to have Colts that I call collectible and Colts that I call shooters. This particular gun is a shooter. I've never babied it as far as loads go and don't intend to. If I break it, I'll fix it. If it can't be fixed, I'll replace it.

 

[goon]

To date I've only handled and shot one Python.
It was a finely fitted handgun - really a work of art. The tolerances were tight enough that it wouldn't chamber all the round that fit fine in other .357's.
It was also out of time. To date I've put two S&W's out of time by shooting them. I've owned 4 Ruger .357's and never shot one of them out of time, and the only Colt I've shot was out of time. That's not the most scientific study you'll find, but I'll stick to Rugers, thank you very much.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

On the other side of goon's coin, I own one Colt King Cobra, that has seen 20 years worth of hot magnums. It is still as tight as the day it was new. I have nothing against Rugers, matter of fact I wore one on my side all day long today. However, I wouldn't trade my oldest King Cobra from 3 brand new Ruger's, unless I could sell them to by another Colt.

 

[Guillermo]

2500 rounds before it started to have timing issues.

mine has 3 times that and no issues whatsoever

 

[Mac2]

I reload everything I shoot. Can't remember the last factory round I fired. That being said, I control the Hot, medium or mild (I don't do much mild). My choice for my Python, Diamondbacks and Cobra are intentionally medium (the Cobra has factory +P Hydrashocks for carry only). The larger framed Anaconda and King Cobra or the Ruger GP get the hot stuff if that's what I want to shoot. Just my choice, as any steady diet of hot loads will be eventually detrimental to any pistol. My .02c.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

At the risk of calling down the Revolver Gods, Elites post #5. Is exactly what happens, the hand on the Python is holding direct pressure on the cylinder, at the back of the cylinder. When the trigger is fully back, and hammer fully forward, the direct pressure from the hand is about the only thing holding the cylinder still, the direct vibration on the tip of the hand gets peened and beat down to the point it affects the lock up. I have heard guys call this condition " out of time" . Right or wrong thats what they call it. Please God ,don't give me another lecture on time and timing. My understanding, anything with the trooper/OP/357/Python action that fires Magnum loads can develope this.

I think the hand is considered a part thats expected to wear and need replaced, depending on how hard you use it. Not part failure,part wear.

The lock up is different, on the king cobra, it wont happen, I dont think on Trooper MKIII either. Anaconda I dont know never had 1 apart.

 

[Guillermo]

The lock up is different, on the king cobra

While the lockwork is different the concept is the same. And the "solidity" is comparable.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

So its just the hand and the cylinder stop, centering chamber and bore?

 

[rem1858]

I purchased an early 1980's 6" Colt custom shop Python about two years ago for distinguished revolver matches.
I have never even thought about putting .357 magnums through it, let alone jacketed bullets.
The owner before me shot only lead wadcutters and I have only shot 158gr lead round nose for competition and some 148gr wadcutters through it for practice.
Not that the gun could not take it, but want to preserve the almost as new in factory box condition with test target apeal when I resell it.
You could say"safe queen", but not quite, but not a real shooter.
With five national match courses and earning six points a piece, I have officially got my distinguished revolver badge #99(yeehawwww),yah, I won each match with her except for the last, but it payed out two legs and got the six pointer to get the thirty total.
I met my goal with her and will sell her now to get a four incher to be a shooter.
Sorry for the long post, but I am tickled to have earned my badge

Clarence

 

[aryfrosty]

Pythons

I don't have a Python right now. I have had. Now I own a 1968 vintage "Trooper". It gets shot a lot and most usually with 125gr .38spls. Every time it goes to the range it does get a handful on magnims because it is so pleasant to shoot.
Strangely, my 'holy grail' has always been a 6" nickel Python. I have never seen one for sale when I had the money and when I have the money they all seem to hide underground. "One day!"

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

The last Python I had was slightly out of time. I seriously considered getting it fixed by Colt (one of the least expensive ways to go), but the shipping, time to wait, and the cost exceeded what I wanted to spend for "maintenance". I knew shooting it to the extent that I desired would probably put it out again, with my luck. Lovely gun, but for me, not tough enough to be my shooter, and I refuse to have a gun that cannot serve me to the fullest. Guns were not meant to be babied or kept for others.

 

[918v]

Mine is still tight, after 49 years of shooting. I'm the second owner. I lube the hand and cylinder stop before I shoot it. Granted I don't shoot real powerful stuff, but 49 years of shooting and it still has the original hand.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Can you explain why they went out of production?

Several good reasons, most of them pointing to the late 80's/early 90's:

1.) Because Don Johnson carried something other than a revolver in Miami Vice, along with every other Hollywood hero. I believe that lead to a sharp decline of revolvers wants.

2.) Because cops quit carrying revolvers. People wanted semi's like cops.

3.) Colt focusing on building military rifles.

Of course, there is the real reason: Production cost. S&W and Ruger were absolutely killing Colt 30 years ago by selling revolvers that worked just as well for half the cost. So Colt focused on making the simpler MK V revolvers to be at a more competetive price point. It didn't work.

The Python was actually in production until 2005 (limited after 2000), but when one could buy the just as nice shooting, more robust and more easily repaired/customized S&W L-frame for half the price, it's not hard to see why the Python's fate was termination. At the $1,200 price point, it was box stock Python Vs. Performance Center S&W; Again, the Python was at a disadvantage.

The Python is a great revolver, but for most people (myself included), just not worth the price premium over a S&W 586/686. My 686 has been worked and has a much nicer action than any Python I've ever shot, and gives up nothing in accuracy, despite the looser (relative) lock-up. And I can tear the thing apart and rebuild it much more easily, should I ever need to.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

I didn't mean to suggest, you should baby them, I would not have a Python that I didnt plan on shooting the living hooha out of. Whats the point, thats like saying you dont want to shoot yer 1100, cuz you might wreck the o-ring!!?

The hand is a CONSUMABLE PART. Some don't agree they'll be along directly.

 

[CajunBass]

You know. If you hook a trailer up to your hitch, sooner or later, you'll wear out the ball.

I gotta get me one of those Pythons.