Has anyone here shot both a 2" and 3" Colt King Cobra?

[old lady new shooter]

My current carry gun is the 3", and I love it, but the size of it still limits concealment options... so I'm wondering how the 2" compares for recoil and accuracy.

 

[MikeJackmin]

I have S&W j-frames in both 2" and 3", and I find the 3" gun to be much easier to hit with, which is of course what we'd expect.

I think the better question to ask is, can you shoot the 2" gun well enough for the role intended. Borrow or rent a snub and see how much difference it makes to you.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I have S&W j-frames in both 2" and 3", and I find the 3" gun to be much easier to hit with, which is of course what we'd expect.

I think the better question to ask is, can you shoot the 2" gun well enough for the role intended. Borrow or rent a snub and see how much difference it makes to you.

I don't think it's a question of a "snub" per se. If the 2" has the same grip and trigger as the 3" and is strong enough to shoot .357 magnum, that's nothing like a Smith J-frame. Awhile back I bought an old Model 36 from a friend in another state without ever having shot one, thinking it would make a great carry gun. I was MUCH less accurate with it and it completely trashed my hand. Being that it's beautiful with the original grips and perfect bluing, it now resides in my safe, hopefully increasing in value.

 

[SwampWolf]

I have S&W j-frames in both 2" and 3", and I find the 3" gun to be much easier to hit with, which is of course what we'd expect.

I've had more than a couple Smith J-frame revolvers and though I like them, the da triggers on most of them are very hard to pull; almost impossible for some people having weak hands to do. The new Colt da revolvers, on the other hand, come with superb da triggers. In terms of 2" barrel lengths vs 3" ones, especially when it comes to shooting .357 Magnums, I much prefer the longer barrel.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I've had more than a couple Smith J-frame revolvers and though I like them, the da triggers on most of them are very hard to pull; almost impossible for some people having weak hands to do. The new Colt da revolvers, on the other hand, come with superb da triggers. In terms of 2" barrel lengths vs 3" ones, especially when it comes to shooting .357 Magnums, I much prefer the longer barrel.

Oh, I would be shooting 38 spl, I only mentioned .357 Magnum because a gun that can shoot those is heavier and stronger so would hopefully have less recoil. Have you shot the Colts?

 

[Styx]

My current carry gun is the 3", and I love it, but the size of it still limits concealment options... so I'm wondering how the 2" compares for recoil and accuracy.

Are you carrying the 3" OWB?

 

[old lady new shooter]

Are you carrying the 3" OWB?

Currently using a carry fanny pack. On an old gray-haired lady in a long skirt and crocs it fits right in.

I would like to have the option to appendix carry depending on what I'm wearing.

 

[Riomouse911]

Having not fired a King Cobra .357 (my newest Colt is the New Cobra .38) all I can use to compare sizes of 2” vs 3” .357’s is a Dan Wesson 15-2; I have a 2” and a 3” interchangeable barrel/shrouds, and S&W K-frames; a 2.5” Model 19 and a 3” Model 13. These .357 magnums are all somewhat close in size to the King Cobra.

In all honesty… carry wise there is very little difference between the 2” and 3”. The bulk is in the cylinder and grip, so the 1” of barrel length isn’t all that much to help with (2”) or hinder (3”) concealment. The 2” may poke a leg a bit less IWB/appendix, and draw a split second faster as the shorter barrel clears a holster sooner, but I doubt the differences would be very noticeable to most of us. (IMHO not $800.00 better for the cost of a new 2” KC.)

Since you have a 3” KC, the 1” of additional barrel length helps the sight radius, I admit that I do shoot better with a longer barrel. Plus the 3” full lug will put a few ounces of steel out there to help a bit with muzzle flip and recoil compared to a 2”.

Just a friendly suggestion if you are looking to buy another revolver; since you shoot .38’s from your KC, you might want to try out one of the new Cobra .38’s if you have somewhere to rent one. IMHO the smaller Cobra is better suited for IWB/appendix carry. It is a 6-shot and a bit larger than the J frames, the trigger is amazing out of the box, the grip is larger and more comfy, you are familiar with the Colt cylinder release and the fiber optic front sight blows away the ramp sights on J frame .38 S&W revolvers.

Cobra is lower left, 1 7/8 and 3” J frames are the others. ( I also have a Ruger SP 101 .38. That is a bulky 5-shot gun compared to the J frame and Cobra. )



Good luck finding the gun best for you .

Stay safe.

 

[SwampWolf]

Oh, I would be shooting 38 spl, I only mentioned .357 Magnum because a gun that can shoot those is heavier and stronger so would hopefully have less recoil. Have you shot the Colts?

Albeit even given the slight advantages a 2" barrel has over a 3" barrel when carrying concealed, as cited by Riomouse1911, I'm a fan of the inch longer barrel for its slight advantages (longer sight radius, less recoil, less muzzle jump, less recoil, more velocity and better control over the gun when shooting it).

Several months ago, because my wife recently discovered that she could no longer master the da trigger pull on her Smith Model 640-1 J-frame revolver, we toured a few gun stores, where she commenced pulling the triggers on a variety of smaller revolvers. The final candidates were the Colt King Cobra, the Kimber and the Ruger LCR. She picked the King Cobra for her bedside protection and the LCR for her purse (where the lighter weight and the shorter barrel made it a sensible choice).

Yes, the Colt handles and shoots well but, like you, the cylinder will be filled with .38 Specials (though, having the option of using .357 Magnum ammunition is an undeniable plus).

 

[old lady new shooter]

@Riomouse911 and @SwampWolf:
What brought this up is that awhile back I bought a belly band to use for appendix carry, but with that one the grip protrudes out at an angle from my body, i.e. the gun is not concealed at all. If I just stick it in my industrial-strength underwear the grip lays flat against my body and is invisible under even a relatively thin shirt, but I'm clear that not using a holster is Not Good. Somebody in another section mentioned that Remora holsters are (in his opinion) best for appendix carry. I went to their website and they have one for the 2" KC but not the 3".

SP101 I tried when I was looking for my very first gun and I could not complete the trigger pull on it, even with only snapcaps. (I ended up with a 4" 686 Plus, which I loved, but which is way too big for a carry gun and anyway now I can no longer shoot it one-handed.)

 

[Riomouse911]

@Riomouse911 and @SwampWolf:
What brought this up is that awhile back I bought a belly band to use for appendix carry, but with that one the grip protrudes out at an angle from my body, i.e. the gun is not concealed at all. If I just stick it in my industrial-strength underwear the grip lays flat against my body and is invisible under even a relatively thin shirt, but I'm clear that not using a holster is Not Good. Somebody in another section mentioned that Remora holsters are (in his opinion) best for appendix carry. I went to their website and they have one for the 2" KC but not the 3".

SP101 I tried when I was looking for my very first gun and I could not complete the trigger pull on it, even with only snapcaps. (I ended up with a 4" 686 Plus, which I loved, but which is way too big for a carry gun and anyway now I can no longer shoot it one-handed.)

The SP does have a healthy trigger pull. It stacks at the end and that certainly could make it tough for a lot of folks to shoot DA. The new Colts have improved the pull, and IMHO it has made DA shooting a very nice process. (I think about as nice as my tuned K frames .)

Hopefully you find what you need to carry!

Stay safe.

 

[SwampWolf]

(I ended up with a 4" 686 Plus, which I loved,

One of my favorite revolvers but a mite bulky for edc (unless you live in places like Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, LA or Philadelphia ).

 

[Shivahasagun]

I have the 3 inch but I have owned many 2 inch barreled revolvers.

The 3 inch is easier to shoot well. You'll lose a little performance there.

But a 2 inch is easier to pack.

My wife also prefers the Ruger LCR and Colt's for their superior triggers. (lighter, smoother)

I caution you that these new Colt's can sometimes fail to set off less-sensitive primers like CCI, foreign primers and whatever Hornady uses. I recommend you use Federal ammunition or ammo loaded with Federal primers in the new Colts. The great trigger is worth it!

As for the gun, go ahead and get that 2 inch Colt! You WILL appreciate having a choice and you WILL find a use for it or the other one. And if you ever decide you don't want one of them it won't be hard to sell a Colt in a sea of S&W's and Rugers!