Original 686 or original King Cobra

[cfullgraf]

I cam work Colt, S&W, and Rugers with equal dexterity, one handed. Everyone says you can't work a Colt one handed.



That's a quick video I did back in February with my D-Frame King Cobra (the current production model).

I did not say I could not work the Colt cylinder latch, but I have shot S&W revolvers so much that in a hurry, I push on the cylinder latch.

I have and enjoy shooting my Pythons and GP100's. I just won’t use them where super fast reloads are necessary.

Not that I could not retrain myself…

 

[jmr40]

For me:

Ruger
Smith
Colt

In that order. But while I like the GP100 a LITTLE better I could be happy with any of the 3. No bad choices there.

 

[2ndtimer]

For me:

Ruger
Smith
Colt

In that order. But while I like the GP100 a LITTLE better I could be happy with any of the 3. No bad choices there.

I have not owned a classic or new king Cobra, but over the years have owned a Colt Python, Ruger Security Sixes and GP-100’s, S&W 586 and 686’s (and even a llama Comanche ). So, when the time came for a durable, accurate all around .357 revolver, there was only one choice:

However, one does need a reliable backup, so

 

[JDeere]

New model KC or new model 686. 686 is the stouter of the two if you are going to run a lot of .357. KC has the better trigger but 686 has the better grip. I have both and shoot both but the GP100 is hands down the better all around revolver in my camp...

 

[GooseGestapo]

NEITHER !

I’m an S&W K- frame fan! Mod 66 or 19 for me.
Although Ive got a still standing 25yr old National Record in PPC shooting a 2-1/2” M686 in the NRA “Off duty Revolver” match, I’m a K-frame fan all the way.
My match gun 686 has never fired a round of .357mag and likely never will.
But my current “knock around” carry revolver is a nickel plated M19-4.
The M19 is up to occasional magnums, and is somewhat lighter than the 686.

I carried an issue M686 for nearly a decade, but given a choice, I would still prefer the M66 or the M65 that I carried before my agency moved to the 686.

I had a Ruger Security-6 Stainless 4” for a number of years. Great gun, but…. I bought it used in 2000 for $125.00. Sold it for just under $500 in 2020.. It was a brute of a gun! But just didn’t have the refinement of the M19.
I bought a derelict M19 that needed some TLC. a new rear sight, grips, and tweaked the action. It’s now a beautiful tack driver again!

I recently acquired a Taurus M856 2”. It’s the first revolver that I’ve ever owned that I didn’t immediately do a trigger job on. I’ve still not pulled the side plate on it. It shoots poa/poi with 148gr wadcutters. Hence, I carry it more than the others.
I’m fond of the Colt King Cobra, but not enough to pay the toll to own one…

 

[Miami_JBT]

New model KC or new model 686. 686 is the stouter of the two if you are going to run a lot of .357. KC has the better trigger but 686 has the better grip. I have both and shoot both but the GP100 is hands down the better all around revolver in my camp...

New production guns are completely different animals.

The current production King Cobra is just a rebadged and slightly updated Colt Carry Magnum. Which was a SF-Frame (D-Frame sized) .357 Magnum built off the Colt SF-VI in .38 Special. The current production line from Colt is not a real King Cobra or Cobra. They dusted off the SF-VI and Carry Magnum, tweaked the designs to simplify for modern manufacturing processes and slapped the snake names on 'em for marketing purposes.

The original King Cobra was a V-Frame gun, which was the same frame as the Trooper MK-V. It is a much larger frame. The Colt V-Frame was in the same league size and strength wise as the S&W L-Frame and Ruger GP100.

Comparing a current production 686 with a current production King Cobra isn't really right since they're two completely different sizes.

As for the new 686, it is still an L-Frame, but is has nothing in common with original guns from the 1980s. The lockwork is completely different between a current production 686 and one from the 80s. Plus numerous other changes too.

 

[jmorris]

I like my Colts but have won more matches with my S&W revolvers.

If its an early 686, there was a recall on the firing pin and bushing a repaired one will have an M stamp.

 

[Rexster]

Ya gotta pick one. Original 4in S&W 686 or the original 4in Colt King Cobra.
Will be a carry/ home defense revolver.

I'm in the 686 camp myself. Had both, loved both. But my no dash 686 is still with me.
My opinion only. I think it's the best 357 made.

If I had to pick quickly, I would likely opt for the 686. Neither has a factory grip that is really good for me, but, I know that I could easily find suitable replacement grips for the 686. I am uncertain about replacement parts and grips for the Colt. If I had the time to select between two guns, personally handling them, and preferably test-shooting, I might select the best sample, regardless of brand.

At the moment, I own neither. In 1983, I bought S&W Models 581 and 686, when I was attending a police academy, but ended up trading them to buy N-Frames. I presently have several K-Frames, and a Colt Official Police, plus Ruger GP100, Security Six, and Speed Six sixguns.

 

[bannockburn]

Years ago I kind of had all three (well the Colt was a very nicely built Trooper MK. V), along with a Ruger GP100 and a S&W Model 686-no dash. Could only keep one as I had school to pay for.The GP100 was the first to go as it had a heavy trigger pull and I really didn't care for the grip design. A tougher choice was between the other two with the Model 686 just edging out the Trooper Mk. V with the best DA/SA trigger I have ever found on a revolver right out of the box.

 

[WisBorn]

686.

The cylinder latch in the Colt operates the wrong way.

This ^

 

[Rodfac]

If I had to pick quickly, I would likely opt for the 686. Neither has a factory grip that is really good for me, but, I know that I could easily find suitable replacement grips for the 686. I am uncertain about replacement parts and grips for the Colt. If I had the time to select between two guns, personally handling them, and preferably test-shooting, I might select the best sample, regardless of brand.

Excellent post Rex. My thoughts perxactly! Rod

 

[Styx]

Delete

 

[dfariswheel]

"The cylinder latch in the Colt operates the wrong way."

Not when it was invented.
In 1889 Colt invented the modern swing-out cylinder double action revolver.
The Colt cylinder latch was intended to prevent any chance of recoil allowing the latch to move forward and unlock the cylinder.
At that time the standard shooting stance was the classic duelist one hand hold with a high thumb rest. The Colt latch was ideal for use as a rest, and in fact to further that, in the 1930's the latch was checkered to improve the hold.

S&W was late in the swing-out design, so they more or less reversed Colt's design features to get past the Colt patents and to set their design apart from Colt.
In the S&W most features work the opposite of Colt's designs, including which way the cylinder latch works. You've always had to be careful not to push the S&W cylinder latch under recoil.
In fact, there were problems with S&W's .44 Mag revolvers with hot loads unlocking the cylinder. S&W had to modify the design to prevent that.

As for S&W 686 or original King Cobra........handle both. One will say "Take me home".

 

[Styx]

"The cylinder latch in the Colt operates the wrong way."

Not when it was invented.
In 1889 Colt invented the modern swing-out cylinder double action revolver.
The Colt cylinder latch was intended to prevent any chance of recoil allowing the latch to move forward and unlock the cylinder.
At that time the standard shooting stance was the classic duelist one hand hold with a high thumb rest. The Colt latch was ideal for use as a rest, and in fact to further that, in the 1930's the latch was checkered to improve the hold.

S&W was late in the swing-out design, so they more or less reversed Colt's design features to get past the Colt patents and to set their design apart from Colt.
In the S&W most features work the opposite of Colt's designs, including which way the cylinder latch works. You've always had to be careful not to push the S&W cylinder latch under recoil.
In fact, there were problems with S&W's .44 Mag revolvers with hot loads unlocking the cylinder. S&W had to modify the design to prevent that.

As for S&W 686 or original King Cobra........handle both. One will say "Take me home".

I've heard of people accidentally hitting the mag release on semiautos. I've NEVER heard one accidentally hitting the cylinder release on S&W or Taurus revolvers. I'm sure there's an exception to each and every rule, but that's not an issue that a statistical significant number of S&W owners worry about IMHO.

As far as the cylinder unlocking it's under recoil, that simply sounds like a poor design and not a push vs pull issue.

 

[Rexster]

I've heard of people accidentally hitting the mag release on semiautos. I've NEVER heard one accidentally hitting the cylinder release on S&W or Taurus revolvers. I'm sure there's an exception to each and every rule, but that's not an issue that a statistical significant number of S&W owners worry about IMHO.

As far as the cylinder unlocking it's under recoil, that simply sounds like a poor design and not a push vs pull issue.

Having seen some photos and other images of the older ways of how one “should” hold a revolver, the orientation of the Colt cylinder release actually does make sense. I have seen the checkering on some of those older Colt DA revolvers. Plus, I do remember reading at least one older book actually telling the reader to place the thumb on the cylinder latch.

Then, there is the single-action shootin’ crowd, who are still being instructed to place their right thumb on the recoil shield, by at least some instructors. Notice that this instructor’s thumb has worn the finish thin, where is right thumb is positioned, while shooting:

How to Grip a Single Action Revolver - Cowboy Action Shooting

World Champion cowboy action shooter Jim Finch, a.k.a. "Long Hunter" offers tips and advice about cowboy action shooting in this excerpt from the DVD, "One o...

www.youtube.com

So, let’s picture a shooter who learned to shoot with Colt’s Single-Action design(s), or the earliest of the DA revolvers, which did not have swing-out cylinders, and wants to move-it-on-up to the newfangled revolving pistols with swing-out cylinders. Yes, the Colt DA revolvers’ cylinder latch does make sense.

Then, there are those of us who shoot revolvers, from time to time, with our “wrong” hands. A lefty reload can start with the left trigger finger moving to that latch, as the right hand moves toward the cylinder, from the right side of the frame.

Of course, anyone whose thumb gets too near a S&W cylinder latch, of the type seen on the 70s/80s/90s revolvers, after the flat latch but before the modern latch, will get a harsh lesson in the effects of checkered metal on bare skin, if shooting Magnums.

 

[Anchorite]

I believe it was Jerry Kuhnhaunsen who described the Colt King Cobra as the strongest ever built 357. But I don’t guess he ever looked at the first production Ruger Redhawks in 357??

 

[Styx]

I typically shoot more 38 special at the range and fewer 357. I just know that S&W, Ruger, and Colt revolvers are more than strong enough to last me a lifetime as I don't and never plan to shoot enough hot +p+ 357 magnum or the like through any of them to know which will hold up the best. I rather bump up to 44 mag or larger. I need not split hairs, and IMHO, most people who obsess over which is stronger will also never shoot the least strongest out of the three loose.

 

[Kleanbore]

686 all the way, they will be the new Colt Classic in a few years

What on Earth does that mean?

 

[Mark_Mark]

What on Earth does that mean?

you know… no lock 686 will
be like Colt Snake prices soon

 

[Miami_JBT]

I believe it was Jerry Kuhnhaunsen who described the Colt King Cobra as the strongest ever built 357. But I don’t guess he ever looked at the first production Ruger Redhawks in 357??

It is a tough frame for sure. But I believe the Manurhin MR73 is a stronger gun.

 

[golden]

I think are both reliable and good guns, but, but the S&W is still in production, so accessories and parts are more likely to be available.
Also, my 586 and 681 have terrific triggers, both the result of talented gunsmiths.

While the new COLT Python does not seem to need trigger work, the old COLT King Cobra's that I have handled, needed work to smooth out their gritty triggers. This is a problem with the RUGER GP-100 and S&W as well,, in most cases
.
As for the GP-100, most need work on their trigger, right out of the box. The only RUGER GP-100 I would buy now is the MATCH CHAMPION. I say that as the owner of 3 GP-100 revolvers. I plan to trade in my blue 4.2 inch GP-100 when I get a MATCH CHAMPION.

Jim

 

[Styx]

This is beyond my knowledge. What actually happens and wears on S&W revolvers (686||627) when shooting heavier 357 loads vs a Colt Python or Ruger GP100?

 

[Wildbillz]

Personal preference here.

I would take the 686 everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.

Never had much luck with Colt or Rugers but like I said personal preference.

WB

 

[P5 Guy]

686 with fixed sites the 681.

 

[Bronco72]

I am a big snake fan, having had a Python since 1967. So of the two I chose the Cobra. If I bought another 357 it would be a Ruger. Why you ask. because it is one on the strongest revolvers out ! Love my Redhawk 7 1/2 ! Cowboy loads are so pleasant. I guess you can tell I am a big bore fan