Question for owners of New Colt Cobras

[fordtrucks]

Sights at Brownells:
https://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/front-sights/cobra-front-sights-prod123397.aspx

Vz grips are great. These are the operator ones compared to the original. Better for carry. The hogue is too grabby on my shirts.

 

[fordtrucks]

Finding holsters are the main problem.

I carry most of the time in a desantis sized for my LCR’s. Works fine.

I also carry in a cross breed. Very nice. Leather is just harder than the one I bought 2-3 years ago for another gun. Still breaking it in.

 

[fordtrucks]

Don’t have a lot of rounds through it. What I have shot through it has been nice.

I carry an lcr (usually the 38 version, with boot grips) in a pocket and the Cobra IWB strong side or appendix.

Works great for me. 11 rounds of reliable revolverness.

 

[fordtrucks]

To give you an idea on which holster and fit.

 

[SteadyD]

Well I did a little trading for a night cobra. It was on the Kansas side of the river and I’m in Missouri so it will need to be shipped to a shop on my side before I can pick it up. The trigger was smooth and I like the way the grip feels.

It’s a new gun but does have a small amount of endshake. I’m hoping that isn’t a problem. What say you colt aficionados? It locks up very tight however.

 

[dfariswheel]

I simply don't know what specifications the new Cobra uses.
Old Colt standards for end shake was no more then 0.003".
That may have changed.

If it's over that, Colt can correct it, probably under warranty.

As for repairs, when Colt designed the Mark III series of 1969, it was the world's first "machine fitted" revolver.
The parts were cast or molded to such a tight spec that most parts could be literally dropped in with no fitting.
The guns were assembled by pulling parts of of bins until one fit and most fit.

That's how all Colt DA revolvers were built up to and including the new Cobra.
The down side is, no local gunsmith is going to have bins full of parts to pick from to get a fit, and Colt isn't so far selling any new replacement parts.
So, if repairs are needed it will have to go back to Colt.
The up side is, cost of parts replacement shouldn't be very high.

Front sights, grips, and holsters are starting to come online, so finding them will be easier in coming days.
I suspect some makers were waiting to see if the new Cobra made it before going to the expense of tooling up to produce accessories.

I'd be looking for the new Cobra, possibly with a new name, in .357 Magnum, and in different barrel lengths.
If it sells well, I would think we'll see something with adjustable sights similar to the Diamondback.
It's suspected that that was were Colt was going with the SF-VI, DS-II, and Magnum Carry before the series was discontinued in 2000.
They were rumored to be looking to use the "SF" frame to build an entire series of small frame revolvers like they did in the 80's with the old "D" frame models.
Hopefully, the new Cobra is the first of a new series.

 

[SteadyD]

For those of you with a new Cobra, do you have any perceptible endshake at all?

 

[Boarhunter]

No, Sir.

BOARHUNTER

 

[DPris]

The Cobra was designed not to require fitting among its parts.
If something breaks, Colt SHOULD, according to that theory, be able to quickly & cheaply replace parts as needed for repairs.

As D notes, though, your local guy probably won't be able to do a lot with one.
Denis

 

[SteadyD]

Should I be concerned about a bit of endshake or not worry about it?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Should I be concerned about a bit of endshake or not worry about it?

Might call Colt and ask if you can get the specification, then measure it with a feeler gauge. If it exceeds the spec, then send it in.

 

[Mizar]

First of all, you should check how much exactly is the endshake - it may just seem excessive without being so. Trust me on this - a .0008 endplay may seem like it's much, much more. If it's more than the mentioned .003 by Dfariswheel, then contact Colt and see what they will tell you.

P.S. Don't sweat too much about the endplay - just because some new Cobras may have zero endplay does not mean that this is the factory standard and every revolver should be made like this. Endplay (endshake) is just one of the manufacturing tolerances that allow the revolver to be made at reasonable cost, be assembled without too much trouble and work reliably.

 

[SteadyD]

Thanks gents. I called colt and they said .0045. I’ll check when I get it back in my hands and go from there.

 

[fordtrucks]

For those of you with a new Cobra, do you have any perceptible endshake at all?

Sorry to be dense, but what is end shake? If you mesn forward backward movement of cylinder, then no. Not anything different than my lcr’s overall. Maybe less.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I have shot mine between 200-300 rds so far. Maybe 50 of those+P. So not a lot. Zero issues and I carry it often. Either OWB or pocket. Great little revolver. I'm really more of a S&W guy these days, but this Colt fills a nitch between the J & K frames.

 

[SteadyD]

I have shot mine between 200-300 rds so far. Maybe 50 of those+P. So not a lot. Zero issues and I carry it often. Either OWB or pocket. Great little revolver. I'm really more of a S&W guy these days, but this Colt fills a nitch between the J & K frames.

Does yours have any detectable endshake?

 

[SteadyD]

I simply don't know what specifications the new Cobra uses.
Old Colt standards for end shake was no more then 0.003".
That may have changed.

If it's over that, Colt can correct it, probably under warranty.

As for repairs, when Colt designed the Mark III series of 1969, it was the world's first "machine fitted" revolver.
The parts were cast or molded to such a tight spec that most parts could be literally dropped in with no fitting.
The guns were assembled by pulling parts of of bins until one fit and most fit.

That's how all Colt DA revolvers were built up to and including the new Cobra.
The down side is, no local gunsmith is going to have bins full of parts to pick from to get a fit, and Colt isn't so far selling any new replacement parts.
So, if repairs are needed it will have to go back to Colt.
The up side is, cost of parts replacement shouldn't be very high.

Front sights, grips, and holsters are starting to come online, so finding them will be easier in coming days.
I suspect some makers were waiting to see if the new Cobra made it before going to the expense of tooling up to produce accessories.

I'd be looking for the new Cobra, possibly with a new name, in .357 Magnum, and in different barrel lengths.
If it sells well, I would think we'll see something with adjustable sights similar to the Diamondback.
It's suspected that that was were Colt was going with the SF-VI, DS-II, and Magnum Carry before the series was discontinued in 2000.
They were rumored to be looking to use the "SF" frame to build an entire series of small frame revolvers like they did in the 80's with the old "D" frame models.
Hopefully, the new Cobra is the first of a new series.

So if the endshake measures within their specifications is there any reason to be concerned about it?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

So if the endshake measures within their specifications is there any reason to be concerned about it?

Nope, but you can always recheck after a couple hundred rounds to see if it changes a measurable amount.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Nope. No end shake

 

[donkee]

I picked up mine in late 2017. I don't carry it yet and have no plans to modify it. The trigger out of the box is better than any new S&W that I have tried unless you go to a performance center gun. I like is so much that if they offer 3" or 4" models I'll get one or both. I recommend them and after a few guys at the club tried mine out they were interested in getting one too. I have maybe 1000 rounds through mine so far with no problems that I can think of.......

 

[SteadyD]

I measured the bc gap at around .005 with the cylinder all the way rearward. With the cylinder all the way forward I couldn’t fit in even the smallest gauge I have. I think it was a .0015. It’s got to be pushing their maximum allowable amount but it is too close for me to tell if it is in spec. Also, the ejector rod would stick when depressing it to eject spent brass, so I’ve got that going for me. I only bothered shooting 50 rounds, just to see if anything else came up.

And lastly, I noticed some considerably off center primer strikes on one or two primers per cylinder. They went bang but they seemed quite off center. I don’t think I’ve noted that with any of my revolvers. What would be the cause of that?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I measured the bc gap at around .005 with the cylinder all the way rearward. With the cylinder all the way forward I couldn’t fit in even the smallest gauge I have. I think it was a .0015. It’s got to be pushing their maximum allowable amount but it is too close for me to tell if it is in spec. Also, the ejector rod would stick when depressing it to eject spent brass, so I’ve got that going for me. I only bothered shooting 50 rounds, just to see if anything else came up.

And lastly, I noticed some considerably off center primer strikes on one or two primers per cylinder. They went bang but they seemed quite off center. I don’t think I’ve noted that with any of my revolvers. What would be the cause of that?

Got some pics of the primers?

When you cock it slowly on all 6 chambers, does the cylinder stop (bolt) snap into place every time before you pull the trigger? Then pull and hold the trigger and try to wiggle (rotationally) the cylinder on each chamber position- does it have more wiggle on some chambers than others?

An ejector rod that "sticks" on ejection is usually due to excessive oil or grease buildup behind the star. If it sticks in the extended position, it is either bent, rusty/dirty, or has a burr on the rod or cylinder channel.

 

[SteadyD]

Got some pics of the primers?

When you cock it slowly on all 6 chambers, does the cylinder stop (bolt) snap into place every time before you pull the trigger? Then pull and hold the trigger and try to wiggle (rotationally) the cylinder on each chamber position- does it have more wiggle on some chambers than others?

An ejector rod that "sticks" on ejection is usually due to excessive oil or grease buildup behind the star. If it sticks in the extended position, it is either bent, rusty/dirty, or has a burr on the rod or cylinder channel.

 

[Zendude]

Are you measuring with the cylinder loaded or empty?

 

[SteadyD]

Are you measuring with the cylinder loaded or empty?

Empty. Cylinder all the way back is around .005. All the way forward it is touching the forcing cone at the top of the forcing cone with a small gap on the bottom of the forcing cone. I just verified the touching by back-lighting it.