Colt Official Police vs S&W Military & Police

[willysjeep134]

Hey all,


I'm finally both old enough and rich enough to consider getting a handgun. I don't want to order my first one, so I am limited to the selections in my local gun stores. I was thinking about getting a trail type .22, but I can borrow my dads when ever I want, so I was looking at service type .38's. I am torn between two models. I would either like a 4-6" S&W M10 or pre M10, or I could live with a Colt Official Police.

I haven't seen any S&W in the local shops. The colt is available. I think they were asking $250 for it or maybe a little more. I would have to wait for a S&W to turn up or order one. I've also heard that the colt is on a .41 size frame, where as the S&W is on a .38 designed frame. This would also be important to me. I don't plan on concealed carry. All I want is a nice robust revolver that will shoot .38 special without shooting loose. I don't use +p in anything, but I'm thinking with a lot of factory standard ammo, a tougher gun would still be nice.

So, does anybody have any comments on either or both models? Should I snap up the Colt or wait for a S&W?

[John Traveler]

Hi WJ134!

I share your enthusiasm for the 134 c.i.d. Jeep engine.

As a S&W collector, I am naturally BIASED, but those biases are based on a lot of years of experience with owning, shooting, and repairing both Colt and S&W revolvers.

Before WWII, the Colt Official Police was practically the standard sidearm of large, medium and small police departments all over the country, with S&W revolvers being a distant second choice.  After WWII, the situation reversed itself and the S&W Military & Police (Model 10) became the standard sidearm of government and municipal police departments until the middle-to-late 1980's with the change to autoloader pistols.  This change came about because of agressive S&W marketing practices, but also because of the huge sucess of it's M&P revolvers with the US Miltary, factory and plant security police.  Something like 4 MILLION of the K frame size revolvers have been made!

The S&W M&P design has proven itself rugged and dependable when used with standard .38 Spl ammunition.  There are few design problems and maintenance points, as any police armourer can tell you.

The Colt Official Police, on the other hand, has weaknesses in it's pre-1900 design:  namely, hand (pawl), ratchet, and cylinder-to-frame points are all subject to wear with moderate-to-heavy use, and cylinder timing and lockup will suffer.  Yes, it is built on the .41 size frame (same as the Colt Python), but the added frame strength is a moot point when talking service life using standard .38 Special ammo.

Double action trigger pull is superior in the S&W design, when you are comparing factory-standard guns.  PPC revolver shooters overwhelmingly shoot the S&W design (except for a die-hard minority that prefers the Colt Python).

So there you have it.  Choose the most popular and established .38 Special revolver ever made and you can't go wrong.

HTH
John

[willysjeep134]

I was looking over the Colt again. My memory failed me last time I posted, they wanted $300 for it. It has a 4" barrel, really nice blue finish, and walnut checkered grips. On the down side, I see that the cylinder has a little play in it. I've seen a lot worse, but it might be a way for me to talk them down a little on price. Also, I don't need to mail order, wait for it, pay an FFL transfer fee, and I can see exactly what I am getting. I'm afraid if I mail order a S&W I could get stung with a real klunker. Plus, I have to wait to get it.


I'm seriously considering the colt more and more. The S&W is a nice gun, but this colt had a really nice DA trigger and the SA was good too. If I find a S&W in a shop locally to compare it to, then I might be swayed, but so far hardly any local shops carry used S&W's.

[John Traveler]

Go for it, WillysJeep!

Even though I pointed out the technical advantages of the S&W over the Colt, the Colt is still a fine, classic revolver.

There will always be some nomimal play in the Colt cylinder until the trigger is pulled and held all the way back.  Then the cylinder should lock up tight.  If it still has some rotational play while the trigger is held back, then the pawl ("hand") and cylinder ratchet are worn.  If it shows a lot of play, the timing will be off, and the gun may spit lead when fired.

If the finish is in really good condition, then the gun probably had little use, and the play you described is normal.

Let us know how it works out!

John

[willysjeep134]

Well, I got it! This is my first handgun purchase and I am thirlled how easy it really was. I thought the red tape would be a lot thicker.

I also got a box of ammo to put through it while I get my reloading setup going. I first went to a local Gander Mountain. They had a bunch of FMJ and JHP ammo, but almost none in 158gr. They had one box of American Eagle LRN 158's that they wanted $20 for! Crazy! So I went over to Dunhams Discount Sport and bought a box of Ameri .38 LRN for $10. Good enough for now, because I won't be able to shoot it until this weekend.

Once I start reloading I'm going to try to make a standard velocity load with Unique to throw a 158gr RNFP Lee bullet. The RNFP looks almost like a SWC with a bulge the point is so blunt. We'll see. For now I have LRN's to blaze away with.

I'll get back with a range report next week.

[willysjeep134]

I made some HBWC and Red Dot handloads, and a box of homeloaded 158LRNs with Unique and both shot pretty well. I still need lots of practice before I can outshoot the gun. I had a deer vitals target up at 25 yards and could keep the shots inside the lung area. A-Merc ammo is junk. Besides reading a few safety warnings about it blowing up glocks in .45ACP, I also found out it is poor in the accuracy department. I'm home loading or buying more common brands from now on.

I also got a full flap holster for a S&W L frame for it. Sportsman's Guide sells nice "Old West Styles" holsters made in El Paso TX! Should make a nice woods bumming rig. We'll see. I am very happy with my purchase so far.

[oznbolivia]

Hello willysjeep134.

I know this is an old thread but I own an Colt Official Police, manufactured about 1935. Paid 300.USD for it here in Bolivia.  I have fired Federal Hydra shock 147 or 146 grains P+ in it, about 35 rounds. No problems and it shot very well. At present I am shooting 146 grain LRN cast with small rifle Winchester primers and 4.0 or 4.2 grains of Winchester 231. One reference showed 4 to 5 grains of 231.  I'll stay on the light side of the range. Nice load light recoil and accurate. My double action trigger pull is a little hard but then most of my shooting is single action.  Bluing is about 80% It is another golden oldie.

Oz

PS. Just read a thread (when is P+ safe) that in the older guns P+ may as a steady diet can cause a lot of extra wear.  The P+ was a give and was a partical box. I did not read the head stamp untill after I fired almost all of them.  They kicked a little more but sometimes damage is not visable.

Oz