Python- great target gun?

[m-g Willy]

I noticed on the best 357 revolver thread that a lot of people think the Python is the best 357 ever made.
I think maybe that when I asked about the best 357 ,I should have stated BEST 357 FOR SHOOTING 357 IN?
I know a few people that own the 6" Python.
Only one out of the 4 has ever put their pistol in a holster.
The other three carry their python to and from the range in a pistol rug.
And  those 3 that shoot at the range, none shoot magnum loads.
Two shoot factory 38spl. loads and the other shoots handloads loaded down to 800-900 fps swc loads.
The one guy that shoots full house magnums in his python carry gun says he has shot maybe 500 rounds through it in the (((ten)))) years that he has owned it!
So to all you python owners out there.
Just how many full house magnum loads have you fed your python?
I know the lockwork takes a beating  on the pawl.
I have a 1917 that needs a new pawl because of the design .
And I know the 45acp. doesn't have the wear and tear the 357 dishes out.
So how do those Pythons stand up to full house loads?
 

[FPH]

Every round I put threw my Python when I owned one was a hot load.  However, I did not own it long enough to give you a realistic review.  I had no problems with it.  My 27 on the other hand has sent 10s of thousands of rounds down range.....from wad cutters to the hottest loads I could load per the manual........no problems

[Savage_99]

I got a Colt Python 357 when they first came out.  I loaded it hot but it could not keep up with a buddies 44 mag Blackhawk.

The Python's 6" barrel was too muzzle heavy for me to hold or shoot well.

It's forcing cone cracked and I took it to Colt and they replaced the barrel.

I sold it. Glad it's gone. 

[m-g Willy]

It's forcing cone cracked and I took it to Colt and they replaced the barrel.

I sold it. Glad it's gone.

WHOA!!
That's a new one on me.
I never heard of a python cracking a forcing cone!!
I thought the only weakness was in the lock work.
I wonder if you got a lemon or if others experienced that too

[Savage_99]

I have posted about that cracked forcing cone a number of times and your the only one who as reacted.

I was shooting my hot handloads in it with cast bullets.  I live near Colt so I brought it there and their service man replaced the barrel while I watched in their shop.

I never could shoot that gun well.  I think it was too barrel heavy for me.  We shot one handed back then.  I got fancy Herretts grips for it and the sharp checkering cut into my hand worse than the factory grips.

I bought a Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt and I could shoot that well.

I am a Colt fan but not of the Python.

Most handsome pistol ever made:

[SharonAnne]

sorry, I am ignorant. What is it?

[FPH]

Looks like a Colt Woodsman.

[Darrell Davis]

Not out to mess with anyone here, so please don't anyone get upset over my comments.
I have handled a few of these colts, and thought they were one very fine looking wheelgun.
However, once tried to help a friend out by moving his Python, a fine looking piece, and something was funny with it's action.
I do not know the history of this gun, but know the fellow who was selling it I doubt he had shot it a great deal.
I handed it to a an area gun smith to check out and yes there was an issue, and apparently this was not an uncommon situation with this gun.
Other then the 1911, I have not been much of a Colt fan, and as great as the Python looks, I have heard just enough to make me shy away.
So, guess I'll follow this post for a bit and maybe learn something.
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot
 
 

[Larry L]

I've got several Pythons. One has been back thru the factory custom shop as I had them take the trigger down to 1 1/2 lbs and wanted the factory to do it. That pistol will put the no longer made 146gr Speer half jacket in a hole at 25 yds if you can. I've shot several half inch groups with it in competition  The load using todays data is a half grain over max using Unique powder. That pistol has probably 10,000+ rounds thru it. It still shoots as good today as the first day. On occasions it also is a carry piece. The carry ammo is H110 under a Remington 158 gr HP. By todays lawyered down data, that puts it over max by almost a full grain so don't use that for loading data. A cheap 357 may not be able to stand up to the original loading specs for the 357 cartridge. My other Pythons shoot mostly full house loads but accuracy while better than most other pistols is not up to the factory tuned blue that I have.
 FWIW, my brother bought a Colt Trooper years ago- pre MkIII. He put over 50,000 rounds thru that pistol when it started shooting bad. He sent it back to Colt looking to pay for repairs. They sent him a new pistol and said he had wore the pistol out and asked for info. He shoots nothing but max loads. Colts are the only pistol to stand up to full house loads. The reason the 357 cartridge has been down graded by SAAMI is because of the S&W pistols not standing up to a steady diet of full house loads. Then we had the cheap imports like Taurus and others with questionable metallurgy that made SAAMI reduce the pressure limits even more. The original pressures were at 47,500CUPs and todays limits are 35,000 PSI. The downside to any Python though has been that they won't take a bunch of ignorant abuse by novice users and still function. They can get out of time fairly quick by closing the cylinder TV style by twisting the wrist. This is when you end up with cracked forcing cones. They are like a fine old watch, they run great as long as you have a clue how to treat a fine piece of equipment.

[Darrell Davis]

Larry L,
 
As said along to learn here, but would have a question about your comment.
 
"Colts are the only pistols to stand up to full house loads."
 
I believe I can think of at least one other make that will stand up to at least that level of use and do so for a long time.
 
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[fatercat]

i have both the colt and smith&wesson 27-2.  i still have the smiths.

[Casull]

"Colts are the only pistols to stand up to full house loads."
 
I believe I can think of at least one other make that will stand up to at least that level of use and do so for a long time.

 
 
 
Yep.  I've never seen any load books with "Colt only" data, but have seen such for another brand.   

[SharonAnne]

I think you will find that the L-frame will outlast the Python shooting .357 only. If Ruger would put out a Redhawk in .357 it would last forever.

[Darrell Davis]

Likely 2 or 3 forever's   
 
CDOC
 
 

[spruce]

Yup Colts are NO GOOD, especially Pythons!  Even having one in your safe may cause "Coltitus" to spread to your other brands!  Send them all to me - I'll pay you 10 cents on the dollar just to get them off your hands before they become totally worthless or do damage to your other guns.
 
I believe Colt got out of the revolver business because of poor management/marketing and the mechanism was more expensive to manufacture than Smiths or Rugers.  If the mechanism was so inferior to the competitors how did it manage to last for 70 or 80 years?
 
All guns eventually wear and need repair if they're shot enough, and Colts are no exception.  The downside with Colts is they are more expensive to repair.  It's a very subtle mechanism and not suited to "casual" gunsmiths or do-it-yourselfers putting it back in order.
 
Is a Colt better or worse than an S&W or Ruger?  I don't know, I guess it depends on how you define better or worse.  One thing's for sure - there's never any problem finding enough people on both sides of the issue to start a lively debate!

[FPH]

The only reason I sold my Python was the fact that I didn't care for the nickle finish.....it was a quality finish....just not my cup of tea.  It shot and handled well.

[Dee]

When I was still workin the street, I fell in love with the Colt look. Had to have one. Mortage the dog, and the house to get one. Just kiddin, but I got one. A 4". Loved the look, hated the LONG trigger pull in compared to my all time favorite Model 19 Smith 4". Did it out shoot the Model 19? No, not for me, but I was a combat instructor. A good combat course shot, but not necessarily a Match shooter so hey. It shot as close as I could hold it.
I got rid it for one reason or the other, but later ended up with another new one. I cleaned up the action a bit, and started carryin it at just about the time I was sent to a two week Instructors only course at Tarrant County S.O. This was late 70s. We shot almost a 3,000 rounds each at that school, and had to shoot two qualifying rounds a day. The instructor for the course and I had some history from other schools, and he commented on me switchin to a Colt. He said he'd bet me dinner I couldn't get thru a box of full house 357 mags shooting them as fast as I could, before the gun locked up from heat. I got all the speed loaders out of my unit, got two buddies to keep them loaded thru the box of 158 grain 357 mag box of 50, and bought his dinner that night. I finished the week, went home for the weekend, and came back and finished the course with a brand new Model 19 Smith.
The Colt Python is a classic. I love the look, I can't imagine having to ever fire 50 rounds that fast in a fight, but it did rattle me that the tolerances were that close. I needed a fightin pistol. I would say that it is most likely a great target gun, and would also agree with SharonAnn that the Smith Model 686 would stay in tune under heavy loads longer. I don't know that, but I THINK it would.

[drdougrx]

I also had one....a 4" blued model in mint condition.  It was a dream gun for me.  Wanted one for al long as I could remember.  Paid $350 for it from guy who needed the donero.  He never shot it.  I did a bit but just could not get comfortable with it....it was sooo much better to look at than to actually shoot.....so...off it went for allot of money......

[1911crazy]

I found my 80's python 6" barrel to be very accurate  could ping small rocks on the 100yds berm using my 140gr jhp reloads.  Other than that the cylinder was out of time. I never shot any other 6" barreled 357mag yet.I hope to have a s&w m27 w/ 6 1/2" barrel someday. I do prefer all my s&w' s in there world famous nickel finish.

[BAGTIC]

I am a Colt fan but not of the Python.

Most handsome pistol ever made:

Actually the Colt Woodsman Match Target is the handsomest pistol ever made. The Colt Python is the handsomest revolver.

[BAGTIC]

I doubt there has ever been any model firearm ever made that has not experienced some defect or failure be it a cracked forcing cone, cracked slide, rough trigger, loose sights, bad timing. The fact that someone was unfortunate enough to be the one that got a lemon is not an indictment of all the examples.
Would a bad marriage be justification to indict all women as lying, stealing, backbiting sluts.

[BAGTIC]

One reason so many Python owners treat them like they do is because they are irreplaceable treasures. Not something you can replace at any hardware store. People who appreciate fine guns treat them with respect. Those who are only interested in a bigger and cheaper hammer should go back to their discount hardware.

[FPH]

Revolver.....

Pistol with a revolving cylinder that provides multishot action. Some early versions, known as pepperboxes, had several barrels, but as early as the 17th century pistols were being made with a revolving chamber to load cartridges into a single barrel.

What I use to think also about pistol and revolver.....Browning medalist might give the Colt a run for it's money.

[Mike in Virginia]

I've had two handguns during my entire life that would shoot one ragged hole at 25 yards off of sandbags.  One was a 70 series Gold Cup, and the other was a 4" Python shooting Remington 158 grn jhp .357.  I'd trade my truck for a never fired Colt Python.