Colt Python
Dan Z for TTAG

I shot the new Colt Python yesterday. Having never shot the original, I can’t compare it to the classic. But never fear, JWT has new 6-inch barrel model in hand and a 4.25-inch barrel model on the way. He also has an original, so we’ll be reviewing the new gun and then do a side-by-side post comparing the two.

But for now . . .

Colt Python
Dan Z for TTAG
Colt Python
Dan Z for TTAG
Colt Python
Dan Z for TTAG

Colt has beefed up the Python’s top strap to avoid the stretching the original model was sometimes known for. Colt has also reduced the overall number of parts in the gun.

Colt Python
Dan Z for TTAG
Colt Python
Dan Z for TTAG

They’ve also redesigned the leaf spring trigger which was buttery-smooth in double action. There was no perceptible stacking at all before a break that they tell me takes about 8-9 pounds of pull (3-5 lbs. in single action).

There was plenty of demand to shoot the latest and most revered snake gun, so I was only able to put twelve rounds down range. But it was a good experience.

Colt tells us the Pythons have been in production since November in order to fill the supply chain before the announcement. Even still, they currently have an 11,000 unit production backlog. And if the Python performs as well as it appeared to during my short time with it, that backlog will probably increase.

JWT will be giving the gun a much more complete going over so watch this space.

 

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58 COMMENTS

  1. Hickok45 had a slight, er, issue with it. And he wasn’t the first. Cylinder decided to stop turning. But, yeah, just fab.

    • Colt probably having some teething issues, no surprise. They’ll fix it though, not sure why some people are treating it like the end of the world.

      • If you’re showing off a product which is supposed to be the top of your line to the most important industry show in the country if not the world, it IS the end of the world when it doesn’t work right. This isn’t some new technology. Colt has been building revolvers for close to 200 years and “they’ll eventually fix it” isn’t an acceptable excuse for incompetence. Colt had one chance to make a first impression with this pistol and they blew it.

        • Or you can just stop being dramatic and let them fix it and then all will be well.

          Its not acceptable, no, but completely writing something off because you’re so impatient and can’t get you’re immediate satisfaction is really dumb as well.

          Sig USA is doing just fine and they are the epitome of Gen 2 perfection.

    • If you are open to some explination without pre judging the watch the Yankee Marshall explane the short stroking the trigger that caused the problem. After watching both hickok ant ym I am inclined to beleave that hickcok caused the problem. I have done this my self with alot of revolvers. The metallurgy that these pistol parts are made out of really does determine how well the hold up or how fast the break. I’ve replaced my share on a few brands becouse of the short stroke stupidity.

      • Not having seen whatever issues people are having, short stroking the trigger is very easy to do on these Pythons. It’s similar to issue I mentioned in my King Cobra review. The trigger, especially in slow fire, feels like it is done on the second click. In reality, there’s another 1/8-1/4″ or so to go. If you stop early, the cylinder won’t go anywhere. Let it all the way out, and it rotates fine. If someone isn’t a revolver shooter and is used to riding the reset, (which is a bad habit) they will likely have some growing pains.
        That may be the problem people have, but may not be at all.

    • Would you mind posting the video link you are referring to? His Colt Python 2020 review on youtube shows no issues.

        • Thanks. I didn’t want to watch the whole thing, so I started watching when he started shooting, and finished when he recommended the gun and there were no issues. The issues happened after that. The cylinder never locked up, it just seems that, for some reason at the end, it started not advancing the cylinder, occasionally. But then again, during his intro, he notes the issues that they had, and says the gun is working fine now. Really weird.

    • Myself as well!

      …and, it ain’t even striker-fired….it is available only in the original SA/DA hammer-fired version.

      Downstairs can go without new carpeting this year…again.

      • There are two basic problems with the new Python.

        1. This thing doesn’t even take Glock mags.
        2. It isn’t chambered in 6.5 Creed

        How tacticool can it be?

        • Ah…but, stainless steel!

          It has the black sights, hammer-thingy, vertical grip-thingy, accepts high-capacity loading devices for the REVOLVING (shudder!) cylinder-thingy…all design elements engineered to drive Progressively useful idiots further insane.

  3. My take on revolvers. And it’s just my personal take. I like S&W right out of the box with no mods. That action is the best for me. When I reloaded I liked Ruger because they were built like tanks. Extra safety. I still like Rugers but they are just not as smooth as S&W.

    The only Colts that I had that I wish I still had was the 1903 pocket model in .32 acp and the Detectives Special with unshrouded ejector.

    I will read JWT’s review when it shows.

  4. The original Python was considered by many to be the Cadillac of .357’s. Although I must confess that the S&W Pre-Model 19 .357 Combat Magnum was preferable in my opinion.

    • I played with both, thought it was personal preference. Had a cop explain it differently; carried a Model 19 for work, because it was lighter, but at home depended on a Python. Semis weren’t a player at the time, late ’70s. Main difference otherwise was double action trigger pull, Python was single stage, S&W changed gearing halfway through the pull. Wish I had bought a dozen of each, though I never even saw that many of either.

      • LarryinTX – “I played with both, thought it was personal preference. Had a cop explain it differently; carried a Model 19 for work, because it was lighter, but at home depended on a Python. Semis weren’t a player at the time, late ’70s. Main difference otherwise was double action trigger pull, Python was single stage, S&W changed gearing halfway through the pull.”

        All of which is true, however I don’t believe it justifies paying double (or more) for a Python.

  5. Multiple Gun Community Sources across the blogosphere and YouTube have shown and documented the cylinders of these new Pythons jamming; not rotating.

    Colt better fix this issue by summer, or they don’t deserve to be a gun manufacturer anymore.

  6. I have always liked Pythons. Of the four I’ve owned all have been ’60s production with the exception of my stainless one. I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve got one in my hands. Still, looking forward to what JWT has to say.

    • Two blue 6″. One nickel 4″. All of $200 in that one. And the aforementioned stainless. The blue is pretty, but the stainless is much more practical where I live. In fact all my “woods guns” are stainless.

      • I don’t recall ever seeing nickel, are they rare? I have a nickel S&W .41 Mag, because I couldn’t find one blue, but all my Pythons were blue. Just BTW, the proportions pictured here look exactly like mine, though I’ll take Colt’s word that some parts are thicker. But, is that a 2-piece (lined) barrel?

  8. I’ll start shooting the 6 in in earnest this weekend. I ordered some for friends, so I actually have four six in and four 4in.
    A few of those guys will shoot with me, so we will see how it works out.
    I swear by all that is Holy, if these guns break, there will be hell to pay.

    • Do you need another tester? It’s only a couple of day’s drive from my peace [sic] of Montana.

    • I very briefly owned a 6 in 2020 python. It was blemished right out of the box, and the crane had a razor edge. I listed it as new and blemished and sold it. Luckily no money lost. But Colt lost a customer, possibly for good.

      • Of the four 6″ I currently have, there are no visible issues with any of them. Did you have the 6 or the 4 1/4″

        • It was the 6 inch. Sorry my abbreviation for “inch” wasn’t as obvious. Yes, it was extremely disappointing. Colt needed to 100% nail this release. Having someone like Hickok45 experience issues is bad PR for them. Even my issues caused enough “uproar” through Instagram that colt contacted me. My python was number 2,216 off the production line. Very poor QC.

          I own the new king cobra and that revolver is a masterpiece. My hopes were very high the python was going to be even better.

  9. Yeah, the TFB guy shot the one at SHOT and it failed. I was excited about it but my interest has waned. I’ll get a Smith & Wesson 19 Classic and save the money.

    How Colt could not have these ready to go is baffling. They had to know that this gun would be nitpicked to death anyway.

    • I ordered a classic M 19, but before it arrived I had heard enough that I cancelled. Too many of the reasons I wanted a 19 were missing from the classic, to save money while the gun cost 10x as much.

  10. WOW! What is the revolver world world coming to…? With 100 years of technological break through in metallurgy, Manufacturing, CNC machining, etc…And All these stories of various companies revolvers failing!? What gives!? Revolvers used to be the most reliable of the pistol world 🌎! I guess the Glock, Sig, Beretta, S&W, Autos and various wondernines are now more reliable…

  12. Having had, it’s going to be hard to beat the original. Reduced parts? Like you really only need two lug nuts to keep the tire on.

    • Yea, Hickock is a short stroker anyway.
      The little Ruger sp101 had the same tendency.
      There might not be anything wrong with these except learning how to shoot new millennium guns, with new expectations. lol.

  13. Looks like Colt could have installed nicer looking grips instead of those ugly laminated plywood looking stocks. At least they could have used some gloss on them.

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