Posted: 2/3/2009 1:44:25 PM EDT
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Just inherited this from my Dad. He's kept it in his safe for 17 years. Has maybe 50 rds thru it at the most, although I don't think he ever shot it...
I'm gonna shoot it! Luckily found some ammo today and will head to the range tomorrow. I'd love to hear feedback from other Python owners, tips, suggestions, etc. 
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I wouldn't shoot a steady diet of heavy, full power magnum loads. It might not hurt anything, since it was designed to shoot 357 mag, but why take a chance just for plinking.
To the guy asking about the difference in the Python and the Trooper. There is a lot of hand fitting and polishing in the Python, requiring many more man-hours to build one. They are extremely accurate and the action is incredibly smooth. To the OP. If it ever gets "out of time", send it to Colt and let them time it, or find a qualified gunsmith that knows how to work on a Python. They are one of my all time favorite revolvers. I have three of them, used to have four but gave one away for a good cause. |
| I have one just like the OP only it's in the original box with all paper work including receipt and it has never been fired. My dad bought it as his duty weapon but after buying it decided to buy a S&W mod. 66 to carry. I for one am glad he did and I know quite a few people that are jealous of that piece of Colt beauty. |
Pythons are the Ferrari's of revolvers. They are hand built, and tuned and polished by Colts best gunsmiths of their day. It's really a shame they aren't made any more but most of the old world craftsmen that used to make these have long since retired. It would cost WAY too much money in todays world to reproduce the time and effort and skills needed to re-make the Python. I have had several over the years but no have an old '56 vintage 3-digit s/n version as my 'safe queen" and bought a 6" stainless Pythons as a shooter so I won't be tempted to shoot the '56. Pythons were only made in .357 mag except for the 8" barrel version call Target versions made in .38 special..... so to answer your question NO there were no .44 mag Pythons made. The Anaconda is the Colt version of a .44 mag and is only produced in stainless steel. Colt made a very few experimental .41 special Pythons but they weren't deemed as reliable enough to be released and none were ever released from the factory. Here are a couple pics of my Pythons
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As above, while you'll see Pythons in various calibers other then .357 and .38 Special, these are all custom gunsmith made guns and not factory models.
Colt did experiment with various calibers including the .22LR, a .256, and the .41 Magnum, all were strictly experiments and none were ever released by the factory. These experimentals are in the Colt museum. Some VERY "right looking" .41 Magnum Pythons were altered from .357 guns by a Florida gunsmith, and while these really look like factory guns, they aren't, AND aren't safe to shoot. There are from time to time various people attempting to sell or having seen "genuine" Colt Pythons in other calibers, but the story always falls apart when factory records show the gun being shipped in .357 or .38 Special. Some of these people actually claim Colt is lying for some reason and the gun was "smuggled out of the factory" or some other good story. |
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If you are going to shoot it, take some 1000 grit paper, tape around the bolt and sand the sharp corners off so you don't get the ring around the cylinder. Mine has thousands of rounds through
it and still looks new. It's a five minute job that will last a lifetime. |
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If you are going to shoot it, take some 1000 grit paper, tape around the bolt and sand the sharp corners off so you don't get the ring around the cylinder. Mine has thousands of rounds through it and still looks new. It's a five minute job that will last a lifetime. Never heard of this. So it will stop the dreaded cylinder ring? |
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Just inherited this from my Dad. He's kept it in his safe for 17 years. Has maybe 50 rds thru it at the most, although I don't think he ever shot it... I'm gonna shoot it! Luckily found some ammo today and will head to the range tomorrow. I'd love to hear feedback from other Python owners, tips, suggestions, etc. http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/cashbailey_photos/DSCN0898-1.jpg Very nice Python.I had one just like it a few years ago along with my 6 inch and both were in blue.Like a dummy I sold my 4 inch and have kicked myself ever since.Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine. Good shooting. |
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If you are going to shoot it, take some 1000 grit paper, tape around the bolt and sand the sharp corners off so you don't get the ring around the cylinder. Mine has thousands of rounds through it and still looks new. It's a five minute job that will last a lifetime. Never heard of this. So it will stop the dreaded cylinder ring? No. All revolvers will leave a cylinder ring eventually. The Colt will not leave a ring normally due to the unique Colt design, but the gun will eventually wear a ring simply from opening and closing the cylinder as the cylinder rolls into the lock. If you're very careful about closing it so the cylinder locks as the cylinder closes, the wear can be reduced. All other brands of revolvers, including the newer Colt's like the King Cobra are designed in such a way that wear rings are entirely normal. When breaking the sharp edges of the Colt locking bolt, great care must be taken. Just a little too much, and the cylinder will "roll back" or rotate backward out of the locked position. On some Colt's that are slightly worn, almost any edge breaking can cause this. Result, and expensive trip back to Colt to either have the bolt elevated, or replaced. Elevating a bolt requires bending and refitting some parts along with working on the bolt. |
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Just wait until you experience the trigger-I am fortunate enough to own a Python and the trigger is a smooth as silk. It WILL spoil you. You're absolutely right, the trigger is just perfect. 
I removed the original stocks and put some Pachmayr grips on this revolver. My wife and I took the Python to the range yesterday and put 50 rds of Remington 158 gr jacketed soft point thru it. At 30 ft and 50 ft we were shooting in the center ring. (I realize that's not far for some of you expert marksmen but for our "older" eyes we were very pleased). It was the most fun I've had at the pistol range in a long time and the wife got a charge shooting her first magnum. Now if my order from Ammo to Go will just get here... Thanks again to all of you for the kind responses. |