Bangity; New Heater Ed.

I thought that I was going to close out this year without buying a new gun. That didn't happen.

This is a ANIB Colt Python. The previous owner installed a set of Wilson sights, which, to my mind, are even a bit better than S&W adjustable sights.

Colt really screwed the pooch on their rear sights. From early on, I heard story after story that the rear sight was difficult to adjust, that it used the tiniest of set screws and, if one didn't drench the internals with locktite, it would not hold a zero. I wondered if one took out the teeny set screw to locktite it after zeroing, if that would change things. The answer I got was "maybe."

Anyhoo, I wasn't going to drop Python money on one until the sight issue was fixable. Colt ought to just go ahead and license either Wilson's sights or S&W's rear sights. The front sight, though, is superior to a S&W's. Unlike current-generation S&Ws, whose front sight blades are secured with a roll-pin, Colt's front sight is secured with an Allen set screw. That makes it far easier to change, but then it should be secured with purple Locktite.[1]

The previous owner had bought this gun, put in new sights, then decided that he liked his King Cobra better and he sent it on down the road. To me.

This was the first three-shot group fired in the sighting-in process.

This gun has the sweetest double-action trigger pull that I have experienced in a long time. There's no stacking at the end, it just pulls right through. It is almost as easy to shoot accurately double-action as it is single-action. The single-action trigger, though, is somewhat heavy. It's not gritty, just heavy. It's nowhere near as light as a well shot-in Model 66 or a Model 27. The trigger's face is serrated, which is more of a gamer problem.

I realized, rather quickly, that it is not comfortable to shoot with a high grip like a Smith. Doing that, it beat up my hand even with .38 range fodder. Held a little bit lower, it feels fine and shoots well.

The new Python could be the best revolver on the market, other than a MR73, which costs three times as much and, according to one user, are not impervious to the rigors of competitive shooting. The fit and finish of a new Python is far and away superior to that of a current-generation Model 66. The double-action trigger pull is significantly heavier on my 66-8, which has over a thousand cycles on it.[2] The single-action trigger pull is heavier.

Is a new-generation Python as good as the old ones? If you want a "royal blue" one, you're going to have to find an old one. The older Pythons would go out of time if shot (or dry-fired) a lot.[3] The new model Pythons have been designed to be more durable.

Is a new Python worth the price difference over a similar Smith & Wesson? That's a personal call. But if you're in the market for a new .357, you should check one out for yourself.
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[1] Blue might be OK, but never use red, unless you intend to never remove the front sight.
[2] Between shooting and dry-firing.
[3] To be fair, this was how older Colt, not just Pythons, were designed. The hand (the part that pushes against the cylinder's rear star to revolve it) on older Colts was a "wear part".