Since 2017, Colt Manufacturing has been producing new “Snake Guns”. Since then, the Cobra range has been expanded to include a variety of Cobra versions in.38 Special +P or.357 Magnum. The Python was reintroduced in 2020 and became a bestseller. The most important news is that the Anaconda was reintroduced after an 18-year absence. This large-frame swing-out cylinder, double action (DA) revolver was first introduced in 1898. This large wheelgun was the platform for the Colt Model 1909 (both used in wartime by U.S. Military) and Model 1917. It was also issued by U.S. Border Patrol, NY State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. The New Service was dropped in 1944. Colt did not have a large-bore revolver other than the Single Action Army revolver. Production began on the Anaconda in 1990. It was chambered in.44 Magnum or.45 Colt and looked like an enlarged Python with its vent-rib barrel and full-underlug. It was chambered in.44 Magnum and.45 Colt, and looked like an enlarged Python, with its vent-rib, full-underlug barrel.
Although the Anaconda was a copy of the Python’s Python exteriorly, the original Anaconda had a completely new action. The action of the new 2021 Anaconda is identical to the 2020 Python, but it has been enlarged. The Anaconda, like the Python, has a smooth 9.5-pound DA draw and a single action (SA) pull weight of 5.1 pounds. There are two length options for barrels: the 6-inch and 8-inch versions are available. My 6-inch version measures 13 inches overall and weighs in at 59 ounces. This makes it a six-gun. It’s made from stainless steel and has a “semibright” finish. Colt claims that the frame has been “bulked-up” to allow continuous use with.44 Magnum cartridges. For reduced recoil, you can also use special.44 Special or.44 Russian ammunition. You can also use.44 Special and.44 Russian ammunition for reduced recoil.
For windage and elevation. The sight can be replaced using an Allen key. The front sight base tapers from the muzzle to juncture barrel and frame. The rear sight in blue steel is fully adjustable for windage or elevation. The top-strap, which is located beneath the rear sight, can be tapped and drilled to accept a Picatinny rail from Colt. This rail also has a “gutter” in the center that can be used as an optical sight.
Allows the use of optical sights. It is simple to remove, but be aware of the coil spring! The ejector rod, which is sufficient length to easily extract spent cartridge cases, is pushed rearward. The ejector rod is pushed rearward to extract spent cartridge cases. This is because modern ammunition does not require it. Standard equipment includes recoil-absorbing Hogue-over-molded, synthetic Monogrips that are black in color with Colt branding. They have finger grooves and side panels made of pebble-grain. The Anaconda can be fitted with any grip that fits on the 2021 Python. The gun case contains a security padlock, an owner’s manual, and a sample Lucas Oil Extreme Duty gun oil lubricant. The Anaconda’s overall fit and finish was excellent. There were no external flaws. The gun’s markings were minimal and tasteful. The frame has the Rampant Colt stamping below the cylinder latch. The left side of barrel has Anaconda lettering, and below it “.44 Magnum.” The right side of barrel has a small Colt’s Manufacturing logo. The serial number is located on the right side, above the trigger. A QR code is located about an inch ahead of the trigger. This code is something that will baffle old-timers.
I used both.44 Magnum “hunting ammo” and high-performance.44 Special cartridges for self-defense. I used American Eagle (by Federal), Sig Sauer V–Crown 240 grain JHP bullets, Remington’s hard charging 275-grain Core-Lokt JHPs, and Remington’s hard-charging 275-grain Core-Lokt JHPs. In.44 Special, I used some vintage CorBon 165 grain JHP rounds with an impressive hollow-nose cavity and some newer DoubleTap Ammunition ammunition loads that have what looks like a cup-shaped, 200-grain Gold Dot-Dot-Dot-Dot-Dot-style hollow point. These were able to take down two-legged predators. I was also impressed by the velocity of the CorBon load. The CTS-1400 red-dot’s unique sliding battery compartment is located just below the CT logo. Colt’s rail has a gutter at the top that can be used as a rear sight. I was curious to see how an MRD sight would function on the Anaconda so I removed the factory rear view and installed the Colt Picatinny Rail. It was much easier than I expected. The sight would attach to a.44 Magnum. I chose a Crimson Trace CTS-1400 that’s designed for long-guns with heavy-recoiling. This reflex sight features a 3.25 MOA red dot and a large field of view. It is made from aircraft-grade anodized aluminium and weighs in at 2.9 ounces. It is shock-resistant and has a coated lenses for clarity. To replace the batteries, many MRD sights must be removed from the gun. This one does not. The push buttons on the left side allow you to adjust the dot intensity. These buttons can also be used as on/off switches. The sight will deactivate itself when it detects no movement for a short time. This sight is designed for shotguns and rifles with hard-recoiling. One click equals 1 MOA. It took only a few rounds with American Eagle 240-grain JHP loads to get the sight hitting a large V-shaped steel plate at 50 feet in both SA and DA modes. The.44 Magnum recoil did not affect it, and the best thing about the battery compartment was that it didn’t slip open while shooting. I was pleased with its performance and features. I removed the adjustable sight and replaced it with the new one. I shot the Anaconda at 25 yards using standard slow-fire bulls-eye targets. All shooting was done in the SA mode. Each load was fired in three five-shot groups. I measured velocity with my Oehler 35P chronograph while punching papers. The best five-shot group measured 1.92inches using the hot Sig Sauer.44 Magnum V-crown.44 Magnum. The Remington heavyweight took second place with a 1.96 inch group. The CorBon aged load measured 2.05 inches in.44 Special. The best DoubleTap group measured 2.08 inches. I shot at the same steel plate from 50 yards, activating the shots SA using the factory sights. The steel rang when I did my part. I felt that if the target was 150 feet away, I could score on a local whitetail bucks at a similar distance. The gun’s weight, combined with the grips, really helped soak up the recoil, and it ran all day at the outdoor range with zero malfunctions.New…But Improved?
In 1993, I tried one of the original Colt Anaconda revolvers. My test gun was a.45 Colt. I wish I still had it. The action on the new Anaconda version is superior, according to what I can remember. Colt did their research on the 2020 Python action, and the resulting Anaconda version increased in size. The trigger is just wide enough with three grooves that don’t abrade your index finger. There was some take-up but no over-travel. Fine serrations on target hammer spur allow for good thumb purchase when cocking. Empty cartridge cases were ejected with ease, with a good rap of the ejector rod and the revolver kept its muzzle up. The Anaconda’s workmanship was impressive, as was its performance. I would like to see it in.45 Colt, but other than that, I have no complaints. Grab one, if you can. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Get Free Targets
