1999 was the end of an era. The production of one of the most beautiful revolvers ever made was ended. The Colt Python, the legendary revolver, would no longer be available. A very small number of Colt Custom Shops were able to produce it until 2005. Did this mean that my search for a Colt Python 3 inch was over? Lucky for me, no. Colt brought his Python to the Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous and it was well received. The Colt Python 3-Inch. The Python’s appeal is strong. It has been a highly sought-after revolver ever since its inception in 1955. The Python was a symbol of American craftsmanship, with its barrel featuring a heavy underlug, sexy ventilatedrib on top, large combat grips, and a hand-tuned action. It was beauty that ended this beast. The revolver was too expensive due to the amount of work required to build each Python. Colt couldn’t sell it at a price shooters were willing. Smart shooters saw this as an opportunity to make wise investments. Every original Python is worth its weight, but there are certain variations that collectors will pay more for. One of these is the Colt Combat Python, a special 500-unit run that was produced in 1988 for Lew Horton, a firearms distributor. This Python had a 3-inch barrel. Colt made Pythons with barrels of 2.5-, 4- and 6-inch diameters at the time. The “Combat Python”, with its 3-inch barrel, was unique. These rare guns are often three to four times more expensive than a Python with a standard length barrel. I have a 2.5-inch, a 4-inch, and a 6-inch Python. But the 3-inch has always eluded me. Until now! Hello Handsome! Colt introduced the Python again in 2020 to the delight and surprise many. Colt’s Product Innovation Team was given the task of reimagining Python. This project took Colt literally years to complete. (Photo by Alex Landeen). The new revolver was built on strength and durability. Colt claims that the new Python is made from stronger stainless-steel alloys. It also features a new rear sight design that allows for a 30% increase in the thickness and length of the top strap. This increases the frame’s strength and reduces recoil. Today’s CNC machinery allows for tighter tolerances, which means less hand fitting. Eight internal parts were eliminated by the Product Innovation Team during the redesign. The Python now has a more robust action and a smoother, lighter trigger pull in single- and dual-action modes. The new Pythons were initially offered by Colt with a 4.25-inch barrel length and a 6-inch barrel length. You might be wondering why they increased the length of the Pythons from 4 inches to 4.25 inches. It seems that this quarter inch helps them greatly with international sales. The barrel is made from one-piece stainless steel barstock. The new guns feature a recessed target crown, and large walnut combat grips, just like the old Pythons. The new models feature a front sight that can be changed with a single Allen screw. They can be used with the.357 Magnum cartridge, but they can also be chambered for.38 Special cartridges. To Be or not to Be? A picture of the stainless-steel Python containing a 3-inch barrel was leaked in mid-December 2021. Rumours abound. Rumors abound about whether this was a hoax or a new length of Python barrel. I sent an email to Colt stating that it was real and that I was eligible for a sample. Lucky for me, my test gun arrived just before I was due to travel to Gunsite for a Dick Williams event. Dick is an old SureFire executive who hosts two to three gatherings per year at Gunsite for gun writer willing to travel on their own. The theme of this gathering was Survival; Urban or Rural: What Will You Bring? All ten gun writers brought along a big-bore revolver. During the three-day event, I was able to practice the Python on the range and in a shoot house. I was also able to fire it on a field course called “The Donga”. Surviving Gunsite I fired my first shots through the new Python at the firing line. Dave Hartman and Lew Gosnell were our instructors in this event. We started at the 10-yard mark to check our zeroes. I didn’t bother making any sight adjustments during the draw-and-fire exercises because my point-of–aim and point–of-impact were so close that I didn’t bother to adjust them. (Photo by Alex Landeen). Last year, I purchased a number of CCI Blazer aluminum-cased JHPs in 158-grain from an estate sale. These rounds were used for Gunsite exercises. These rounds performed well, but they were a little sticky when extracting and ejecting. I would often have to remove a stubborn case from my extractor. Hornady’s Critical Duty 135 grain FlexLock rounds and Remington’s 165-grain CoreLokt JHPs generated more energy and were hotter than the Blazer rounds. They were loaded in brass cases and extracted flawlessly. The smooth double-action trigger of the new Python was what really impressed me. My test sample’s trigger was able to break at just over 8 lbs without any stacking. It actually works much better than my three older Pythons. This means that I was able keep my sights on target throughout the double-action pull. Running Hot Oddly, Remington’s Remington’s.357 Magnum 165-grain Corelokt JHPs produced the tightest group, with a cluster measuring just.93 inches. This load produced a staggering 544 foot-pounds energy. This load is hot enough to melt your fillings. The walnut grips on the Python made it easy to shoot due to their size and shape. Colt’s National Match FMJ Flat Point 125-grain FMJ Flat Point.38 Special round, manufactured by DoubleTap Ammunition, also produced a five-shot,.95-inch group. Based on the ammunition I tested, I would likely load my Python with Hornady 135-grain Critical Duty FlexLock ammunition. It also produced a sub-one inch group at 15 yards, and produced 464 fpe. Python Pluses I was able to test the 3-inch Python using single-action mode. This made me appreciate the serrated Hammer. It’s large and wide, much like a beaver’s paddle. The support thumb can be used to draw the hammer back to full cock. (Photo by Alex Landeen). The V-shaped mainspring of the Python made it easy to cock the hammer. To make it easier to carry my defense revolvers, I remove the hammer spur. The big paddle hammer spur is essential for the Python to look right. I like the rear sight that can be adjusted for windage and elevation. The sight blade will not wander if there is a small set screw to adjust the windage. (Photo by Alex Landeen). Colt outfits the Python in a red insert sight. This makes it easy to pick up and makes for a nice sight picture. In less-than-ideal lighting, however, the sight’s ramped angle reflects light and makes it difficult to see. (Photo by Alex Landeen). A Patridge-style sight with an engraved gold bead would work well for my 63-year old eyes. The front sight will be replaced at some point. Colt offers a fiberoptic front sight and tritium night sights. The sight is held by an Allen screw. Colt serrates Python’s trigger faces. While it didn’t really abrade me during three days of shooting, Dave Fink, Gunsite’s Gunsmithy shop gunsmith, will remove the serrations from the trigger face and polish it for double-action shooting. Slapping Leather I used an Eldorado holster Rob Leahy of Simply Rugged Holsters to carry a custom Colt Officers Match revolver that has a 3.5-inch barrel. It worked well because the guns share the same size frame. I needed a holster specifically made for my Colt Python 3-inch size. I contacted Doc Barranti of Barranti Leather to order a Carry Confidence CCR holster. The CCR has an adjustable retention screw and an FBI butt forward cant. It also holds the gun close to my body and feels great when it is located just behind my right hip. This rig is easy to drive because of its short barrel, which measures 3 inches. Barranti also made me a Spare to hold a speed loader and thoughtfully embossed the holster with the Gunsite Raven. It’s a handsome rig, a handsome revolver, and well worth the money. The difficult task of designing a gun that meets the high standards set forth by the legendary Python was accomplished by The Legend Colt’s Product Innovation Team. The new Python is in many ways a better gun than the older guns. It is stronger and less likely that it will shoot out of time even with magnum loads. It has a double-action trigger pull that is exceptional and Python accuracy. The 3-inch barrel length is the perfect compromise between concealability and sight radius. It also provides a great balance for the shooter. I was a huge fan of the Colt Python 3-inch revolver after shooting 400 rounds at Gunsite over three days. This one won’t be returning to Colt. Colt.com has more information. Colt Python 3-Inch Specs Caliber :.357 Magnum/.38 Extra
Barrel: 3 Inches
Overall Length: 8.8 inches
Weight: 40 ounces (empty).
Grips: Walnut
Sights: Adjustable rear, ramped insert front
Action: DA/SA
Capacity: 6
MSRP: $1.499 This article originally appeared in Combat Handguns July/August 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected]. Continue Reading Search The post Wheelhouse. The Colt Python 3-Inch Revolver Strikes Again appeared originally on Personal Defense World.
