For more information on the new and improved Python, visit Colt.com.
If there was one gun we had to see and shoot at SHOT Show 2020 “Media Day at the Range” it was, of course, the COLT PYTHON.
We’ve been not-so-secretly tracking the rebirth of this widely coveted snake gun for some time now. We first got faint whispers of its imminent return as far back as SHOT Show 2016; I kid you not. We were told then that it was coming, it was only a matter of when.
Well, now it’s here and the question on everyone’s mind, including our own, is does this new iteration live up to the legacy of its forebearers?
Hard question to answer in any real depth following a very brief encounter at Range Day. But what we can say, for certain, is that our appetite was whetted after that very first shot. Watch the video (embedded below) to see True’s take.
Chambered for .357 Magnum, the new Colt Python has a 6-round capacity and comes in two barrel length options.
The new Colt Python is offered with a high-polish stainless steel finish and either a 4.25-inch or 6-inch barrel. Both come with walnut grips that bear the Colt medallion. These updated versions of the Colt Python have a few changes to differentiate them from the old snake guns but they maintain the classic looks and operation of the originals.
The classic grip pattern, boxy frame, generous trigger, ribbed topstrap, and full-length underlug are all just as they should be. Both models are double- and single-action with a spurred hammer.
Colt redesigned the Python in order to reinforce the frame at the top where it gets stressed the most under fire to make it even more durable. According to Colt, the top of the frame has 30 percent more steel in it by cross-section.
As a result. Colt modified the sights. The rear sight is still a fully adjustable target sight, which is standard for full-size revolvers, and the front sight can be changed by the user like on the new Colt Cobras.
Colt doesn’t want these to be safe queens, they’re meant to be shot. Along with the stronger frame, these Colt Pythons have recessed target crowns for improved accuracy no matter what they’re being used for. Chambered for .357 Magnum they can withstand a lifetime of full-power loads and can be used with light .38 Special rounds when teaching new shooters or just relaxing at the range.
The starting weight for the 4.25-inch model is 42 ounces. It is 5.5 inches tall, 1.55 inches wide and 9.75 inches long. The 6-inch model will be 11.5 inches long and weigh around 46 ounces.
The big question is how much will these cost? Colt lists the MSRP at $1,499. It’s no doubt that these will sell close to, at, or possibly over full price when the first batch hits the streets.
The price is fair. Sure, it’s higher than other popular brands of full-size revolvers, but it’s not at the upper end of the price range for premium revolvers and it’s competitive with and even less than what used Colt Cobras sell for on GunsAmerica.
See Also: Colt Announcing World War I-Era 1911 Black Army
In other words, Colt could sell the new Python for less, but they could also sell it for more, so in the end, it’s probably priced just right. The new Colt Cobras are a little more affordable for people who just need a new Pony.
The new Pythons are definitely the sort of guns that will go with you to the range every time you head out this year, and probably also next year and the year after that … But they’re also serious shooters.
With the Cobra series Colt has tested their new revolver designs and took their time to make sure that the Python launch was going to be solid. It’s safe to say that these Pythons want to be shown off, but they also want to shoot in competitions, they also want to take game, and they want to do all the things people stopped doing with Pythons when they became collector pieces.
For more information on the new and improved Python, visit Colt.com.