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'IT By Massad Ayoob • Photos by Roger Andrews GUNS Magazine and the Colt Python were born in the same year. They had much in common in the span from 1955 to 1990: -Both would be the flagships of their respective fleets, with GUNS being the mainstay of the Publishers Development Corporation magazine group and the Python, a steady good seller, becoming a trademark of Colt quality. - Both would be widely imitated. A slew of publications would copy the format of the general interest gun magazine, while Dan Wesson, S&W and eventually even Ruger would follow the ground the Python broke with its unique barrel silhouette. But none would achieve quite the style and elan of the original. - Both would spawn progeny in more than the shadow of their own image. GUNS' most successful offshoot would be AMERICAN HANDGUNNER, but GUNS ANNUAL and HAND GUNNER ANNUAL would also prove their worth. Similarly, the King Cobra was intended to be an economy-priced, kick-around gun that hefted like a Python, and the late, lamented Diamondback was a miniature Python of .22 TO ENTER CONTEST: Use a postcard (no envelopes) and follow sample. Send to Address. _________,.- ___ GUNS Magazine, GOM January, POS 33333 , San Diego, CA 92103-0994. City, State, Zip Mail before February 1, 1990. Limit 1 entry per household. CIRCLE ANSWERS MONTH: (A) (8) (C) (0) QUESTION OF THE MONTH: I plan on spending the following IF I win, on shooting sports products Dealer _____________ over the next 12 months: $0 to $250 Address. _ ____________ AlB $251 to $500 C $501 to $700 City, State, Zip _______ ____ D $701 to $1000 E) $1000 and up Phone # ( QUESTION FOR INFORMATION ONLY; ANSWERS HAVE NO BEARING ON YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. WINNERS CHOSEN BY RANDOM DRAWING. Contest void where taxed or prohibited by law. Winners must comply with all federal and local laws. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Employees and agents of Publisher's Development Corp. not eligible. No purchase necessary. Winners will be notified by REGISTERED MAIL on official letterhead. The Python's comfortable, hand-filling grips contribute to the gun's superior out-of-the-box handling qualities. The .41 size frame and cylinder make the Python an ideal compromise in carrying comfort and heavy-duty magnum performance. Even at twice the price of the competition, a Python is worth the investment. and .38 Special persuasion on the Detective D calls Royal Blue, and of the stainless Python Ultimate as . frame. well. It is a hand-Iabor-intensive process that finishes with a - Fnally, both would go into the year 1990 as healthy grit as fine as flour that creates this finish. It is almost uni- and successful as at any time in their history. versally considered the standard of the industry. Roll the double action trigger back and fee) its lightness. What is it about the Python that makes it such a great The long throw of a Colt trigger on DA gives the mecha- seller? At prices in the $800 range, it sure ain't ease of pur- nism a mechanical advantage that allows a lighter pull than chase. You can buy two Ruger GP-100s or Smith and any competitive DA revolver. My favorite 411 Python has a Wesson L frames for the price of a single Python, and get a DA stroke of about seven pounds. It amazes people who few dollars change. The Python justifies its price tag with handle the gun and they almost invariably ask, "But will it subtle advantages. Some of them are tangible. Some of go off?". The answer is yes: this particular specimen has them dwell in the mystique of the revolver than gun had ti:lousands of Magnums through it and has never mis- experts have almost unanimously declared to be the fired on any cartridge. Every spent casing ever punched "Rolls-Royce of the Sixguns". out of its glassy smooth chambers has borne a deep, per- fectly centered firing pin indent. QUALITY FACTOR The ventilated rib gives the gun a well-earned look of dis- "Quality" and "Colt Python" fit together naturally in any tinction. Yes, the 686 and the GP have sight ribs too, but word association test. Hold the gun to the light and let the solid and unvented. Does the vented rib really dissipate reflections gleam across the b<!1"rel, the cylinder and the heat waves and mirage? Not that I've noticed, but that's not frame. In all but the matte stainless versions, you'll see the the point. The point is that those cuts were carefully made lustrous polish that is the hallmark of the finish that Colt in a certain tradition, one that is costly to maintain to be 42 GUNS' 0ANUARY 1990 sure, but a traclition as important to the connoisseur as weapon retention advantage if your assailant grabs the bar- the way the non-bearing' surfaces inside a Rolex watch rel of your Python and you pull it back firmly. are still polished glassy smooth. These sights have enough range of adjustment that you can use the neck hold at 50 yards on a police silhouette tar- AVAILABLE FEATURES get, coming down ten or so clicks first so the bullets will No other production revolver gives you the range of drop into the X-ring located in the solar plexus area. This finishes that are optional with the Python: non-reflective is a match-winning trick for police combat shooters that matte stainless, lustrously polished stainless, Royal Blue was first developed by Bill Jordan when he coached the or factory nickel. Barrel lengths include 21 h", 4", 6" Border Patrol team. Very few other production guns have 11 and 8 • sights which allow this advantageous maneuver, and those For many, the most important option is the Elliason continued on page 63 sights. The factory-standard Accro is a good micrometer sight but the Elliason is great. The adjustments are finer than any I've seen facto- ry-fitted on any other produc- tion revolver in the world; the' sight picture is classic and perfect; and the under- cut, high patridge front post that comes with it no only gives a uniformly excellent sight picture under most light conditions, but its sharpness gives you a The standard factory Acero sight is a good feature but the optional Elliason gives a near perfect sight picture. GUNS • 43 Colt Python continued from page 51 that do, llike the S&W 586, lack the Elliason's precise adjustments and super-solid click detents.This is impor- tant for those who shoot in NRA Police Distinguished or Police Service Revolver competition, where barrel and sights must be installed at the factory that made the gun and be available on a production basis. Until the 586 came out, even diehard S&W fans switched to the Python for these events. ACCURACY FACTOR Muzzle Velocity: No double action factory produced COMPETITION 940 feet per second revolver has ever exceeded the Python in accuracy. Only the Dan Wesson has READYI even equalled it, and the guns aren't Fo, the serious NEW really in the same class. The DW • Competition shooter • Hunter 56-Field Target Special Model 15 has a .38-size cylinder like a • "Plinke," Adult Air Rifle K frame Smith and isn't suited for con- SCOPE & MOUNT stant Magnum pounding and its big SOLD Designed to go straight from the box into field target brother, the Super Mag, is the size of a SEPARATELY competition shooting. "Competition Ready" features include horse pistol. The Python, on the other - Adjustable trigger - Stippled stock - Barrel weight hand, with its .41 size cylinder packs -Adjustable cheek piece • Stock suitable for right or left handers easy in a hip holster yet is a true heavy- duty .357 that gobbles magnum loads with equanimity. What makes the Python so accurate? DIVISION OF SIR INDUSTRIES, INC. Revolver aficionados cite three reasons. Dept. 8010 5622 Engineer Dr Huntington Beach CA 92649 (714 } B9B 7535 One is the rifling twist: one turn in 141...-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____ _ _________ ___ ____ _ _ inches compared to the industry stan- dard of 1 in 18.5 inches. The Python's twist is particularly effective in stabiliz- locks the cylinder absolutely motion- The third accuracy advantage with ing the 148-grain hollowbase midrange less as the hammer begins to fall. the serpent is in its special boring. The wad cutter used in bullseye, Cylinder play is now at virtually abso- interior of the barrel tightens about a International Centerfire and Police lute zero. Result: better chamber-to- thousandth of an inch from the forcing Revolver competition. bore alignment, fewer misshapen pro- cone to the muzzle. This squeezes the Second, the Python is the one sur- jectiles that have been shaved going bullet into the rifling for enhanced sta- viving revolver using the century-old into the forcing cone, and a more con- bility. This factor is particularly signif- Colt lockwork concept of the second centric projectile with a more stable icant with lead bullets; 158 grain cylinder hand. This part rises and flight. roundnose in Distinguished and The author carried this 4" Python as a duty revolver off and on with A Bill Laughridge-tuned Python sans grips showing the altered two different pOlice agencies and also used it to win two state mainspring design. An ideal revolver for PPC, Distinguished, NMSS service revolver matches. or International CF competition. GUNS • 63 Police Service matches, wadcutters in PPC, and the cast bullet reloads of The American Custom Gunmakers Guild and your choice in production revolver metallic silhouette or small game The Firearms Engravers Guild of America hunting.

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