Estimated studying time: 12 minutes
Colt lastly gave the Python its polished blue pores and skin again, and the 3-inch model may be the candy spot of the entire line. It seems to be like a secure queen, carries like a critical belt gun, and shoots properly sufficient to make you forgive just a few snake-like quirks.
The Colt Python is without doubt one of the most iconic handguns on the market. Its endurance on the silver display and amongst revolver fans is so sturdy that the Python was reintroduced in 2020, almost twenty years after it was discontinued. The brand new 2020 Pythons look very like their ancestors, however their building and end are extra radical departures. As an alternative of a mixture of handbook and NC machine operations and hand becoming, the 2020 Python enjoys the advantages of CNC machining. It additionally debuted in stainless-steel, the de facto metal of selection for gun components and as a ultimate end. However for these in search of a basic blued metal revolver just like the originals, Colt got here to the rescue with the blued Colt Python in 2024.
Colt’s Bluing Legacy Offers the New Python Actual Swagger
Colt all the time had a popularity for wonderful finishes. The corporate caught to a proprietary charcoal-and-bone baking course of by the flip of the twentieth century, producing a end that was each vibrant and resistant. Colt went to fuel ovens within the 1910s and later to chemical processes, however the emphasis on ultimate ending carried on.
The Colt royal blue end begins with a hot-salting course of, the identical as another gun maker. The distinction got here within the excessive polish left after the bluing course of was accomplished. Bluing itself is preemptive and arrests rusting to create a barrier to forestall rusting. However a elegant half, even left naked, is extra immune to rust than components left in a tough state. Though Colt produced nickel-plated Pythons and some stainless-steel fashions, the Python is synonymous with that royal blue end.
🛒 Test Present Worth for Colt’s Blued Python on GunsAmerica
The 2024 Blued Colt Python Brings Again the Look Everyone Wished
The 2024 Blued Colt Python continues that custom with fashions starting from a brief 2.5-inch barrel with a round-butt grip to an 8-inch barreled mannequin with coke-bottle square-butt shares. The model for consideration right here is the 3-inch barreled mannequin that’s simply bigger than the snub-nosed model however comes with bigger walnut shares as seen on the longer barreled fashions. Apart from these particulars, the mechanics and options are the identical.
The Blued Python is a double-action/single-action revolver with an enlarged goal hammer and a serrated set off. Attribute for any Python is the Colt clamshell cylinder launch, vent rib barrel, and full underlug that shrouds the ejector rod. The Python comes from the manufacturing facility with a pinned orange ramped entrance sight and a rear sq. notch that’s adjustable for windage and elevation. The sighting aircraft is milled to interrupt up the sheen of the high-polish blued end that runs from head to toe on the Python.
Colt Blued Python 3-Inch Specs at a Look
First Impressions of the 3-Inch Blued Colt Python
Out of all of the choices accessible within the line, I picked the 3-inch barreled blued Colt Python. Earlier expertise with the two.5-inch mannequin is that it’s considerably unwieldy, notably with its smaller service shares. The three-inch mannequin comes with longer coke bottle shares, and the additional little bit of barrel ought to give an edge within the velocity division with out being as arduous to hold as a 4-inch mannequin.
On the store counter, the Colt Blued Python stands out in a sea of stainless-steel and Cerakote. Few pistols, not to mention revolvers, come from the manufacturing facility with a blued end, not to mention one as properly executed. Bluing and sprucing processes are usually not set in stone, and occasions do change. The previous Colt Royal Blue end is one thing to behold. The brand new Blued Python comes shut, however its darker hue places it on par with a classic Smith & Wesson revolver, which is one other end I doubted we’d see once more on a manufacturing handgun.
Within the hand, the revolver is completely balanced with neither a muzzle nor rear-heavy cant, and the bigger grips are hand-filling with out being bulbous. Typical of a Colt, the brand new Python locks up like a financial institution vault when the set off is pressed. Talking of the set off pull, the Python pulls a constant 7 lb. set off weight in double motion and three lb. 14 oz. in single motion with the hammer cocked. In double motion, the set off pull is easy all through however stacks at its heaviest earlier than the break. The one-action pull is akin to punching by a glass plate, with no pretravel and a decided wall earlier than the break.
By appear and feel, the blued Python seems to be a type of few handguns that justify the sticker value. The informal collector could be pleased with the brand new Python, however how does it maintain up when you truly need to put some rounds downrange?
Vary Time: How the 3-Inch Blued Colt Python Truly Shoots
I ran the blued Python by a 300-round battery of fireplace to check each accuracy and reliability, in addition to permitting any ergonomic points to crop up. The ranges various from seven yards to fifty yards, and the ammunition included 250 rounds of .357 Magnum ammunition and 50 rounds of .38 Particular ammunition.
Accuracy: Tight Teams, However Deliver a Screwdriver
I began my testing of Python with a benchrest accuracy take a look at at 25 yards. I pulled again the cylinder launch, loaded my first six rounds, closed the cylinder, and cocked the hammer earlier than drawing a bead. After firing my first pictures, I rapidly realized my rounds had been capturing two toes excessive and to the proper. This makes the third Python I’ve shot that got here from the manufacturing facility needing a screwdriver adjustment job. I had the useful device and course corrected in a couple of minutes as I walked my rounds onto goal, just a few click on changes at a time, till I used to be on.
The ammunition used included:
PMC Bronze .357 Magnum 158 grain JSP
Remington HTP .357 Magnum 125 grain JHP
Winchester .38 Particular 130 grain FMJ
Federal .38 Particular 158 grain LHP +P
Hornady .38 Particular Essential Protection 110 grain FTX +P
The Python delivered constant teams inside two inches at 25 yards with the Federal .38 Particular FBI load. The Winchester goal load, essentially the most sedate of all of them, ran six-round teams at 4 inches. The opposite hundreds break up the distinction, with the PMC Bronze taking the cake for Magnum ammo with 2.5-inch teams.
I then moved targets out to 10 yards and tried my hand at capturing offhand in double motion. The PMC Bronze load did greatest with teams measuring simply over 1 inch. The Federal and Winchester .38 Particular hundreds got here in neck-in-neck for second place with 1.5-inch teams.
Reliability: One Scare, Then Again to Enterprise
The Colt Python and revolvers extra typically are recognized to be very dependable sidearms. However that has extra to do with being mechanically extra forgiving of ammunition failures and user-induced malfunctions, relatively than mechanical simplicity itself. Out of the three 2020 Pythons I’ve examined, two have by no means failed to fireside.
This Python began out otherwise. As I shot by my accuracy take a look at, I began out with the milder .38 Particular hundreds with ease, however as I switched to tougher recoiling Magnum hundreds, typically the set off wouldn’t reset after every shot. A fast hit with the set off finger returned it to its beginning place earlier than I might hearth once more.
After limping by the accuracy take a look at, I returned to the store and gave the insides a glance over. Typically, I do a fast disassembly and lube job on any handgun earlier than testing, because the manufacturing facility grease is supposed extra for storage relatively than lubrication. I had the sideplate off and gave the foremost surfaces a wipe and oil earlier than beginning. Now I used to be again to sq. one and gave the revolver a full disassembly. The sideplate screws had been tight, and there was no apparent particles. The set off rebound, which interfaces with the mainspring, didn’t look askew. I additionally checked the hand for any impediments however discovered nothing. After cautious reassembly, I returned to the vary to run some drills to gauge the ergonomics and see if the Python would return to 100% operate. It did.
Dealing with, Recoil, and Actual-World Shootability
I ran by the final 2 hundred rounds in my stash, working by the double-action set off on paper and metal out to fifty yards whereas looking for one thing extra disapproving to say concerning the Python.
Loading and unloading leaves little to say in comparison with different Pythons. You both just like the Colt clamshell pull-back model of launch, or you don’t. As a lefty, I discovered it straightforward to hook the set off finger over the discharge as I switched arms to reload. Proper-handed shooters can merely pull it again with the thumb, and it’s straightforward to launch in that place with out breaking their grip. That claims quite a bit given my quick thumbs. Loading ammunition was largely straightforward, as I did most of it one spherical at a time or with a Bianchi Pace Strip. After I tried to make use of my Safariland Comp. II speedloaders, the bigger walnut shares used on this 3-inch mannequin pinched the loader and prevented me from releasing the ammunition. The Python has a considerably quick ejector rod, and it takes a pointy wrap with the palm to eject the empty circumstances, whether or not it’s longer Magnum circumstances or shorter .38s.
It has been one thing of a quest to discover a carryable .357 Magnum revolver the place capturing full-powered ammo shouldn’t be onerous. Revolvers like the two.5-inch S&W 686 and Python are simply on the sting. The additional little bit of barrel and full grips made the distinction, and I used to be capable of get by just a few containers of Magnum rounds at a time with none critical discomfort. Recoil is sharp, notably with the well-known Remington 125-grain hole level load, which hums out at over 1,400 toes per second from the muzzle. However the concussive blast was extra of a difficulty than feeling something within the palm. Capturing quite a lot of .38 Particular ammo was comfortable, and it was straightforward to go too rapidly.
The sights and total stability strike a great stability. There may be sufficient sight radius to learn an 8-inch metal plate at 50 yards and hit it with out masking it up, however not a lot that you just can’t decide up on the sights in a rush. Likewise, the 3-inch barrel is infinitely pointable with out the rear-heaviness of the snubnose mannequin or the muzzle-heaviness of the long-lasting 6-inch mannequin.
The one-action set off pull, with hammer cocked, may be very quick however not discernibly lower than the double-action pulls, and I extra simply hit these distant plates in double motion since I used to be not shifting my grip to thumb cock the hammer. Though made for carry, this package deal could be appropriate for medium recreation with the proper load, with that type of hit chance.
Professionals and Cons of the Blued Colt Python
Professionals: Full firing grip; optimum 3-inch barrel for carry and energy; mild double-action set off pull; polished blue units it aside from the competitors
Cons: Grips intrude with speedloaders; sights want adjustment out of the field; polished blue not as scratchproof as stainless-steel
Why the Blued Colt Python Is the One to Need
If pleasure of possession is vital, overlook the matte variations of the Colt Python. For that matter, look previous the polished stainless-steel mannequin and skip proper to the polished blue mannequin.
On seems to be alone, this model of Python stands out within the case. It’s as finely completed as a manufacturing revolver could be made, and, in my very own testing, the polished blue was not so excessive luster as to supply a lot solar glare or so fragile that it was simply scratched coming out and in of a secure or vary bag. You is usually a little tough with the blue Python, however one factor you can’t keep away from is fingerprints.
On its deserves, the blue Python has the identical dealing with and crisp motion as another new Python. The three-inch mannequin, particularly, strikes a great stability between shootability and compactness, do you have to select to place rounds downrange with what might in any other case be a secure queen.
That’s actually the trick with this gun. The blued Colt Python has sufficient visible drama to fulfill the collector, however sufficient sensible shootability to justify a holster and a variety bag. That may be a uncommon mixture, and it’s why this model might be essentially the most tempting Python within the present catalog.
There may be additionally a YouTube Brief tied to this evaluation for readers who need to see the blued Python in motion, however the meat of the story is correct right here: this snake nonetheless has fangs.
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Jim Maybrick has been a constant voice within the firearms world for over a decade, writing tons of of articles and producing dozens of movies that span almost each nook of the capturing sports activities. With a background in army and financial historical past, Jim has a expertise for weaving compelling tales round historic firearms designs and the rise and fall of legacy producers.However Jim’s pursuits go far past the previous—he’s simply as snug diving into muzzleloading traditions as he’s testing the newest rimfire hundreds or mastering cutting-edge trendy techniques. His considerate, data-driven strategy brings readability and depth to each evaluation.When he’s not on the vary or deep in a spreadsheet, you’ll discover him having fun with time with household, chasing recreation, or refining the misplaced artwork of beginning an ideal campfire.Expertise:– Veteran Author & Content material Creator – Over twelve years of expertise in firearms journalism with tons of of revealed items.– Army & Financial Historian – Tutorial background that fuels in-depth evaluation of historic firearms and trade tendencies.– Versatile Shooter – Covers a variety of subjects from muzzleloaders and rimfire ballistics to as we speak’s most superior platforms.– Storyteller at Coronary heart – Recognized for insightful writing that blends technical element with partaking historic context.– Outdoorsman & Household Man – Reconnects with nature by searching, fishing, and old-school firecraft.– Analytical Mindset – Brings precision, construction, and storytelling to each article—whether or not it’s a gear evaluation or a deep historic dive.
