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In 2022, Colt shocked the market by reintroducing the Python. The return of the Python not solely happy outdated Colt lovers but additionally launched a brand new technology to the king of revolvers. In look, the brand new Python 2.5 Inch is nearly an similar copy of the unique. It retains the identical sleek traces and well-known vent rib which have endeared the Python to its followers.
Return of the Snake
The Python 2.5 has some very vital enhancements. First, Colt has made intensive use of recent manufacturing know-how to make particular person components to a better tolerance. This eliminates many of the hand becoming that was so expensive. Second, there are additionally refined adjustments in design, particularly the body, that make the brand new gun stronger than the unique. This ensures that the brand new Python will face up to a gentle eating regimen of full home .357 Magnum hundreds.
One nice function is that the person can change the entrance sight utilizing an Allen wrench. Lastly, Colt redesigned the rear sight to be extra sturdy. Final 12 months I examined a 3” mannequin and was so impressed that I bought it.
The Latest Snake
The newest Python is the two.5” barrel mannequin. This mannequin was in all probability the rarest of the unique weapons and now brings premium costs if you could find one. When Colt launched the brand new snub, I instantly ordered one. Having beforehand examined a 3” Python, I used to be excited to match the 2. I used to be not dissatisfied.
The brand new mannequin is as beautiful because the earlier 4 Pythons that I’ve evaluated. The brightly polished stainless end is flawless. The double motion, on the brand new gun, is like glass and the one motion breaks properly with no grit or extreme creep. Utilizing a Lyman digital set off gauge, the double motion measured 8.7 oz. and the one motion broke cleanly at 5 lbs. The pistol is void of sharp and offending edges and there are completely no seen machine marks.
I instantly noticed why this barrel size is in such demand. The entrance sight is a pinned blade model with a purple ramp whereas the rear sight is absolutely adjustable. As with all the brand new Colt revolvers, the entrance sight may be changed by the person in lower than a minute. The two.5” mannequin options service-style checkered wooden shares that observe the contour of the body. These give the brand new Snake an actual retro look that I recognize.
Python 2.5 Inch Vary Impressions
Vary time with the brand new Python was lots of enjoyable. Provided that it weighs 35 oz., it soaked up the recoil of the .38 Particular rounds with ease. Magnums had been one other story! In contrast to the earlier fashions, the brand new 2.5” Python comes with service shares that observe the contour of the body. These had been too small for my palms, and when capturing, my center finger knuckle took a beating towards the again of the set off guard. I reached out to my pal, John Harrison, who was type sufficient to mortgage me an unique Tyler T-Grip adaptor.
The Tyler-T crammed the sinus behind the set off guard and elevated the general diameter of the grip. It does this with out rising the general dimension or bulk of the pistol. This addition enhanced the shootability of the Python.
As with the earlier Pythons I’ve examined, I had problem with the purple ramp entrance sight. Nonetheless, a part of this is because of my growing old eyes. My different grievance is with the set off. I’m not a fan of serrations and, extra importantly, the sides of the set off usually are not actually radiused. Apart from that, I actually preferred the brand new gun.
Testing Time
I fired Justin Dyal’s 5-Yard Roundup Drill with the brand new Python. This can be a easy 10 spherical drill with all phases shot from 5 yards, with every stage having a 2.5 second par time. Whereas not extraordinarily troublesome, it’s a difficult check. 4 rounds in 2.5 seconds is slightly spicy, and three rounds, robust hand solely with the identical par time, could be very difficult. I let 3 rounds get exterior the black, 2 on stage two and 1 on stage three. I managed a rating of 91, which isn’t horrible. As with my different “exams”, I shoot them solely as soon as and I stay with that rating, be it good or unhealthy!
Ammo For the Python 2.5
Lately, I’ve been offering ballistic gel leads to my articles. That is extraordinarily useful and permits me to catalog how standard private protection ammunitions carry out. Granted, the gel isn’t the identical as a dwelling goal. Nonetheless, it supplies a constant medium to match the hundreds examined, in a managed surroundings.
Whereas the brand new gun weighs 35.5 ounces, I discovered that full-house magnums resulted in vital recoil. Whereas not painful, follow-up photographs had been tougher. I examined two magnum hundreds, Hornady’s Essential Protection 125 gr. FTX and their Essential Protection 135 gr. Flex Lox. The Essential Protection averaged 1,356 fps, whereas the heavier Essential Responsibility averaged 1,224 fps. As the 2 beneath charts mirror, each did comparatively effectively in naked gel, however when shot by 4 layers of denim, the nostril of the Essential Protection load collapsed into itself. By comparability, the Essential Responsibility expanded nearly in addition to it did by the naked gel.
In all probability essentially the most sensible private protection load for the snub Python is a well-designed .38 Particular load. I examined the Hornady Essential Protection 110 FTX load and Federal’s 120 gr. +P Punch JHP. In naked gel, each averaged about 12” of penetration and each hundreds expanded. The distinction was that the bullet design of the Punch spherical resulted in a bigger expanded diameter. When shot by denim, each hundreds did as anticipated. The Punch expanded and deformed however efficiency was very inconsistent. As in different exams, the Hornady 110 FTX didn’t increase, however in some instances did invert. Each hundreds had been controllable and would make an excellent self-defense load, particularly in an armed citizen scenario the place limitations are usually not a difficulty.
Vary Outcomes
The beneath pictures present the recovered projectiles from the 4 hundreds we examined. Once more, this a restricted check for comparability between hundreds.
A Basic Pistol Deserves Basic Leather-based
For my revolvers, I’m hooked on customized leather-based. I not too long ago obtained an distinctive rig from Eric Humphries and the good people at Palmetto Leather-based Works. The rig is harking back to a Rhodesian holster and is a straight drop with a flared belt loop. It’s a rough-out, mid-ride holster that rides very properly. The holster, proven within the photograph, is for my 3” Python. It really works high-quality however as I determine to buy the snub, I shall be ordering one particularly for a 2.5” mannequin. One notice as of this writing, this holster has not been added to their web site. I might counsel you contact them instantly if you happen to want to buy one.
READ MORE: Colt Python Assessment: 2.5 Inch Snub-Nostril Basic
Python Ultimate Ideas
Having grown up on Smith & Wesson revolvers, I by no means thought I might fall in love with a Colt. The brand new Pythons have modified my thoughts. Colt continues to increase the road and now affords 17 Python fashions in quite a lot of barrel lengths and finishes. For extra on the entire line of Pythons go to Colt Pythons right here.
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