When Colt launched a revolver within the type of a 6-shot stainless-steel, double-action snub nostril chambered in 38 Particular referred to as the Cobra, they resurrected the title of one among their extra standard snubbies of yesteryear. The brand new Cobra attracts extra on the strains of the corporate’s later SF-VIs (Small Body 6 shot) and Detective Specials with an ejector rod shroud, thicker barrel, and enlarged set off guard.
Whereas the venerable Colt Single Motion Military Mannequin of 1873 continues to be produced by Colt’s customized store, that is their first double motion revolver to hit manufacturing in over 20 years after they made the aforementioned SF-VI and DS II between 1995 and 1996.
Colt COBRA 357 Magnum Double/Single Motion 6 Shot Revolver
It’s a good transfer for Colt as double motion revolvers are primarily in demand in two classes lately: outsized goal and looking revolvers in magnum calibers or in diminutive carry items just like the Cobra.
Colt by no means actually made it massive with the bigger ones, so it’s good to see them return to their roots, so to talk.
Nevertheless, the title puzzled us as the brand new Cobra could be very completely different from the unique which debuted in 1950 because the world’s first aluminum framed revolver.
As we talked about, that revolver had a tapered barrel and no ejector rod housing. The brand new Cobra has a thicker barrel and the addition of an ejector rod housing in addition to a fiber optic entrance sight. As an alternative of walnut grips inset with Colt medallions, the brand new Cobra sports activities a Hogue, over molded-rubber, a one-piece grip that attaches by way of a screw within the base versus aspect to aspect.
We put it aspect by aspect with our Detective Particular that was made in 1981. We discovered the 2 to be extra comparable than the Cobra of the Nineteen Fifties-Nineteen Seventies.
The set off was good and broke at 7.5 to eight kilos in double-action mode and three kilos in single-action. That ran only a bit greater than our almost 40 year-old Detective Particular. We suspect it might put on in with time. The reset is appreciatively longer than different revolvers of the identical measurement, so bear in mind to permit it to totally return to the ahead place with a view to keep away from stacking points.
Vary Time
On the vary, we examined the Colt Cobra at our normal distance of fifty ft for defensive handguns. Some may assume that is too shut, however we discover it to be in regards to the leading edge for self-defense distance. Capturing an attacker past that time will most likely get you into some authorized hassle with regard to the extent of a menace you had been participating (unhealthy man with a rifle excluded in fact).
Utilizing a hodgepodge of 38 particular ammunition (these items doesn’t develop on bushes and isn’t almost as low cost because it as soon as was) we ran in all places from 1.5” utilizing 148 grain HBWC (Hole Primarily based Wad Cutters) to three.25” with Hornady’s 110-grain +P FTX (Flex Tip Enlargement) Important Protection rounds.
The HBWC had been from our previous stash of reloads for our S&W Mannequin 52 which might be nice for accuracy however not advisable as a defensive load. The FTX make for protection load and, sure, the Cobra is rated to deal with +P ammunition.
Six rounds of 38 Particular +P in a bundle, only a hair larger than their competitors’s 5-shot choices, have at all times given me consolation. After seeing my share of blown up 5-shot 357 Magnum snubbies, I might by no means really feel protected carrying one.
The rumor mill is churning out tales of G-10 grips to be made for the Cobra down the road and we hope to see extra holster choices sooner or later. The brand new Cobra is a pleasant little defensive piece.
Closing Ideas
Whereas the Cobra moniker puzzled us, now we have a working idea as to why Colt went with this title over an acronym and even the “Detective Particular”.
Might there be plans to resurrect the “snake line” of Colt revolvers?
Would possibly we see a bigger “King Cobra” in 357 Magnum or maybe the mighty Anaconda sooner or later; or if all our goals had been to return true: the Python and Diamondback?
It may be wishful considering on our half. Most of these firearms have historical past and nostalgia related to them and therein lays the explanation for his or her escalating costs. With steel injection molded (MM) and CNC (Pc Numerical Management) components accessible these days, there’s not a necessity at hand match small components which might be made outsized in a forge as Colt’s revolver components was once made.
A brand new line of stainless double-action revolvers reflecting their basic strains could possibly be the shrewdest transfer that Colt has made since they purchased the AR-15 design from Armalite.
The Colt Cobra appears to be proof of that idea and because of this we are saying Colt has efficiently reinvented the wheel gun.
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About Mike Searson:
Mike Searson’s profession as a shooter started as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has labored within the firearms business his whole grownup life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Advisor, Salesman, Writer and was first licensed to show firearms security in 1989.
Mike has written over 2000 articles for quite a few magazines, web sites and newsletters together with Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Hid Carry Affiliation in addition to AmmoLand Capturing Sports activities Information.
