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View Full Version : I picked up a Colt Cobra.



The Dumb Gun Collector
07-22-17, 21:36
Well. I couldn't resist. I didn't even get a good deal on it. I looked at it last Saturday and I was blown away by the trigger. I played with it alongside a Kimber K6 and a Ruger Sp101. They are all similar in size, but the Colt seems a tad smaller (and it should be, it is a .38). The Kimber, without doubt, looked the best. The finish was impeccable, and it just looks amazing. It was about $100 more, and the trigger, in my opinion, was slightly less impressive than the Colt. The SP101 had a terrible trigger. I like Colt, and I wanted to support their return to the DA market so I bought one.

1. Trigger. Absolute win. The Cobra has a very smooth DA and SA. WAAAAY better than My J-frames or my old 686 plus.

2. Fit and finish. Well, it is technically excellent, but it is very bland and industrial looking. In real terms it is exactly what you need. It is stainless steel, it is bead blasted, it is generally well machined. Colt's focus seemed to be completely on functionality.

3. Sights. I really dig the sights. It is going to be a snap to swap out the front with a tritium when they are on the market. The squared trench and reasonably large front sight are much better than the old fashioned J-frame sights. I am generally not a fan of fiber optic sights for carry guns, and I will get rid of it when I can. They did a great job on the sights, but I think the Kimber did it a bit better.

4. Weight. It is heavy. It weighs as much as a Glock 19. That being said, the weight in combination with the smooth, light trigger makes it a very easy gun to shoot well. It is too heavy for pocket carry but would make a nice IWB unit.

5. Grip. It is a huge rubber Hogue unit. It sops op the recoil fairly well, but it looks like crap. I am locking forward to some VZ grips or, LORD HEAR MY PRAYER, laser grips.

6. The Barrel to Cylinder gap appears to be about three times narrower than on my J-frame.
Problems....

I shot 200 rounds through the gun and it functioned flawlessly. I adore double actions so I really appreciate the long, smooth trigger on the colt. I find them easy to shoot fast but very safe to carry and handle.

HOWEVER, I did have the extractor rod get stuck in the cylinder several times. It has a very harshly knurled surface that can snag on the inside of the cyclinder when you eject the shells. It is annoying. It does seem to be going away, but -1 for Colt.

Other than that everything was perfect. The gun functioned without drama, the bullet landed right above the dot about where I like it.

What I would love to see.

They need, NEED to put out an Air Cobra lightweight model. Screw .357, I don't care about .357. I don't care about 4 inch barrels, I don't care about super polished finishes, I don't care about gold lettering.

They need to put out a hammer shroud, or somebody needs to put out a bobbed unit.

JaegerOne
07-22-17, 23:57
Can you compare the trigger to an Ruger LCR?

The Dumb Gun Collector
07-23-17, 09:17
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4327/36097420115_180c8f7e62_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WZNHok)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/WZNHok) by stoiclawyer (https://www.flickr.com/photos/52942291@N00/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/35288908143_f342bd8043_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VLmSWK)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/VLmSWK) by stoiclawyer (https://www.flickr.com/photos/52942291@N00/), on Flickr

1986s4
07-23-17, 11:21
Well. I couldn't resist. I didn't even get a good deal on it. I looked at it last Saturday and I was blown away by the trigger. I played with it alongside a Kimber K6 and a Ruger Sp101. They are all similar in size, but the Colt seems a tad smaller (and it should be, it is a .38). The Kimber, without doubt, looked the best. The finish was impeccable, and it just looks amazing. It was about $100 more, and the trigger, in my opinion, was slightly less impressive than the Colt. The SP101 had a terrible trigger. I like Colt, and I wanted to support their return to the DA market so I bought one.

1. Trigger. Absolute win. The Cobra has a very smooth DA and SA. WAAAAY better than My J-frames or my old 686 plus.

2. Fit and finish. Well, it is technically excellent, but it is very bland and industrial looking. In real terms it is exactly what you need. It is stainless steel, it is bead blasted, it is generally well machined. Colt's focus seemed to be completely on functionality.

3. Sights. I really dig the sights. It is going to be a snap to swap out the front with a tritium when they are on the market. The squared trench and reasonably large front sight are much better than the old fashioned J-frame sights. I am generally not a fan of fiber optic sights for carry guns, and I will get rid of it when I can. They did a great job on the sights, but I think the Kimber did it a bit better.

4. Weight. It is heavy. It weighs as much as a Glock 19. That being said, the weight in combination with the smooth, light trigger makes it a very easy gun to shoot well. It is too heavy for pocket carry but would make a nice IWB unit.

5. Grip. It is a huge rubber Hogue unit. It sops op the recoil fairly well, but it looks like crap. I am locking forward to some VZ grips or, LORD HEAR MY PRAYER, laser grips.

6. The Barrel to Cylinder gap appears to be about three times narrower than on my J-frame.
Problems....

I shot 200 rounds through the gun and it functioned flawlessly. I adore double actions so I really appreciate the long, smooth trigger on the colt. I find them easy to shoot fast but very safe to carry and handle.

HOWEVER, I did have the extractor rod get stuck in the cylinder several times. It has a very harshly knurled surface that can snag on the inside of the cyclinder when you eject the shells. It is annoying. It does seem to be going away, but -1 for Colt.

Other than that everything was perfect. The gun functioned without drama, the bullet landed right above the dot about where I like it.

What I would love to see.

They need, NEED to put out an Air Cobra lightweight model. Screw .357, I don't care about .357. I don't care about 4 inch barrels, I don't care about super polished finishes, I don't care about gold lettering.

They need to put out a hammer shroud, or somebody needs to put out a bobbed unit.

What?! It doesn't say "Tactical" all over it? Not even once? Hmmph....
Thanks for the review, I like revolvers and I am looking forward to handling this one.

1986s4
07-23-17, 11:22
Oh, can you report on what speedloaders fit/function?

Det-Sog
07-23-17, 11:36
Nice find!


What?! It doesn't say "Tactical" all over it? Not even once? Hmmph....

Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. After growing up on revolvers I've recently been reinfected with the bug. A good wheel gun is a work of art.

Modern polymer semi automatics have turned into a technological wonder, but they have no soul. I never thought I would say this, but going forward "most" handgun purchases will probably be be classic wheel guns for me.

1986s4
07-23-17, 11:44
Nice find!



Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. After growing up on revolvers I've recently been reinfected with the bug. A good wheel gun is a work of art.

Modern polymer semi automatics have turned into a technological wonder, but they have no soul. I never thought I would say this, but going forward "most" handgun purchases will probably be be classic wheel guns for me.

Agreed! I don't currently have a modern poly semi-auto but I'll probably rectify that someday. But I do my best shooting with that long smooth DA pull.

gaijin
07-23-17, 17:15
Nice to see they're being produced again, if not surprising as hell.
They must have had a number of requests for them.

Here's an original "Cobra", it's an alloy frame and one heck of a nice back up/overcoat pocket gun.

Colt's "D" frame has always been a favorite. I have a couple of older, exposed ejector rod Detective Specials in the safe that see very occasional use.

http://i.imgur.com/g2SVlOT.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TEwO8AN.jpg

wesprt
07-23-17, 19:33
That's a sexy looking little wheelgun.

C-grunt
07-24-17, 03:44
Nice find!



Glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. After growing up on revolvers I've recently been reinfected with the bug. A good wheel gun is a work of art.

Modern polymer semi automatics have turned into a technological wonder, but they have no soul. I never thought I would say this, but going forward "most" handgun purchases will probably be be classic wheel guns for me.

I feel the same way. I like my Glock 17 dont get me wrong. But it doesn't warm my heart the way a 4 inch S&W Highway Patrolman does.

artoter
07-24-17, 10:33
You da' man Greg! I was wondering when I would see someone post up about getting one of those Cobras. Of all the forums I am on, your the first one to mention it. Sounds like Colt did it right! ;)

Doc Safari
08-28-17, 14:46
The Cobra is on my short list for next handgun. I asked the local yokel gun shop guy if he could order one and he said, "I don't think we can get them yet." I notice Davidson's Gallery of Guns is not quoting a lead time either.

Dang. Guess I'll have to wait.

Uni-Vibe
04-16-18, 18:22
Cool. I just inherited a primo Detective Special. Colt snubbies are nice.

rathos
04-30-18, 02:13
I didn't see this answered so I figured I would try. I tried the HKS loaders for K-frames, the HKS for DS colts and the comp II safarliands for K frames and none of them work perfectly, but they all "fit". This means the rounds fit but never reliably drop from the loader. Most of the time it requires some shaking. Tried it with the standard grips, altamonts and vz grips. Not sure what the word on the street is for speed loaders.

I also have to say the altamonts and the vs's allow the gun to move around in the hand while the stock grip stays in place pretty well. The problem is the stock grips are huge.


Oh, can you report on what speedloaders fit/function?