Colt Python Unreliable?

Back in the late 80s my 6" blue Python did the same thing.. for some stupid reason Colt used a nylon pin and it failed and the cylinder wouldn't open. My gunsmith made a replacent out of metal and it's been fine ever since.

I found it odd for Colt to do this on such a high-end pistol, but I guess they had thier reasons.

In my opinion anyone that has a Python (and uses it) should have this pin swapped out.. not a good failure to have when you need the pistol.
 
What kind of idiot shoots SIX boxes of ammo through ANY gun and whines about function
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The one that wants to make the statement that gun XYZ is unreliable because i couldn't shoot 1,000 round without a failure, cleaning, lubeing, and peeing.:eek:
Just like all the semi-auto gut that make the above statement about 1,000 trouble free rounds before its considered for SD carry:rolleyes:
 
I bought a brand new Python Elite the same week Colt announced it was abandoning the civilian market.

Colt NEVER announced they were abandoning the commercial market.
This all started due to a mis-reading of the Colt announcement in 2000 that they would no longer accept orders from non-FFL holders.

From 1836 to 2000 an individual could order a gun direct from Colt. Starting with the Gun Control Act of the 1960's the order had to be shipped to an FFL Dealer, but you could still order it yourself direct from Colt.

Colt decided to no longer accept direct orders from individuals in 2000 and discontinued most double action revolvers at the same time.
People mis-read the announcement as Colt was getting out of the commercial market entirely and assumed Colt was no longer going to sell commercial guns at all.
In fact, Colt has never stopped selling commercial guns since 1836.
The poorly worded announcement started all this mis-information.

The small white poly bushing can be replaced with a short section of the right size of weed-eater cord. White looks better than blue, orange, or green. :)
 
Python reliability

Have owned a 6" Python for many years, and shoot it almost every week, both 38 special and 357 -- have never had any mechanical issues.
I would buy any Python that I could. Money in the bank.
 
The only problem I had with my long gone (alas) Python was that compared my trusty old Trooper .357 it was so finely fitted that I had to remove the cylinder and clean the rod after every range session otherwise the fouling would bind it up.
 
I guess this thread supports the old saying
Colt Pythons are supposed to be seen and not heard.
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Had you only looked at your Python, and commented about its bluing and vent rib, (which makes it the best arm ever made, bar none), you would have never had this problem. If you want to shoot a 357 without problem, get a S&W.
 
Back in the 70's another officer on the Dept. had a Python and I had a Smith 19. We used to shoot every week. Both shot reloads. He had about 5 in 50 ftf. I had none and shot all his in mine with no ftf. That was his ftf. in mine.
 
There is no reason to have plastic parts in any revolver. I do not like plastic. I would rather have a scratch on the sideplate. Give me my S&W Model 28 anyday,

Doug
 
I had a six inch Python, and it was a spitter. Lead used to accumulate on the cylinders. I sold it and never looked back. Nice revolver though but not my Grail by any means, and I am a Colt 1911 fan.
 
"If you want to shoot a 357 without problem, get a S&W."

Sheesh. You know, we aren't children here and don't believe the fairy tales we're told. I regularly shoot a '67 and a '90 Python.
 
I've shot the h*ll out of both of mine- in the 80's I used the infamous 125 grainers almost exlcusively- and I am still waiting for the first hiccup.

Of course, I am weird and I do clean my guns after use.
 
The only problem I had with my long gone (alas) Python was that compared my trusty old Trooper .357 it was so finely fitted that I had to remove the cylinder and clean the rod after every range session otherwise the fouling would bind it up.
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What kind of idiot shoots SIX boxes of ammo through ANY gun and whines about function, did your range have recliners?
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I was NOT bad mouthing the Python. They just seemed to need more frequent cleaning. BTW, I've been to several Police shooting schools, Instructor and Survival type, where you might shoot 500 to 5,000 rounds in a week. I tried to clean my gun every night. Give me a Python and I'll carry it off duty. :D
 
The little nylon button or stud was intended to prevent loose cylinder latches from leaving wear marks on the side plate.

Old pre-war Colt's latches were hand fitted so they wouldn't leave any marks on the plate.
Later post-war Colt's used the nylon insert to allow latches to be installed without expensive hand fitting and still not leave wear marks on the plate.

Again, the correct size of white weed-eater cord can be used to replace worn or missing studs.
 
I had an early 1970's 6' blue Python that I often carried off-duty just because I liked it so much. We carried S&W Model 66's as our duty revolver and my shift sergeant 'unofficially' issued us Super Vel hollowpoint .357 rounds to carry in the service revolver instead of the 'official' semi-wadcutter rounds. Tried shooting 6 of them in my freshly cleaned Python and couldn't eject all of the casings as they must have swollen just enough to make them stick. Luckily, that was just at my shooting range very near where I lived so I just went home and used a wooden dowel to gently tap the empty casings out one at a time. It was actually pretty easy to do and did not require very much tapping but I didn't want to bend my ejector rod trying to force them out. I always thought the ejector rods on the Python looked a bit weak but I never had any problems with any other ammunition that I used in it and it is the one revolver I wish I had kept and not sold. I will have to say that my S&W handled those rounds just fine but I think the Colt had tighter tolerances in the cylinder. We didn't carry the Super Vel rounds for very long.....thankfully. I was not a fan and glad I never needed to fire my Python in a bad situation with those rounds in it before I knew the Python didn't like them.
 
ANY firearm can fail. If you practice enough, it will happen at the range and give you practice on contingency managment.
 
Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking our advice.

slong115 said:
I had an early 1970's 6' blue Python that I often carried off-duty just because I liked it so much. We carried S&W Model 66's as our duty revolver and my shift sergeant 'unofficially' issued us Super Vel hollowpoint .357 rounds to carry in the service revolver instead of the 'official' semi-wadcutter rounds. Tried shooting 6 of them in my freshly cleaned Python and couldn't eject all of the casings as they must have swollen just enough to make them stick. Luckily, that was just at my shooting range very near where I lived so I just went home and used a wooden dowel to gently tap the empty casings out one at a time. It was actually pretty easy to do and did not require very much tapping but I didn't want to bend my ejector rod trying to force them out. I always thought the ejector rods on the Python looked a bit weak but I never had any problems with any other ammunition that I used in it and it is the one revolver I wish I had kept and not sold. I will have to say that my S&W handled those rounds just fine but I think the Colt had tighter tolerances in the cylinder. We didn't carry the Super Vel rounds for very long.....thankfully. I was not a fan and glad I never needed to fire my Python in a bad situation with those rounds in it before I knew the Python didn't like them.
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The two most-often cited reasons for sticky extraction is

1) Pressure too high (for that particular gun). You Smith may have had chamber, throat and forcing cone dimensions that made for lower pressure than your Python. How do the primers look? Are they flattened? There are about two dozen other pressure signs, too, that I don't remember off-hand.

2) Your brass may be getting stuck in the "crud ring" near the front of your chamber. If your Python has fired a lot of 38 Special it may have collected powder residue and bullet lube just in front of the 38 Special cartridge in the space that is normally occupied by the longer brass of the .357 Magnum. When you fire the .357, the brass presses into the crud, which has been softened a little from the heat and gets stuck. A good cleaining (I mean REALLY THOROUGH) will cure that.

3) Rough chambers. Probably not a problem on a Python

4) Lube or other contaminant on the outside of your brass.

Good luck

Lost Sheep
 
I have always thought the Python got tagged with being delicate due to the Python Target models in .38 Special. The Target models were set up for wadcutter ammo and shooting hot .38 Specials will wreck the action. I have one that made two trips back to Colt with timing issues. After the second trip, I was informed by a factory rep that if I would use proper wadcutter ammo, I wouldn't have that problem in the future. Some 25 years or so later, has proven him to be correct.
 
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