Colt Targetsman Pistol information wanted

M

Master Blaster

New member
I have an opportunity to pick one up with a 6" barrel made in 1959.

I was wondering if anyone likes them here and has experience with shooting and maintaining them. Are magazines available? are they easy to maintain and strip? are parts/ springs available should I need them.

Last how is the accuracy and trigger on one, are they good shooters.

Thanks
 
Colt Woodsman and of course the Targetsman .22 guns are generally regarded as superb firearms and much sought after by shooters and collector alike. If you have a chance to get one at a 'reasonable' price do so.

Two notes:
1. Folks say some of the early Woodsman pistols should only be shot with standard velocity .22 ammo. Yours, built in 1959, should be good for high velocity fodder as well but I should let one of the real experts weigh in on this or you could search this site for that thread.

2. 'Reasonable' price...I'd love to have a Targetsman but with collectors driving up the price I'd get a Ruger Mark Whatever or the S&W Victory and pay less money. However the Targetsman is what you might call an 'iconic' gun whose value will go up and it would be a joy to own and shoot too.

Good luck and let us know how this comes out.

P.S. Disassembly...Not too difficult at all. I've done it which means about anybody could. Maybe not as easy as the S&W Victory or the Ruger Mark 4 but certainly way easier than a Ruger Mark 3 or earlier.
 
The Targetsman was brought out to give Colt something to compete with the Ruger Mk I. It is pretty much a Huntsman with simple adjustable rear sight added. I once had a Huntsman, same thing with fixed sights, a good .22. I eventually traded it for a Woodsman to get the better sights and the heavy MT barrel.

Disassembly is not hard but you do have to take off the grips, as was not necessary with the prewar guns. You do have to push the takedown button on top at the right stage in the process, too.
 
Master Blaster I have an opportunity to pick one up with a 6" barrel made in 1959.

I was wondering if anyone likes them here and has experience with shooting and maintaining them. Are magazines available? are they easy to maintain and strip? are parts/ springs available should I need them.

Last how is the accuracy and trigger on one, are they good shooters.
Click to expand...

Yours is a Third Series, which can also accept Second Series mags. (First series mags will not work). Mags are easily found. The cheapest will be the stainless mags for the Colt Cadet. Beretta NEOS mags can also work. I recommend getting only Colt mags.

Very easy to maintain and clean.

Replacement parts and springs are not difficult to find.

Accuracy and trigger are very good.


Visit http://www.colt22.com/ Bob Rayburn knows more about the Colt Woodsman than anyone in the world.
 
I have a Colt Woodsman 2nd generation sport model built in 1953. It's the shorter barreled version, but quite excellent in accuracy. Versus my buddy's Ruger, long-barrel, stainless-fluted target pistol, the Woodsman more than holds it's own. Mine takes high-velocity ammo.
 
Have a third Series Huntsman and

its a BLAST!

Recommend looking at the rimfire Central website and menu down to the Colt forum and enjoy reading the post.
 
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