Now that the Colt Cobra has been out for a while, I'm thinking about buying one. I love the idea of something bigger than a J-frame, but still small and concealable. I don't trust my 2" Rossi 461 due to problems I've had with it and I don't trust my 3" Rossi 461 due to problems I've had with the 2". I have two 5-shot small frames (a Taurus 85CH and a S&W 442), but 6 rounds really is the bare minimum I feel comfortable with. I do sometimes pair both my 442 in my pocket and 85 IWB together, but since I can't carry in MD and only carry out of state on a non-res UT permit, it is pretty inconvenient to do 2 guns for a day trip (I am more likely to do this when actually on vacation or a weekend trip). It has been out long enough that any bugs have been worked out, and from all I hear there are few/none, and the trigger is terrific.
The soon to be available King Cobra just may stop me though.
I love a 3" barrel in a self defense revolver. With the size and weight of these guns they are just a little too big and heavy for pocket carry in either barrel length, so I would just carry IWB anyway so the extra inch isn't a big deal from that perspective. However, the extra inch of sight radius can make a big difference in practical, real world accuracy, and it also makes a difference ballistically (the velocity difference may not be huge, but it is enough to make the round a little more likely to expand and penetrate adequately, and will give it just a little more power as well). The 3 extra ounces will help with recoil dampening for quicker sight recovery and follow up shots. I've always thought a 3" K-frame was the perfect all-around and CCW revolver, and since they aren't made anymore (and I want to protect my 65LS since it was my first .357mag and thus has some sentimental value) the small framed Colt may be a good substitute.
The .357mag chambering isn't as big a factor. I do love the caliber, and I like the versatility. However, in a 28oz revolver, I doubt I'd shoot much .357mag at the range, and for regular self defense (whether CCW or when using it for home defense) I usually go for .38+P. Though, the option of magnum loads when camping, fishing, and engaging in other outdoor activities would be nice (when the blast, noise, and potential overpenetration of the magnums isn't as big a deal).
I'm quite sure I will eventually get the King Cobra, and since either gun would be an IWB gun I doubt the 2" would get much use once I got it. However, it isn't available yet (I don't think it is anyway). Once it is, I'll probably give it a year or two to make sure there are no issues (I don't want to be an $800 beta-tester). I could get the Cobra now, lose a little money, but use it to trade when ready to get a King Cobra. But then, who am I kidding? It has been many years since I last sold a gun, and then it was actually a gun I liked at a time I needed the money. I haven't even been able to bring myself to sell guns I don't really like and haven't shot in years for quite a long time now (I still have the previously mentioned Rossi's), so I'd probably end up with both, with the Cobra getting little use once I got the King Cobra.
The soon to be available King Cobra just may stop me though.
I love a 3" barrel in a self defense revolver. With the size and weight of these guns they are just a little too big and heavy for pocket carry in either barrel length, so I would just carry IWB anyway so the extra inch isn't a big deal from that perspective. However, the extra inch of sight radius can make a big difference in practical, real world accuracy, and it also makes a difference ballistically (the velocity difference may not be huge, but it is enough to make the round a little more likely to expand and penetrate adequately, and will give it just a little more power as well). The 3 extra ounces will help with recoil dampening for quicker sight recovery and follow up shots. I've always thought a 3" K-frame was the perfect all-around and CCW revolver, and since they aren't made anymore (and I want to protect my 65LS since it was my first .357mag and thus has some sentimental value) the small framed Colt may be a good substitute.
The .357mag chambering isn't as big a factor. I do love the caliber, and I like the versatility. However, in a 28oz revolver, I doubt I'd shoot much .357mag at the range, and for regular self defense (whether CCW or when using it for home defense) I usually go for .38+P. Though, the option of magnum loads when camping, fishing, and engaging in other outdoor activities would be nice (when the blast, noise, and potential overpenetration of the magnums isn't as big a deal).
I'm quite sure I will eventually get the King Cobra, and since either gun would be an IWB gun I doubt the 2" would get much use once I got it. However, it isn't available yet (I don't think it is anyway). Once it is, I'll probably give it a year or two to make sure there are no issues (I don't want to be an $800 beta-tester). I could get the Cobra now, lose a little money, but use it to trade when ready to get a King Cobra. But then, who am I kidding? It has been many years since I last sold a gun, and then it was actually a gun I liked at a time I needed the money. I haven't even been able to bring myself to sell guns I don't really like and haven't shot in years for quite a long time now (I still have the previously mentioned Rossi's), so I'd probably end up with both, with the Cobra getting little use once I got the King Cobra.