The Python vs. the 586--a bit of history

"I've never been especially bothered by the weight of the gun so much as its size."

Bingo. It was the N frame's sheer size that so many found to be problematic. A small bit shaved off the grip area can make a BIG deal in the confines of a police car.
 
QUOTE Dunno about other brands, but HKS speed loaders for the Python don't work with a 586/686, or GP100..... or with the Security Six and Colt Troopers QUOTE

Just today, Jan. 6, I used two Python HKS speedloaders with a 586 and they worked just as well as those speedloaders marked 586.

Perhaps at the onset of the 586, the Python speedloader was dimensionally a bit smaller but with the popularity of the 586, HKS just made them all the same.


So to repeat, the Python HKSes I have today work perfectly and fit perfectly the 586 cylinder.
 
The L-frame came in at the tail end of service revolver, and I doubt many dept's ever carried it all that much, but IMHO it was the best of the breed.

I bought my first one, shortly after they came out. I was getting into NRA Hunter Silhouette, and bought a 6 inch blued 586. I also about the same time started shooting IPSC not having the money to buy a good 1911, I shot the revolver division with the L-Frame. As far as a basic stock .357 revolver goes it had no pier in competition.

The smaller K-frames had too much recoil, and the N-frame .357's have a higher bore axis and for me anyway have a harder kick. The L-frame was controllable And won a lot with it. But later I did go to the Smith and Wesson 25-2 in 45 ACP with full moon clips, because I could reload it a little quicker.

I had a customized 3 inch L-frame that was fantastic, and probably the smoothest revolver I ever had, and I carried it for CCW for a while but quickly found out that it really was too much weight and bulk for me pack, but it served as a pickup gun for several years.

I shot everyone's revolver back in those days, and I never had any use for the Colt Python or Trooper because the triggers were never as good as a Smith IMHO. And I can't remember a single shooter using one in IPSC, however If I had realized how stupid high they were to become, I would have started a retirement program by buying mint Pythons back in the 80's
 
If I had realized how stupid high they were to become, I would have started a retirement program by buying mint Pythons back in the 80's
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If you had that kind of foresight, you'd have bought racks of M16's prioe to 1986 .....
 
Users of the 586/686 included California Highway Patrol, Oregon State Police, Texas Department of Public Safety, Sacramento, Calif., PD, Santa Ana County Sheriff's Dept., and Santa Clara County Sheriff's Dept.

Pennsylvania State Police supposedly issued a few as test guns, but later chose Ruger revolvers.
 
As a note to police department use of Magnum revolvers, most users of the .357 Magnum revolvers were county sheriff's departments and state police. Here in my area, at least, urban police departments were reluctant to adopt Magnums as a matter of public safety. Their fears were of over-penetration and/or wild shots endangering bystanders.

When Memphis Police adopted a .38 Special cartridge loaded with a lead semi-wadcutter bullet, a newspaper article was published showing how the bullet had less tendency ricochet and tended to "skid" along asphalt streets.

Bob Wright
 
Here in my area, at least, urban police departments were reluctant to adopt Magnums as a matter of public safety.
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And thus were born .38 spl +P+ loads. The label is what's important, performance be damned. :)
 
KyJim stated:

And thus were born .38 spl +P+ loads. The label is what's important, performance be damned.
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I have never encountered +P+ ammunition. But +P .38 Specials were designed to give near .357 Magnum performance in shorter barreled revovlers. These guns had shortened extractor throws and often failed to eject full length .357 Magnum cases. the shorter .38 Special case provided more positive ejection.

Bob Wright
 
HankB- Colt OWNED competitive revolver matches from the 1920s through the 1960s. Pythons were a little pricey for most guns to use as working guns at the range. Doesn't mean they don't shoot. In recent years S&W heavily sponsored match shooters so no wonder S&Ws now rule. They pay shooters to use them.

Dismiss aesthetics if you will. Apparently you don't need a pretty gun. Fine. Go buy a Ruger DA and be happy.
 
^^^^
Sometimes I see much higher prices too. Everything worth as much as somebody is willing to pay for it.
Cruising the net there are much more "interesting" prices, such as $ 6,000, or even more like $10,500.The only thing too expensive is the one you can't afford. For a millionaire it's cheep. Some of them are the price of a car.
Even I can buy it, the bank gives me loan all I want, all I have to do is to prove, that I don't need it.:D

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Co...c5088e762-6188C523-90B1-1C33-4613FD011DBA5ED7

http://www.gunsinternational.com/CO...c5088e762-6188C523-90B1-1C33-4613FD011DBA5ED7

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Co...fa9153647-628E29C3-90B1-1C33-46139214846BB45A

http://www.gunsinternational.com/CO...fa9153647-628E29C3-90B1-1C33-46139214846BB45A
 
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I have never encountered +P+ ammunition. But +P .38 Specials were designed to give near .357 Magnum performance in shorter barreled revovlers. These guns had shortened extractor throws and often failed to eject full length .357 Magnum cases. the shorter .38 Special case provided more positive ejection.
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I don't think the +P+ has ever been common. As I understand it, it was originally loaded for police agencies who wanted .357 magnum performance with a politically correct .38 spl caliber.

Demand for a .38 cartridge with even greater performance for law enforcement led to the introduction of the +P+ .38 Special cartridge, first introduced by Federal and Winchester. Originally labeled "For Law Enforcement Only", +P+ ammunition is intended for heavier-duty .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers, as the increased pressure levels can result in accelerated wear and significant damage to firearms rated for lower-pressure .38 Special loadings (as with other .38 Special loadings, the .38 Special +P+ can also be fired safely in .357 revolvers).
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Special
 
Not accurate to say that it means absolutely nothing, but what it does mean is that it is NOT built to any known or agreed-upon standard.

+P+ .38 Special loads that I have had and shot (as recently as late fall, just a couple of months ago) were -much- closer in fire, brimstone and recoil feel as a light bullet .357 Magnum load. These were Federal .38 Special +P+, 110gr JHP.

Very obvious from the packaging that it was an early-to-mid 1980's product, boldly marked "For Law Enforcement Only"
 
My cousin retired from the Secrete Service and would get ammo to practice with his issue M19. Most of it was 110gr +P+ 38Spl, I don't think this was just a marketing ploy back then.
 
At a gun show about 8 years ago and my friend bought a quantity of the 110 grain +P+. As I recall from an article that was the Secret Services official round for a while in the Model 19s.

Also the Illinois State Police when it still used 9 mm got Winchester to produce +P+ loads. Reportedly it worked very well out on the street.
 
586 vs. phython

Here is my opion and take it or leave it. I love both revolvers and own both and these are my obsevations. The colt has asilky smoth trigger and fit and finish on the phython is the best. The smijth I feelbis easier to shoot double action. Colt has somestaging twords the end. Weight about same on both. Both seem to balance very nice. Sith eaiser to wrk on and finding a good col man is it getting harder to find. Colts lockbwork is complicated smith simple.sights I thhink are better on a smith. Single action pull is a wash both excellant. I love them both but think the smith is more practical. Both shoot lights.python is the best looking revolver of all time.Doesnt help doesit.shoot what uou like.
 
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