Smith or GP 100 tuned vs Python

Because it's largely a semi auto world out there. The slice of the pie which represents the revolver population is simply not that big. And I believe, someone confirm or correct me on this, that Colt revolvers cost a lot more at the time than S&W. So fewer of the revolver group was buying them. And combine that with big military orders for M16's and it's not much to wonder that they stopped making wheelguns.
 
BCRider said:
I'm afraid that I simply do not understand all this "hero worship" in regards to the Colt triggers. I've shot a couple of them and dry fired a couple I've seen in stores and did not find that they felt any nicer or better than a decent S&W trigger that has been treated to a Wolff spring kit and perhaps a touch of internal slicking up. Different yes, but I didn't really think that the Colt trigger was any much better. So I can't help but think that we've all been a little brainwashed by the reputation of the nearly unobtainable by stories passed on by those who's memories have given these guns a better reputation than they deserve.




Don't get me wrong. The Colt revolvers ARE GREAT GUNS! It's just that from those I've handled that they may not deserve quite as lofty a reputation as we've given them. So when I see Dan and some of the rest of you suggesting that the Colts are on a whole other level that is simply not reachable by a little work on a Smith I have to disagree. Certainly in stock form the Colt trigger wins out. But with a little work I'd put a Smith trigger alongside from my experience.

What I do find is that out of the options given the Ruger's little "click" that occurs when the cylinder stop is released bothers me. That's because it tell tales that the break point is about to occur and encourages the shooter to stage the trigger. And that's rarely a good thing for the shooter's accuracy in DA shooting.
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You are misunderstanding me, my fault, I should have been more clear. I said that nothing is comparable to a leaf sprung Colt, because nothing is. It feels completely different then other revolvers because the design is different. If you want to talk "better", that's a different conversation as far as I am concerned . Is a factory Python trigger "better" then a factory S&W trigger? In my opinion yes. Can you tune that S&W to have a better trigger? Sure, but it will never feel the same as the Python because the design is different. One stacks differently in DA mode then the other. And once you start talking tuned triggers, well if you can tune the Smith you can tune the Colt, and then the comparison changes again. In stock form, the Python feels better to most people because they had a lot more hand fitting done to their actions before they left the factory. It shows. I am not a fanatic colt guy. I own a few, but I own a lot more Smiths. One of the reasons is cost, the other is the fact that Pythons were only available in 38/357, which isnt my favorite caliber. Having said that, the single best DA trigger pull I have ever tried in my life was a Moran tuned Python, that thing was like glass. Doesn't make it the best in world, just the best I have tried. Your mileage may vary. - dan
 
BCRider said:
I'm afraid that I simply do not understand all this "hero worship" in regards to the Colt triggers. I've shot a couple of them and dry fired a couple I've seen in stores and did not find that they felt any nicer or better than a decent S&W trigger that has been treated to a Wolff spring kit and perhaps a touch of internal slicking up. Different yes, but I didn't really think that the Colt trigger was any much better. So I can't help but think that we've all been a little brainwashed by the reputation of the nearly unobtainable by stories passed on by those who's memories have given these guns a better reputation than they deserve.

Don't get me wrong. The Colt revolvers ARE GREAT GUNS! It's just that from those I've handled that they may not deserve quite as lofty a reputation as we've given them. So when I see Dan and some of the rest of you suggesting that the Colts are on a whole other level that is simply not reachable by a little work on a Smith I have to disagree. Certainly in stock form the Colt trigger wins out. But with a little work I'd put a Smith trigger alongside from my experience.

What I do find is that out of the options given the Ruger's little "click" that occurs when the cylinder stop is released bothers me. That's because it tell tales that the break point is about to occur and encourages the shooter to stage the trigger. And that's rarely a good thing for the shooter's accuracy in DA shooting.
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This. I've shot annaconda's and pythons. I will say the python was nice, at least as good as my M27, but the annaconda's DA was absolute crap. People like to talk like they are the last word in revolvers since they don't make them any more. As BC said, they're great guns, and deserve the rep for accuracy and the pythons generally do have a good trigger and DA but it's not any better then a tuned smith, and the 60's era smiths i own i prefer to the feel of the python. Plus the smith is a much more durable design for a lot of shooting.
 
wayupnorth said:
speaking of Colts.

why arnt they being made anymore?
seems strange to me that they stopped making them when everyone speaks so highly of them.
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they stopped making them for two reasons, 1) they where running out of workers with the skill to put them together, and 2) they cost so much to build, they couldn't charge enough to make it cost effective to keep selling them.
 
dan belisle said:
Polish up the trigger a bit to smooth off the rough edges, add a Wolff spring kit, it will have a very decent SA trigger, and the DA won't be atrocious either. - dan
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Thats what I do to some of my S&W like the 686 and M27. No need to send them out. Then I shoot them DA in ICORE matches - just nice.
 
dan belisle said:
Polish up the trigger a bit to smooth off the rough edges, add a Wolff spring kit, it will have a very decent SA trigger, and the DA won't be atrocious either. - dan
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Thanks Dan, that would be acceptable for me, I do like the fact that the GP 100 appears to be overbuilt, and if the trigger could be smoothed out, then polish the stainless version I would be happy.
However the right Smith would be quite similar and I would not likely wear it out as my Shadow will see the most work.
 
I find that the Smith triggers are consistent through the whole DA pull (squeeze really), while the Python stacks up a bit at the end. I prefer the Smith.

Auggie D.
 
BCRider said:
Because it's largely a semi auto world out there. The slice of the pie which represents the revolver population is simply not that big. And I believe, someone confirm or correct me on this, that Colt revolvers cost a lot more at the time than S&W. So fewer of the revolver group was buying them. And combine that with big military orders for M16's and it's not much to wonder that they stopped making wheelguns.
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Colt has no Military M16 or M4 contracts anymore, but does have a M240 and M249 contract (while FN got the M16 and M4A1).

Colt is making 1911's for the USMC - and the fact is, Colt has outsourced its custom shop now to Texas (I can't remember the place now).

The Python's are a gun of ages gone buy - beautiful handfitted guns, but they just don't do that anymore -- closest you can get in a factory wheel gun these days is a Smith Performance Center gun -- which are pricey in themselves, but something Smith still does.

No LE entity in the country is buying wheelguns anymore either - so it was a business Case Colt could not justify.
 
I have both, and I like both the triggers. My Python has a very very light trigger (maybe 2lbs) that has been slicked up, and the old M14 I had with a worked trigger was just as good. For me, they are just as good, but a little different in the feel.
 
Cocked&Locked said:
This. I've shot annaconda's and pythons. I will say the python was nice, at least as good as my M27, but the annaconda's DA was absolute crap. People like to talk like they are the last word in revolvers since they don't make them any more. As BC said, they're great guns, and deserve the rep for accuracy and the pythons generally do have a good trigger and DA but it's not any better then a tuned smith, and the 60's era smiths i own i prefer to the feel of the python. Plus the smith is a much more durable design for a lot of shooting.
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That's because the Anaconda is a variation of the Mk V action (which in turn is a modified Mk III action). Neither of which is the same design as the Python, neither of which has anywhere near the hand fitting, neither of which comes close to the feel of the Python. Just because it looks similar and was made by the same company does not make it the same gun.

And to the comment about the S&W have a straight through pull and the Python stacking towards the end of its pull, yes, that is how their designs work. - dan
 
Thanks Dan, i wasn't aware of that. I've never been a huge colt fan, i only have 2 or 3 of them. I have to admit, i do love my agent model and the new service in 455 ;)
 
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