Colt experts: How'd I do?
Until now the only Colt in my stable has been a Series 70 1911. Today I was at the gun shop and saw a Colt revolver on the back counter, it hadn't been put up for sale. I asked about it and the sales guy put the 8" 357 Python into my eager mitts. It was in great shape from what I could tell but the blue finish was a bit scuffed and had some scratches, the person who brought it in dragged it around in a paper bag! The store owner told me he was contemplating having it refinished before putting it up for sale, but if I wanted it, it would be $600 out the door. Sounded pretty fair to me--I can send it back in for refinishing and trigger smoothing after giving the cylinder some spins at the range.
I was thinking hard chrome and maybe a scope/red dot. Any suggestions that way would be appreciated.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
I was thinking hard chrome and maybe a scope/red dot. Any suggestions that way would be appreciated.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
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It has been my experience that the 8 inch Colt revolvers are quite slow to sell. Not sure why this is. If you are into hand gun hunting, you can't beat an 8 inch barrel! Maybe its because its a .357 caliber. Anyway, given the fact this gun apparently has a genuine need for a new finish, you may find that just hanging onto it as it is will retain its value. If you fully intend on keeping it "forever," you might re-finish it, but here's the pro's and cons.
Paying $600 for it leaves you with the possibility the gun might be good enough to retain this value or even appreciate a little over time. By refinishing the gun, you will cause the original value to literally "plunge." I would estimate that you would lose at least a couple hundred dollars just by re-finishing it. This money would be gone because the gun will always be one that is "re-finished."
To re-finish, add a super scope, sight it in, and enjoy what will probably be a "tack driver" with a "Custom" look will certainly make you feel good when you bag that 8 or 10 point Buck! These guns make great Deer Hunters and all the small game under a deer up to about 100 yards. You will need to sharpen you shooting skill to make your shots highly accurate if you want this type of range. But, you will definitely enjoy the process and the success! Hunting with a .357 mag is a real thrill......my opinion! Good Luck and Enjoy! Glad you found a gun you wanted! You can certainly do worse than this gun!
Fish Shudder at the sound of my Name!0 -
Actually I've seen many guns whose finish makes this one look great;it's just that this one doesn't look so spiffy because of the marks and frankly I prefer chrome/stainless. I care about appearance, but it's not the be all of my concern. I'm not worried about its market value; I buy guns to use. In this case, it'll be target first and possibly hunting later when I'm ready (and find a place to shoot out to 100 yards).
If I add a sight, would I better with a scope or a red dot. Red dots are usually fine for target use but I don't know how they are for hunting.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
RP makes good points. Why not trade the Colt on what you want instead of refinishing the old Colt? If you are willing to destroy the remaining original finish, why not just accept the finish the way it is and use the gun as is? I assume you will be using a "no drill" scope mount. 0 -
Colt made the Python for many years. I noticed you have the 8" bbl. They did for a short period of time make a .38 spl version that does not shoot magnums, but only in the 8". I hope you got the .357 magnum version as the .38spl would not be suitable for med game such as deer. 0 -
I do not want to buy this gun to trade it in later. That sort of thing never works out for me. I wanted a Colt in 357 and this is one of a couple that rings my chimes so I am happy with what I'm getting. I'm going to shoot it first before making any decsions and am not in a rush to have it refinished. I figure my projected enhamcements would make it more appealing and useable to me and still be much less than a new Python. The trigger job is the only thing I know for sure that I will have done.
Still would like to know about scope versus red dot use for hunting on this one.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
I have 2 Pythons. They both have excellant trigger pulls (2.5 to 3lbs) from the factory. 0 -
Well I guess that some people didn't quite read what I wrote. So let's try this:
1. It's in great shape except for some scuffs and scratches. It's hardly a clunker and it doesn't have to be refinished--I might refinish it to suit my preference. Unless you are talking a custom Python Elite, a Python is still a top model.
2. I think the price is fair for a high quality 357 mag with a long barrel. Someone always will pay less for a gun than I do. Prices on this forum seem to have as much stability as the stock market.
3. Unlike some people, I take a certain pleasure in rejuvenating an "ugly duckling". My Colt 1911 was nothing very special until I had it worked over. It's still not a show piece and there's one last bit of refinement on my list, but it shoots superbly.
4. I like the trigger on the Python, but I know what a Python Elite trigger feels like so a bit of smoothing is the basis for my customizing it.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
Edited by - mballai on 11/08/2002 19:38:100 -
Among the magazines I have for sale is one dated 1980 that has a four page article on the 8" Python which at that time was not yet on dealers's shelves. If your interested get in touch
flusher2@aol.com0 -
re: your question as to red dpt or scope for hunting, if those are your only choices, go for a good EER 2X scope. My suggestion would be to keep it in iron sights however. As a .357, it is marginal for deer and, in my book, unacceptable over about 50 yards. Leaving it in iron sights will preserve the advantage of quick sight/target alignment while using the maximum range the caliber allows.
Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis0 -
SaxonPig
I just thought that the response was more of a subtle put down. And that follow up pretty much says it as well.
We don't see 8" Pythons at all around here--just not a question of price.
Shootist3006
Good idea on staying with iron sights. Certainly will see if I can shoot well enough without them--long enough barrel to start with!
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