The Legendary .357 Snake Revolver is Back in Blue!

Bruce DalyJanuary 25, 2024

490 6 minutes read

In the vastly diverse world of firearms, many would consider the original Colt Pythons as true relics. When Colt discontinued the original blued Pythons, they became collector’s items and the value skyrocketed. Some years later Colt decided to re-release the icon revolver in a 4.25-inch barrel and another 6-inch barreled version. Both were only offered in a beautiful stainless steel high-polished finished with really no changes to the revolver other than a bit more steel beneath the new rear adjustable target sight to give you a stronger revolver than the original and a much more robust shooting experience. Later, Colt released the 3-inch model as well, but still in the high-polished stainless steel finish. The iconic original collector’s models were blued, so it is only natural that Colt has updated the new version to be offered in blued 4.25-inch and 6-inch versions.

Blued Colt Python Details

I personally am a revolver fan, so I was very excited to get my hands on one of these beautiful, blued snake guns. I was sent a 4.25-inch version to play with and from the second I opened that blue, plastic case I was in love with this beauty. There is just something about a classic blued revolver that gets me excited. These new Pythons feature Walnut target stocks with a beautiful gold inlaid Colt medallion on either side. The forged carbon steel frame is blued and highly polished with a matte surface on the top rib.

The one-piece full lug, vented rib, carbon steel barrel features a recessed target crown with a user-interchangeable front sight with an orange insert for enhanced visibility and an adjustable rear target sight set into the same frame as the other newer Python versions. The high-polished, blued, fluted six-round cylinder is chambered for .357 Magnum and also accommodates .38 Special. The Colt is not only a looker but a shooter as well.

Trigger Time

On the range the wheel gun is a breeze to handle. I was able to maintain fantastic control of the revolver with both .357 Magnum loads and .38 Specials with ease. Shooting the gun with the double-action trigger I immediately noticed how smooth and easy the trigger is to handle. Normally with a revolver, the double-action trigger is very hard to squeeze and breaks at a very heavy pull weight. The Python is different. This trigger broke at an average of 6.5 pounds on my Wheeler Professional digital trigger gauge, which is crazy to me for a double-action revolver trigger. Not only does it break at about half the weight of most of my other revolvers in my safe, but it is the smoothest revolver trigger I have ever experienced.

When you cock the hammer back to run the Python as a single-action trigger the pull weight gets cut in half and breaks the second you just think about shooting it. Honestly, it is incredible. The cylinder release is a little hard to use because of the rounded shape, but it works fine once you get the hang of it and the angle right. Six rounds of .357 Magnum or .38 Special are easy to load into the cylinder, and spent brass is easy to unload with a simple press on the ejector rod. The cylinder also spins freely when open. It feels like it is running on ball bearings because it is so smooth.

Magnum Power

I ended up shooting indoors because of the lovely Michigan winter weather and the fact it was -15 degrees Fahrenheit with the windchill. So I was stuck with a single paper target out in front of me. The Python proved to be incredibly accurate on the range no matter what I threw at it. I was shooting Hornady Custom 357 Magnum 158-grain, Federal American Eagle 357 Magnum 158-grain, Remington UMC 357 Magnum 125-grain, Winchester 38 Special 130-grain, and Ammo, Inc 38 special 125-grain rounds with zero malfunctions and very little accuracy variance.

Shooting the .357 Magnum heavier loads definitely packs a bit more punch, but the gun never moved in my hands. I only saw my groupings open up a little tiny bit because of my own faults and my anticipation for recoil that for some reason I can never break shooting the longer double-action trigger pull on a revolver. Although this trigger is much better, I still found myself doing it. I saw my best groups out of the Ammo, Inc 125-grain 38 Special. That ammo just seemed to shoot very well through the blued Python, although it does have significantly less muzzle velocity than the other loads. My shooting was done single-action for the accuracy tests. There were no malfunctions of any kind. The Python chewed up and spit out anything I could throw at it.

Absolute Reliability

After about 150 rounds I started to get some hand fatigue though. Honestly, I don’t fault the gun for this. I was shooting with a broken thumb and most of my shooting was done cocking the hammer back for a single-action trigger. My next trip to the range, I was filming the video review of this beast and did a lot of mixed shooting between a single-action trigger and a double-action trigger. I again had zero malfunctions, and the gun just ran perfectly punching holes in paper every single time I sent a round downrange.

Colt’s new sight system on the Blued Python makes for very easy target acquisition, and I noticed I could really get back on target quicker thanks to the front ramp’s plastic orange insert. The orange really enhances visibility of the front blade and made it very easy to acquire my target and a solid sight picture every time. In all, I put around 400 rounds through the Python with zero issues. After I shot, I cleaned the Blued snake gun up to see how well the new finish held up. To my amazement, there was hardly even a scratch on the thing. It cleaned up very well and looked brand new again.

I will say, my OCD kicks in with how perfect the finish is on this revolver, and I can’t stop wiping the fingerprints off of it. The metal is flawless and because of Colt’s perfection, it really shows any oil, dirt, or fingerprints. I am kind of a freak when it comes to that stuff, so for me a good clean microfiber cloth in my range bag is very necessary when taking the new Python to the range. Butt the gun is so fun and nice to shoot that there is no way I am not going to dirty it up. With an MSRP of $1,599, this pistol should be on your radar. Check out the full line of snake guns at colt.com.

Blued Colt Python Specs

Capacity: 6 Rounds
Frame Material: Carbon Steel
Finish: Polished Blued
Barrel Technical: 1:14” LH, 6 Groove
Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 9.75 inches
Height: 5.5 inches
Overall Width: 1.55 inches
Front Sight: Orange Ramp (Interchangeable)
Rear Sight: Adjustable for Windage and Elevation
Trigger Action: Double & Single Action
Grip: Walnut Target Stocks
Unloaded Weight: 42 ounces
MSRP: $1,599

Ammo	Velocity
.38 Special
Ammo, INC 125-grain	947
Winchester White Box 130-grain	800
.357 Magnum
Remington UMC 125-grain	1,450
Hornady Cutsom 158-grain	1,250
Federal American Eagle 158-grain	1,240

On January 2, 2020, Ballistic reported:

The Legendary Colt Python in .357 Magnum Finally Returns!

Colt Python revolver, .357 Magnum, lead, updated — (Photo by Colt)

Since Colt announced the return of its Cobra revolver back in January 2017, shooters immediately began clamoring for an updated Colt Python. In January 2018, Colt announced another “snake” gun, but it was the King Cobra. Well, for 2019, shooters have finally gotten their wish: the Colt Python is back.

New Colt Python Details

As far as revolvers go, the Python is iconic. The double-action revolver originally debuted in 1955. The newly upgraded model is available in stainless steel and in both 4.25- and 6-inch barrel lengths. One of the improvements is the use of stronger stainless steel alloys. Also, the new Python features a redesigned rear sight that Colt says, “allows for a 30 percent increase in the cross-sectional area of the top strap”; that means there’s more steel beneath the rear adjustable target sight, for a stronger revolver and more robust shooting experience.

Then there’s the trigger, which was integral with the original Python. For the new model, Colt minimized the amount of parts in the trigger action; that simplifies the mechanism, which elevates reliability and allows for more straightforward maintenance.

Colt says its testing process included more than 40,000 trigger pulls on a single Python. The rigger pull scans showed lighter trigger pull weights, less friction, and increased consistency.

Additionally, Colt added a recessed target crown and a user-interchangeable front sight. Lastly, an updated Walnut grip makes the new Python very user-friendly. Colt chambered the DA revolver in .357 Magnum, but also accommodates 38 Special cartridges.

Python MSRP

“We took our time on R&D; we needed to be sure the look and performance of this redesign lived up to its legendary name and kept its impeccable reputation for quality and accuracy. This new Python lives up to the legend in every way,” Colt Product Director Justin Baldini told BallisticMag.com.

Last item we’re sure is on everyone’s mind is price. Both new Colt Python models have an MSRP of $1,499. For more information, please visit Colt.com.