Got out to the range for about an hour with 100 rounds of miscellaneous .357 Magnum and .38 Special. Figured I would try a little of both and see which I liked better in the gun.
Until new grips are gotten, the Python will remain a .38 or a .38 +p revolver. The cosmetically gorgeous Colt service stocks are not comfortable when shooting .357 magnum. I couldn't get a satisfactory hand hold, my knuckles kept hitting the back of the trigger guard and the gun (at a portly 40 ounces) fell like it was going to come out of my hand. This is both the fault of the gun AND myself, as it's been a little while since I shot any .357 in a 2.5 inch barreled gun. For the last year, I've been pretty much shooting 9mm pistols. It goes without saying that a 9mm pistol and a .357 Python are not cut from the same cloth.
This is going to be a shooter and also an occasional carry gun. Pachmayr or Hogue grips are both being considered. I don't care about the gun being pretty, I care that it works.
That brings me to .38 Special (and +P). The snubby Python eats it like it's candy. Once I got the sight picture just right, I was putting shots right on top of each other. This is not a long distance gun, so I was shooting at between 7-10 yards. 125 grain copper jacket. 158 grain lead round nose. 148 grain wadcutters. Factory ammo. Reloads. It didn't matter. This gun shot them all.
The action is everything you would expect. It's different than my vintage Smiths, but I can't say it's necessarily better. What is impressive is there is absolutely no slop. The lockup is the best I have felt in any gun.
Is it worth the money? Time will tell. I'll report back when I put different grips on it.
Until new grips are gotten, the Python will remain a .38 or a .38 +p revolver. The cosmetically gorgeous Colt service stocks are not comfortable when shooting .357 magnum. I couldn't get a satisfactory hand hold, my knuckles kept hitting the back of the trigger guard and the gun (at a portly 40 ounces) fell like it was going to come out of my hand. This is both the fault of the gun AND myself, as it's been a little while since I shot any .357 in a 2.5 inch barreled gun. For the last year, I've been pretty much shooting 9mm pistols. It goes without saying that a 9mm pistol and a .357 Python are not cut from the same cloth.
This is going to be a shooter and also an occasional carry gun. Pachmayr or Hogue grips are both being considered. I don't care about the gun being pretty, I care that it works.
That brings me to .38 Special (and +P). The snubby Python eats it like it's candy. Once I got the sight picture just right, I was putting shots right on top of each other. This is not a long distance gun, so I was shooting at between 7-10 yards. 125 grain copper jacket. 158 grain lead round nose. 148 grain wadcutters. Factory ammo. Reloads. It didn't matter. This gun shot them all.
The action is everything you would expect. It's different than my vintage Smiths, but I can't say it's necessarily better. What is impressive is there is absolutely no slop. The lockup is the best I have felt in any gun.
Is it worth the money? Time will tell. I'll report back when I put different grips on it.
