Colt Python Blued Revolver Review [Hands-On Tested]
In this article, we take a hands-on look at the new blued Colt Python to see how it stacks up against the competition.
PPT Editor. NRA & USCCA instructor. Hunter, former competitive shooter, collector (200+ firearms)
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Colt Python Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gorgeous aesthetics
- Excellent balance
- Pleasant recoil impulse
Cons
- Mediocre trigger
- Required point of aim is low
Few gun companies in the world have as much name recognition and lasting influence as Colt does.
Guns like the Single Action Army and the 1911 helped define firearms design for decades to come. Among their iconic lineup is the ever-popular Python revolver.
Colt announced the re-introduction of the coveted blued Python at SHOT Show in 2024. All it took was one look, and we made the call to get our hands on one for testing.
If you want to see how it stacks up in today’s market, keep reading!
Table of Contents
How We Tested the Colt Python
For this review, we ran 500 rounds through this revolver -- 250 rounds of Magtech 158 grain FMJ .38 Special and 250 rounds of S&B 158 gr FMJ .357 Magnum. Accuracy testing was conducted at distances between 7 and 25 yards.
We also measured the trigger using a Dvorak TriggerScan machine to get a precise trigger pull measurement.
Testing these guns was Wyatt Sloan, an avid shooter and firearm collector. He has over 230 firearms (numerous revolvers included), and his experience includes over 20 years of hunting, a decade of competition, certified instructing, and plenty of time concealed carrying.
Colt Python Blued 6" Specs & Features
Specs
- Caliber: .357 Magnum
- Action: Double-action
- Capacity: 6 rounds
- Barrel length: 6"
- Overall length: 11.5"
- Width: 1.55"
- Height: 5.5"
- Weight: 46 oz
Features
- Walnut grips with Colt medallion
- Vent rib barrel with full underlug
- Fully adjustable rear sight, red ramped front sight
Background
With Samuel Colt’s original patents dating back to 1835 and the company itself being founded in 1855, the history behind Colt is long and storied.
Colt set out to make a premium .357 Magnum revolver, which led to the release of the Python in 1955. These revolvers were in production until their discontinuation in 2005.
However, due to the Python’s popularity in both media and the gun community, the gun was redesigned and reintroduced in 2020 to meet consumer demand.
Who Is It For?
To put it plainly, the Python is for those who are looking for a drop-dead gorgeous revolver with a name and reputation to match.
While these revolvers can certainly be flexed into defensive or woods carry roles, they better fill the roles of range guns, conversational pieces, collector’s items, or BBQ guns.
Ergonomics: Fit & Feel
The first thing you notice when you pick up a Python is how awesome these guns feel in the hand.
Colt offers the blued Pythons in 4.25-inch and 6-inch barrel lengths. I opted for the classic 6-inch, which provides an excellent sight radius while offering superb heft and balance --this is how revolvers should feel in the hand.
While the bluing isn’t quite as deep and lustrous as the Pythons of old, it still looks outstanding and is evenly applied with good depth.
The classic-style checkered walnut grips with the Colt medallion are nice. These are both functional and look great. I found them neither too big nor too small for my medium-sized hands.
Cylinder lockup feels good, as do the internal mechanics when actuating the hammer and trigger. Whereas some revolvers feel finicky, the Python is solid from tip to butt.
A nice fully adjustable rear sight adorns the back, with an easy-to-see red-ramped front sight up front. The trigger is serrated but hardly radiused on the edges, which may cause discomfort to some (more on this later).
How Does It Shoot?
As mentioned earlier, the heft and balance of the 6-inch version are excellent. This means shooting .38 Special is ultra-pleasant. While the .357 Magnum is definitely stouter, the gun manages it well, and it was never uncomfortable in the recoil department.
The mechanical accuracy of the Python was good, and it was on par with guns like my Ruger GP100 and a hair behind my Smith & Wesson 686 — no complaints about the groupings at all.
Reliability was also 100%, as you’d come to expect from a high-quality revolver.
However, this is where things start to come apart for me a little bit.
For starters, this gun prints high. Even with the rear sight bottomed out, I had to use a very healthy six o’clock hold to hit where I wanted to at seven yards with .38 Special. To hit the center of the X-ring on a standard B-27, I was holding closer to the bottom of the 10-ring.
The S&B .357 Magnum printed much closer to the point of aim but was still slightly high at 7 yards. As I moved the targets out to 10, 15 yards, and beyond, it became more noticeable.
Colt completely redesigned and simplified the trigger system for the 2020 Python, greatly reducing the complexity and number of moving parts. They don’t outright advertise a trigger pull weight, but they do say it should fall between a certain range.
This means that each Python may vary by a not-insignificant amount in how the trigger feels. I put the gun on a Dvorak TriggerScan machine to get an advanced data readout on the trigger pull. The graphs below show a single-action pull of 5.8 lbs and a double-action pull of 9.4 lbs.
Here is the readout from a bone-stock Smith & Wesson Model 14 for comparison.
I would describe the trigger pull on this particular Python as consistent but “average.” This is not your father’s hand-tuned Python trigger.
There is also some stacking near the end of the trigger pull, as you can see on the graph. That stacking, combined with the very square edge of the trigger, actually ended up giving me some discomfort on my trigger finger after longer strings of shooting. A radiused or wider trigger would do wonders here
I also noted that two of the chambers seemed to be a little more reluctant to eject spent casings, but they did start to loosen up as testing went on.
All-in-all, the recoil impulse and accuracy are great, but an average trigger and required six o’clock hold mean it takes notably more concentration to shoot this gun as well as my other revolvers.
Why Is the Colt Python Unique?
Jeff Cooper said the Python was the finest revolver ever made. It has been in the hands of numerous fictional characters such as Rick Grimes, Gordon Freeman, Tommy Vercetti, and many more due to its sheer screen presence.
It feels good, looks good, and prints well — an attractive combination for an attractive gun. Sure, there may be better value revolvers out there, but its distinctive vent-rib barrel and iconic prancing pony logo beat everything out in cool factor.
By the Numbers
Accuracy: 4/5
Mechanical accuracy on the Python was solid and repeatable. Practical accuracy is somewhat hindered by the trigger and sights.
Reliability: 4.5/5
Every round went bang, and there were zero timing or lockup issues. I deducted half a point here because two of the chambers were hard to eject the brass from.
Customization: 3.5/5
Various grips and sights are available. Some Picatinny rail adapters are also on the market. However, it is still a revolver at the end of the day and needs very little in the way of modification.
Ergonomics: 4/5
The gun is extremely well balanced and the cylinder release is easy to actuate. The grips are comfortable, but the trigger is far too uncomfortable for me.
Value: 3.5/5
A street price of around $1,400-1,600 makes the Python harder to justify over competing guns like the S&W 586 at $900. That being said, many who want a Python want a Python only - nothing else.
Overall: 3.5/5
Accessories for the Colt Python
Speedloaders are a must-have if you plan on a longer shooting session. Loading rounds one by one is cool for all of about two times before it gets tedious.
Whether you want to feel like the main character in a TV show or just show off your gun at the BBQ, a leather holster is the way to go for these beauties.
Electronic ear-pro will save you from the blast of .357 Magnum while also letting you talk to anyone who is coming up to ask about your Python (trust me, it will happen).
Final Verdict
From a pure shooting perspective, the Python isn’t quite the revolver for me. Minor tweaks to the trigger geometry and the sight height would catapult this gun into must-have territory.
However, it is still a solid shooter and has such a vibe that I seriously contemplated for a good two or three weeks whether I should purchase it or not. I can’t help but want to hold it and look at it anytime it is near, and for many people, that is what the Python is truly about.
What are your thoughts on the new Python? Let us know in the comments below! Interested in wheel guns in general? Check out our article on the Best .357 Magnum Revolvers!