Colt Python vs. Ruger GP100

longbeachguy

longbeachguy

Joined
Oct 11, 2005
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2,533
Okay, I'm not a gun guy so highly technical arguements will be over my head. However, I like to shoot, and I tend to prefer more traditional as opposed to ultra-modern style firearms. To give you an idea, the guns I currently own are as follows: a Winchester lever action carbine in .45 LC, a Cimmaron SAA in .45 LC, a Stoeger 12 guage coach gun, a Mossberg pump action 12 guage shotgun, a Ruger GP100 in .357 mag, and a Ruger SP101 in .357 mag.

I'm posting this on Blade Forums because frankly I'd be embarrassed to post it on a gun forum.

In any case, here's my question: I lust after a Colt Python. Is it worth investing in one considering I already have a Ruger GP100? If I did get the Python I'd give the Ruger to my Dad.

I guess my question can be boiled down to this: For the casual gun owner, is the Python sufficiently superior to the GP100 to justify buying it if you already have the GP100?

I realize this question may be viewed as lame to serious gun enthusiasts, but I'd be interested in your thoughts. There's nothing practical involved here at all, it's purely a matter of whether a Python would be cool and fun enough to justify the expense.

Thanks.
 
Far be it from me to talk someone out of buying another firearm, but it's not worth it from a user's standpoint. I am a user, and not a collector. I love Pythons, but I would take a GP out in the field and actually use it more than the Python because they are basically indestructible and worry free. Pythons tend to be a bit more fragile (the Ruger is in a class of its own) and I would hate to scratch or ding one up. The tight fit up that Pythons are famous for of can also be a pain sometimes. I have an old Colt Officer's Model Match .22LR revolver and if you shoot cheap ammo the cylinder stops turning after about 20 rounds.

Mind you, this is just my opinion, and if you have the money laying around or find a deal, jump on it! :thumbup:
 
You know what, that's just what I needed to hear. Thanks very much. I'll spend my money on knives!
 
other than the python having a better trigger i dont know of anyway its really superior to ruger or S&W stuff, i have one i got back in the late '70s, a 6" bbl blued, and its a great gun, albeit an expensive gun, i also have a S&W 586 6" bbl thats had some trigger work and it will do anything the python will, at half the price including the trigger work.

i've heard it said that pythons were overpriced and i cant argue that, but i like colt revolvers and at the time i had to have one, of course back then it was ~$125 too lol, a little higher these days.

if i was happy with my ruger i would probably get something other than a python.

the guy who turned me on to handloading used a 6" bbl SS python for all his deer hunting back in the late '60s, iron sites, he killed a lot of deer with that pistol FWIW.
 
SIFU1A said:
other than the python having a better trigger i dont know of anyway its really superior to ruger or S&W stuff, i have one i got back in the late '70s, a 6" bbl blued, and its a great gun, albeit an expensive gun, i also have a S&W 586 6" bbl thats had some trigger work and it will do anything the python will, at half the price including the trigger work.

i've heard it said that pythons were overpriced and i cant argue that, but i like colt revolvers and at the time i had to have one, of course back then it was ~$125 too lol, a little higher these days.

if i was happy with my ruger i would probably get something other than a python.

the guy who turned me on to handloading used a 6" bbl SS python for all his deer hunting back in the late '60s, iron sites, he killed a lot of deer with that pistol FWIW.
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Thanks dude. Kind of reinforces what I was already thinking. I think I'll turn my attention to custom knives instead.

Thanks again,

Jim
 
I have both the Python (a 1980 4"), and a 686 (no dash-also 4"). Other than the fit and finish of the Colt, I actually prefer the Smith. I don't like the "feel" of the Colt. I guess it's just from shooting Smiths for 40 years. All the Pythons I've seen at gun shows are in the $ 1000 range, and overpriced. Go with the Ruger, a used Smith, and buy a fixed blade from Burt Foster! You won't be sorry. Bill
 
I'd have said the same! Ruger's are great users, Pythons look great on shelves.

If you've got that settled and don't mind the hijack, how do you like your SP101 in .357? I've really been thinking of getting the 3" model of that for a new woods gun, and a bit of concealed carry.

Sadly no shops around have them in stock for me to handle. Is the grip pretty 'full'? (I hate snubby-type grips, where you can't even get all your fingers on board.)
 
When it comes to pistols I have, over the years, owned all the usual suspects ... Colt, S&W, Browning, Glock, Ruger, Baretta, Desert Eagle ... and have had oppertunities to shoot others.

What I own now ... in other words what I have chosen NOT to sell or trade away ... are the Browning Hi-Power and the Colt Python. The other manufactures make fine weapons ... I am not taking anything away from them ... but Colt and the Browning have been the most reliable for me.

I am not sure how anyone would consider a Python" to be "fragile". If you have the spare cash and are lusting after one then my advice is to go get it.

My $.02
 
The only problem with the Pythons is they often will have crane problems when fed a steady diet of full house 357 loads. Rugers and Smiths have much stronger locking systems for the cylinder. If you plan on shooting a lot with full loads then I would lean towards the latter two rather than a Colt. Despite my personal feeling about the Ruger company, your GP100 will do anything a Colt will.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I'd have said the same! Ruger's are great users, Pythons look great on shelves.

If you've got that settled and don't mind the hijack, how do you like your SP101 in .357? I've really been thinking of getting the 3" model of that for a new woods gun, and a bit of concealed carry.

Sadly no shops around have them in stock for me to handle. Is the grip pretty 'full'? (I hate snubby-type grips, where you can't even get all your fingers on board.)
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Well I do have fairly small hands (for someone who's 6'1, 230 lbs.) but I think the SP101 is my favorite handgun of the three I own. It fits my hand very well, and it's remarkably accurate considering it has a 2" barrell and a fixed site. It's very forgiving with hot .357 loads considering it's small size. However that said I prefer to shoot .38 sp with it.

I'm a big fan of the SP101.
 
keep the ruger, buy more knives!!!

the python is a wonderful gun, but as already said, at the prices they now command, you wont want to shoot it much.

i dont think any company can match ruger when it comes to toughness and durability.
 
Back when I started in police work, no one carried an auto; it was all revolvers. There were Colt guys, and there were Smith & Wesson guys. (really, that was about it. Many departments specified that you could have one or the other, but nothing else)

If you went to the target matches, the old "Practical Police Course", you would find two types of shooters among the high-scorers. The Python shooters, and the Smith & Wesson K38 shooters. The K38 was the K-frame target model with the long barrel, good sights, and deluxe finish.
The Colt guys would go on and on about the wonderful trigger action on their weapons.
The S&W guys would take theirs to a competent pistolsmith and have the action "tuned".

The Colt has a (probably deserved) reputation for fragility in hard use. The lock mechanism is much more complex than the Smith. For target shooting, no problem.
 
Mwerner, you are correct. You wouldn't believe the griping I once heard when I got permission to experimentally carry a Ruger Service Six for evaluation. Not Colt or S&W, therefore couldn't be any good, etc.. [They were wrong, but it all became moot when the auto switchover suddenly happened.]

The old Colts used a totally different spring arrangement than either the Smiths or the Ruger. This translated into a totally different feel to the trigger pull. Colt themselves added to the pull issues by adapting (copying?) coil springs as a mainspring back in the 70s. [The coil springs they used had a horrible pull.] Python was (if memory serves) immune to the change and kept the old leaf spring (don't know if they still have the leaf or did they switch too?). In any case, year of manufacture is everything with Colt products. Colt, back in the 60s decided the future for Colt was stampings and M-16s. The police and sporting markets were therefore irrelevant compared to the big military sales. Consequently when a bean counter entered the picture at union contract renewal time Colt forcibly retired many of their 2nd or 3rd generation craftsmen and looked for cheaper ways of doing things. From about 67 on everything suffered as quality fell. The Python line quality began falling around the late 70s to early 80s. I have heard Colt responded to those complaints, but haven't had a post 90 Python to compare with yet. Generally speaking, take apart a Colt revolver made in the 30s and 'everything' is polished and hand fit. Take apart one made in the 80s on and hardly anything is polished or fit. The bluing is different too as economy, safety and EPA concerns forced changes. Before the change over, if it wasn't perfect, if every part wasn't perfect, it didn't get out the door. Those days are long gone. If you get the chance to get a Python made around 68 or 69 in good condition, then grab it. That being said, old Colts are fragile compared to Rugers. The mechanical linkages are much more complex with more places for something to go wrong. Good Colt revolver repairmen are becoming much harder to find. Colt used to have an actual school every Colt certified revolver smith had to attend and pass. You won't find that Colt warranty repair sign in many gun shop windows these days. [I miss Marwyn's and Frelich's. I have a first year production New Service I would send them for a tune up if they still existed..] Finding a good shop to work on older Colt's is hard as much of the knowledge (and the parts) no longer exist..
 
GEL99 said:
What I own now ... in other words what I have chosen NOT to sell or trade away ... are the Browning Hi-Power and the Colt Python. The other manufactures make fine weapons ... I am not taking anything away from them ... but Colt and the Browning have been the most reliable for me.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more - own both the Hi-Power (Belgium made) and the Python. Shoot both quite a bit and am not afraid to use either. Also the two guns I would save first if the house were on fire!!!!
 
I've owned at-least 3 of each in different forms, and if I could only choose one, it would be the GP-100 over the Python.
 
I am a smith man my wife a ruger girl. Never saw the justification of higher price in colts. Yes fit and finish are better, but a revolver is to used not placed on the wall. 686 is a fine 357 GP100 another top pick. Wife has a sp101 and loves it! I am glad to see people returning to classics. I love my 92 but trust my 686 more!
 
I have lusted for a nice Colt Python since I was 17. That being said if I wanted a workhorse that would actually get used I would go with a GP100. Its a great revolver, brutally tough, and can get a decent trigger with a bit of work.
Always wanted a Dan Wesson too;-) That itch IM gonna scratch though soon.
 
I have 6" Python that was worked on by Reeves Jungkind. If you're not familiar with the name, he only worked on Pythons and is now retired.
This is a great shooter and my wife's favorite with 38 spcl.

That being said, if I were buying a shooter/carry it would be a 686. A friend has that gun and it's really fun to shoot. And priced right!

Win
 
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