Revolver trigger feel comparo

[savasyn]

I just brought home a 1974 Colt Python 4" this week. I've wanted one of these things for as long as I can remember and now I have one

Anyway, I'd read page after page about how amazing the trigger pull is on the Python so I was really looking forward to trying it out. When I got it home, I loaded it up with A-Zoom snap caps and began some DA dry fire testing. My first impression was that it was a heavier trigger pull than I expected. I then switched to single action and was rewarded with the cleanest, lightest trigger break I think I've ever felt.

So back to double action...
For an apples to apples comparison, I pulled out my 1954 Official Police .38. I found the DA pull on the OP to be lighter and smoother than on the Python. Then, to try something completely different, I pulled out my S&W 686-4. This one has the cleanest, most linear DA pull of the bunch. I believe the term I've heard used before to describe Colt triggers is "stacking". Where the weight get heavier the further back you pull before it breaks. This is my experience of it. The S&W has a constant, clean pull all the way back and feels lighter than the Python, too. Neither the S&W or the OP are as crisp and clean in SA, though.

The person I bought the Python from said that it only had between 2-300 rounds through it. Is it possible that it's just not even broken in yet? I don't plan on doing a ton of shooting with it, so if that's the case, I may never get to know how good it could be.

Any thoughts on this? Personal experiences to share? I am not wise in the ways of revolvers, especially classic ones like these. I enjoy having them and occasionally shooting them but don't, by any means, have a great knowledge of them.

Thanks!

[dfletcher]

I have all sorts of Colts and Smiths, some relatively new and some old. A very general statement to make, but Colts tend to have a long, smooth and progressively heavier DA trigger pull whereas Smiths tend to have a shorter and not as smooth, but crisper DA pull.

Personally I'd say the Smith has a better SA pull also.

[saki302]

Yep- I tell folks and they don't believe me. I have a 4" 1970's Python, and almost any out-of-the-box S&W has a much better DA trigger. It's just the nature of the design. You can still shoot quite well with it with practice.

The Python is still the best LOOKING revolver ever made, IMO, which is why I bought mine- to stare at it. The S&W gets shot and abused

If you really want, there are gunsmiths out there who can substantially lighten and smoothen the Python trigger- but it's a pro-only job. I've done dozens of S&W trigger jobs, but won't touch my Python.

-Dave

[BigRich]

A Python can be substantially improved by Cylinder & Slide. I sent my old 6 inch (1970s vintage) and had a master tune done to it. It will still reliably bust magnum caps and it is dramatically improved. Double action is around 9 lbs with just a hint of stacking. Single action is right at 2.5 lbs. That being said, I have tuned many Smith revolvers to better DA/SA pulls. I agree that the design itself is one of the limitations. Colt used to advertise it's hand fitted actions. That was necessary. Just pick up a 1917 and crank it. That's why they needed to hand fit and polish the Python. I've looked inside my Colt revolvers and have no stomach for trying to keep track of all the timing points that have to be met. They ARE very pretty to look at. They are also fairly fragile actions. Back in the old PPC days the Python has popular and the guys that shot them ran three guns; the one they were shooting, the one in reserve and the one at the gunsmith being retimed.

[chickenfried]

I feel the same way when comparing python and smith triggers. I guess there's a reason why people would go to the trouble of putting together a smolt.