OK so I'm basically a revolver guy. I do own and love a few autos, but I really prefer to just shoot a revolver. My idea of relaxation is to just set up a target at 50 yards and do some nice old NRA Bullseye slowfire. .38 special wad cutters, .44 Special soft loads, .45ACP softies, does it get any better? Relaxing, de-stressing, just nice. I'm sort of "known" at my club as the old guy who shoots a revolver with 1 hand.
Now it just seems to have worked out that I'm also a S&W guy. All the revolvers I own are Smiths. Not that I disliked Colts, as a kid I remember reading all about the various "old" Colts, and even the newer ones in the 80s and 90s, before Colt sort of gave up and went away And even though I always dreamed of owning a Python, it just never happened. They were always expensive, and now the market is just nuts. So it just worked out that I've been playing for team S&W for my entire shooting career.
But can I call myself a revolver aficionado if I've never owned a Colt??
So, I went out searching. Like I said, 99% of my shooting is NRA Bullseye style, so a .38 or .357 seemed ideal, just load up with .38 wadcutters and have at it. Even though the Python prices are insane, both old and new (and it seems so with all of the "snake" guns) there are others that seem to have not gone nuts, or at least not yet.
I found an Officer's Model Match at a LGS, but it seemed to be a bit more worn than the price warranted. But then I saw this Trooper .357 at another LGS. I thought it was in very good condition, and I checked over as many mechanical things as I could possibly think or (not being a Colt expert of course, but general tightness, endshake, push off, etc. are pretty much consistent in revolvers) and it seemed really tight. Price was $599, and when I asked the owner said it was firm. I figured I couldn't get hurt too bad for that.
I only snapped two quick pics
https://i.imgur.com/gWilaeB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OGnJ0WN.jpg
I now need to way for my permit amendment to go through. Obviously I'll post lots more pics and give a complete range report once I get it.
So tell me Colt guys, did I do OK? I would think so. Oh and one question; I love the way those stocks feel. Are they what Colt called Target stocks? As I understand it they somewhat desirable? Sort of like S&W Cokes to to those of us that dabble in Smiths?