Care and Feeding of a Python

[Thor's Daddy]

I have recently become the recipient of my father's Colt Python (six-inch, blue, from `68). While I've been too busy to get anything done at the loading bench, I have been researching what to feed this little treasure. I also received two molds- a WC (148gr) and SWC (158gr) and am pretty sure they will be driven with Bullseye and Unique, respectively (I have a number of other powders, but these seem to be the obvious places to start).

What I don't know is where to start for heavy loads. Ideally, I'd like to be able to take a deer with this gun (bucks run 200lbs +/- here). I've been thinking 180gr HP cast would be the way to go for said purpose. And from my research H110/W296 would seem to be the powder of choice for this task as it delivers more speed with less pressure than either 2400 or 4227.

Then I came across Lil Gun. Somehow, magically, Lil Gun gets great velocity with around 5000 CUP less pressure than H110/W296. This would seem truly ideal. While I don't plan on running a lot of hot-and-heavies through the gun, the thought of significantly lower pressure is rather appealing.

So, is Lil Gun a worthy option to try? Or am I just dreaming here.

[454PB]

I use a lot of Lil'Gun, and it does appear to produce more velocity with less pressure than other slow burning ball powders.

There's a lot of people that claim it burns hot and causes erosion of the forcing cone and top strap.....I haven't experienced any more heating or erosion from it than I do with H-110.

You'll want to do some bore and throat measurements, the Python I owned wanted .356" boolits.

[Thor's Daddy]

...You'll want to do some bore and throat measurements, the Python I owned wanted .356" boolits.

Thankfully, on a previous occasion my father gave me his Lyman 450 lubrisizer... complete with the .358 sizing die installed. A happy coincidence methinks.

[Lloyd Smale]

Use enough lilgun and you will hurt your gun. Its happened to to many guns and is common knowlege these days. If it werent so i dont think FA would now not warantee guns that were shot using lilgun. Stick with 110 or 2400 and dont try to get the last fps out of your load as pythons dont have the strongest lock work. They arent a redhawk or even as strong as a L frame smith. Load a grain or two below max and they will last your lifetime.

[Doc_Stihl]

H110, 2400 and Unique get my nod for most revolver work. Lil Gun is known for gas cutting in revolvers.

[Clay M]

My main load for the Python was 13 gr of 2400 and the RCBS 162 gr gas checked bullet. The load is about a grain under maximum and shot great in my old guns.

[Thor's Daddy]

Thanks for the replies guys, they're very helpful. Just the thought of excessive heat and/or gas cutting is enough to keep me sticking to either H110 or 2400. The gun's worth far too much for me to do otherwise.

[bhn22]

Also remember that Pythons have very short cylinders, much like S&W 27s & 28s. Stay in the realm of factory loads and don't try to make it something it's not.

[pdawg_shooter]

from an old post of mine: Now my all time favorite handgun, a Colt Python 4 inch blue. This is without a doubt the finest handgun I have ever had. The fit and finish is just about perfect. The throats measure .358. Not .358 plus or minus, .358 on the dot. All six of them. The bore is .357 back to front. I bought this used in 1988, and when I got it home I tore it down to give it a good cleaning. The fit and polish internally was better than any I have ever seen. One complaint, the grips. Why does the factory insist on making the grips biggest on the bottom where your hand is the shortest? A set of Hogue Mono-grips cured that problem. I shouldn’t complain, I sold those factory grips last year for $275.00 to a guy in Canada. That was just $100.00 less than I paid for the gun. I call this gun my pickup gun because it goes everywhere I go. It is 25 miles to and from work, mostly county roads and this gun has killed lots of skunks, coon, coyotes, and many, many feral cats. I only use 2 loads in this handgun, a 125gr JHP over Blue Dot and a 162gr cast RNFP over 2400. I can hit more, at longer range with this Colt than any handgun I have ever owned.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

pdawg shooter; I think the Colt factory Python grips were intended to be shaped along the lines of their Single Action Army plow handle grips, bigger at the bottom. They are beautiful but your right, way off for shooting. Improper pressure around the pinkie side of the grip throws the point impact off significantly more than improper grip pressure up closer to the frame and axis of the bore. Glad your Python is harvesting pests.

What is this I've been hearing about Colt getting back into the double action revolver market?

[smkummer]

I probably shoot 90% 38 Plus P loads (158 SWC at 900 FPS with 5.2 grains unique) through my Colt .357 revolvers. The other load is the 158 SWC going out at about 1100 FPS with a slightly reduced charge of Unique in the .357 case. H110/296 appears to allow about 100 FPS faster velocity than 2400 (1400 vs 1300 FPS with the 158 SWC) but this load gets shot about once a year and only after I clean the forcing cone really well after shooting lots and lots of cast bullet reloads. I have heard that a leaded up forcing cone could crack if fired with a full power jacketed load and Colt is out of replacement Python barrels at the moment. My Colts are not mint in the box guns and get shot a lot.

[MtGun44]

Try around 16 gr of H110 under a 150 SWC like 358477 and you will be pleasantly surprised, I'd
bet.

Bill

[ironhead7544]

In my experience, cast bullets and IMR4227 is easy on guns. Not very top velocities but close. I shot a lot of these in my Colt Python 6 inch. Never had a problem. Unique is good for mid range loads around 1000 fps with a 158 gr cast.

[Mal Paso]

Much of the Load Testing is done in 8.25" barrels that have no cylinder gap which really improves the burn of 296/110. 2400 often gives better performance in revolvers 6" and less.

[9.3X62AL]

Lotta good 357 Magnum and Colt Python advice given above. I would rate the Python's strength and action durability as being higher than that of a K-frame S&W 357, but a bit under that of a S&W L-frame or N-frame. You won't go wrong running loads up to current SAAMI max, about 36K PSI. From the 6" barrel, that should yield about 1300 FPS from a Lyman #358156 (13.5 grains of 2400, CCI 500 primers in W-W cases). This load was a very close duplicator of the 158 grain W-W factory JHPs my old agency carried until 3 years ago, when they went with the FBI's vaunted Federal #357B 125 grain JHP.

[357mags]

I have the same exact Python as you! Also from my Dad. I started with W296, but now use 2400 ONLY. For some reason, feels softer out of my Python. Like you, I use Bullseye, Green Dot, and whatever else is on hand for target loads in both 38spl & 357mag.

[rintinglen]

I would nix the 180 grain boolits, were I you. The Python frame and cylinder are plenty strong, but the action is not. Back in my PPC days, my old python got a trip to the gun shop for re-timing every 6-10,000 rounds of .38 WC. My first Python, a 6 inch Nickle Gun, did not get babied at all--redline and beyond. It made a trip in for retiming after less than 2,000 rounds. There are damned few gunsmiths competent to work on a Colt v-spring action, and Colt has been out of parts--especially hands--for years now. Consequently, I'd recommend 38's for most shooting and 14.7 grains 2400 max with a 358-477 150 grainer.

[beagle]

Same with my 1958 vintage Python. It likes .356" bullets./beagle


I use a lot of Lil'Gun, and it does appear to produce more velocity with less pressure than other slow burning ball powders.

There's a lot of people that claim it burns hot and causes erosion of the forcing cone and top strap.....I haven't experienced any more heating or erosion from it than I do with H-110.

You'll want to do some bore and throat measurements, the Python I owned wanted .356" boolits.

[9.3X62AL]

What is this I've been hearing about Colt getting back into the double action revolver market?

Wouldn't THAT just break my heart? I would love to see the V-spring lockwork brought back, but the J-frame Mk III and Mk V Troopers were some stalwart 357s--every bit the equal of the L-frame Smiths, just not as highly refined. SIMPLE, STRONG LOCKWORK. Their Anaconda put both the S&W M-29/629 and the Ruger Redhawk in the shade, and their lockworks were very much like the J-frames.

[winelover]

Pythons are a lot stronger than you would think. Fed mine a steady diet of maximum charges of BlueDot and 158 grain J-words. Something like six thousand, without timing issues. Did replace the barrel, though, due to forcing cone issues. That's what got me into casting. Since then, I only shoot cast boolets, 158 SWC's with 14.5 grs of 2400.

As far as the V-spring lock work goes, I had to have the main spring replaced, due to misfires / light primes strikes. Seems they weaken after a while. My Python is a late 70's issue.

I personally like the standard grip shape and have only replaced the wood ones with the Pac's in the same configuration. I shoot DAO.

Winelover