Champion,
Stainless Pythons came out in 1982. The Elites came out from 1997 to 1999 and again 2002 to 2006.
Stainless Pythons came out in 1982. The Elites came out from 1997 to 1999 and again 2002 to 2006.
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Your favorite production handgun and why…
- Thread starter joel
- Start date
Couldn't have said it better myself. And I'm sure they work down to 300m depth.
Maybe not obvious since I failed to mention it, but I am talking about the Pythons of the 70's and before. The later ones, though I'm sure they're fine handguns, don't have that buttery action. One of the worst decisions of my life selling my 6" blued ca. 1968 in .357/38 special. That gun was an absolute cherry.
I don't know about the new generation of Pythons, but I have/have had the old generation of Pythons from the early 60s to mid 2000's. All of them have had good actions.
You and me both, I also forget about the later stainless models, but they are very nice as well. I have a 2.5” ‘68 that is a project gun, everything is done, just a nickel refinish from Fords. Sorry to hear about yours, those are amazing at 6”
Legend and lore is that the Python Elite guns were hand built in Colts custom shop. I have an Elite in stainless. FWIW, Colt did make them in blue.
The 686 is a fantastic choice in .357. One of my favorite range toy .357s is a 686 in 8 3/8"
I'm a H&K fanboy. I have 5 pistols an 1 rifle. They feel natural in my hands, the best production handguns out there.
One of the best for sure.
Bren Ten and AMt Longslide as I kid I loved the looks of these.......(still do)
That AIN'T strictly small stuff. What a beautiful piece. I'm biased though, I'm 1911 through and through.
Favorite production handgun
S&W Model 29 7 1/2". Mine dates from early 60s, sweet trigger, easy to shoot. New "Classics" are OK, but don't have the same trigger. Bit too much for daily carry, but has harvested a couple deer.
Ruger Blackhawk 41 mag, 4 5/8", is my usual woods gun, or sometimes a GP100 6".
Favorite about town is a 1911, usually the Kimber I carried in the Sheriff's Dept. Deeper concealment is a Hellcat, though not a favorite of mine.
S&W Model 29 7 1/2". Mine dates from early 60s, sweet trigger, easy to shoot. New "Classics" are OK, but don't have the same trigger. Bit too much for daily carry, but has harvested a couple deer.
Ruger Blackhawk 41 mag, 4 5/8", is my usual woods gun, or sometimes a GP100 6".
Favorite about town is a 1911, usually the Kimber I carried in the Sheriff's Dept. Deeper concealment is a Hellcat, though not a favorite of mine.
Today's favorite production handgun is a striker fired pistol with a staggered stack high capacity magazine. It does suffer a polymer deficiency but still seems to function. It incorporates the latest stealth sights as well as the delayed blowback rotating fixed barrel system. The FCU is modular and can be removed easily. The magazine release is ambi-fingered and located at the lower front edge of the grip. It was the runner up design during the Army's handgun trials and the most reliable initially.
Best production handgun? My opinion:
Dan Wesson Guardian in 38 Super.
Compact and light enough for EDC. 38 Super packs plenty of punch to be a primary handgun for self-defense. 10+1 capacity. Extremely accurate. Great night sights. The lightweight bobtail frame is super comfortable and prints like an Officer's model. Excellent 1911 trigger.
I have one that is my EDC gun and I also drop a 9mm barrel in and shoot it in IDPA ESP division. Being able to switch it to 9mm is another aspect of its versatility.
I also have a 6" 686-7 with an awesome trigger job. It's nice, but no Guardian.
I also have a Canik Rival-S, which I shoot in USPSA Carry Optics. It is a GREAT shooter! I'd say it shoots as well or better than the Guardian (as I have it setup, anyway). But, it's too bulky and heavy for concealed carry, so I think the Guardian still beats it as best production handgun. Plus, the Guardian packs 38 Super punch, which the Canik doesn't/can't.
I have others as well, but those are the top tier of my personal production stuff.
Dan Wesson Guardian in 38 Super.
Compact and light enough for EDC. 38 Super packs plenty of punch to be a primary handgun for self-defense. 10+1 capacity. Extremely accurate. Great night sights. The lightweight bobtail frame is super comfortable and prints like an Officer's model. Excellent 1911 trigger.
I have one that is my EDC gun and I also drop a 9mm barrel in and shoot it in IDPA ESP division. Being able to switch it to 9mm is another aspect of its versatility.
I also have a 6" 686-7 with an awesome trigger job. It's nice, but no Guardian.
I also have a Canik Rival-S, which I shoot in USPSA Carry Optics. It is a GREAT shooter! I'd say it shoots as well or better than the Guardian (as I have it setup, anyway). But, it's too bulky and heavy for concealed carry, so I think the Guardian still beats it as best production handgun. Plus, the Guardian packs 38 Super punch, which the Canik doesn't/can't.
I have others as well, but those are the top tier of my personal production stuff.
The Canik stock trigger blows my mind it’s so good.
I have changed all the springs on my Rivals and installed Freedomsmith triggers. They were good before, but with the updates they went from a "7+" to a "9".
I mean, they are still no 1911 race gun. But, they are definitely better now than many stock 1911s.
I don't have one favorite...that's why I won several! Single action, DA/SA, striker fire, revolvers, polymer frames, metal frames, single stacks, double stacks, etc. They're all favorites.
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