Maybe it’s an attempt on Colt’s part to seem exclusive and niche — you have to be in the know to find out about new additions to their catalog — or maybe it’s just bad comms from the Czech company that now owns the brand about its new product. Hell, there are plenty of guns that Colt still manufactures that are not on their website, like, for instance, the brand new Colt Python Combat Elite in .357 Magnum.
This new wheelgun is an addition to the revived and growing Python line with a 3-inch barrel and stainless steel finish that was quietly released late last month, as The Firearm Blog reports.
As for the core firearm, the gun isn’t a departure from the rest of the Python 2.0 line, but it’s got the features that count for what is essentially a robust carry gun for people who want .357 power in a clean defensive package that’s still large enough to shoot comfortably and regularly.
This is no aluminum-framed lightweight carry gun, but it has just enough heft at 2.5 pounds, partially thanks to the unfluted cylinder, to soak up some of the magnum recoil. It’s also outfitted with improved sights designed for defensive shooting — or combat shooting if we’re sticking with the classic Colt naming conventions.
According to Colt, the new Python Combat Elite is made from “modern stainless steel alloys,” and the frame has “thirty percent more steel beneath the rear adjustable target sight [that] gives you a stronger revolver and more robust shooting experience.” It’s kind of a weird flex, as nobody was really complaining about the frames being too thin on other Python models, but okay.
The gun also features a recess target crown and a front night sight. Of course, it will also run .38 Special ammo for lighter-recoil shooting or less expensive (in theory) target practice. I’m willing to bet that .38 Special +P defensive rounds will shoot sweet through this compact revolver.
The Colt Python Combat Elite comes with an abbreviated G10 grip to reduce printing, which may feel a bit short for shooters with large hands.
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Other than that, there isn’t much info out there about this sweet-looking compact combat magnum from Colt. Revolver fans have been exceedingly happy with the new Python, Cobra, and Anaconda lines that the brand brought back from the land of discontinued firearms, so there’s no reason this version should be any different.
Also, like the other Python models, it’s expensive with an MSRP of $1,499, which puts it well out of the range of many gun buyers, but for those who can afford it, it’s extremely attractive — but we still don’t know how it shoots nor if the short-barreled revolver has been tuned to handle the .357. If positive reports start coming back from the range, it will likely be a good seller for Colt for a good while.
Colt Python Combat Elite Specs
Barrel: 3-inch Polished Stainless Steel w/ Recessed Target Crown
Capacity: 6 Rounds
Chambering: .357 Magnum / .38 Special
Sights: Front Night Sight with Adjustable Target Rear
Grips: Combat Style G10
Cylinder: Polished, Unfluted
Frame: Stainless Steel
Overall Weight: 2.5 pounds
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
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