Colt Viper 357

[mtngunr]

@gerhard1 is still having trouble posting pics. Here's his new Viper. Beautiful!!!

View attachment 543680

Yes, it is, and the first factory DA revolver since about 1990 where I have thought it appeared as something coming close to guns of that time and before...have bought more recent cheaper made and cruder such revolvers from the major brands, but this one is one classy full sized but light carry gun, and very tempting.

 

[mtngunr]

A few days back, I put the factory grips back on. I have a set of the older-D-frame service-style grips on order as well.

I notice that the muzzle has lost it's tendency to wander with the factory grips.

Strange thing about the wandering muzzle.

No suprise...settling in with a gun makes a remarkable difference in hold and accuracy. Always amazed at those with a new gun claiming it won't shoot or won't zero, when a huge part of the problem is lack of consistancy on their part with a new gun. It is a lovely gun and I want one, but at that weight I would need stick with .38Spl or +P loads, where I have a 681 which can do that chore while still allowing magnum shooting.....but...I want one, yes, I do.

 

[sumoj275]

So much to choose from….and such a wide spread in pricing. I personally like Altamont grips. The page you’re looking for can be found here.

My Python is a Davidson’s exclusive and I would not be surprised if its grips aren’t Altamont rosewoods with the Rampant Colt medallions.

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Thank you for the link

 

[sumoj275]

As for grips, comfort and proper fit to hand vary as much as hands. Most DA revolver grips/stocks do not work for me, especially Hogue and Altamont efforts, and can tell by looking that none of the Colt supplied will work as too fat up high. I am partial to the open back Pachmayer Gripper Professional as for available factory offerings (for the new Colts I need to check if made), while what I would like and they don't make is the Eagle Secret Service grips but with extra length on bottom for full four finger grip. Grips will make or break me getting a Viper. All the good gripmakers I knew such as Fishpaw, Deason, etc are gone. Many available today can work ok for SA fire with lighter loads, but with full house DA loads are torture devices for me.

You might check out Texas Gun Grips. You can tell him what you B want size wise, wood, and even ladder engraved that looks like it isn’t ladder engraved. I had him do a pair of N frame sq butt with a Roper style checkering out of Mesquite. The grips were perfect for my hand, don’t have the 28 Abby more but always looking for a 3 1/2” 27 for the grips.

 

[sumoj275]

@gerhard1 is still having trouble posting pics. Here's his new Viper. Beautiful!!!

View attachment 543680

Just plain sexy. Colt is doing it right. I really would like a Viper in 3” to go along with my 3” KC and Smith 3” 65

 

[sumoj275]

Yes, it is, and the first factory DA revolver since about 1990 where I have thought it appeared as something coming close to guns of that time and before...have bought more recent cheaper made and cruder such revolvers from the major brands, but this one is one classy full sized but light carry gun, and very tempting.

I agree. The current revolvers remind me of what was coming out of the custom shop at Colt in the mid-‘90s before they stopped building them all together.

 

[mtngunr]

You might check out Texas Gun Grips. You can tell him what you B want size wise, wood, and even ladder engraved that looks like it isn’t ladder engraved. I had him do a pair of N frame sq butt with a Roper style checkering out of Mesquite. The grips were perfect for my hand, don’t have the 28 Abby more but always looking for a 3 1/2” 27 for the grips.

Yessir, I actually have already found him and looked at what he offers....gave serious thought to a set of the old fashioned skimpy "service panel" style and trying to combine them with a t-grip, but not sure how those would mate up front, and meanwhile find the rubber grip entirely adequate for needs without spending a dime extra, and they sorta go well with a stainless gun in resisting getting wet.

 

[gerhard1]

FINALLY!!! I got to shoot the Viper.

The main purpose of today's session was to function-fire the little Colt, with the object of seeing how reliable it was using an ammuntion brand that has given me lots of problems with a few S&W revolvers; namely, Winchester.

I put 96 rounds of WWB 130 FMJ through the Colt and was please to see that they all went 'bang'.

Since this was, like I said earlier, primarily intended to test the reliability with a brand that has harder primers, I didn't pay too much attention to accuracy, but even there the Viper did well. Since this is a fixed sight fighting gun, the range at which I shot was fairly short (5 yards). Accuracy was very adequate for the primary purpose of the gun, as I clearly ruined the bad guy's (an NYPD-style silhouette) day.

I now have a new hot-weather carry gun.

 

[Dmc707]

FINALLY!!! I got to shoot the Viper.

The main purpose of today's session was to function-fire the little Colt, with the object of seeing how reliable it was using an ammuntion brand that has given me lots of problems with a few S&W revolvers; namely, Winchester.

I put 96 rounds of WWB 130 FMJ through the Colt and was please to see that they all went 'bang'.

Since this was, like I said earlier, primarily intended to test the reliability with a brand that has harder primers, I didn't pay too much attention to accuracy, but even there the Viper did well. Since this is a fixed sight fighting gun, the range at which I shot was fairly short (5 yards). Accuracy was very adequate for the primary purpose of the gun, as I clearly ruined the bad guy's (an NYPD-style silhouette) day.

I now have a new hot-weather carry gun.

Nice !!!

I love all things Colt but my inventory now is mostly miscellaneous AR's