SHOT Show 2020: Colt Python

by
posted on January 19, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
When Colt's Manufacturing began re-introducing models from its legendary "snake-gun" lineup several years back, consumers began the long chant for the Python. Now, after the Cobra (reviewed here) and the King Cobra (covered in our Gun of the Week video here), Colt finally answered calls for the king of the snake guns with the new-for-2020 re-release of the Colt Python.

Like the classic Pythons of yesteryear, the 2020 models feature the full-underlug barrel and the ventilated top rib, providing that classic look that wheelgun fans love. However, Colt took the re-release of this revolver a step further. Early-model Pythons required a great deal of hand-fitting, and this often led to inconsistencies. There were even differences in trigger-pull weight experienced from cylinder to cylinder.

To avoid these issues and streamline production, Colt re-worked the internal mechanisms of the Python revolver, cutting out 17 unneeded components, which reduced the number of friction points within the revolver's frame. The gun also received Colt's next-generation trigger system, which provides a smooth, stack-free double-action trigger pull and a crisp single-action pull.

For all the details on the new Colt Python, watch American Rifleman's First Look video above. You can also read Editor-in-Chief Mark Keefe's thoughts on the new Python here.

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.