So I was in a local gun shop and got a chance to handle a new Colt Cobra. As I was cocking the hammer to look for how it locks up, I discovered it had a fair amount of play. White the hammer cocked the cylinder would move 1/4-1/2 the way towards the next chamber (either direction). Is this normal?

You were obviously concerned. Did you mention this to the shop guy? If so, what did he say?

Run far, far away.

Not for a quality revolver.

https://www.durysguns.com/news...u-buy-used-revolvers

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Not for a quality revolver.

https://www.durysguns.com/news...u-buy-used-revolvers

I don’t consider “1/4 to 1/2 way to the next chamber” to be slight play in the cylinder.

Sounds like a defective unit, to me.

I mentioned it to the clerk and said I thought it was unsafe. He looked a little confused and just put it back in the case. I told him they should call Colt and get it rectified by warranty and he mumbled that he would tell his boss.

My copy looks up just as tight as the old Det Specs. Looks like that one, needless to say, made it past the QC inspection with a major problem. Lots of people like to denigrate the new Cobras but mine has been near perfect in every way ... except for the out of shape trigger guard.

If my fuzzy brain still works... Colt's (at least the old ones) lock up differently than say S&W Wesson's, so there will be more play until you pull the trigger. At which point some other part kicks in... puts pressure on the cylinder, which it's doing as the gun fires, which causes them to wear more quickly than S&W.

What I'm remembering may only be relevant to old ones, the current lockworks may be completely different. And either way, there could very well be something wrong with the gun in question.

I just checked the two Colt Cobras in our sale case. Both brand new, a Night Cobra and a standard Cobra.

Neither one exhibited any play at all. Both were bank vault tight in lockup too. The one the OP observed must be defective. Regards 18DAI

quote:

Originally posted by GeoJelly:
My copy looks up just as tight as the old Det Specs. Looks like that one, needless to say, made it past the QC inspection with a major problem. Lots of people like to denigrate the new Cobras but mine has been near perfect in every way ... except for the out of shape trigger guard.

I have the Night Cobra and it runs great. No problems at all.

I just picked up my Police Positive from 1930-something. It doesn't wobble near that much. I sold a DS today that was almost as tight as a Smith. I think you had a bad 'un in your hand.