DS-10-SPEED

I didn't have the Colt long enough to get used to it and having used S&W's for fifty years makes it kinda hard to change. For one thing I prefer a black Patridge front sight but the Colt is easy to replace with a screw in the front. I also prefer the smooth rounded trigger face that I have on my S&W's, the Colt has a flat surface with vertical lines. The Colt's I had were not drilled and tapped for dot bases, I like to have both dot and iron sight guns to use. The Colt is smaller than a 617 which may be what some people like, it's in-between a "K" and a "J" size frame. I found the size OK for me but I would probably add larger wood grips. I think it could be a decent revolver for steel plates. The 6" versions are now selling too, seen a few on other forums, myself I would still buy the 4".

I currently don't have the new Colt .22, the three early models I had were returned to Colt. They were all beautiful revolvers but had some functional issues. I've been trying to follow reviews lately and it seems people are happy with the current models being sold and if I can find one I might get another one.

My 617's like any Federal and CCI Mini Mags. A friend gave me some Norma Tac .22 to try, I fired 3 shots and it bound up my cylinder and had a hard time getting them out. Also I have found Browning .22 ammo has very bad quality, bent bullets, dented cases and misfires. I also don't like to use Winchester or Browning because they have the thinnest rims of all ammo and don't work the best in my speedloaders.

Don't know if this helps, but I made a jig for cutting the ratchets on a new 10 shot 617 cylinder. I used a cheap file from Harbor Freight, I snapped off a piece of it and mounted it in a piece of HDPE. Here's the post I did here a while back. Click on the link below.

I think you thought I said trying it with the side plate off, I said grip, side plate on.

Is that something you can watch happen with the grip off?

The Raptor mount is a tiny bit lower (I think about 0.020" lower) but they seem to be out of business.

Since you revived this post I'll let you guys know I did receive a 3rd Colt King Cobra after the first two failed to function. I tested it at my FFL dealer before I accepted it, the cylinder would spin backwards just before the hammer dropped when applying a slight drag on the cylinder with my finger when coking it. It appears the hand was going past the ratchet just before firing allowing it to not lock up. I assumed I would have the same timing issue as my second revolver. I didn't accept the Colt and told them to return it to Colt, I got my money back and I'll stick with my 617's for now, maybe I'll get one later if I find one that works. Some people are saying they have no issues and are happy with them, I'll wait and see.

I've made some firing pins and made a tool to measure the maximum extension so it can never hit the cylinder. I think the recess in the cylinder is about 0.041" or 0.042" then I make sure the pin extension is no longer than that. You have to push the firing pin as far as it can go then adjust the gauge to the max extension of the pin and then measure the depth on the tool with my calipers, then cut the pin to fit.

I did get my new one last Tuesday, I didn't really want to post this but here goes. I shot my replacement Colt and only 1 shot out the first 10 hit near the bulls eye, the other 9 didn't even hit the paper at 25 feet. I moved to 5 feet and shot 5 shots, they were all over the place and the bullets were hitting sideways. After close inspection I found the cylinder was not locking up before firing, a couple times it didn't advance to the next round. I sent it back to Colt on Wednesday. As for the speed loaders, the Colt and the GP100 have the same 1 inch array pattern but the Colt has only about 0.070" between the cartridge rim and the nice shiny frame. The current GP100 loaders have a retaining spring that is 0.100" in diameter, there is not enough clearance to load and the hard carbon steel spring will mark up the Colt frame. I developed a new loader that uses a dual stainless steel retaining spring (because one wasn't strong enough) with a 0.062" diameter and the only thing that might touch the Colt frame is the soft HDPE plastic loader base. Revolver Supply has the new loaders. These new loaders also work with the GP 100.

I'll let you know, I just got word that my replacement is on the way. It should arrive in a couple days to my FFL dealer.

Yes, I assume they will start shipping to everyone.

It wasn't bad, out of the box it was lighter than a new S&W, almost the same as my tuned up 617's. That may change with the modifications they are doing to fix the mis-fires. The Colt had a different feel than a S&W, the DA trigger seems to get a little harder just before the sear breaks. I did use it for speed shooting bowling pins at our local club and was able to match my 617 times (when I could get it to fire at least 5 in a row). The grip and frame is smaller than a 617, I will probably get a larger Houge wood grip when I get my replacement. Also the face of the trigger has a flat surface, not curved like my other revolvers, it feels different but seems to work OK.

I bought one last December, I had mis-fire problems in DA. I sent it back in January and was told they have to replace the gun. I'm still waiting for my replacement. I called last week and they said they have finished the changes and are now going through "Qualification". They said they should be shipping them out in a couple weeks, we'll see. I still have my 617's and GP100 ten shots to use while I wait. Picture of the one I sent back. At least I had it long enough to design a speed loader for it, now I need the gun back so I can use them.

Back when I shot in Indiana they had rimfire revolver divisions, it made it more fun. They also had optic revo too, but at that time I didn't shoot optic.

I also have an Allchin mount on my 617 with a Burris FF3, but my favorite mount is the Raptor I have on my V-Comp, it's lower and not as wide as the Allchin, unfortunately Raptor seems to be out of business. By the way, anybody want the (used once) big butt grip on my V-Comp?

The trigger pull is lighter than I expected for a new DA revolver, that's probably the reason for the mis-fires I'm having in DA mode. SA is reliable but the hammer goes much farther back and has more energy. I think I'll have to find a stronger spring if they're available. I also noticed that the Colt has a funny feel compared to my 617's, the trigger pull is easy and smooth to just about when it fires then it gets harder, that might be a good thing if you like to stage the trigger but there's no time for that when shooting bowling pins.

I got to try the new Colt at our local bowling pin match tonight, I was able to get some decent times (best was 2.32 seconds for 5 bowling pins). I need to use it more to get as fast as my 617 but so far so good as times go. The only problem I'm having is mis-fires, with Federal ammo I was getting 1 out of 10, CCI was better but still 1 out of 30 or so. If I can get it reliable I think it will be a good shooter, I might also get a larger grip, it's smaller than I'm used too.

More pics.

My new Colt came in and I am impressed with the initial quality out of the box. The trigger is smoother than any new DA .22 I bought new. I shot it a few times to sight it in then ran about 100 rounds with no miss-fires. It's a little smaller than my S&W 617's, similar in size to an SP101. The cylinder cartridge array is the same as the GP100 but the problem is there is barley enough room to the frame to push in the loader without marking up the polished frame. I'm going to see if I can modify the loaders to prevent that.

From the dimensions you gave me it's the same as the GP100 so it should work providing there is no clearance issues to the grip or frame from the outside diameter of the loader.

I kinda thought it looked larger from the pictures I saw of it. My new Colt hasn't arrived yet. It may be the same size as the GP100, do you have calipers to measure it? GP100 loader pictured.

Great idea, I can already see some copy cat company looking to market the idea.

The best thing I've found is a shot shell belt pouch with 2 pockets, I use the inside pouch for filled DS-10-SPEED loaders and the other pouch to dump the cylinder and empty speed loaders. Mine was from Gander Mountain but the picture below is similar to what I use. If you want to shoot a 22 revo division go shoot SCSA at the Atlanta Conservation Club in Indiana, they've had those divisions for a while.

That's true, pretty rare for that to ever happen. But over the last 30 years of shooting speed sports, I have seen a few rim blow out failures and the cylinder recess would be nice to have when that happens.