Best Colt Revolvers (2026): Python, Cobra, Viper & More

The best Colt revolvers are the modern Snake guns. Colt brought the Cobra back in 2017 and the Python in 2020, then added the King Cobra, the Anaconda, a 10-shot King Cobra in .22 LR, and the Viper. Our writers say the new guns rely on modern machining instead of heavy hand fitting, and the quality shows.

We have spent real range time with most of them. We ran 300 rounds through a 3 inch blued Python, shot drills with the 2.5 inch Python, put a Viper through gel and accuracy tests, and grouped the King Cobra 22 at 25 yards. For a wider look, see our best defensive revolvers guide.

This is a lineup guide. We rank the Colt revolvers we have covered by what each does best and tell you what our writers saw and what each listed for at the time. Where we only have first shots or news coverage, we say so.

Not sure which Colt fits you? Start with the buyer’s guide. If you already know, skip to the picks.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best Colt Revolvers In 2026

Colt’s double action line comes in a few frame sizes and calibers. Start there.

Caliber

The Cobra is a .38 Special +P gun. The King Cobra, Viper, and Python are .357 Magnum, so they also shoot .38 Special. The Anaconda is .44 Magnum. The King Cobra Target and King Cobra 22 are 10-shot .22 LR guns for training and plinking. See our best .38 Special defense rounds guide for carry loads.

Barrel Length And Role

Short barrels of 2 to 3 inches carry best. Our reviewer called the 3 inch Python a sweet spot: pointable without the rear-heaviness of the snub or the muzzle-heaviness of the 6 inch. Longer 4 to 8 inch barrels add sight radius and velocity for the range and the field. Our Python 3 inch upgrades piece shows how grips and sights can tune a Python for carry. See our best snub nose revolvers guide too.

Weight And Recoil

Weight tames recoil. The 25 ounce Cobra is soft with .38 Special. Our reviewers found full-power magnums sharp in the 2.5 inch Python and brutal in the Viper, and called the 28 ounce King Cobra pleasant with .357 loads at its launch. If you will not practice with magnums, a .38 Special gun may be the smarter buy.

Triggers And Sights

Colt’s modern revolvers use a leaf spring action. Our testers measured double action pulls around 7 to 9 pounds and single action pulls of about 2 to 4 pounds on most guns, though one 2.5 inch Python broke at 5.9 pounds in single action in our snub nose Python review. Front sights on most models are user replaceable, which helped on the Viper.

Price

Colt revolvers are not cheap. In our coverage, MSRPs ran from $899 for the King Cobra at its 2019 launch to $1,699 for the blued Python at the time of review. The stainless Python listed at $1,499 at the time of review. For a classic matchup, read our Python vs. S&W 686 shoot-out.

Best Colt Revolvers Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup

Colt Python 3 Inch Blued: Best Overall Colt Revolver (2026)

The Colt Python 3 inch blued is the best overall Colt revolver because it pairs the Python’s look and trigger with a barrel length that works for carry and the range. Our reviewer ran 300 rounds, 250 of them .357 Magnum, from 7 to 50 yards. He measured a consistent 7 pound double action and 3 pound single action, From the bench at 25 yards, a Federal .38 Special load grouped inside two inches and PMC Bronze led the magnums at 2.5 inches.

Read our full blued Colt Python review here.

It was not perfect. Early magnum strings sometimes failed to reset the trigger, but after a full teardown and lube the gun returned to 100 percent function. The larger walnut stocks pinched his speedloaders. MSRP was $1,699 at the time of review.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel: 3 in
• Weight: 2 lb unloaded
• MSRP: $1,699 at the time of review

Pros

• Light double action trigger
• Very pointable 3 in barrel
• Polished blue finish

Cons

• Early trigger reset hiccup with magnums
• Grips interfere with speedloaders
• Blue is less scratchproof than stainless

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt Python on GunsAmerica

Colt Python 2.5 Inch: Best Colt Snub Nose (2026)

The Colt Python 2.5 inch is the best Colt snub nose because it delivers Python fit and finish in a carry length. Our reviewer called the new Pythons maybe the best built revolvers on the market. The 35 ounce stainless gun soaked up .38 Special recoil with ease, though full-house magnums produced significant recoil.

Read our full Colt Python 2.5 inch review here.

Shooting off-hand at 15 yards, he grouped Federal Punch .38 Special +P at 1.5 inches and Hornady Critical Defense .38 at 1.75 inches. Magnum groups ran 2.5 to 3 inches. The single action broke cleanly at 5 pounds. MSRP was $1,499 at the time of review.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel: 2.5 in
• Weight: about 35 oz
• MSRP: $1,499 at the time of review

Pros

• Superb build quality
• Heavy enough to tame .38 Special
• Replaceable front sight

Cons

• Full magnums kick hard
• Heavier than alloy snubs

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt Python on GunsAmerica

Colt Cobra: Best Colt For Concealed Carry (2026)

The Colt Cobra is the best Colt for concealed carry because it is a six-shot .38 Special +P snub that is soft to shoot. It has a 2 inch barrel, weighs 25 ounces, and wears a red fiber optic front sight and Hogue overmolded grips. Our reviewer measured a single action break just over 2 pounds and a consistent 7 pound double action.

Read our full Colt Cobra review here.

He ran 12-round reload drills without trouble and shot very nice double action groups two-handed at 10 yards. He said he can recommend it without reservation, something he cannot say about all compact revolvers. The tradeoff is no .357 Magnum. Colt priced it at $699 in 2017, according to our review.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .38 Special +P
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel: 2 in
• Weight: 25 oz
• Price: $699 at its 2017 launch

Pros

• Excellent tested trigger
• Soft recoil
• Fiber optic front sight

Cons

• No .357 Magnum
• Less versatile than the King Cobra

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt Cobra on GunsAmerica

Colt King Cobra: Best Compact .357 Magnum (2026)

The Colt King Cobra is the best compact Colt .357 Magnum because it adds magnum power to the Cobra in a gun that is still light enough to carry. It has a 3 inch barrel with a full-length underlug, holds six rounds, and weighs 28 ounces unloaded. Our coverage is first shots at SHOT Show 2019, not a full review.

Read our first shots with the King Cobra from SHOT Show 2019.

Our writer found it pleasant even with .357 loads and called the trigger very smooth and consistent. Colt quoted a 7 to 9 pound double action and 3 to 4 pound single action. MSRP was $899 at launch. Our Cobra review notes that magnums still recoil far more than .38 Special.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel: 3 in, full underlug
• Weight: 28 oz unloaded
• MSRP: $899 at launch (2019)

Pros

• Magnum power, carry weight
• Smooth trigger
• Replaceable front sight

Cons

• First shots only, no full review
• Magnums recoil hard in a 28 oz gun

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt King Cobra on GunsAmerica

Colt Viper: Best Mid-Size Colt (2026)

The Colt Viper is the best mid-size Colt because it is a sleek six-shot .357 Magnum on the King Cobra’s stainless D frame with a half lug that trims weight and bulk. It comes with a 3 or 4.25 inch barrel. Our reviewer measured a 9 pound double action with minimal stacking and a 3 pound 12 ounce single action.

Read our full Colt Viper review here.

He struggled to see the black factory front sight, and a Harrison Design replacement blade fixed it. With it, he scored 93 percent on a demanding snub drill and put five of six double action shots on an IDPA target at 45 yards. He called magnum loads brutal in the Viper and would swap in rubber Hogue stocks. Our review does not list a price.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel: 3 or 4.25 in, half lug
• Trigger: 9 lb DA, 3 lb 12 oz SA
• Frame: stainless D frame

Pros

• Sleek and well finished
• Good trigger
• Replaceable front sight

Cons

• Factory front sight hard to see
• Magnums are brutal
• Reviewer would change the stocks

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt Viper on GunsAmerica

Colt Anaconda: Best Colt Hunting Revolver (2026)

The Colt Anaconda is the best Colt hunting revolver because it is a .44 Magnum built on an oversized Python action with a solid stainless frame. Colt offers it with 6 or 8 inch barrels, and a 4 inch model followed in 2023 at an MSRP of $1,499, per our SHOT Show 2023 coverage. It has adjustable sights, Hogue grips, and is drilled and tapped for an optic.

Read our Colt Anaconda hunting coverage (news, not a hands-on review).

We do not have a full hands-on review of the Anaconda yet, so treat this as a news-based pick. If you hunt or hike in bear country, see our bear country sidearms guide too.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .44 Magnum
• Capacity: 6
• Barrels: 4, 6 or 8 in
• Optics: drilled and tapped
• MSRP: $1,499 for the 4 in model at its 2023 launch

Pros

• Big-game .44 Magnum power
• Optic ready
• Python-style action

Cons

• No hands-on Digest review
• Large and heavy

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt Anaconda on GunsAmerica

Colt King Cobra 22: Best Colt .22 Revolver (2026)

The Colt King Cobra 22 is the best Colt .22 revolver because it gives you a 10-shot cylinder and Snake gun quality with cheap, soft-shooting ammo. Our reviewer tested the 4.25 inch and 2 inch snub models. Most loads grouped 2 to 2.5 inches at 25 yards from the bench, and the snub rivaled its bigger brother.

Read our full Colt King Cobra 22 review here.

The snub broke at 3 pounds in single action and only 5 pounds in double action, and he said ten rounds went too easily. He sees the longer guns for small game and plinking and the 2 inch for training or carry. The King Cobra Target 22 listed at $999 at its 2023 launch. Read our King Cobra Target 22 review too, or see our best .22 LR pistols guide.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 10
• Barrels: 2, 3, 4.25 or 6 in
• Trigger: 3 lb SA, 5 lb DA (2 in snub)
• Accuracy: 2 to 2.5 in at 25 yd

Pros

• 10 rounds
• Light triggers
• Accurate even in the snub

Cons

• Rimfire only
• Our review lists no price for the King Cobra 22

🛒 Check Current Price for Colt King Cobra 22 on GunsAmerica

Final Thoughts On The Best Colt Revolvers Of 2026

The best Colt revolver for most shooters is the 3 inch blued Python. It is accurate, handsome, and short enough to carry. The 2.5 inch Python is the snub, the Cobra is the soft-shooting .38 carry gun, the King Cobra is the compact .357, the Viper is the mid-size, the Anaconda is the hunter, and the King Cobra 22 is the trainer.

Related reading: see our guides to the best Smith & Wesson revolvers and best handguns.

For more choices, see our best defensive revolvers, best cowboy action revolvers, and best home defense handguns guides. Train hard, shoot straight, and stay dangerous. Shop Colt revolvers on GunsAmerica.com.