Colt Troopers

Back in about 1980 I got me a Colt Trooper MKIII 6". I like to be different and most savvy shooters were S&W guys. I had yet to discover the astonishing accuracy of Dan Wessons. Rugers worked OK, but were more utility back then, in my circles.

The Colt was a little bigger than the K-frame and others but not massive like the N-frames. It was so pretty, the deep blue, sharply checkered walnut stocks too. It helped me remain ignorant of the lifeless coil spring, stintered metal, lockwork, and horrific ergonomic shape of the gripframe. I had me a real Colt .357. Another friend had a twin but in 4". How many pounds or yellow boxes of Blue Dot and Speer 140 gr. JHP we shot is only a guess. It was the most fearsome and beastly .357 I ever fired. It actually stung the hand in recoil. I had started with a Ruger SBH in .44 and was trying to actually re-learn how to shoot with the .357.

The earlier Trooper was made on the Official Police chassis with topstrap boss added to house modern adjustable sights. However it had the ugliest naked barrel and front sight I've seen on any revolver in the northern hemisphere. The V-lockwork should have been the berries for slicking up. Even now it's still on my to-do list, try one. The MKIII in comparison was a pig in a dress, function wise it was fine, but to those in the know (me later in life) it was smoke and mirrors. For $50 more (a week's pay) I could have gotten a M27 in the presentation case. Where would I be now, looking back?!

The Trooper MKIII was also made in .22 LR and .22 WMR and I saw many fit scopes to them. I know Gary did some work like that. I can't believe they were near as accurate or effective and a semi-auto for the same duty. But it sure looked the part. I have a MKI Ruger (paid $75 for it) that will shoot MOA if I could hold it, using it's pet ammo. I cannot fathom a revolver shy of a FA that could replicate it. Today the Trooper rimfires command four digit prices. Mostly for the pretty, not the performance. Just like lured me into ownership.

*One little side note. The MKIII .357 had a tendency to "unscrew" it's barrel after extensive untypical shooting. Slamming those jacketed bullets into the forcing cone. I guess engineering it the other direction would create too tight issues? One only had to re-tighten it and it was good to go for more thousands of rounds. FWIW.