Colt Trooper Mark III?
Folks:
The deal on the DW fell through. I am now looking hard at a very minty Colt Trooper Mark III in .357 Magnum. Deep, lustrous blue. Target grips, hammer, trigger and sights. Close to $900.
How does the tribe vote on this?
Scribe
Again, overpriced for what you get.
by Andrew 
, Bloomington, IN, Monday, March 13, 2017, 08:02 (2814 days ago) @ Scribe
The Troopers were good guns 20 years ago for $400, but they have been coat-tailing on Pythons lately. Shops are trying to squeeze the price a Python was 20 years ago out of them. A quick Gunbroker search found the .357 guns selling for $550-700 unless they were NIB examples. Those were sold guns, not asking prices.
For under $700 you could get a nice used S&W 686 or 586. A Ruger Security Six can be had for $500 or less. A new Ruger GP100 is in the $600 range.
I agree with Andrew
by matt/pa , Monday, March 13, 2017, 08:14 (2814 days ago) @ Scribe
$700 is about tops for the Troopers. $900 seems to be too much.
If you're looking for a good 357 to shoot, I agree with the recommendation of the 686 or the GP-100. The 1/2 lug 6" GP-100 makes for a wonderful shooting sixgun. I remember fondly sitting at Wicen's Farm with uncowboy and shooting through a bag full of ammo with him through his 1/2 lug 6" blued GP.
Just my $0.02
Matt
For $700 or less you can get a new GP100 Match Champion
They are hard to beat for an out of the box shooter .357. Any GP-100 is a great gun, as are 586 and 686 Smiths. As the others have said.
For $700 or less you can get a new GP100 Match Champion
I do hope to Presbyterian him down on the price ... :>}
But if we can't reach a deal on it, I'll just walk away and wait for something else. I do have a pathological attraction to older Colts. Picked up a .32 Police Positive Target Model recently. And another Detective Special.
Scribe
For $700 or less you can get a new GP100 Match Champion
I have a 6" blue Security Six that I picked up at a gun show a few years ago for $325 after lusting over a Model 19 that the seller just would not come down on. After playing with it for a while I realized that I could not have spent my money better. A Python or a Model 19 might be purty, but they don't shoot a dang bit better than this Sec6 for WAY less money.
You will have to look for a Sec6, but it will be worth the trouble.
Totally agree. I have a 6" Sec Six for sale now...
by matt/pa , Monday, March 13, 2017, 09:49 (2814 days ago) @ Catoosa
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/628270963
There are just a lot of other options for good shootin' 357s. They aren't Colt, for sure, but Catoosa is right, they shoot just as well...
Matt
For $700 or less you can get a new GP100 Match Champion
There is a 4 inch Security Six available there, but I do not have a price on it. Very nice condition. I will check into it later this week (after the storm that is expected to dump 15 inches on us tomorrow).
Scribe
Also What Andrew Said. The Security Six is a more durable
by Rob Leahy 
, Prescott, Arizona, Monday, March 13, 2017, 12:47 (2814 days ago) @ Scribe
desirable gun, to me, than the Trooper MKII.
--
Of the Troops & For the Troops
You can get a nice Highway Patrolman for less than $700 too.
by Andrew , Bloomington, IN, Monday, March 13, 2017, 18:27 (2814 days ago) @ Rob Leahy
We had a 2½" Security-Six (blue) come in to the shop over
by Hobie , Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Monday, March 13, 2017, 23:15 (2813 days ago) @ Rob Leahy
the weekend...
--
Sincerely,
Hobie
Colt Trooper Mark III?
by Cherokee , Medina, Ohio, Monday, March 13, 2017, 12:18 (2814 days ago) @ Scribe
Too much money. Lots of other options for that money that shoot just as well.
A dissenting opinion...
by Sarge , Central Misery, Monday, March 13, 2017, 19:35 (2814 days ago) @ Scribe
I have owned a couple dozen 357's in the past 40 years, including very nice 27's, 28's, 13/19/66's and a slick DW Pistol Pack and an assortment of Ruger DA's from the earliest Security Sixes forward. But the best shooting of 357's I ever owned were an old '70's Trooper MKII and this old nickel Lawman MKII, show with a 50 yard rested group.
![[image]](http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Lawman_Hot158_t50yd.jpg)
http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/an-old-nickel-colt-lawman-mkiii/
Maybe I've just been lucky, but I will take a Mark III hands-down over any 357 this side of a Python. Unless they're 900 bucks, which would encourage me to simply shop around for another one.
Good guns, just getting swept up in price speculation.
by Andrew , Bloomington, IN, Monday, March 13, 2017, 19:40 (2814 days ago) @ Sarge
I had a Trooper MKIII in .22LR with an 8 inch barrel. It was big, heavy, and loads of fun. I wish I'd kept it now because it would sell for almost a grand. But they just aren't worth the extra price because of the prancing pony.
Thanks, Sarge
I agree that the price needs to be dickered over. But I don't necessarily agree with the other points raised by other, although I appreciate their concern.
Granted, the Ruger is built like a tank and will last decades, something to pass on to my children. Trouble is, Jilly The Kid only wants one gun and that is the Ruger Single Six OM with which she learned to shoot when she was nine. The Security Six has been described as a "single action revolver which has the capability of double-action firing." The DA pull is quite clunky, what also has been described as "heavy (12+ pounds) and inconsistent." That's a big consideration for me.
The Trooper's action is quite a bit more slick -- lighter and smoother than the Ruger.
Durability? I stopped firing .357s a couple of decades ago. Strictly .38s for me(Long, Short, S&W, Special, maybe some +Ps). Not an issue for a recoil-conscious dude such as myself.
And then there's the fact that I really like the older Colts.
The price is the true sticking point. I'll find out just how much I wheedle, cajole and schmooze it down so it resembles a much more reasonable figure this week. If not, I'll walk away.
And Sarge, totally with you when it comes to nickel guns. Just picked up two and there is a third possibility somewhere down the road (Model 10-5 with the pencil barrel).
Scribe
If only us enlightened folks understand...
by Sarge , Central Misery, Thursday, March 16, 2017, 18:25 (2811 days ago) @ Scribe
it will leave more Colts for US!!
')
Colt Trooper Mark III?
by Slow Hand , Indiana, Saturday, March 18, 2017, 16:48 (2809 days ago) @ Scribe
Here's a local one for a good deal less, not sure if he'd ship, but it's worth an email
Sorry, link here
by Slow Hand , Indiana, Saturday, March 18, 2017, 16:49 (2809 days ago) @ Slow Hand
Too fast on the enter button!
http://www.hoosiertopics.com/cgi-bin/aforum.isa?req=2me3i1703a
Another ad with a Dan Wmight even be the same guy!esson
by Slow Hand , Indiana, Saturday, March 18, 2017, 16:54 (2809 days ago) @ Slow Hand
Might even be the same guy!
http://www.hoosiertopics.com/cgi-bin/aforum.isa?req=2me3i1708a