Colt Cobra .38 Special
Model: COBRA-SM2RFO
Colt Cobra .38 Special
Model: COBRA-SM2RFO
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Colt Cobra is a stainless double-action .38 Special built for concealed carry. Colt still builds it. Its cylinder holds six rounds on a D-frame, a size between the five-shot small frames and a full six-shot service revolver, so the extra round costs very little width.
A red fiber optic front sight comes fitted, which is more than a snub-nosed revolver usually ships with, and the rear is a notch in the top strap. Colt gives the trigger pull as 7 to 9 lbs double action and 3 to 4 lbs single action. A Hogue overmolded rubber grip is fitted, the hammer is exposed, and a transfer bar keeps the hammer off the firing pin until the trigger is held back. The gun is 4.9 inches tall and 1.4 inches across, and no part of it is cut for an optic.
If you're cross-shopping, the Taurus 856 Defender has an MSRP of $488 and also holds six, at 24 oz behind a 3-inch barrel, with a bobbed hammer that leaves nothing to snag. The Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight has an MSRP of $539, holds five at 14.6 oz and fires double action only. The Colt's fiber optic front is the quickest of the three to find in daylight, and it has no tritium for dusk.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- A fiber optic front sight from the factory, where the usual fitting at this size is a serrated black ramp that the eye has to hunt for.
- Colt gives both double-action and single-action pull weights, so the trigger is a known quantity before the gun is bought.
- All stainless under a matte finish, which is the combination that survives sweat in a holster worn daily.
- The fiber optic has no tritium, so it gives nothing back in the dark.
- The exposed hammer spur is a snag point on a draw from a pocket, which the bobbed and enclosed-hammer revolvers do not have.
- A six-shot cylinder is wider than a five-shot small frame's, so a holster has to be cut for this frame.
Category Rankings
How the Colt Cobra .38 Special ranks among small .38 Special handguns.
Compatible Ammunition
Find the best prices on compatible .38 Special ammunition.
Shop .38 Special Ammo →Ballistics Calculator
Calculate trajectory, drop, and energy for .38 Special ammunition.
.38 Special Ballistics →Alternatives to Consider
Similar small .38 Special handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Taurus 856 Defender .38 Special
Taurus
|
$419.99 |
|
Taurus 856 Ultra-Lite .38 Special
Taurus
|
— |
|
Ruger LCRx 3" .38 Special
Ruger
|
$621.99 |
|
Smith & Wesson Model 638 Bodyguard Airweight .38 Special
Smith & Wesson
|
$509.99 |
|
Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special
Charter Arms
|
$333.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rated for +P?
Yes. Colt lists the chambering as .38 Special and .38 Special +P.
How does the transfer bar work?
The trigger raises a bar behind the firing pin, and the falling hammer strikes the bar instead of the pin. With the trigger forward there is no connection between the two.
What is the twist rate?
A 1:14 left-hand twist, cut with six grooves.
Other .38 Special Handguns
