New Colt King Cobra Target Doesn’t Work

t4terrific · December 25, 2019, 09:57 AM

My wife gave me a new King Cobra Target this morning for Christmas, and it’s a dud out if the box.

It works one time, and then the cylinder doesn’t rotate on subsequent shots (double action or single action).

If I move the cylinder latch lever a little, the cylinder will rotate on the next shot only.

Basically, it works once, but then I have to wiggle the cylinder latch between each shot to get the cylinder to rotate.

The worst part of all is the last time I sent a Colt back to Colt to get it to work right was in 2012, and it took them three months to get it back to me.

RGRacing · December 25, 2019, 10:21 AM

Tears - and a bunch of F words -

Bowdog · December 25, 2019, 10:26 AM

Sorry to hear that but over the years I have had trouble with Colt. Starting back as far as 1980 with a 1911.Good luck. Hope customer service will repair it. Good looking gun.

**Tom Servo** · December 25, 2019, 10:30 AM

I haven't had a chance to examine the newer ones. If the ejector rod isn't staked, check to see if it's come unscrewed.

rodfac · December 26, 2019, 07:12 PM

Geez that's tough...but what a wife you've got! Give Colt a chance to make it right...if they're like S&W they'll do an action and trigger job as well...and on the house too. Good lookin' piece tho I'd prefer walnut stocks. Hope it all works out for you. Rod

Kreyzhorse · December 26, 2019, 08:38 PM

Nice looking gun. I'd be pissy too, but give them a chance to fix it. I'm sure they will take care of you.

I own a new Cobra myself and despite the naysayers, it's a fine revolver and will not as valued as the earlier versions, I think the trigger might actually be better.

Once you get your King working right, I'm sure you'll be damn happy with it.

buck460XVR · December 27, 2019, 11:21 AM

Is this with ammo in the cylinders or dry firing?

gbclarkson · December 27, 2019, 12:37 PM

Well... at least it looks nice.

Quote:

Is this with ammo in the cylinders or dry firing?

No disrespect intended, simply a follow-up question: Does it matter?

Lohman446 · December 27, 2019, 12:53 PM

Quote:

No disrespect intended, simply a follow-up question: Does it matter?

For diagnostic purposes and avoiding a trip back to Colt for something simple it might. I imagine there are a lot more things that can go wrong under recoil than there are without. If it happens only under recoil and not when dry firing it likely eliminates some possibilities.

Not enough of a gunsmith to know what they are but understand the idea behind the question.

KyJim · December 27, 2019, 02:35 PM

I'm with Krezyhorse. Assuming it's not something very simple that can be easily fixed, Colt should take care of it. Every manufacturer, even high end ones like Wilson Combat, sometimes puts a gun out that needs some warranty work. Nobody likes it, but I think you will be very pleased with the gun when fixed.

buck460XVR · December 27, 2019, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbclarkson

No disrespect intended, simply a follow-up question: Does it matter?

It does if you know anything about revolvers. Especially since it does it in SA and DA. Could be ammo related such as high primers binding the cylinder against the recoil shield or even the cases themselves binding against the recoil after being fired due to dirty or rough cylinders. If it does it with empty chambers you eliminate the problem being ammo related.

labnoti · December 27, 2019, 06:03 PM

I'll take a crack at this, but my first advice is to take it to the shop where it was bought and see if they can diagnose it as a simple problem or something that needs to go back to Colt. Most stores have a no-returns policy on firearms, so you might expect they won't accept responsibility for the problem or to resolve it, but they may have a gunsmith on site who is knowledgeable. On the other hand, it may have been a big box store in which case it is still possible to find a person with knowledge, but more doubtful.

The way I understand the problem, the cylinder will rotate and the sear engage. Then the trigger is pulled and the hammer drops. After this, pulling the trigger will not rotate the cylinder and cocking the hammer is blocked.

If the hammer cocks but does not rotate the cylinder, then the hand is not rotating the cylinder and the problem is a broken hand or sheared notches on the ejector star.

Since the problem description includes the fact that fiddling with the cylinder release does result in cylinder rotation and function, I rather suspect the hammer does not cock or the cylinder rotate -- because the bolt is not retracted.

The bolt must be pushed back to give clearance to the hammer to cock. When the hammer cocks, the hand pushes the cylinder to rotate it. The most common reason for the bolt not retracting is the cylinder pin is not pushing on it due to the ejector rod having come partially unscrewed. It may be you just need to tighten this (normally a reverse thread, but not sure on new Colts). Credit to Tom Servo for mentioning this most likely fix.

Why does the mechanism work like this? The bolt blocks the hammer so the gun does not cock when the cylinder is open. Consequently, it also makes it so the trigger cannot be pulled when the cylinder is open. It also makes it so the cylinder cannot be opened when the gun is cocked or the trigger is pulled. Therefore, if the mechanism is misadjusted (or partially disassembled), it works as would be expected if the cylinder is actually open when it appears to be closed.

Onward Allusion · December 27, 2019, 06:13 PM

Dry cycle it about 500 times. I don't mean dry-firing.

Bring the hammer slowly, like very slowly...use strength if necessary - then release the trigger and manually bring the hammer forward. Empty gun of course...

Brand new revolvers can be finicky in double action. I've "fixed" about a half dozen new revolvers in this fashion. Smooths out the action big time.

**44 AMP** · December 27, 2019, 08:48 PM

Brand new gun from COLT, and it doesn't work. DO NOT tinker with it, do not dry cycle it 500 times, do NOT have a local gunsmith work on it. Send it back to Colt. Period. Better if the people your wife bought it through do it for you, but if not, do it yourself.

The reasons I say don't tinker with it, don't fix it, etc, are twofold. First, its Colt's ethical and legal responsibility to sell a product that works, and they are responsible for fixing it. Don't let them off that hook.

Second, its for the benefit of Colt and the rest of us. Somebody(s) at Colt SCREWED UP! #1, the assembler(s) didn't do it right and #2, some inspector let it get past them, and out the door for sale. If you fix it, or get it fixed, Colt won't know there is a problem. OR where. And what they don't know about, they can't FIX.

Contacting Colt and sending them back the DEFECTIVE item (and all shipping costs, both ways, ought to be on their dime) tells them there's a problem, and gives them a place to start looking in order to fix it, so this doesn't happen again. Fixing the screw ups (including replacing the people who screwed up, if necessary) helps them, and helps us, all potential future customers.

Sure, every shop that makes anything can and sometimes does have a "lemon" get to the consumer. That doesn't mean we need to just suck it up and fix it. THEY DO.

labnoti · December 27, 2019, 11:02 PM

This is all good if it is indeed defective. Being partially disassembled is not the same as defective. So if the ejector rod is unscrewed, it is not necessarily a defect. Similarly, if a screw backs out and the grip panels or the yoke and cylinder fall off that is not necessarily a defect. It is normal for revolvers to require periodic maintenance, including tightening screws and things. They are not like a Glock in that respect, but it does not make them defective. It does reflect poorly on Colt's quality of assembly if they shipped a revolver with a loose rod, but a trip back to Colt isn't needed to tighten it. I have carefully used nylon-jawed pliers, but a better method is to remove the cylinder from the yoke, clamp the ejector rod in a padded vise and turn the cylinder with your hand to tighten it. Brownells also sells a clamp to torque it, as well as a dandy fixture to check (and fix) the runout of the rod with a dial gauge.

**44 AMP** · December 28, 2019, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Being partially disassembled is not the same as defective.

No, it's not the same as a defective design, or a defectively made part, but it is a defect in assembly AND in final inspection (and in any intermediate inspections, as well).

I do agree, IF all it is, is the ejector rod isn't tight it shouldn't go back to Colt, just for that. IF that's ALL it is.

The problem with something like this is, even if its just one little thing "wrong" one now has to wonder what ELSE they screwed up, if anything.

It could be just the rod, or it could be metal or other "trash" inside the action, in just the right place and amount to block things, and wiggling the cylinder latch moves things just enough to allow function. It could also be a number of other things,

My point is, the gun is new, its under warranty (right??) It does not work correctly. You and I the consumer should not have to play diagnostic games and home gunsmith. We should not have to take it to a 3rd party (gunsmith) to get it to work.

And, ESPECIALLY from a company that charges what Colt does for its merchandise. If you're paying for "the Pony" that pony doesn't have to win the race right out of the gate but it damn sure better be able to RUN. Sounds like this pony can't even walk, and need to go back to the stable...and not the local vet...

USNRet93 · December 28, 2019, 08:21 AM

I have no idea what's wrong with it but I would certainly take it back to where she(what a GREAT wife!!) bought it. Is it new? Hopefully not an 'online' buy...

Targa · December 28, 2019, 08:47 AM

I know its a bit of a headache, I have been there, but send it back to Colt. Wonderful gift from your wife.

TBM900 · December 28, 2019, 10:15 AM

Well the sucks
I just got a 3" King Cobra for Christmas but have not shot it yet

Hal · December 29, 2019, 06:10 AM

Did I miss where giving it a decent cleaning was suggested before doing anything else?

Once a gun is test fired, I don't believe they bother to clean it - just stick it in the box and ship it.

First thing I'd try is blow it out w/the compressor and make sure there's no debris hanging things up.

Wouldn't be the first time an unburned flake of powder got between things & tied up the rotation of a revolver.

Lohman446 · December 29, 2019, 08:21 AM

I understand the desire of some to assure Colt takes responsibility but attempting a minor repair is about convenience not responsibility. Hate to send it back, wait a month, only to find it was a two minute fix

Nanuk · December 29, 2019, 08:51 AM

Quote:

I understand the desire of some to assure Colt takes responsibility but attempting a minor repair is about convenience not responsibility. Hate to send it back, wait a month, only to find it was a two minute fix

For a qualified gunsmith...........I am all for checking it out to see what is wrong, but It IS a new gun from a reputable company. I say send it in.

cslinger · December 29, 2019, 11:17 AM

Nothing under the ejector star, right? Like it is clean and dry and no specks of powder under there? Also the rod being unscrewed is worth checking. Also no obvious debris in the channel the cylinder (is it the hand? The small lever that actuates the cylinder.).

If it’s none of those easy quick fixes then send it back. Might be worth a cleaning and a shot if compressed air in the books and crannies. Though just in case it’s a “golden bb” of debris/metal shaving or unburnt powder.

Good luck. It’s a very pretty gun.

**44 AMP** · December 29, 2019, 01:48 PM

It is a pretty gun. But it doesn't work. And, the more I hear about this, it makes me wonder if any of them work.

There appears to be an ongoing problem at Colt. A friend who works part time at the local gunshop asked about them, and the answer was a disparaging "yeah, typical Colt quality control..."

That one shop has, in the last 6 months gotten two (2) of the exact same Colt, the King Cobra Target, brand new, and both had to be returned because they wouldn't work. One would not fire, the hammer strikes were too light to fire anything (at least three different brands of ammo were tried) and the other was so far out of time that the primer was struck too far off center to fire. EVERY TIME.

One bad gun here, another there, can be put down to the "everyone has a lemon get out once in a while" but there is a limit to coincidence, and I'd say the issues with the Colt King Cobra Target have gone beyond happenstance.

The old rule is, first time is happenstance, second time is coincidence, but the 3rd time is Enemy Action!

Still say the gun should go back to Colt to be fixed, but I now have less hope of Colt fixing their internal problems.

105kw · December 29, 2019, 01:51 PM

At the LGS yesterday, I mentioned you problem with your King Cobra.
The owner related that they have had two customer King Cobras fail, both brand new for Colt.
The first one had what he described as a chronically light primer strike. The gun would not fire. Three types of ammo were tried, firing pin strike wasn't heavy enough to fire.
The second was so badly mistimed, it went straight back to Colt.
There is a serious problem here, neither one of these should have passed a Quality Inspection. So, there is an assembly problem, that got through whatever QA Colt has, and into a customer's hands.

December 25, 2019, 10:30 AM	#4
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	I haven't had a chance to examine the newer ones. If the ejector rod isn't staked, check to see if it's come unscrewed. __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe

December 26, 2019, 07:12 PM	#5
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,624	Geez that's tough...but what a wife you've got! Give Colt a chance to make it right...if they're like S&W they'll do an action and trigger job as well...and on the house too. Good lookin' piece tho I'd prefer walnut stocks. Hope it all works out for you. Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

December 26, 2019, 08:38 PM	#6
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Nice looking gun. I'd be pissy too, but give them a chance to fix it. I'm sure they will take care of you. I own a new Cobra myself and despite the naysayers, it's a fine revolver and will not as valued as the earlier versions, I think the trigger might actually be better. Once you get your King working right, I'm sure you'll be damn happy with it. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

December 27, 2019, 06:13 PM	#13
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	Dry cycle it about 500 times. I don't mean dry-firing. Bring the hammer slowly, like very slowly...use strength if necessary - then release the trigger and manually bring the hammer forward. Empty gun of course... Brand new revolvers can be finicky in double action. I've "fixed" about a half dozen new revolvers in this fashion. Smooths out the action big time. __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

December 27, 2019, 08:48 PM	#14
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	Brand new gun from COLT, and it doesn't work. DO NOT tinker with it, do not dry cycle it 500 times, do NOT have a local gunsmith work on it. Send it back to Colt. Period. Better if the people your wife bought it through do it for you, but if not, do it yourself. The reasons I say don't tinker with it, don't fix it, etc, are twofold. First, its Colt's ethical and legal responsibility to sell a product that works, and they are responsible for fixing it. Don't let them off that hook. Second, its for the benefit of Colt and the rest of us. Somebody(s) at Colt SCREWED UP! #1, the assembler(s) didn't do it right and #2, some inspector let it get past them, and out the door for sale. If you fix it, or get it fixed, Colt won't know there is a problem. OR where. And what they don't know about, they can't FIX. Contacting Colt and sending them back the DEFECTIVE item (and all shipping costs, both ways, ought to be on their dime) tells them there's a problem, and gives them a place to start looking in order to fix it, so this doesn't happen again. Fixing the screw ups (including replacing the people who screwed up, if necessary) helps them, and helps us, all potential future customers. Sure, every shop that makes anything can and sometimes does have a "lemon" get to the consumer. That doesn't mean we need to just suck it up and fix it. THEY DO. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

December 25, 2019, 09:57 AM	#1
t4terrific Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2009 Posts: 307	New Colt King Cobra Target Doesn’t Work My wife gave me a new King Cobra Target this morning for Christmas, and it’s a dud out if the box. It works one time, and then the cylinder doesn’t rotate on subsequent shots (double action or single action). If I move the cylinder latch lever a little, the cylinder will rotate on the next shot only. Basically, it works once, but then I have to wiggle the cylinder latch between each shot to get the cylinder to rotate. The worst part of all is the last time I sent a Colt back to Colt to get it to work right was in 2012, and it took them three months to get it back to me.

December 25, 2019, 10:21 AM	#2
RGRacing Member Join Date: September 27, 2017 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 50	Tears - and a bunch of F words - __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 25, 2019, 10:26 AM	#3
Bowdog Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 112	Sorry to hear that but over the years I have had trouble with Colt. Starting back as far as 1980 with a 1911.Good luck. Hope customer service will repair it. Good looking gun.

December 27, 2019, 11:21 AM	#7
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Is this with ammo in the cylinders or dry firing?

December 27, 2019, 02:35 PM	#10
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	I'm with Krezyhorse. Assuming it's not something very simple that can be easily fixed, Colt should take care of it. Every manufacturer, even high end ones like Wilson Combat, sometimes puts a gun out that needs some warranty work. Nobody likes it, but I think you will be very pleased with the gun when fixed.

December 27, 2019, 06:03 PM	#12
labnoti Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2018 Posts: 252	I'll take a crack at this, but my first advice is to take it to the shop where it was bought and see if they can diagnose it as a simple problem or something that needs to go back to Colt. Most stores have a no-returns policy on firearms, so you might expect they won't accept responsibility for the problem or to resolve it, but they may have a gunsmith on site who is knowledgeable. On the other hand, it may have been a big box store in which case it is still possible to find a person with knowledge, but more doubtful. The way I understand the problem, the cylinder will rotate and the sear engage. Then the trigger is pulled and the hammer drops. After this, pulling the trigger will not rotate the cylinder and cocking the hammer is blocked. If the hammer cocks but does not rotate the cylinder, then the hand is not rotating the cylinder and the problem is a broken hand or sheared notches on the ejector star. Since the problem description includes the fact that fiddling with the cylinder release does result in cylinder rotation and function, I rather suspect the hammer does not cock or the cylinder rotate -- because the bolt is not retracted. The bolt must be pushed back to give clearance to the hammer to cock. When the hammer cocks, the hand pushes the cylinder to rotate it. The most common reason for the bolt not retracting is the cylinder pin is not pushing on it due to the ejector rod having come partially unscrewed. It may be you just need to tighten this (normally a reverse thread, but not sure on new Colts). Credit to Tom Servo for mentioning this most likely fix. Why does the mechanism work like this? The bolt blocks the hammer so the gun does not cock when the cylinder is open. Consequently, it also makes it so the trigger cannot be pulled when the cylinder is open. It also makes it so the cylinder cannot be opened when the gun is cocked or the trigger is pulled. Therefore, if the mechanism is misadjusted (or partially disassembled), it works as would be expected if the cylinder is actually open when it appears to be closed.

December 27, 2019, 11:02 PM	#15
labnoti Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2018 Posts: 252	This is all good if it is indeed defective. Being partially disassembled is not the same as defective. So if the ejector rod is unscrewed, it is not necessarily a defect. Similarly, if a screw backs out and the grip panels or the yoke and cylinder fall off that is not necessarily a defect. It is normal for revolvers to require periodic maintenance, including tightening screws and things. They are not like a Glock in that respect, but it does not make them defective. It does reflect poorly on Colt's quality of assembly if they shipped a revolver with a loose rod, but a trip back to Colt isn't needed to tighten it. I have carefully used nylon-jawed pliers, but a better method is to remove the cylinder from the yoke, clamp the ejector rod in a padded vise and turn the cylinder with your hand to tighten it. Brownells also sells a clamp to torque it, as well as a dandy fixture to check (and fix) the runout of the rod with a dial gauge.

December 28, 2019, 08:21 AM	#17
USNRet93 Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2018 Location: Republic of Boulder, USA Posts: 1,475	I have no idea what's wrong with it but I would certainly take it back to where she(what a GREAT wife!!) bought it. Is it new? Hopefully not an 'online' buy... __________________ PhormerPhantomPhlyer "Tools not Trophies”

December 28, 2019, 08:47 AM	#18
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	I know its a bit of a headache, I have been there, but send it back to Colt. Wonderful gift from your wife.

December 28, 2019, 10:15 AM	#19
TBM900 Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2015 Posts: 777	Well the sucks I just got a 3" King Cobra for Christmas but have not shot it yet __________________ Playboy billionaire Retired Colonial Marine 1st to walk on the moon without a spacesuit

December 29, 2019, 06:10 AM	#20
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Did I miss where giving it a decent cleaning was suggested before doing anything else? Once a gun is test fired, I don't believe they bother to clean it - just stick it in the box and ship it. First thing I'd try is blow it out w/the compressor and make sure there's no debris hanging things up. Wouldn't be the first time an unburned flake of powder got between things & tied up the rotation of a revolver.

December 29, 2019, 08:21 AM	#21
Lohman446 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2016 Posts: 2,192	I understand the desire of some to assure Colt takes responsibility but attempting a minor repair is about convenience not responsibility. Hate to send it back, wait a month, only to find it was a two minute fix

December 29, 2019, 11:17 AM	#23
cslinger Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,045	Nothing under the ejector star, right? Like it is clean and dry and no specks of powder under there? Also the rod being unscrewed is worth checking. Also no obvious debris in the channel the cylinder (is it the hand? The small lever that actuates the cylinder.). If it’s none of those easy quick fixes then send it back. Might be worth a cleaning and a shot if compressed air in the books and crannies. Though just in case it’s a “golden bb” of debris/metal shaving or unburnt powder. Good luck. It’s a very pretty gun. __________________ "Is there anyway I can write my local gun store off on my taxes as dependents?"

December 29, 2019, 01:48 PM	#24
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	It is a pretty gun. But it doesn't work. And, the more I hear about this, it makes me wonder if any of them work. There appears to be an ongoing problem at Colt. A friend who works part time at the local gunshop asked about them, and the answer was a disparaging "yeah, typical Colt quality control..." That one shop has, in the last 6 months gotten two (2) of the exact same Colt, the King Cobra Target, brand new, and both had to be returned because they wouldn't work. One would not fire, the hammer strikes were too light to fire anything (at least three different brands of ammo were tried) and the other was so far out of time that the primer was struck too far off center to fire. EVERY TIME. One bad gun here, another there, can be put down to the "everyone has a lemon get out once in a while" but there is a limit to coincidence, and I'd say the issues with the Colt King Cobra Target have gone beyond happenstance. The old rule is, first time is happenstance, second time is coincidence, but the 3rd time is Enemy Action! Still say the gun should go back to Colt to be fixed, but I now have less hope of Colt fixing their internal problems. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

December 29, 2019, 01:51 PM	#25
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 415	At the LGS yesterday, I mentioned you problem with your King Cobra. The owner related that they have had two customer King Cobras fail, both brand new for Colt. The first one had what he described as a chronically light primer strike. The gun would not fire. Three types of ammo were tried, firing pin strike wasn't heavy enough to fire. The second was so badly mistimed, it went straight back to Colt. There is a serious problem here, neither one of these should have passed a Quality Inspection. So, there is an assembly problem, that got through whatever QA Colt has, and into a customer's hands.