By Joe W Gorman
Alluring alliteration aside, the Colt King Cobra Carry (DAO model) is Colt’s coolest Roscoe for the modern age. The 2” barrel, stainless-steel 6-shot King Cobra is based off of the D frame and has the metallurgy and a beefed-up parts needed to shoot a steady diet of .357 Magnums (ask me how I know).
Colt’s Roscoe for the modern age!
At 26 ounces, the King Cobra Carry is an ideal weight for a carry gun. The King is small enough to be concealed by an untucked T shirt when traveling in a Galco Combat Master (roughly .126” wider than my 640 Smith and Wesson) and packs 6 shots instead of 5. This is a gun you can holster and forget, in a quality holster like the Galco Combat Master. I was also pleasantly surprised to find my Detective Special speed loaders work perfectly in the King Cobra Carry.
I installed a XS Sight Tritium front sight on the Cobra, replacing the factory gold bead. This was easily accomplished with the included hex wrench, and I was rewarded with a big orange sight in the daylight that transitions to a glowing green tritium sight in darkness. Either way, you won’t lose the sight as you are bringing the Cobra up on target. This sight is made of robust steel and survived a revolver fumble onto a wood floor with no issues. The XS Tritium front sight nicely filled the channel rear sight on the Cobra, allowing me to shoot the little Colt Magnum quite accurately out to 20 yards or so.
The XS Sights tritium night sight comes with everything you need to install it!
I compared Colt’s King Cobra Carry to my 1977 Detective Special that has traveled with me all over my journeys in the southern US in a Galco Speed Master Paddle. The ’77 action of the Detective Special is smooth as buttah, however, the King Cobra is a close second. Really close! The King Cobra’s double action is light and non-stacking and conducive to precision shooting at reasonable ranges. The King Cobra’s thin, smooth trigger permits non-fatiguing double action shooting. Also, I am more accurate with the King Cobra Carry than I am with the Detective Special due to the high visibility sights on the King Cobra Carry. I never wanted to carry the DS in an ankle rig as I was always afraid it would be exposed to sweat and gunk. The Galco COP ankle rig comfortably and securely carries the King Cobra and with a silicone cloth wipe down at the end of the day, no worries about rust.
Author’s 1977 Colt Detective Special and Galco Speed Master Paddle. They’ve traveled all over the Southern US.
Galco’s COP ankle rig kept the King Cobra Carry DAO secure.
Range testing was done with .357 Magnum Hornady 158gr XTP, Hornady 130gr Magnum Hunter ammunition, 125gr Remington JHP Green/White box and reloads made with Hornady .357 Magnum brass, 14.5gr of Winchester 296 power, Winchester small Magnum primers and Hornady 158gr XTP bullets. In a revolver this small, physics dictates that the shooter will feel some recoil when shooting full power Magnum ammunition. The light weight/short barrel combine to snap hard, but this gun was still very manageable, even when shooting pairs. Accuracy was impressive for this Colt King Cobra Carry. All shots were, well obviously, double action and keeping all shots in the head of a B27 target from 12 yards was not difficult. The XS sight, again, seems to be a perfect fit for this gun and contributed to excellent practical accuracy. Firing the King Cobra Carry near sunset provided a fun fireball when shooting the 296-based reloads. (I was out of 2400 unfortunately)
Looking down the sight channel of the King Cobra Carry. That big XS front sight is hard to miss!
During testing, I fired more than 500 rounds of .357 magnum ammunition and 100 rounds of .38 special cast bullet target ammo. The revolver worked perfectly with no issues. I will mention that I needed to retighten the side plate screws at the end of my range testing, but the Cobra never hiccupped! The rubber Hogue grips supplied with the gun provided an excellent purchase and helped with felt recoil.
Range testing the Colt King Cobra Carry DAO
My Detective Special is relegated to the safe these days as it’s got sentimental value to me, and I have managed to keep it rust free despite walking around in 90/90 days (90 degrees and 90 % humidity). I am pleased to know Colt is making modern carry guns that improve upon the tried-and-true D-frame snubby. The Colt King Cobra retains all the ingredients that make you want to carry a wheel gun and strikes a good balance between small size and durability with magnum loads. The HKS speed loader and the 158gr XTP ammunition make for quick reloads. Galco’s holsters will keep this old-school self-defense masterpiece under control for many years to come.
| Ammunition | Avg Velocity at Muzzle (fps) | Capable of B27 10 Ring Hits at 8 Yards* |
| Hornady .357 Magnum 158gr XTP | 1150 | Yes |
| Hornady .357 Magnum 130gr Handgun Hunter | 1140 | Yes |
| Remington/UMC .38 Special 125gr JHP | 887 | Yes |
| Reload: 357 Magnum, 158gr XTP 14.5gr Win 296 | 920 | Yes |
*Fired double action with deliberate fire, all ammunition could group all six shots in the 10 ring of a B27 Target from 8 yards. This is the author’s GO/NGO test for carry ammo.
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