Thirty-five years ago, Colt introduced the Anaconda double action (DA) revolver. Initially, it was chambered in .44 Magnum, then some three years later, was offered in .45 Colt. The Anaconda was the first large-frame, swing-out cylinder sixgun since the New Service, which had been discontinued nearly 50 years earlier, and was first cataloged in 1898. It was a variation of the Model 1892, but with an up-sized frame and cylinder to allow it to be chambered for cartridges like the .38-40, .44-40, .45 Colt, and others. One .45 Colt version served the military during the Moro Rebellion in the Philippines as the Model 1909. When the U.S. entered WWI, there was a shortage of Model 1911 service pistols in .45 ACP, so Colt chambered the New Service for this cartridge, and it became the Model 1917. After 43 years of production, the New Service was discontinued in 1941.
The Colt Anaconda is descended from the New Service (above) which was made from 1898 to 1941; the one shown shipped from the factory in 1937.
The Anaconda was originally styled after the Colt Python, but was much bigger, and had a barrel with a with a vent-rib and full underlug. Fashioned from stainless-steel, it could be had with a 4, 6 or 8” barrel. Powered by a coil mainspring, the action was more like that of the Mark V series, such as the King Cobra. I received a 6” barrel model in 1993 to test, and I was very impressed with it. Sadly, I sent the test gun back to Colt, and then it was dropped from production in 2003. Now, twenty-two years later, the Anaconda has been resurrected.
This version has a 4.25” barrel which resembles the barrel on the Colt Python with its vent rib and full underlug.
Crafted entirely from stainless-steel, the Anaconda has a polished finish and all metal parts had
flawless fitting.
For my re-test, I requested a 4.25” barrel version, and as before, it can be had with a 6 or 8” barrel. Again, the Anaconda is in stainless-steel, with a polished finish. On my test gun, the barrel rib has two vent slots and an integral ramp that slopes up from the barrel/frame juncture, forward to the muzzle, and a full underlug. The front sight is easily removed with an Allen wrench, and is black in color, with a finely serrated orange insert. Both upper surfaces of the rib and frame top-strap, have a matte finish. Also black in color, the rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Just forward of the rear sight, the top-strap is drilled and tapped for mounting a scope or reflex sight.
The black rear sight is fully adjustable; note the top-strap is drilled and tapped for optics, and you can also see the wide, serrated hammer spur.
A finely serrated orange insert is set into the front sight, which is easily removed with an Allen wrench.
A fore to aft examination of my Anaconda earned Colt an A+ for the fit and finish. I was pleased to see the front edges of the cylinder are radiused, making holstering easier. The hammer has an outsized spur, with forward-slanting serrations, which allow for good purchase when thumb-cocking. Also, enlarged, the trigger-face measures 0.365” in width and has 3 grooves that help keep your finger anchored on the trigger, without being abrasive. I was very impressed with the trigger pull. My Lyman Trigger Pull Gauge indicated the average single action (SA) pull weight was 6 lbs. 7 oz., but the triggers width made it feel much lighter. The average DA pull weight was 10 lbs. 11 oz. and smooth, but not “stagey.” A well-versed DA revolver shooter, can manipulate the trigger pull so the hammer pauses just before the trigger breaks. This increases the accuracy of aimed DA shooting. Unlike the 1990’s era Anacondas with their coiled mainspring, the 2025 Anacondas have a V-shaped leaf mainspring, and are basically oversized versions of the 2020 Python action. A transfer bar interposes itself between the hammer nose and the frame-mounted firing pin for safety, and the bar is lowered out of the way when the trigger is deliberately pulled.
Note the bolt slots on the cylinder indicate that it rotates clockwise; the thumb latch on a Colt is pulled rearward to unlock the cylinder for loading.
Standard on the Anaconda is Colt-branded Hogue Monogrips; they have pebble-textured sides, finger grooves, and the red arrow points to a fitting issue.
To dress up the Anaconda, the author fitted it with these attractive “Fingergroove Super Rosewood” grips from the Altamont Company.
A very useful feature is the Anaconda grip-frame, which is the same size as that on the Python; any grips that fit the Python will also fit the Anaconda. The standard factory grips are Colt-branded Hogue over-molded Monogrips. They are pebble-textured, black rubber, with finger grooves, and an exposed backstrap. I was a bit put off by the fit of these grips on the backstrap, but left them in place for the T&E. I felt the new Anaconda deserved something nicer, so I ordered a set of Fingergroove Super Rosewood grips from the Altamont Co. They have a handsome grain pattern, are nicely checkered, and the checkered panels are enhanced with floral carving. As a bonus, they come with gold Colt medallions. They are hand-filling and recoil taming.
The Anaconda comes in a Colt blue plastic carrying case, with a safety padlock, and owner’s manual. It has an empty weight of 46 oz. and the enormous cylinder is almost 2 inches in length, a boon to handloaders. The frame is “bulked up” at the rear of the top-strap and around the barrel forcing cone. As it easily deals with .44 Magnum pressures, this version should be able to handle any reasonable .45 Colt load.
Five brands of .45 Colt cartridges were used in the Anaconda T&E; they included an all lead, JSP, and three JHP loads.
For my Anaconda T&E I elected to use some .45 Colt “performance” cartridges and one traditional load. I’m referring to the Remington Performance Wheelgun cartridges that have a 250-gr. lead bullet. From CCI/Speer is a Blazer load that has a 200-gr. jacketed bullet, with a gaping hollow nose. Its jacket extends up to the hollow point, and is skived to aid in expansion. I selected the Federal/American Eagle load as it looked to have good penetration characteristics, and has a 225 gr. semi-jacked soft-point bullet. Tucked away in my ammo locker, was a box of HPR cartridges. No longer made, this .45 Colt load has a 250 gr. JHP bullet, that appears to be a Hornady XTP. I also had several 20-round boxes of Winchester Elite PDX1 Defender cartridges. This load has a 225 gr. bonded JHP bullet, with the same configuration as the old Black Talon, but with a copper-colored jacket.
On range day, I readied my Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph to get bullet velocity measurements. I also sent a bullseye target down to the ten-yard line so I could chronograph and check my sight setting simultaneously. I discovered that I had to lower the rear sight as far down as it would go, and move it just a couple of clicks to the right. This gave me a point of aim (POA) 6 o’clock of the center ring of the target. I found that with some of the lighter-weight bullets, point of impact (POI) was slightly lower. The velocity data can be seen in the performance table.
Accuracy potential testing was done at 15 yards, from a bench rest using a Ransom Steady Rest.
For my accuracy potential evaluation of the Anaconda, I set up my Ransom Steady Rest on the bench, in my shooting lane. I sent double bullseye targets to the 15-yard line, and I fired three 5-shot groups, SA, with each of the test cartridges. Starting with the Blazer cartridges, I had a case of the “4+1 Syndrome.” A nice 1.17” 4-shot group was ruined by a flyer that opened it up to 2.53.” The same thing happened with the other two groups. It only occurred with this load. The tightest group measured 1.04” and was made using the Federal American Eagle loads. I was delighted with the accuracy of the Colt Anaconda and the performance table makes this evident.
A practical shooting course, consisting of 30 rounds fired at 3, 7 and 15 yards was performed using an IDPA silhouette target, and a mix of the test ammo.
For some DA shooting and quick reloading, I shot a 30-round practical qualification course using a mix of the .45 Colt test cartridges. I found that an HKS #25-5 speedloader works just fine in the .45 Colt Anaconda. An IDPA-Tan 23×35 Series silhouette target was used for this exercise. There were four stages in the course, with shooting done at 3, 7, and 15 yards. Stage one was shot using the strong hand and support-hand only, with a reload using the HKS speedloader, between the transition. The shooting was done instinctively, without using the sights. Stage two was at seven yards; I shot a series of 3 double-taps, using the sights, then a reload. Stage three, also at 7 yards, involved two shots fired center-mass, and one to the head; this was repeated, and with a final reload. Stage four was at 15 yards, and the target was engaged using the sights, from the left and right-side barricade positions. I used my range bag as an impromptu barricade. As all my bullet impacts were in the -0 scoring areas, so I lost no points, and aced the course.
Here you can see the results of the practical shooting course, and also the bullseye target (bottom) with the tightest 5-shot group shot at 15 yards.
I was very impressed with the new Colt Anaconda in .45 Colt. What would seem a heavy SA trigger pull, turned out to have little or no effect on accuracy. For 75 rounds fired in the accuracy test, the overall group average was 1.85.” The sixguns weight, combined with the Hogue grips, kept recoil and muzzle-flip manageable for one and two-handed DA shooting. The sights were easy to see during the bullseye and practical shooting exercises. The ejector rod was long enough to push the empty cases out with a vigorous slap, and the grips did not impede loading. Best of all, I had no issues with the Anaconda during the T&E. I wish I could say that about all the test guns I receive! Colt will not be getting this gun back!
Colt Anaconda Specifications
MECHANISM: Traditional DA/SA revolver
CALIBER: .45 Colt
CAPACITY: 6 cartridges
BARREL: 4.25”
O/A LENGTH: 9.5”
EMPTY WEIGHT: 46 oz.
SIGHTS: Serrated red ramp front, fully adjustable rear
FINISH: Polished stainless-steel
STOCKS: Black rubber Hogue with finger grooves and textured sides
MSRP: $1,699.00
Colt Anaconda .45 Colt Performance
|
Cartridge |
Ave. Velocity |
Best Grp. |
Ave. Grp. |
Ft-Pounds Muzzle Energy |
|
CCI/Speer Blazer 200 gr. JHP |
884 FPS |
2.53” |
2.61” |
347 FPE |
|
Federal/American Eagle 225 gr. JSP |
893 FPS |
1.04” |
1.36” |
398 FPE |
|
HPR 250 gr. JHP |
812 FPS |
1.59” |
1.96” |
367 FPE |
|
Remington Performance Wheelgun 250 gr. LRN |
817 FPS |
1.37” |
1.72” |
370 FPE |
|
Winchester PDX1 Defender 225 gr. Bonded JHP |
872 FPS |
1.29” |
1.60” |
380 FPE |
NOTE: Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second, 15” from the muzzle by a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph, and accuracy in inches for three 5-shot groups at 15 yards.
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