Colt King Cobra Target .22 Revolver: Plinking Crown?

Everyone should have a .22 revolver, and you're not going to find a better example of the breed than the King Cobra Target .22.

August 31, 2024 By J. Scott Rupp

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For a long time, when it came to revolvers Colt was the undisputed king. You could argue Smith & Wesson dominated for longer, and Ruger has certainly been a player in more recent decades, but when you consider Samuel Colt and the iconic Single Action Army, there’s little question that guns from this legendary company have been well-regarded and sought after.

Colt faded from the wheelgun market in the latter part of the previous century, but in the past five years or so it has gotten back in the game. The return of the Python .357 Magnum made a big splash a couple of years ago, and I was very impressed by the Anaconda .44 Magnum I reviewed in 2023. And there’s one more model in Colt’s snake lineup worth checking out: the King Cobra.

Fangs in the Game

The King Cobra line includes .357s in Target, DAO and Carry models, but the subject of this review is the 10-shot .22 version. It’s built on a medium frame, and its weight is two pounds, two ounces. The King Cobras have a heavy barrel with a full-length underlug, and the .22 version is no exception.

The barrel has a full-length underlug for great balance. Unlike other guns in the line, the .22 has a ventilated rib. The top of the rib and frontstrap are matte-finished to eliminate glare. (Photo courtesy of J. Scott Rupp)

The 4.25-inch barrel is one piece, the classic style of manufacturing, and there’s a target-style crown at the muzzle. Unique to the King Cobra line, the .22 model boasts a ventilated rib, and the top of the rib and the flat frontstrap are matte-finished for no-glare sighting.

The rear sight is pinned and fully adjustable, and the front sight is a red fiber optic with an ample “cage” to protect the rod. The front sight can be removed by turning out a tiny screw in front of the rib.

The finish on the barrel and frame is a bright stainless, and the polishing was well done except for two missed spots at the front of the rib and the front of the ejector shroud. “King Cobra” and “.22 LR,” along with a cobra emblem, are engraved on the left side of the barrel. Colt’s info—still proudly located in Hartford, Connecticut—is inscribed on the right side.

The rampant colt symbol is engraved on the frame on the left, below the cylinder latch. The serial number is on the opposite side, and toward the front of the frame on that side is one of those goofy-looking QR manufacturing codes—although mercifully there are no legalese warnings anywhere on the revolver.

revolver cylinder — The fluted cylinder holds 10 rounds, and timing of the cylinder bolt was excellent. Accuracy was terrific as well. (Photo courtesy of J. Scott Rupp)

The cylinder release latch is Colt’s pull-style, and the cylinder bolt on this gun was extremely well-timed. Even after dozens of rounds, there was nary a mark on the fluted cylinder.

The hammer spur is standard width and serrated. The double-action trigger pull on this sample averaged nine pounds, five ounces, while the single-action pull measured three pounds, eight ounces. The double-action pull exhibited noticeable stacking at the end of the pull, but the weight was super consistent. There was a slight hitch in the single-action pull when I first started shooting the gun from the bench, but in time it smoothed out and eventually disappeared.

Accuracy

The King Cobra Target .22 lived up to its name from the bench, as you can see in the accompanying chart. That’s great 25-yard accuracy with iron sights. It didn’t care for the Magtech load, but it’s common for individual rimfires to show preferences or dislikes. Similarly, while the Federal Punch self-defense load notched the top accuracy average among the loads tested, it also had sticky extraction of fired cases.

The sights are great, with a rear notch/front blade combination that allows for real precision; there’s minimal light on either side of the 0.016-inch blade. While there are no click-direction arrows on the sight, there’s a handy three-dot indicator on the top of the sight so you know which way, and how much, you’ve moved the notch for windage.

My only complaint is the double-action stacking. It’s hardly a deal-breaker, but after working with the Anaconda last year I expected better from a Colt revolver. However, the nice thing about revolvers is if a trigger isn’t exactly what you hoped for, it’s easily cured with an aftermarket spring kit—if I can install one, so can you—or a gunsmith tune-up.

Everyone should have a .22 revolver, and you’re not going to find a better example of the breed than the King Cobra Target .22. As my experience showed, it’s a fantastic plinker—accurate and fun to shoot. It would ride really nicely in a belt holster as a trail companion, and while I’ve never tried my hand at rimfire competitions with a revolver, I would expect this gun would make a great choice. It can do all these things—and do it with a level of class few wheelguns today can match.