Gun Review: Colt Kodiak 4.25-Inch .44 Magnum

When Colt re-released the Python in 2020, nobody doubted they would have a hit on their hand, and a hit Colt certainly had. But I don’t think anyone would have guessed they would be so aggressive with so many different models of their original “snake guns” including some rarer versions offered in some of the old catalogs. Those re-releases now include one of the rarest versions of Colt’s double action Anaconda, the Colt Kodiak, in .44 Magnum.

Despite the name, the new Kodiak is another re-issue of Colt’s original “snake guns.” Just like the modern Kodiak, the original was also built on the Anaconda’s frame. Those old guns looked a whole lot like the modern Kodiaks, Mag-na-ported, with Hogue grips and a smooth un-fluted cylinder. Originally released in 1993, the old Kodiak was limited to a small production run, with only 2,000 guns made. As far as I know, there’s no such production limit on the current run of Kodiaks.

As the Kodiak is essentially a differently featured Anaconda, the sights, grip, trigger, action, hammer and finish are all the same. That’s a good thing. The red ramp front sight picks up well, but a fiber optic or tritium set would be even better. Of course, like all of the new snake guns, it’s extremely easy to replace the front sight, with its single retaining screw above the recessed target-crowned muzzle.

The trigger and action are exactly the same as the Anaconda (and the same as the new Pythons, too). The linear leaf spring design of the action doesn’t stack like the old Pythons and makes for a smooth, even pull. Using my Lyman digital trigger scale, this Kodiak’s trigger measured 9lbs 5.4oz in double action and 6lbs even in single action. As with all of the new snake guns, there’s a kind of weird stutter on the release of the trigger, making it feel a bit like the trigger resets before it actually does. Riding the trigger out on a double action gun is a bad habit to get into anyway.

These un-fluted snake guns, like the Python Combat Elite, the new Colt Grizzly, and this Kodiak are particularly good-looking guns. With the exceptional finish of the new Colts, the smooth cylinders really shine and provide a beefy, yet somehow still refined look. It’s eye-catching and surprising how much one simple change makes the Grizzly look like a different gun than its Anaconda base.

The rubberized grips do a fine job of allowing the shooter to get a full, non-slip grip on the revolver. I’m still of the belief that stock/grip fit mean a lot more than grip material when it comes to controlling recoil. That’s probably why rubberized grips do well for so many people. Not because they function like a recoil pad, but more likely because they squish to fit a wide variety of hands.

Still, this is such a gorgeous gun that it deserves some nice wood, or maybe a G10 grip. Fortunately, because this is a version of the Anaconda, aftermarket grips are available from a wide variety of vendors and makers.

The ports on the new Kodiak are modest. They certainly have some effect, but if you’re used to the large oblong cuts like those provided by Mag-na-port, you’re going to be disappointed.

Comparing the Kodiak to my stock Anaconda with the same barrel length, I can’t really tell any difference in recoil with any .44SPL or the mild to moderate .44 magnum commercial loadings. That changes at the top end loads, anything that pushes a lot of hot powder down the barrel. Pushing Hornady’s 300gr XTP bullet in front of 19gr of H110 power was the combination that really made the muzzle drive down. That’s a potent load, but unfortunately, not a particularly accurate one.

When I head back into Idaho’s bear country with the Kodiak this fall, the load I’ll have in the cylinders is Buffalo Bore’s Heavy .44 Magnum 305gr LBT-LFN (Item 4A) because I can’t yet make anything to quite match it in this gun. That round is leaving this Kodiak’s barrel at a chrono’d 1,300fps and it’s printing the best groups of any load I tested at 1.9″. That’s enough power to persuade a brown bear to break a charge and it’s enough precision to anchor the black bears I’ll be hunting.

That 300gr XTP home-rolled round referenced above was the worst shooting of any combination I tried, throwing a 3.5″ group. Switching to a 300gr hardcast bullet and slowing it down to 1,200fps shrank those groups considerably, down to 2.5″.

I’m not sure what was happening there. Federal’s 240gr Hydra-Shock, unfit for hunting with the exception of varmints and smaller deer, had groups measuring 2.2″ and was particularly easy to shoot. If you have people problems, that’s the round for you. All groups were five rounds shot on a fouled bore, single action, un-timed, off bags at 25 yards.

At the bench, shooting any 4.25″ .44 Magnum can get tiring. Shooting while standing or kneeling is another thing entirely. I’ve now reviewed every barrel length of the Anaconda, firing over 1,500 rounds through the different versions of these guns. Not only have they all performed with perfect reliability, they’ve all been pretty easy to shoot.

The Kodiak is no different. The un-fluted cylinder adds a tiny bit of weight, and the ports help a bit, but even without them, recoil would not be severe. With any .44 Special load (perfect for practice and plinking) the Kodiak is an absolute pussycat. If you want to stick to .44 Magnum loads, as long as you have a double-crush grip, you’ll have no problem with long range sessions, assuming your pocketbook can handle the hit.

The Kodiak is bound to be a hit. It’s a big, beautiful, powerful weapon. It would carry well enough on the hip, and perfectly in a chest holster or under the arm in bear country. It’s also just great that Colt is branching out so quickly to bring back all of the old snake guns including the more rare models like this one.

Specifications: Colt Kodiak

Caliber: .44 Magnum/.44 Special
Barrel Length: 4.25″
Capacity: 6 rounds
Action: DA/SA
Weight: 48.5 oz
Sights: Fixed front, adjustable rear
Finish: Semi-bright
MSRP: $1,524.99 (about $1480 retail)