I Put a Red Dot on My Colt Grizzly And I Don’t Care What You Think

I love a good revolver—and I don’t discriminate. Old or new, American-made or import, if it’s good, it has my attention. But there are levels. In the pantheon of wheel guns, few rival the mystique of the Colt’s snake guns. Names like Python, Anaconda, Boa, Cobra, Viper are likely to draw the attention—and the desire—of many an admirer. If your pocketbook is deep enough, you, too can own one.

Luckily, purchasing a snake gun isn’t as difficult as it once was. Colt has brought back them back after a nearly two-decade hiatus. Now, there will be purists who don’t consider the modern snake guns part of the OG line. I get that, but the new series gives shooters the opportunity to own and shoot one of history’s best wheel guns.

The reintroduction of wheel guns has given Colt the chance to resurrect some of the rarer or uncommon variants. This includes the Colt Grizzly.

**Thank you to Colt for providing a sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Colt Grizzly Specs

The Colt Grizzly revives one of Colt’s less famous revolvers, updating a model with a limited run of only 999 units made by the Colt Custom Shop. The original had a King Cobra frame and a 6-inch Python barrel, but the new version adds 3-inch or 4.25-inch barrel options, making it better suited for backcountry carry.

The standard specs are as follows:

• Model(s): Colt Grizzly
• Caliber: .357 Magnum
• Capacity: 6
• Operation: DA/SA
• Sights: Red Ramp Front & Adjustable Target Rear
• Optic Cut: Accepts a Colt Factory Optic Plate
• Barrel Length: 6” (3” and 4.25” are also available)
• Grips: Hogue OverMolded Rubber Grips
• Weight: 41.1 oz.
• Price: $1,799

Features

The Grizzly has a smooth, unfluted six-round cylinder housed in a polished stainless-steel frame. A matte-finish top rib reduces glare, while the red ramp front sight and fully adjustable target rear sight give you a good, precise sight picture. Like the Python, the Grizzly has a full lug design.

The Grizzly was designed for the outdoorsman and for fending off…well, grizzlies. Its weight combined with Hogue OverMolded rubber grips absorb a lot of recoil. This double-action/single-action revolver has a double-action trigger pull of 7 to 9.5 pounds and weighs 41.1 ounces unloaded, providing enough weight to handle powerful .357 Magnum loads. The standout feature is the six ports at the barrel’s muzzle, a key feature for me.

Setup

What really attracted me was the Grizzly’s ability to mount a red dot on the top strap using a Colt factory optic plate. That, coupled with the barrel porting, should make this one of the best-shooting revolvers in my collection. The plate is RMSc-compatible which covers a huge range of red dot options for slim line pistols.

For this project, I mounted a Vortex Defender CCW Enclosed on it. The plate replaces the Grizzly’s adjustable rear sight and is easy to swap out. This turns it into a very capable target pistol and a good trail companion.

The only issue is the holster. I have a Bianchi holster that works great with the Grizzly—minus the optic. It will need to be modified in order to mount a red dot. (I found an article that gives step-by-step directions. It doesn’t seem too difficult.)

At the Range

I have a decent amount of experience with Colt snake guns. I own a 6-inch Python built in 1977. I adore that pistol, but I don’t shoot as much as I used to. I keep it clean and only take it out on occasion, so I’ve been looking for something similar that can take a lot of abuse. That’s what led me to the Grizzly.

The Grizzly is a very smooth shooter. There’s no slop in the action, and it doesn’t feel gritty. For a double-action revolver, a smooth trigger is paramount for accuracy. The porting, combined with the 6-inch barrel, makes .38 Special feel like a .22 and tames even the mightiest .357 Magnum loads I’ve fed it.

But the optic mount is what really sets it apart. The factory mount is solid. I shot about one hundred rounds through it in a single range session and it didn’t loosen at all and accuracy is superb.

The Defender-CCW Enclosed is one of my favorite carry optics and it performs as well as any I’ve mounted on a semi-auto. Some (many?) will disagree, but I think the Grizzly looks good with an optic. I’ve seen people put optics on revolvers and proudly post pics and something always looks off—out of place. But not here. An optic here looks right at home.

Zooming Out

The Grizzly already stands out for its accuracy and low recoil. Adding the plate and optic further expands the wheel gun’s capabilities. It’s a pricey package, but I believe it’s a worthwhile investment. For a revolver that blends classic Colt heritage with modern functionality, the optic-equipped Grizzly is a very compelling choice. While it may not replace my cherished Python as my ultimate gun, it has certainly earned a permanent spot in my safe.