Colt King Cobra Carry .357 Mag 2″ 6-Round Stainless

About this product

What is the Colt King Cobra Carry .357 Magnum? It's a 6-round stainless steel snub-nose revolver with a 2-inch barrel, engineered explicitly for concealed carry with a focus on mechanical durability over tactical features. This is Colt's modern interpretation of the classic D-frame, built without the sideplate weakness of older designs and utilizing CNC-machined solid stainless steel for the frame and cylinder. For shooters who understand that a revolver's primary advantage in a defensive context isn't capacity or speed, but absolute mechanical certainty, this is a purpose-built tool that prioritizes that certainty above all else.

What is the Colt King Cobra Carry used for?

This revolver is used for concealed carry as a primary or backup defensive weapon, specifically by individuals who prioritize ignition reliability in adverse conditions over semi-automatic capacity. The enclosed design of the revolver action shields the primer strikes and cartridge cases from dirt, lint, and moisture far more effectively than the open ejection port of a semi-auto, a critical factor for a firearm carried against the body daily. Its fixed sights and simple double/single-action trigger make it suitable for instinctive point-shooting at typical defensive ranges under 7 yards, where elaborate sight pictures are often academic.

How does the Colt King Cobra Carry compare to the Smith & Wesson 686 Plus?

The Colt King Cobra Carry is demonstrably better for concealed carry, while the Smith & Wesson 686 Plus is superior for range use and hunting. The 686 Plus, with its typical 4-inch or 6-inch barrel and 7-round capacity, offers more velocity and sight radius, making it a more versatile field gun, but its larger L-frame adds roughly 10 ounces unloaded, pushing carry weight over 40 ounces. The King Cobra Carry's 28-ounce unloaded weight and truncated 7.25-inch overall length make it concealable under a t-shirt, a feat the 686 Plus cannot match without significant printing.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The King Cobra Carry weighs 28 ounces (794 grams) unloaded and measures 7.25 inches in overall length, with a cylinder width of 1.55 inches. The 2-inch barrel contributes to its compact profile, which is 1.3 inches shorter in overall length than a comparable 3-inch barreled revolver like the Ruger SP101, translating directly to less handle exposure when carried in an inside-the-waistband holster. With its Hogue rubber grips installed, the grip circumference is approximately 5.5 inches, which accommodates most hand sizes while minimizing bulk against the torso.

Who is this NOT for?

This firearm is not for a new shooter seeking a low-recoil training platform or a competition shooter needing a fast reload. The .357 Magnum cartridge in a 28-ounce, 2-inch barrel generates over 20 ft-lbs of felt recoil energy with full-power loads, which is punishing and can develop a flinch without disciplined training. Furthermore, the 6-round capacity and lack of a moon-clip system mean reloads are inherently slower than with a modern striker-fired pistol or a revolver like our Stevens 334 rifle, where follow-up shots are part of the design philosophy. If your primary use case is recreational target shooting, consider the greater versatility of an over-under like our Stevens 555 Sporting 20 Gauge.

What's in the box?

You receive the revolver, one 6-round stainless steel cylinder, a single set of Hogue Monogrip rubber grips with finger grooves pre-installed, and a plastic pistol case. Colt does not include a cable lock, speed loaders, or a factory-provided holster—common omissions in the modern revolver market that underscore its role as a serious tool rather than an all-inclusive kit. The manual includes a basic parts diagram and safety warnings but lacks the depth of armorer-level detail found in older Colt publications, so understanding its tear-down procedure for cleaning requires external reference.

Is the Colt King Cobra Carry worth it at $991.99?

At $991.99, it's worth it for a buyer who specifically values Colt's modern solid-frame construction and the .357 Magnum's ballistic versatility over lower-priced .38 Special alternatives. You are paying for the material cost of a CNC-machined, brushed stainless steel frame and cylinder, which is more expensive to produce than the investment-cast frames of many competitors, and for the Colt name's historical cachet. For a shooter who will only ever use .38 Special ammunition, a Taurus 856 or used Smith & Wesson Model 10 at nearly half the price offers 95% of the functional utility, making the King Cobra a purchase driven by material preference and brand loyalty more than pure necessity.