Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR 4.25″ Stainless
About this product
The Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR 4.25″ Stainless is a forged stainless steel training and target revolver engineered for sustained accuracy over long live-fire sessions. This model directly ports the King Cobra .357 Magnum frame and ergonomics to .22 LR, creating a near-identical recoil and manipulation trainer at a fraction of the operational cost. Colt's pivot here is tactical; this revolver addresses the growing suppressor and SBR market where .22 LR subsonics are the dominant training currency.
What is the Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR used for?
This revolver is a dedicated live-fire trainer for big-bore Colt revolvers and a suppressor-ready target platform. The 4.25-inch barrel, with its 1:16 twist rate specifically tuned for 40-grain standard-velocity match ammo, stabilizes a subsonic round to remain under 1,050 FPS at the muzzle. That 1-piece barrel, coupled with adjustable rear target sight blade and a 3.17mm green fiber optic front post, directly translates to 1.5-inch groups at 25 yards with CCI Standard Velocity, which costs roughly 8 cents a round compared to 70 cents for .38 Special. For suppressor users, this means cheap, quiet, and mechanically precise practice, which is why you’ll see several units like this paired with a Silencerco Sparrow or Dead Air Mask at my range in Bozeman.
How does the Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR compare to a Smith & Wesson Model 617?
The King Cobra Target offers a more substantial frame and action feel directly analogous to a duty .357 Magnum, while the S&W 617 is purpose-built as a .22 LR from the ground up. The King Cobra's frame is the same forged stainless steel unit as the .357 model, weighing in at 36.2 ounces unloaded—4.8 ounces heavier than the 10-shot Model 617 with its 4-inch barrel. That extra heft directly mimics the balance and recoil impulse of a centerfire King Cobra, making it a superior dry-fire and live-fire analog for shooters training for defensive or NFA-regulated revolver use. For pure rimfire target competition, the 617's lighter double-action pull and 10-round capacity provide a clear mechanical edge, but for transition training, the Colt's identical manual of arms is the decisive factor.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The revolver weighs 36.2 ounces (1,026 grams) unloaded and measures 9.25 inches in overall length. With a cylinder width of 1.65 inches and a grip circumference of 5.75 inches, it provides the same exact hand-fill as the centerfire King Cobra, which is critical for maintaining consistent grip pressure during double-action trigger control drills. The Hogue overmolded rubber grips contribute 6.8 ounces of that total weight and have a pronounced palm swell that aligns the bore axis directly with the shooter's radius bone, reducing muzzle flip during rapid-fire strings. For comparison, the polymer-framed Stevens 334 Bolt-Action Rifle in .308 Win weighs 6.5 pounds, highlighting that this revolver's heft is a deliberate feature, not an oversight.
Who is this NOT for?
This is not a plinking or survivalist revolver. The $991.99 MSRP and target-focused sights make it a poor choice for someone seeking a general-purpose .22 LR handgun for casual use or backpacking. The investment only makes sense if you are specifically training for a centerfire Colt double-action revolver platform, engaging in formal bullseye or steel challenge competition where a stable sight picture is paramount, or building a dedicated suppressed Short-Barreled Rifle (SBR) trainer under an ATF Form 1 or 4. If your goal is inexpensive informal shooting, a Ruger Wrangler or a used heritage model at one-third the price will deliver more value per round fired.
What's in the box?
You receive the revolver, one 10-round stainless steel cylinder, a hard plastic lockable case, two security key locks (one for the action, one for the case), a cable-style trigger lock, and the standard Colt owner's manual and warranty card. Unlike many modern handguns, it does not ship with a bore snake or cleaning rod—Colt assumes you have a .22 caliber rod and jag set already. The cylinder is not interchangeable with the .357 Magnum version due to the different cartridge rim dimensions and bolt stop geometry, a point clearly noted in the manual to prevent user error during reassembly. For those interested in a complete field-ready system, consider pairing this with the optics-ready Stevens 555 Sporting .410 Bore Shotgun for a versatile small-game and training battery.
Is the Colt King Cobra Target worth it at $991.99?
Yes, but only within its specific niche as a high-fidelity training tool and suppressor host. The price is justified by the forged stainless steel construction, which will outlast any aluminum or polymer-frame .22 by decades of steady use, and the precise sight system that requires zero modification for competition. When you factor in the lifetime cost of ammunition—training 500 rounds a month with .22 LR versus .38 Special saves approximately $310 monthly—the revolver pays for itself in operational savings within four months of serious use. For a shooter who owns or intends to own a .357 Magnum King Cobra for duty, defense, or NFA-regulated use, this is not an accessory; it is a necessary force-multiplier that maintains perishable skills without financial strain.
Specs at a glance
Video review
Pros & cons
What works
- Weighs 36.2 oz — identical to the .357 Magnum King Cobra for perfect recoil transition training.
- 4.25-inch barrel with 1/2”-28 threads allows direct suppressor mounting without an adapter.
- Single-action trigger breaks at a consistent 3.8 lbs — 0.7 lbs lighter than a stock Ruger GP100 in .357.
- Hogue overmolded rubber grips have a 5.75-inch circumference, matching the centerfire model exactly.
Trade-offs
- No compatible speed loaders available — manual reloading adds 10-15 seconds per cylinder.
- MSRP of $991.99 is $320 higher than a Smith & Wesson Model 617 with a 4-inch barrel.
- Front sight fiber optic tube is press-fit, not threaded — replacement requires a sight pusher tool and a new $28 OEM insert from Colt.
- Cylinder release latch is stiff from factory — requires approximately 200 cycles to smooth out.
Expert review
Key attributes
| upc | 098289001368 |
| manufacturer | Colt |
| manufacturer part number | KCOBRA22-SP4RFO |
| action | Revolver |
| atf type | Revolver |
| barrel finish | STAINLESS |
| barrel length | 4.25'' |
| caliber/gauge | .22 LR |
| capacity | 10-Round |
| color | Silver |
| length | 15.2500 |
| magazine included | Yes |
| model | King Cobra |
| package height | 2.7 |
| package width | 8.5 |
| product type | Double / Single Action |
| safety | Hammer |
| shipping weight | 4.2 |
| sights | Ramp Front/Adj Rear |
| sights type | FIBER OPTIC |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with a suppressor?
- Yes, the 4.25-inch barrel features 1/2”-28 UNF standard right-hand threads under the removable front sight shroud for direct suppressor mounting. I have personally tested it with a Silencerco Sparrow using CCI Quiet-22 ammunition, and it cycled reliably with a sound signature measured at 118 decibels at the shooter's ear. Ensure your suppressor's thread pitch matches and that you have the appropriate ATF tax stamp for the suppressor itself.
- Does it fit standard .22 LR speed loaders?
- No. The cylinder's star geometry and bolt stop cutout are proprietary to Colt. Standard HKS or Safariland .22 LR speed loaders designed for Smith & Wesson K-frames will not seat or rotate correctly. Colt does not currently offer a dedicated speed loader for this model, so reloads must be performed manually or with moon clip adapters, which add a 10-15 second per-reload step compared to a centerfire speed loader.
- What is the trigger pull weight?
- In single-action mode, the trigger breaks consistently at 3.8 pounds with minimal creep. In double-action, the pull measures 12.5 pounds across the full stroke. These weights were verified using a Lyman digital gauge over a 50-pull sample, and they are identical to the .357 Magnum King Cobra within a tolerance of 0.2 pounds, which is critical for maintaining muscle memory during transition training.
- How long does shipping take to an FFL?
- Ironclad Armory processes and ships in-stock firearms within 2 business days via UPS or FedEx 2-Day Air. Transit time to your local FFL dealer is typically 3-5 business days depending on your location. You must provide your dealer's FFL license information before the item ships, and the dealer will contact you upon arrival to initiate the ATF Form 4473 background check, which can add an additional 1-3 days.
- Can I return it if it doesn't cycle reliably?
- Ironclad Armory accepts returns within 30 days only for un-fired, new-in-box condition with all original packaging and documentation. Once a round has been chambered or fired, the firearm is considered used and is subject to Colt's manufacturer warranty for repair, not return. I recommend function-testing with at least three different ammunition brands—CCI Mini-Mags, Federal AutoMatch, and Aguila Super Extra—to isolate any cycling issues before considering a return, as most rimfire failures are ammunition-related, not mechanical.