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Colt’s revolver Renaissance continues with the revived Anaconda, and we put the 4.25-inch .45 Colt variant through its paces over three range trips and 350 rounds. From its beefy stainless steel construction and excellent Hogue grips to its surprisingly crisp single-action trigger and modern optic-ready top strap, this Snake Gun delivers classic Colt feel with contemporary upgrades. Find out how it performed on accuracy, reliability, and recoil management—and why we hated to send it back.
Colt is leaning into what seems to be a burgeoning revolver Renaissance with new models and new variants that demand attention. The Anaconda, part of the revived Snake Gun lineup, fits that trend. Colt debuted the new Anaconda in 2024, but word is still getting out and the company kindly sent us a 4.25-inch-barreled example to test. We requested the .45 Colt chambering since everyone knows that .45 is God’s caliber.
Colt also makes the Anaconda in .44 Magnum/.44 Special, and shooters can choose between the 4.25, 6, or 8-inch barrel. Our test gun is stainless-steel, but Colt also offers a blued steel .44 Magnum variant. This review will focus on our 4.25-inch barrel, .45 Colt Anaconda test gun from this point forward.
Colt Anaconda Features
The Anaconda is a big revolver. The all-steel construction means good weight and a solid feel. The semi-bright finish gleams and the gun looks really good. The full underlug and vented top rib add to that effect, reinforcing the barrel and aiding with muzzle flip. Honestly, the Anaconda looks and feels like a buffed up Python. Nothing wrong with that.
The traditional Colt catch smoothly releases the beefy steel cylinder on an equally solid crane. The underlug shrouds the ejector rod, which includes a knurled, textured knob. The muzzle features a recessed target crown to protect the barrel’s rifling.
The single action trigger is very nice, breaking consistently at 5 lbs., with the longer double action pull coming in at just under 12 lbs. The wide trigger face is ridged for a positive purchase. The wide, serrated hammer is smooth and surprisingly light, whether you’re cocking the gun for single action or lowering it manually.
The rear sights are adjustable for windage and elevation and can be swapped out for others if you choose. The front sight includes a nice, visible orange insert that makes acquisition a breeze. The top strap is tapped for an optical plate, which can be purchased from Colt. We didn’t have the plate, so we didn’t run an optic, though I probably wouldn’t have anyway. The Anaconda, in my opinion, is tall enough as it is. But you may feel differently, so I like that Colt provides that option.
The Anaconda ships with a rubberized, Colt-branded Hogue grip, complete with finger grooves. It feels good in the hand and we like it. But Anacondas are compatible with Python grips, for which many choices exist, if you want to do something different.
The Colt Anaconda on the Range
Three extended range trips have given us a good handle on the Anaconda. We have 350 rounds through the gun, with a quick wipe down between outings. It’s now due a more detailed cleaning, but we wanted to see how it performed dirty.
My co-tester and I like the Hogue grips and the Anaconda comes on target easily. Recoil was very manageable across several loads of .45 Colt ammunition, thanks to those grips and the beefy construction. The sights are very nice, with the rear notch framing the orange front sight for easy target acquisition.
Operation is smooth, and the cylinder releases cleanly and locks up tight. The only small issue I had was that two cartridge cases somehow got underneath the ejector star, requiring me to pull them out manually. It only happened those two times, but it’s worth mentioning. It happened with two different ammo brands. The Anaconda performed flawlessly otherwise.
I was surprised by how much I liked the trigger. I don’t really know what I expected, but the single action is as good as any factory wheel gun trigger I’ve run, and even the double action was smooth and consistent. We quickly learned to stage the trigger to the break, improving our accuracy. We shot the gun in single action a few times, but the majority of our work was in double action since we believe it reflects most real world scenarios.
Accuracy
The Anaconda is accurate, though my revolver skills are still developing. Nevertheless, I consistently held two-inch groups with the occasional flyer at 10 yards in double action. My groups opened up to four inches at 25 yards. The groups also widened a bit as the gun heated up and got dirtier. I’m convinced that the flyers were on me since the Anaconda’s operation was consistent throughout. The groups will also shrink as my wheel gun skills increase.
We used the following loads in our testing:
225-grain Federal American Eagle JSP
255-grain Fiocchi CMJ
200-grain Magtech Cowboy Action Lead Flat Nose
250-grain Winchester Super X Cowboy Action Lead Flat Nose
My co-tester and I both liked the Winchester Cowboy Action loads the best, both for feel and performance. The Anaconda liked that load too, though none of the loads was noticeably less accurate than the others. We attribute that as much to the gun as to our shooting. But we did like the Winchester best.
The Anaconda was 100 percent reliable throughout in terms of timing and firing. The only hiccups were the two cartridge cases getting under the ejector star. We suspect it’s a tolerance issue with one spot on the star, since it happened in the same relative position each time. We were able to easily pull the cases out manually. All the other cases ejected smoothly.
Final Thoughts
We liked the Anaconda. It’s fun, accurate, and reliable. We also love the beefy feel. It handled the .45 Colt cartridge’s recoil with no problem and was quite pleasant to shoot. I get that .45 Colt is not .44 Magnum. I don’t have that first-hand experience, but I wouldn’t hesitate to run .44 Magnum in a 4.25-inch Anaconda. The recoil would certainly be heavier but I don’t think it would be unpleasant. This is a solid revolver.
I also like the modern sighting upgrades, including the optic compatibility. I eventually came around to optics on semi-auto pistols, and I have a couple of optic-ready wheel guns. Maybe I’ll do that sometime too. The point is that the Anaconda would give me that option, did the gun belong to me.
Finally, I like the Anaconda’s slick operation. It feels like I expect a quality revolver to feel. The hammer, the cylinder, the trigger. It all just feels satisfying. Were I in the market for a heavy, large-framed revolver, I would seriously consider the Anaconda. I wish I could say I got to keep this gun, but I can’t. But I hate to see it go back, and I sure would consider buying one.
If you’re looking for such a revolver with classic lines and a great feel, take a look at the Colt Anaconda. Snake Guns are pretty awesome after all. You know you want one.
Colt Anaconda 4.25-inch Specifications
- Calibers: .44 Magnum/.44 Special and .45 Colt
- Capacity: 6 rounds
- Action: Single/Double
- Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
- Overall Length: 9.75 inches
- Width: 1.75 inches
- Weight: 42 ounces
- Stainless Steel Frame, Cylinder, and Barrel
- Semi-Bright Finish
- Fully-Adjustable Rear Sights
- Tapped for optics or rail section
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