Welcome to the Forum,and I couldn't AGREE with you more. With PROPER care and cautions,"mint" guns can be shot and NOT show any more wear-BUT it helps if you have more than one-and are not going to shoot the Python in weekly matches of hundreds of rounds.
I have close to 100 revolvers,most "vintage",and they don't show the wear of shooting,but of course,they only get shot a "few times" per year. Even my 11 .22s don't show wear and they get used more frequently.
First,get some good quality silicone etc. gun cloths. Wipe that Python down EVERY time you handle it!
Try and clean the gun quickly after firing,getting all the nooks and crannies. I disassemble my guns once a year to check the "innards for corrossion and "crud" build up.
Ammo: While I think that a .357 Magnum revolver is the best GUN for the average TRAINED person to keep for home defense due to its ability to handle a range of ammo from the mildest .38 Spec. target wad cutters,to man stopping 125 jhps and even 180-200 gr. "bear loads",the problem is that the shorter .38 Specials will leave a ring of crud in the chambers,that unless not cleaned quickly,can cause problems when full length ,357 rounds are used. So get the chambers,"mirror clean"!
No doubt the Python has wonderful WOOD stocks,and these will show wear on the checkering from firing,so if you are going to shoot it regularly,I'd get a cheaper pair of aftermarket stocks. I have also seen the butts of stocks gouged from "bench rest" shooting.
DON'T wear your rings!! This is rarely discussed,but I began to notice nearly all of my revolvers had some light blue wear under the trigger guard,and realized it was caused by my wedding band on my left hand, I had removed my college/fraternity ring from right(shooting)hand,but neglected this one(wife has me petrified to do remove it;don't know why she is so "suspicious??) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
Colts(except older SAAs) are far better than S&Ws on their sideplate and cylinder crane retention screw loosening up during firing,but I would check these(with proper fitting blades!!!) as I was doing my post shooting clean up.Watch those rear sight screws and again,CORRECT blade size!
Storage?? You will get a variety of opinions on this. I live in a humid climate,Maine,but not on the coast. My revolvers are stored in a large ex-library card catalog,wood,with one gun per drawer. I put those little bags of moisture protection (desc...something like that,changing them yearly. NO RUST. This even holds true for a "guest(unwanted!) greeting .45 New Service Colt,kept quickly at hand in our unheated "mud room" by the front door. Several other "house guns",not kept in the card catalog,but loaded in drawers,also have this de moisturizer with them-and show NO rust-BUT,AGAIN,they are FREQUENTLY wiped down,checked,and kept mildly lubed!
I am sure others will give you more tips.
My "philosophy" on shooting versus "safe queens",is best expressed in this little "tale".'bout 20 years ago,at avery large show here,I had just bought a very nice,but factory refinished,S&W 5" 1926,from a dealer for $300. He knew I was going to shoot this. About 1/2 hr. later,he and another close friend and dealer came up to me and said,there is this obnoxious out of state collector who is going to ask you to sell him the gun. I had looked long and hard for a 1926 "shooter",and was NOT going to sell it(unless I got a grand.) So up he comes,late 40's,fat,rich,but with a 20's year old wife,that was "hot". Right of the bat,starts telling me NOT to shoot the gun,he will give me $500 for it-even though the dealer told him it was refinished. Started to explain my "philosophy", he starts yelling at me,saying I don't deserve that nice a gun. By now,several dealers I know had gathered and one was making the fist sign for me to deck the guy! So,I just grabbed him by his ample belt and said."Guns are meant to be used,and enjoyed-not just looked at"-then looking at the lovely young wife-"by the looks of her,you'd better start enjoying and using her,not just keeping her for a status symbol". The SOB wouldn't even fight me,and the young wife just smiled! Got an ovation from the crowd,including a local cop I knew. We are pretty e-z going up here,but don't get condescending to us.
Would I do this today,at age 63?? You bet!
Bud /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
