Colt has long been known for their line of Snake Guns, called so because of their names. Guns like Viper, Boa, Diamondback, King Cobra and Cobra are outstanding marketing handles. The best known might well be the Python, but the big daddy was the Anaconda. The big fella was chambered for grown up cartridges like the .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. It was a serious gun. I know, I’ve had one since the early ’90s. Sadly, mine is horribly inaccurate, as some of the early Anacondas were, which dates the gun as that problem was fixed quickly a long time ago. The new Kodiak is proof enough, as it’s quite accurate.
In my never humble opinion, the .44 Magnum is the entry level cartridge for big-game hunting or backcountry protection. If it’s fed properly, Elmer’s cartridge is good for either job.
A popular limited-run version of the old Anaconda was called the Kodiak, released in 1993 with a production run of only 2,000 guns.
Colt was gone for a while, but is back and now owned by CZ. Some of the most popular snake guns have returned, including the Anaconda. The latest version is the new Kodiak, sporting many of the features from the 1993 limited edition.
This current Kodiak is a beefy gun. It’s offered with either a 6-inch or a 4.25-inch barrel. I have the shorter version and it weighs 3 pounds on my scale. This heft is an asset when shooting the powerful .44 Mag., but not so much when carrying the gun in a holster.
The Kodiak has an unfluted cylinder that holds six cartridges. It features a full-length heavy rib under the barrel and of course a Colt-style vent rib on top. It has adjustable sights with an interchangeable ramp front sight with an orange insert. I might note that the gun shoots high with most ammo, meaning the front sight should be a bit taller. I have the rear sight bottomed out and it still impacts above the point of aim with about half the various bullet weights I tried.
The cylinder swings on a crane like most double-action handguns. The case rims are not recessed. Of course, being a Colt, the cylinder rotates clockwise. The cylinder locks into the frame only at the rear. It’s unlocked by pulling back on the classic-shaped Colt cylinder latch.
The barrel has three round ports on top and to each side of the front sight to reduce recoil. The finish is polished stainless steel. It looks great, but from a hunter’s perspective I would prefer a subdued blasted matte finish. Just my never humble opinion.
The grips are Hogue black rubber with a pebble finish, leaving the backstrap exposed. The single-action trigger pull is clean and consistent, if a bit heavy at 5 pounds, 9 ounces. The surprising 8-pound, 2-ounce double-action trigger pull is smooth and consistent with just a hint of stacking at the end, which I find helpful for DA shooting. Colt uses a leaf spring system that is said to offer a good DA trigger pull. While hunting and almost every other situation is best served with the single-action mode, there is an argument to be made for DA for defensive shooting. In the event of a fast breaking Ursus Horribilis charge, the DA trigger is a real asset.
The top strap is drilled and tapped, for an optic mount available from Colt. Red dot or scope.
Towsley found the 8-pound, 2-ounce double-action trigger pull smooth and consistent, with just a hint of stacking, which he finds helpful for DA shooting.
I ran the Kodiak with a wide range of ammo from .44 Special through some beast-mode, heavy bullets designed for hunting and/or backcountry defense. It’s a .44 Magnum, so of course it kicks, but the gun’s weight and ports help to keep that manageable. I would prefer a bit of cushioning over the backstrap, though. With .44 Special ammo it’s a pussycat and the Hornady stuff I shot would be a good option for urban carry.
I shot the NRA accuracy protocol with several ammo products and the results were consistent and accurate. I then worked on my fast DA “charging bear drills.” My DA skills have eroded with age and arthritis, but this excellent DA trigger pull helped me kill a lot of charging bears very quickly. (Or targets doing cosplay as bears.)
I shot the gun out to 100 yards. It is accurate enough that with the right shooter, ammo and sights it can be a viable hunting gun to that distance. I managed a few groups on paper that were smaller than the kill zone on a whitetail at 100 yards. That’s with open sights. I suspect an optic will shrink the groups a bit more.
The Colt Kodiak would be a good option for handgun hunting or as a reliable, effective handgun for backcountry defense. It’s pretty, nicely made, shoots well and is built like a tank.
It’s a little bit pricey, but the gun is a keeper.
Colt Kodiak
- colt.com
- Type: single- and double-action revolver
- Caliber: .44 Mag./.44 Spl.
- Cylinder Capacity: 6 rnds.
- Barrel: 4.25" (tested), 6"; button rifled; 1:20" LH twist; ported
- Trigger Pull Weight: 5 lbs., 9 ozs. (single-action), 8 lbs., 2 ozs. (double-action)
- Sights: fully adjustable black rear, serrated ramp front w/orange insert
- Grip/Stocks: Hogue rubber w/pebbled finish
- Metal Finish: polished stainless steel
- Overall Length: 10"
- Weight: 3 lbs.
- Accessories: hard storage case
- MSRP: $1,799
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