New From Colt: Grizzly and Kodiak Revolvers, a 250th 1911, and SBRs

Ten Colt arrivals in two weeks

Colt had a busy September. Ten new Colt listings went live and in stock here in the last two weeks: three big-bore stainless revolvers, a 250th anniversary Government Model 1911, and six short-barreled rifles from the M5 and EPR II lines. Here is what came in and who each one is for.

Revolvers: Grizzly and Kodiak

The Colt Grizzly is a six-shot 357 Magnum with a stainless finish and a ported barrel. It arrived in two lengths. The 6-inch version is the field and range gun, with the longer sight radius and the extra weight out front that magnum shooters want. The 3-inch version gives up some of that for a size that carries in a holster. Both are 6 round. Porting vents gas up at the muzzle to help with muzzle rise, which matters more on the short gun.

Colt Grizzly 357 Mag 6-inch stainless ported revolver.

The Colt Kodiak is the bigger brother: 44 Magnum, 6 rounds, an 8-inch ported stainless barrel. This is a hunting and handgun silhouette revolver, not a carry piece. If you want a 44 Mag with Colt on the side, this is the one we have.

Colt Kodiak 44 Mag 8-inch stainless ported revolver.

Pistol: 1911 Classic Government USA 250th

Colt's USA 250th edition of the Classic Government Model is a 5-inch 1911 in 45 ACP with 7 round magazines. It is the full-size Government pattern, the gun the 1911 category is named after. Buyers who want a Colt-rolled 1911 for the anniversary year, or just a traditional 5-inch 45, should look here. This one came in deep, so it should be around for a while.

Short-barreled rifles: M5 SCW and EPR II

Six of the ten arrivals are SBRs, all 5.56 NATO. Two things to know before reading on. First, an SBR is a National Firearms Act (NFA) item. It transfers on an ATF Form 4 through a licensed dealer, you pay for a tax stamp, and ATF has to approve the transfer before you can pick the rifle up. The same paperwork applies to the suppressors many SBR buyers pair with these rifles. Second, state law on SBRs varies, so check your state and local laws before you order.

The Colt M5 SCW is a 10.3-inch 5.56 SBR, and it came in two versions: a standard stock and a folding stock. The folding version is the shortest package Colt sent us. These are the compact end of the Colt AR line, built for people who want the shortest legal rifle they can get on a stamp.

Colt M5 SCW 5.56 NATO 10.3-inch SBR.

The Colt EPR II and EPR II Pro are 11.5-inch 5.56 SBRs, and each comes two ways, with a Surefire flash hider or a HUXWRX flash hider. That is four listings: EPR II Surefire, EPR II HUXWRX, EPR II Pro Surefire, and EPR II Pro HUXWRX. The muzzle device choice matters if you plan to run a suppressor, since Surefire and HUXWRX each mount their own cans on their own flash hiders. Pick the one that matches the suppressor you own or plan to buy. Colt has not sent us a spec breakdown of what separates the Pro from the standard EPR II, so we won't guess at it here; the product pages list what we know.

How to buy

Every gun on this list ships to the licensed dealer (FFL) you choose at checkout, and you complete the background check there. Our how to buy a firearm online page covers the steps. The SBRs add the Form 4 and the ATF wait on top of that. If a revolver or the 1911 is more your speed, the rest of our handguns are a click away.