Here's my write-up when I took delivery of mine, plus edits to include a few things I've learned since then. It might be a little long and with too many photos, but if you're considering dropping a grand on one, I think you'll appreciate it...
Large N-Frame - Long ago S&W released the N-frame in order to make an indestructible .357 Magnum. Looking at this gun, it is easy to see how this is achieved. It is built to last, with large amounts of steel where necessary. The gun is all steel. No alloys of any sort are present. That's why it weighs 36 ounces, which is just a few ounces shy of a full-sized 1911 .45 caliber pistol.
Big Hoss Cylinder - Large, beautiful, unfluted cylinder that holds 8 rounds of .357 Magnum and is cut for moon clips! The moon clips offer the advantage of a faster reload and all the cartridges eject in unison. In the context of a short barrel, the combined weight of all 8 casings helps gravity get them the hell out of there. Ejecting .357 Magnum casings with a short barrel is usually dicey because the casing expand in the chambers and you have a very short ejector stroke. The moon clips is a solution in that regard. On the other hand, the moon clips do not tightly grip all types of brass, so that is something to be aware of. The ones that come with the gun are garbage. I orderd some thicker ones from TK Custom. They are much more sturdy and since the rounds do not flop all over the place, they load into the cylider with much more ease.
2.6" slab-sided barrel - These just look really, really cool. This is actually an old practice where people with access to mills and lathes would reduce the weight of the barrels and give them really sweet looking lines. Slab sided barrels were popular in the competition circuits in instances where people were trying to achieve a perfect balance in terms of weight distribution. On the 627, the barrel is slotted so that you can see the ejector rod from both sides of the barrel. It looks striking, but also serves the goal of weight reduction on the front end.
Grips - I think this may be the first time that I've ever bought a handgun with swappable grips where I actually want to keep the factory stocks on there! They are nice and short, extending just to the bottom of the frame. In other words they are only as long as they need to be for the metal frame underneath. I can fit all my fingers on the grip, and the finger grooves actually don't bother me, which is rare. The grips are Eagle "Secret Service" grips. They are nice grips; good job on S&W. I can fit my hand onto the boot grip, even though the pink is like half-way on the grip. If you have big meathooks, you might need a larger grip.
Trigger Over-travel Stop - Obviously a competition-inspired upgrade. It's a nice touch, but one that may be lost on me. "Shooting Speed" and ".357 Magnum" seem to be mutually exclusive terms. You need to manage the recoil and recover before the next shot, so the tiny bit of over-travel is not an issue for a 2.5" Ultimate Defense Revolver.
Ball Detent Lockup - The cylinder crane is not secured at the front end of the barrel like most snub-nosed guns. Instead, there is a ball-detent installed into the crane which engages a dimple in the frame to lock up the cylinder. This is another long-standing tradition of customization in improving the lockup of the gun, and since it does not engage the end of the ejector like most guns, it is not dependent on the condition or integrity of that part of the ejector (in a worst-case scenario). Really nice touch which adds to the conversation of these PC guns. I have compared the ejector rod length to that of my 3" 686 and it is the same. The ball-detent arrangement allows them to fit in a full length ejector in a barrel that would otherwise require the shorter, abbreviated one.
Recessed Crown - This is an important one that I wish we'd see on more guns! Since the crown is recessed, it is protected from the majority of dents & dings from everyday use. It's also the last thing to touch the bullet before it goes sailing downrange, so it is beneficial to have a crown that is smooth, protected and nicely finished. Of course, it's an added step, which means more machining time, which means higher prices. Regular S&W and Ruger guns don't have this, and some even look a little rough. Very few semi-autos have it. Would be nice...
Sights - Old School white outline rear, with a big bright orange front from Millet. I love this stuff! I can't complain at all. If I ever do want to complain, there is some 50 years worth of aftermarket to serve my needs.
Girth - They have done a great job in keeping the gun as small (overall) as possible. The only problem is the big cylinder. This has always been the problem with round guns, so "it is what it is." I don't think this gun will work for inside the waistband carry, however, I have a Yaqui Slide style holster that I think to be ideal for a gun like this. In order to hide it, a large cover garment is required. Here in Florida, that means a loose fitting button-down shirt. Dark colors or shirts with patterns seem to hide the shape a little bit better.
Hope that helps!
