S&W 627 8-shot revolver questions.

[Deer Hunter]

I have a question about these revolvers. I hear they are milled for moonclip use, but I wont be using moonclips with the gun if I buy one. I've been looking around for a .357 magnum (first) to buy, and this gun has really caught my eye. Looks, weight, and shape does it all for me. My question is are they reliable? Also, can I get one that's not from the "performance center" from smith? I'm looking at spending no more than 700 dollars.

 

[clang]

I've got the 627 V-Comp with a 5" barrel from the Performance Center. A really Great gun. The gun will function fine without moonclips.

My gun has the dreaded Internal Lock and frame mounted firing pin, but it has not given me any problems. Performance Center Action is very smooth and the gun is totally reliable.

I don't know if a non-Performance Center version of this gun was ever made, but there are several variants, including the very early 627s which were only 6 shot guns.

You may have to look a while to find a used one for $700, but I am sure they are out there (that's what I payed for mine).

For a first gun, there are other more affordable alternatives - a 686 (6 shot) or better yet a 686+ (7 shot) L-frame S&W is hard to beat. You can find them used for $300-$500 tops. 6-shot guns tend to go for less money and the 7-shot guns without the internal lock are usually most expensive.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I have no qualms against the internal locks from Smith, my 625 has never faultered. I would love to find a 627 8-shot for that kind of money, but I may end up spending more. I love N-frames, which is one of the main reasons I'm looking into this gun. Big, heavy revolvers appeal to me.

How's the accuracy? How smooth is the DA trigger?

 

[Radagast]

I've several friends who use them for IPSC/ICORE/Steel challenge.

Trigger pull seems to be around 8-9 pounds and smooth out of the box. Accuracy is 'acceptable' They tend to win plate shoots and log chops, I've never seen one shoot a group however.
Reliability is excellent, with no problems reported.

It's my next handgun purchase.

Ken

 

[tc300mag1]

Basically i think just like Clang about my 627 V comp great gun i just picked one up NIB 850 so you can find good deals

 

[VacuumJockey]

If money is a factor, Taurus has a revolver somewhat reminiscent of the 627 -- the Taurus Model 608. It is an 8-shot .357, and it retails for less than $600 NIB.

I have no personal experience with this revolver, so do apply grains of salt as needed. The Taurus revolver that I have tried was a very decent firearm, so hopefully this is too.

 

[tc300mag1]

Ive been shooting my 627 a ton has become my fav 357 was down shooting again today with it

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

The 8-shot 627 in several flavors is one of the top choices for competitive shooters. Built like tanks.

Though I think smaller revolvers are more fun due to the challenge, I love my N-frame. It's always attention getting to me to go from the M66 to the PC 627 V-comp with my .38 spl handloads. On the first shot with the big 627 my physical reaction is akin to "did that shot fire?". Big frame damps the recoil down to nothing.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I've always heard that Smiths were of better quality than Taurus. I plan to keep the .357 magnum for the rest of my life, and don't want it to fall appart on me before my grandkids can have some fun with it. I've always been partial to Smith and Wesson.

Has anyone ever shot these two guns who could give a comparative analysis of both firearms?

 

[Smurfslayer]

I haven't shot the 608, but have had a large frame Taurus... 3 actually...

In single action, exclusively, a long barrel Taurus may give you comparable results. There was nothing wrong with any of my Taurii...

but I WANTED the 627 So, I got it.

2 things immediately apparent ... Both single action and double action are better on the S&W, as you would expect for 800 + dollars. I've used mine quite a bit... http://bighammer.net/pages/10/index.htm

The D/A on the 627 is about 9 pounds and it does not stack. S/A is maybe 3 - 4 pounds. None of my Taurii took to reduced power hammer springs at all and the D/A on the Taurii were all upwards of 15 pounds easy.

HTH

 

[Deer Hunter]

Thanks for the advice. Seems like I'll be sticking to my original plan and buy the 627. It'll cost a bit more, and that means more work to be done, but I believe that the end result will be worth it.

I'm still rubbing my eyes to see if I read the taurus's trigger pull correctly. 15 pounds?! My 625 is around 8 in DA!

 

[Smurfslayer]

yeah, it's not a typo. It's that heavy, maybe more. And don't get me wrong, I sold my Taurus 669 to a friend who is very happy with it, so I could by the 627. The Taurus is a fine gun, that's well put together, and it's a bargain.

Even comparing to a off the shelf S&W, not a PC model, the Smith's don't seem to stack like the coil spring Taurii. Among the ICORE shooters I know, S&W is the highest represented, with one or two Ruger shooters....

 

[LeadPumper]

.357 MAG 8-Times

My favorite S&W used to be an older 4" 686...

Until I bought this:


The Performance Center does some fine work, and out of the box it shot better than my worked over 686. It has now taken top honors as my favorite wheelgun. And it works both with and without moonclips!

But I gotta tell ya, my first thought on using moonclips was "Moonclips? I don't need no stinkin moonclips!" Boy was I wrong!

Moonclips make shooting this thing that much faster and easier. Almost like a 1911; shoot eight, drop the cylinder, pop the empty moonclip out, drop a new one in, close the cylinder, keep shooting!

It's fast, accurate, smooth, and recoil goes from almost nothing with .38s to as hot as you can stand with .357s.

Now, don't you want one?

-LeadPumper

 

[VacuumJockey]

Now, don't you want one?

Well, I do -- but here in Copenhagen it will set me back a cool $1280. Plus almost a quarter per cartridge of Magnum .357.

Damn. I should move to the US.

Edit: Maybe $1280 isn't that bad after all. I see now that it retails for about $1180 from the S&W website.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Alright guys, you've made up my mind for me. Looks like I'll be trying to find one of these buddies soon. I love the grips on the one shown, but I saw some JM-type grips on one gun that had finger grooves in the wood. I'll probably be getting that if I can.

 

[444]

Maybe I should sell mine.
It looks like there is a lot of interest in them.
Mine doesn't look just like LeadPumper's though. Mine has a compensator on it.
I bought it as a wedding present for a friend. Turned out that the wedding was in the District of Columbia and we were staying in the District of Columbia, so I gave them a coffee maker instead. I kept the gun even though I really have no interest in it. I did fire it maybe 50 rounds and it didn't do a thing for me.

 

[LHB1]

Quote: "I bought it as a wedding present for a friend."

444,
Hi Friend! Where is my S&W 686 wedding present? My girl friend and I just got married in August (of 1963). Been wondering for 42 years when you were going to send the S&W wedding gift.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[444]

Well, this friendship is a little different.
We grew up together in a rural area and spent pretty much all our time shooting, fishing, hunting or something like that, together. We drank our first beer together. I shot my first deer hunting with him. We joined the Army together on the buddy plan. He was the best man at my wedding, I was the best man at his wedding. We have hunted all over the US together (before he got married). We both shot our first elk hunting together. We took a bunch of trips up into the Canadian bush on fishing trips together.
I could go on all day. Hell, We both lost our virginity the same night on a double date I set up.

Someone stole his .357 and he needed another one.

 

[Smurfslayer]

Maybe I should sell mine.

Only to me. You don't want such a fine gun going to a bad home. You want to sell a gun like this to someone who will use it responsibly; who will respect it, not let it sit in a safe somewhere collecting dust

My guns get a workout on a regular basis. They're fed a steady diet of healthy ammunition. They're cleaned often and thorougly. They are handled with the utmost care.

None of my guns have ever complained to me about their quarters or workload ....

 

[MountainPeak]

I actually OWN a Taurus 608(8 shot .357mag). It's a great shooter, very accurate, and has been totally reliable. It's a hefty firearm with limited utility, but makes a great night stand(depending where you live) or vehicle weapon. I own a BUNCH of revolvers. I rate it as my 3rd most accurate. I paid much more for the other two.