S&W 627 PC - does not fire in double action

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IMtheNRA

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I have a beautiful S&W 627 PC that I bought slightly used. It has the nicest trigger that I've ever encountered on a handgun. It is by no means a hair trigger, but it is very crisp and light.

I always shoot it in SA mode, without the moonclips, and it fails to ignite about 5% of my handloads which use CCI primers (known to be hard primers). That is OK with me, since I only use the revolver for range fun and I standardized on CCI primers rather than the softer Federals.

For the first time ever, I recently attempted to shoot the revolver in Double Action, and it did not fire a single round! There were very slight indentations on all the primers, but not one ignited...

I noticed that in DA mode, the hammer does not travel back nearly as far is it is when I cock it in SA. I was not using moonclips, if that makes any difference.

I have no idea if anyone worked on the trigger before I got this gun, but I suspect that a factory trigger would not fail every time, even when using CCIs.

I'd like to get this DA failure fixed, but I'm hesitant to lose the great trigger that I love so much.

What do you think is going on with my beloved 627? :confused:
 
Try shooting with moon clips first, see if that fixes the problem. The moon clip should set the primer a millimeter or two closer to the firing pin, so there should be more solid contact between it and the primer.

Otherwise you'll have to get the trigger adjusted so that there's more force behind the hammer when it falls.
 
It sounds like the previous owner played with springs and possibly the strain screw and went too far. You may have to replace the mainspring and strain screw to pop hard primers like the CCI.
 
I always shoot it in SA mode, without the moonclips, and it fails to ignite about 5% of my handloads which use CCI primers (known to be hard primers).

If your cylinder is designed for moonclips, I think you have to use moonclips.
Otherwise, you will have too much headspace and that will cause misfires.
 
There is too much headspace without using moonclips. If you don't want to use moonclips, you need to invest in 45 autorim brass.

Also, you stated that you standardized on CCI primers. Federal really are a better primer for any revolver with a lightened trigger pull.
 
It should work fine with or without moonclips.

My 327 TRR8 (also PC) had light primer strike issues out of the box; I sent it back to them to get fixed, and they replaced the strain screw. You may need to do the same.
 
If your cylinder is designed for moonclips, I think you have to use moonclips.
Otherwise, you will have too much headspace and that will cause misfires.

Incorrect. The recess for the moon clip is cut so that the case rims are still in the proper position(and supported), without the moon clip being used.

It sounds like either a weak or bent(people do this to reduce the trigger pull) mainspring, a filed down strain screw, or a firing pin that is too short. Double action allows the hammer to fall with less force than single action, which is why it fires fine in SA but not DA.
 
It could be as simple as a backed out strain screw.

Take the grips off and check the screw in the front of the grip frame. It should be tightened all the way down.

And yes, unfortunately, it will affect the trigger pull. If it's all the way in, take it out and see if it looks like its been filed down any.

Even with lighter springs the gun should still fire most of the time even with CCI primers.

If you send it in to S&W they will replace any spring or screw to factory specs.
 
It could be as simple as a backed out strain screw.

+1!

This is regular maintenance on both PC revolvers in my household (wife's 627 and my 586). I don't know why, but that strain screw likes to come out.

I have no idea if anyone worked on the trigger before I got this gun, but I suspect that a factory trigger would not fail every time, even when using CCIs.

Sure they did! It was the Smith & Wesson Performance Center!

./Michael
 
Incorrect. The recess for the moon clip is cut so that the case rims are still in the proper position(and supported), without the moon clip being used.

Exactly. It looks like this:

moonclip2.gif

moonclip3.gif

moonclip4.gif

The ring along the outer edge of the cylinder allows the case rims to provide headspace with or without the moonclips installed.

Rick
 
With .45 ACPs in a 25/625, there is nothing to stop/register the cartridge's forward motion, save the mouth step in the chamber, without the moonclips. Some .45 ACPs, without clips, will set too deeply, if they have a bit more crimp, leading to inconsistencies in firing. The 627 family doesn't have that problem - their forward motion is halted by their rim contacting the vestige of the cylinder's outter edge.

When I called S&W, after acquiring my LNIB JM PC627 V-Comps several years ago, I was told that the 627s were designed to be used only with moonclips - no rationale for that was offered. I know this, my 'old' 627, has fired everything I have fed it - although I have only used Win & Fed primers myself, it has fired some GA Arms +P 158gr LSWC(HP) with whatever they use. Never a ftf - and I shoot DA-only. Did I mention, this 'old' 627 has the softest/smoothest DA trigger I have ever experienced?

I had problems with an occasional ftf with my 625JM and Fed primers - a call to S&W revealled they do file the strain screw. A new one fixed it. Check the strain screw... if it's tight, call S&W for a new one. If that doesn't get you to 100% - get a Wolff 'full power' mainspring and try it - that should do it. I had to go to a full power in my new 627 Pro to permit use of my Win primed ammo - when it's gone, back to the reduced power spring, as I found more Fed SP primers. Oddly, my 686+ with a reduced power spring pops Win primers... they are all different!

Stainz
 
Thanks to everyone who replied. Even though it has been a very long time since I originally posted, I just remembered this post, and I wanted to let you know what the problem was, in case someone else has the same problem. The screw was backed out quite a few turns, presumably by the previous owner of the revolver.
 
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