SW 627PC: Regular vs. V-Comp

[QuestionEverything]

I'm seriously contemplating the purchase of a SW 627. I'm leaning toward the V-Comp, both for its interchangeable porting system and its cool appearance, but the regular 627 seems to be more popular so I have a few questions. Is there any difference between these guns apart from the barrel design? Are the cylinders, hammers, triggers etc. exactly the same? Is the V-Comp blinding to fire at night with the porting attachment on? Does anyone who's shot both of these guns have an opinion on their relative quality? Thanks for any input you can provide.

 

[Dr.Who]

I have a V-Comp 625 4 inch and 627 5 inch. They are nice shooting guns. Have not shot any other version (except my 1917 .45acp).... But, I see no reason to want anything else. I do not see the muzzle brake doing much to offset the muzzle rise. My 625 is used in IDPA, so it rarely gets the muzzle brake on it. Even when I switch during a range session, I see no difference. What sold me was the trigger, action, and balance.

The only time that you will get excessive muzzle flash is with a very hot .357 load. I reload for mine and do not put that kind of loads in mine.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

The V-comp has a ball detent lockup on the front of the crane rather than at the end of the eject rod for a more solid lockup of the cylinder, a trigger overtravel adjustment screw and forged trigger and hammer.

The comp does not seem to have a lot of effect unless you use hot, fast loads. Then my impression is that the recoil is straight back--very disconcerting/novel for someone not accustomed to it.

I shoot .38 spl almost exclusively so do not have use for the comp. At one time I would put some Hornady SD rounds through it to stay familiar, but the HD is now relegated to the Mossberg 500. Wouldn't want the 627 languishing in an evidence locker.

 

[JoeHatley]

One additional difference is the finish. The V-comp has a nice "velvet hone" type bead blast finish.

In general, I think the whole V-comp series guns are some of the nicest S&W has made in many years.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[Bob79]

The current 627's whether they are V-comp versions or not, all have the same bead blast gray-type finish. Both versions also have the trigger overtravel guard, and I'm 99% sure that its not adjustable on both. Both versions also use a forged hammer, and trigger, as do all the PC guns.

The V-comp has a ball-detent lock up because of the end cap. I have 627's of both type, and the lock-up on my 627's w/o the ball-detent lock up are just as tight.

Basically the only difference is the barrels (and the ball detent lock up). The V-comp barrel is a full lug style and heavier. You also get the option of using the comped end, or you can put on the muzzle cap, which makes the gun work like any other revovler.

I don't use the comp at all, I put the end cap on it. It's a N-frame, that soaks up a lot of recoil, and you're only using a .357 round. N-frames also handle 44 mag, so .357 mag is no problem. I can tell you that the 627 with the slab barrel is VERY nice. It balances very well in the hand, and even hot 158 grain loads are no problem with the gun weighing in at 44 ozs and having a 5" barrel.

I have not tried the 170-200 grain hot hunting loads, but I imagine those would induce more recoil. If you were only shooting those really heavy/hot loads then I'd go with the V-comp, if not the standard slab barrel is probably better. They are both good guns, and you will love it.

 

[Stainz]

I pride myself in my ability to ease my new S&W triggers - and judiciously swap the springs for the appropriate units selected for the revolver's intended use. Most folks are impressed with my triggers - and my 100% reliability - with MY ammo (Federal primers!). My 625JM is a great example.

A year ago, I got my awakening.

I had drooled over the 627's for some time - even the snubby 'Bloodwork' gun. I hate comps, so I decided that I needed the tapered lug non-compensated model, just like the one a friend had let me shoot... the only barricade standing in my way was my lacking $860-$900 for a new one. Then, a friend suggested a swap - his LNIB JM PC617 V-Comp for my LNIB Heritage 24 (6.5" blued). We were both elated by the deal. Me, because I had ridded myself of my last blued revolver, he, because his wife's little used bowling pin gun, which had only launched 180gr lead from .38 cases, had morphed into something he wanted.

A year later, the review is simple - what a revolver! I have NEVER experienced such a fine trigger - or well fitted revolver. Sadly, neither he or his wife liked the Miculek stocks, so they put, gasp, Hogue monogrips on it. It now wears Ahrends cocobolo square conversion f.g. stocks - great fit & feel. It also has finally launched some .357M's for the first time - wimpy enough to be barely +P .38 Spcls, but still in longer cases. I tried both with and without the comp vs non-comp cap - no difference noted at my level. You do get to clean something else - they really do need to be removed for cleaning. The eased extractor/entry helps round nosed bullets on a moonclip load quickly. The Remington .357M cases load into the moonclips with the least difficulty... removal is a pain. My 625JM with it's moonclips, and admittedly a well designed Brownell's nutdriver-style demooner, is far easier to load - and unload the cases from it's moonclips; the .45 ACP ball ammo on 'clips almost jump into the cylinder, where the 8 little feet of the .357M cases dangling are a bit of a problem to align. Still, it is faster than one at a time. The revolver balances well with the finger-grooved grips, but a little less frontal weight would be nice... but that may just be my preference for partial lugs surfacing!

Stainz

 

[QuestionEverything]

Looks like I'll be going with the V-Comp. Thanks for sharing, everyone.

 

[Tom C.]

I made the decision to go with the 627PC, not the VComp. Just a matter of personal preference.

 

[Ric]

I went with the 627 but I don't compete with it any more. I did shoot slow fire bullseye with it for a couple of years.

 

[ruthless]

BloodWork

I'm glad I'm not the only one that likes that revolver. I have a Performance Center Light Hunter 686 plus that's magnaported. It's my favorite revolver. Sitting here I can't think of a thing I'd do different to it.