Okay, so I want to invest in my first "piece", at least one that I bought for me, versus my hand-me-down 357s. I am in love with the 627 PC...though I have not seen it in person, only read about it. Just love the idea of a 5", 8 shot, moonclips!! Love the reviews on the 627PC but would consider the 627 Pro since it is lighter. I plan to use it for target and home defense. This wont be a piece I conceal and carry. I am 5'4", small frame, medium-female hand.

- Held 686 and 686 Pro: Does feel heavy, grip seemed fine - very nice piece!!

- I have shot more .357s than anything

Everyone is saying to get the 686 4"bbl, since it has a smaller frame than the 627.

Am I crazy? Feedback? Would you risk buying it without first seeing it/holding it in person?

Thanks!
Kate

If you've seen/held any sort of N-frame you've got a good idea of what the size will be like. If you like them, go for it! Grips make or break the feel of a revolver, anyway, and there's not much difference between an N and an L, gripwise. If the 686 seemed heavy, definitely go for the 627 Pro.

Enjoy, and welcome aboard!

Welcome to the forum, Kate.
No, I would not make that purchase without seeing it in person. They aren't cheap, and I would want to be sure before spending the money. If there are gun shows in your area, go to one. Lots of guns in one place to look at. I think you're on the right track with a .357 revolver. You can load it down with .38s or full power magnums.
Now, about your question about are you crazy? All I know is I'm crazy and I've never seen you at the meetings.

Hi Kate... welcome to the forum! I agree with P@R Fan... I'd want to take a look at the firearm before I bought it. I'd add in that the feel of each firearm and how well the grip fits to the user is different. For example... I was pretty hot to get a 686 with a 4" barrel but after holding one the barrel just seemed heavy to me. I thought about the 686 mountain gun but ran across a 66-5 with a 3 1/4" barrel and had to have it... kinda like buying a new car - at least get your hands on it before you purchase it.

A tip of the old Stetson and a welcome to the forum to ya.

I would agree with the others. An N frame is a BIG gun. Be sure you get an opportunity to handle an N frame before you make your choice.
I would echo OKHS's suggestion, check out a K frame before you make a final selection.

I'm 6'2" and weigh 275. I wear medium sized gloves. I love the old N frames, but from a practical standpoint, I carry a K frame every day.

Good luck in your quest.

As a female you have to consider the grip size and actually try before purchase. The S&W N frame has the rear backstrap on the grip frame placed about 1/8 further from the trigger than on the K/L frame. That may cause difficulty for you in pulling the trigger in Double Action and you really won't know if it's an issue until you actually try the larger frame.

As for the 686 seeming heavy, keep in mind that with a revolver Mass equals comfort when shooting something as powerful as the 357 Magnum. One thing that I don't like about the standard 686 series is the full lug barrel, IMO they are too muzzle heavy unless it's a 3 inch or 2.5 inch gun. One bit of good news is that Lew Horton is currently listing a special run of the 686 Mountain Gun in a 4 inch half lug barrel and that will balance a bit better than the full lug 4 inch gun.

As for the 627 series, it's even heavier than the 686. However the use of that ugly slab sided barrel in combination with the larger cylinder and frame probably produces a pretty nice balance in the 4 inch version. However, I don't currently own a 627 so that's just suposition.

As for the older K frames, personally I find that they are just a bit too light for me to find them comfortable when shooting the 357 Magnum. In addition the K frames are a bit marginal for the 357 Magnum, especially when used with a bullet weighing less than 145 grains. Now, if you were looking for a really sweet shooting 38, the K frames are just the ticket. I have a 4 inch model 67 and IMO it has the finest balance of any revolver I've ever held.

The 2 5/8" PC627 UDR ('Ultimate Defensive Revolver') now is not much more than the 627 Pro, yet comes with a small Eagle wood boot grip that would likely be a great fit to your hand. I liked my first one so much that I sold an old friend and bought another one. The 627 Pro is nice, too - but needed a HiViz front sight and wood grips for me. Here are my pair of UDR's and the 627 Pro, all sporting different size/style wood grips:



While I like the moonclips, they are thin and case brand sensitive. As a reloader, I can load Starline .357 Magnum brass with my wimpy 125gr JHP loads for plinking. Shown above is a speedloader made for the 8-shot 627 series and a 2 x 8 loading plate. It works with any ammo - .38 or .357M.



Sorry for the poor quality of the above picture, but it compares the UDR's original Eagle boot grips with the square retro targets on the 627 Pro. The UDR came with a decent trigger, too. It is a deceptively accurate plinker!

Stainz

Wow! Thank you for all the great suggestions, and the wonderful pictures that only reinforced my love of the 627. Though I think I will consider more seriously the 627 Pro 4". Now, I have to find one! I am in Dallas and am not having any luck. Even went to a gun show this weekend.

Keep the suggestions coming!

I am confused. Is the 627 PC revolver also known as the "Ultimate Defensive Revolver" and the same gun as in the movie Bloodwork?

Hi - The 627 PC I am looking at is a 5" bbl. The UDR is the one from Bloodwork and is 627 PC 2 5/8" bbl. From what I can tell...

I think your smart not wanting a 686. I bought one in 1985 as a duty weapon. I was 6-2 and weighed 185. It was a handful and heavy. I sold it ( mistake) in 2006 It was heavier and I was 6-0 and weighed 225. I think it weighed in a 47 ounces loaded.

My own thoughts on this mirrors most of my fellow members, however if I remember correctly the new N frames are actually round butt and sized somewhere around the L frame? I know for a fact that some were even trunicated down to K frame size at one time.
That said if you do manage to get your hands on a 627PC and it's the "ONE" then you might want to investigate your grip options! I for one find that Hogue Monogrips do pare down the girth of the mighty N frame, as do custom grips from Kim Ahrends or Speagel.
Options: I never liked the L frame. Nothing wring with 'em, there just to nose heavy for me. K frame, now we're talking! If you get a chance try a model 66 on for size, they tend to fit everybody and aren't to lite. Just don't shoot a lot of the super hot 125gr. Magnum hollowpoints it tends to rattle there cages too much! Plus most K frames have beautiful actions.
Hopefully this helps. Happy Holidays. Dale

__________________
"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Hi Kate and welcome. I have a 66-2 3", a 686 CS-1 3" and a .357 Mtn Gun which is 7 shot on the L-Frame. Look for a 3" 66. I also love my Mtn Gun. It is lighter than a regular 686, more like a model 66 with a slightly beefed up frame and cylinder. They point really nicely. They are 4". If I could only have one of the three it would have to be the 3" 66. I like the looks of the 627 myself but it is a pretty large gun and you really don't need one that large.

Tom

Does Smith make the M66 anymore? I am not seeing anything recent.

Thanks!! Love the photos I am finding of it though!

Go to ICORE.ORG and look for a club near you.

ICORE is a group dedicated to revolver shooting. You will find lots of people in your area with 627s of all variety as well as every other Smith and they will all let you try them out if you ask.

It's a very friendly group of shooters.

Once you find the one that fits your hand and feels just right go ahead and buy it. Look for a dealer at one of the clubs and they will be able to get you a better price, if there is one around.

No, unfortunatly Smith dropped the 66 back in '97 IIRC. They replaced the Combat Magnums with the model 619/620 series which I think were also dropped.
The 66 can still be found on the used market though.
Are you wanting a new revolver? If so then your pretty much stuck with either the 686Pro or 627PC. Dale

__________________
"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Welcome to the forum. Azshooter hit the nail on the head. Find a local ICORE match. There will be a fair number of shooters using a 627. I'm sure someone will let you give their 627 a try. I had one a few years ago. Since I shoot lead bullets, cleaning the 8 chambers as well as the barrel got to be too much of a chore, so I sold it. Big mistake. I am currently in the market for another, but will use only plated or jacketed bullets to minimize the cleaning. I found the Pachmyer "Decelerator" grips very comfortable on the 627. Like you, I'm wondering if the Pro is a better buy than the PC version. I'm thinking that with the money I save buying the Pro, I could send it out for a custom action job if the factory trigger isn't to my liking. Nothing like shopping for a new gun.

The 627 Pro, SKU #178014, is a great deal. It's current MSRP is $969, while the PC627 UDR, SKU #170133, is $1,049. A standard 4" 686+, SKU #164194, is $849, while the 5" PC627, SKU #170200, is MSRP $1,249. The two PC Shop revolvers come with wood grips, the rest have Hogues - and, yes, the L-frame 686 has ~ 1/8" less trigger reach than the N-frames - with the same Hogue rubber monogrips. The UDR's included boot grips make it the best choice for smaller hands. Of course, any of them could sport smaller wood boot grips. As to weight, the UDR starts it off at 37.6 oz - the 5" PC627 tops it off at 44.0 oz.

The 627 Pro and 5" PC627 have a great attribute - a spring-loaded front sight base. This permits tool-less sight changes in seconds. I like the HiViz fiber optic front sight - it lights up like a searchlight even in overcast conditions - fast to 'acquire'. The Pro also has a modicum of a trigger job - and comes moonclip-ready - a great bargain - just add some wood grips to your likes, if necessary (I hate rubber!). They are available from the distributors - my local pusher/enabler keeps one 'in stock'. Don't 'settle' - get what you want! Great to have you here, too - keep us informed as to your purchases. I predict you'll be happy no matter which model you buy.

Merry Christmas!

Stainz

Thank you for the pictures! A HUGE help!

You can haunt the auction sites and see what they may have. There's lots of "oldies" out there in great condition but sometimes takes some looking to find what you're looking for...currently in that status myself.