Never had or even shot an N-frame before, but that didn't stop me from getting the itch to have one. Have been on the look for a while, but not too many pop up around here- mostly smaller revolvers. Have bought on gunbroker before, but a little hesitant when it comes to an older revolver, really wanted something I could examine up close.
Finally found this one at a lgs, & man is it a peach. Serial puts it, best I can decipher, at 77-78 (N463xxx). Owner didn't advertise or claim that it was unfired outside of the factory, but it's like new in the box. 003" feeler gauge enters the cylinder gap, but 004" won't. Great single action trigger, good double action, just a bit heavy.
Took it for a spin the next morning. Only loaded ammunition inventoried right now is 158 grain rnfp, coated lead, IMR-4227. Shoot these out of a Winchester 1873 & they're fantastic, but as expected, some unburned powder from the revolver. Very good accuracy, though.

Learned/confirmed a few things:

- Still do best with plain black, Patridge style post
- Turns out I really dig the wide trigger
- Found the big frame & football target stocks easy to control
- Waited way, way too long to get an N-frame 357 Magnum

Going to work up a light target load with HP-38. Have more of the rnfp on hand, and some Acme wadcutters on the way.
Don't shoot a lot of heavy loads, but will work up one of those too. Probably with H110 since it's what I have. Projectile undecided.

That would be hard to find at a LGS around here.
Very nice M27, looks new. Congratulations.

I’m sure it shoots as good as it looks. Very nice find!

"Waited way, way too long to get an N-frame 357 Magnum"

Yep .... But now you got 'er done in style !! Watch out .... I know you are now beginning to think about your NEXT N frame !

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Y. B. Ord & A. Ree

@SS336- Waited a good while to find this one, & wouldn't you know they had two. The other was a Registered Magnum (pre-27?) in near mint condition, though at a much higher price. This shop is mostly walnut & blued steel, owner does a lot of traveling & networking to keep the racks & cases well furnished. Got a Marlin 39A there at a good price as well some time back.
@series guy- Indeed it does! First time out was doing better at 25 yards than with any other handgun. Ideal (for me anyway) sights, long barrel, & weight are all beneficial. Feared the big frame & target stocks might be tough for my average size hands, but it was the opposite- felt more in control of the revolver than with my 686-1 or 13-4. Especially during double action pulls, despite the 27-2 being a pound or two heavier in pull weight than the others.
@bigmtnman- You ain't kidding! Already doing little checking on shooter grade 28 prices, something to help share the load so to speak.

I have a couple of 27-2's but no 6" version. Maybe one of these days. Beautiful revolver. Does look new. I think I'd like the front sight though..
(Baughman) ??

May have been a bit confusing about the front sight (forgive me, I speak Kentucky)... I love it! Other types of sights are more eye catching or better in low light etc, but the targets don't lie- I always shoot best with Patridge style.

Nice!
Now you need one that shoots bullets that start with a 4 ;-)

One that starts with a 4 ? with .41 Magnum. .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt offerings you need at least 3. Then a fourth to cover .45 ACP. And so it begins........

Welcome to the forum. That’s a really nice revolver.
David

First, Welcome to the Forum

Congratulations on a beautiful addition to the Family

You will find MANY of your fellow Forum Members are fans of the 27/327/627 family of revolvers.

I got my first one back in 1978. It was the first NEW firearm I ever had. It is the 6" nickel pictured in the top right of that first image. My serial number is probably less than 1000 from yours

I have added many since that day. Some are the older 6 shooters

While others are the newer 8 shooters
For decades my target/plinking load has been 5.5 grains of 231/HP38 pushing a 158 grain hard cast LSWC, so the projectile you already have on hand will work just fine.

I have burned LOTS of H110 through my 357 Magnums. My buddy used to call the 125 grain Winchester JHPs on top of 21.6 grains of H110 the Attention Getter. He loved shooting it from his 3 1/2" Model 27.

That load has been used in all of my firearms from the 2 1/8" Model 640 to the 20" lever gun.

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"Acta non verba"

All my N frames are .45’s. Great revolvers.

Yeah, O.k.

He found that AND a Registered Magnum at the LGS. REG1, I'm sure. I've been wondering where Hoovers gun went.

LOL.

I'm sorry but I have to see it to believe it. You all know how these new posters have been starting out!

Having purchased 4 revolvers in the past 3 months, my gun budget is severely depleted. I couldn't afford one if I was offered a killer deal on it. But I only have K/L frames. So the need is still there. You guys ain't helping. Just sayin'.

OP, very nice revolver! They are addicting, so take care. You start out with one. Then it's another caliber, barrel length, finish, frame size, revision number, performance center, engraved, special edition, U.S. owned, Police owned etc. etc. etc.
They're like potato chips. Bet ya can't eat just one!

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The best I can with what I got

Moratorium in place on new (to me) calibers since the Great Ammo/Component Shortage started, but when (if???) sanity returns I'd not mind one in a fortysomething one little bit. Not sure if 41-44-45, probably whichever showed up first at a price that coincided with my fun budget.

@ colt saa- Sounds like the kind of load I'm looking for, will definitely give it a go. Magnum cases, I presume?
Attention Getter no doubt, also heard heavy H110/296 loads called fireball, light show, flamethrower, and dragon load... all accurate descriptions! Don't care to shoot a bunch of those these days, but everybody ought to once in a while just to remember what a 357 Magnum can be.

@ luvsmiths- Scout's Honor, a real life Registered Magnum! Didn't buy as it was a whole lot more than the 27-2. Close to where I work, so will swing by tomorrow at lunch & get a photo if it's still there. A1 Guns in Florence, Ky if you're interested .

Must be too recent of an arrival, it's not listed on their website......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I love his very knowledgeable, and in depth descriptions on his for sale items. He gets it all done in one sentence, and doesn't even need pictures.

His YELP reviews ( only two) are also OUTSTANDING! (not)

Somehow I'm guessing very soon there will be some GOOD reviews!

Welcome Coldspring'!
I like your style. That's one nice 27.

Gila's 27-2_5 inch_1972_a.jpg

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Yes, I load all ammunition that is intended to be fired in my 357 firearms into Magnum brass

My family and friends have burned through more than 100 pounds of H110 on heavy loads in both 357 Magnum and 41 Magnum

Those 125s move out of my 3 1/2" 27 at 1315 FPS, the 6" 27 at roughly 1525 FPS. They make 1600 FPS in the 8" Python and clear the 20" Model 92 at 2196 FPS

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"Acta non verba"

Very nice 27 you have there!

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

You definitely need a "N" frame in 44 special. I have 3 in that caliber and all "N" frames. Frank

N frames were originally designed (1905?) for .44 Special/Russian, and were also chambered in .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .455 Webley, and some others. Later on, they were also chambered in .38 Special and were the original vehicle for the .357 Magnum in the mid-30s.

K frames were originally chambered in .38 Special in 1899 and then in the 50s in .357 Magnum. The idea was to practice with .38s and then load with .357s for "business". That idea worked poorly in the real world. LEOs then started practicing with full power Magnum ammo and the revolvers started shooting loose and the forcing cone issue raised its head. That lead to the development of the L frames in the 80s, which paired the K frame's grip with a heavier frame and barrel.

You did very well for your first N frame .357....

I had two 5" and one 3.5" but after getting a 6" really prefer the balance and sight picture more than the shorter guns... The one that found me just happen to letter as being shipped on the day I was born, so that helped a little also...

My one .357 Magnum loading is also a 125 grain load, but most of my .38s and .357s get stoked with .38-44 loads using 6.0 grains of Unique and 155-158 grain cast bullet. Velocity from a 2" barrel is 960 and from a 6" 1150 fps. Buffalo bore loads the same rounds and get about 30 fps faster than my loads.

"LEOs then started practicing with full power Magnum ammo and the revolvers started shooting loose and the forcing cone issue raised its head. That lead to the development of the L frames in the 80s, which paired the K frame's grip with a heavier frame and barrel."...they didn't do so by choice...

After one shooting that went bad it was found that the department had never required their officers to ever qualify with the ammo they carried. They had always qualified with .38s and carried .357s...

After a hefty law suit payment the word went out and and most states required officers to qualify with what they carry. In NH we had to shoot back to back qualifying scores, one with practice ammo and one with duty...

Bob

Welcome to the FORUM from Michigan! NICE 27 you have there! I have not been fortunate enough to own 1 yet. My 1st N frame was a 28 no dash from 1960. Had it longer than any other gun.
Then came a 25-15, and a 29-3. All are keepers. Have era correct factory target stocks for them. Bob

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Okeydoke, here you go:

Got no stake in it. No affiliation with the shop or it's owner other than paying customer.
If it's verboten to mention items for sale by third party, be happy to edit my posts to remove.

I believe that’s a .357 Magnum (pre Model 27) from 1954. If it was an RM it would be stamped “REGXXX” in the frame cut out.

Thanks for the clarification series guy. On close inspection it does have a few spots with light wearing on the blue, but overall it's in great shape.

Back on the 27-2 front, wadcutters should arrive tomorrow. Hope to have several loads using those, the rnfp, and HP-38 ready to test before week's end. Smallest bunch of holes at 25 wins! Going to use a rest to take operator error out of the equation as much as possible.

Thanks to all for the comments, information, and photos of your own beautiful revolvers!

Nice!! My M27-2 dates the same as yours, and they could have been on the line together, as the SN on mine is N4479xx, just a tad earlier than yours. Mine also has the Patridge sight and looks as good as yours, too, just like new. I got the wood case, tools and papers with mine. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but I worked up a couple hundred 125 gr JHP .38 Spl. +P loads to put through my other .357's, so this one will get a few of them through it.

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In reality, the ACP round is all that is needed.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Yeah, surprise, surprise.

This original poster is probably associated with post 22.

I knew he was a troll....

Que sera sera.

Can't go wrong with a model 27.
I am still looking for that elusive 5'' but don't tell retailers I'm ready to pay whatever they ask for one.Worse,please don't tell my wife!!!

OP, your gun is a beaut!!! My 27 is a 5", made in the 1960s, with the ramp front sight.

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Let's be careful out there