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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 07-23-2011, 04:46 AM
whodat whodat is offline
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Default 547 Range trip

Well it's been 89 days since I last saw the 547 that I was lucky enough to find, at a good price,($675 total cost) on GB.
I was rudely interrupted by the infamous NICS "named base" dragnet. The out come? I'm not crazy, and I got my UPIN for future reference. FYI, if you don't have a UPIN (Unique Personal Identification number) from NICS for the purchase of a firearm, You should think about getting one. If you purchase firearms, it's just a matter of time before you will be victimize!! The system sucks and hurry up and wait is the name of the game. Enough on that. On to Happy thoughts. I picked up the revolver this morning. It came with a 1X20 reddot and some funky grips. I mounted a micro reddot and change grips. I headed to the range with 100rds. of 124gr. Aguila 9mm FMJ. I shot the 547 @ 7yds. without the rail and reddot to see how it handle just to point and shoot. It handles and functions quite well. It's everything I hope it would be. I put the rail and reddot on and spoiled the fun. I could not adjust the elevation low enough. What a waste of bullets. I shot the last 10 rounds as fast as possible without the sight setup. I'm going to leave the sight post off for a while. This is a great point and shoot revolver. Best buy of the year so far. Next purchase Kel-Tec KSG Bullpup Shotgun.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 547a.jpg (42.6 KB, 92 views)
File Type: jpg 547f.jpg (103.1 KB, 81 views)
File Type: jpg 547h.jpg (96.9 KB, 84 views)
File Type: jpg 15000011.jpg (85.4 KB, 66 views)
File Type: jpg 15000014.jpg (90.4 KB, 61 views)
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  #2  
Old 07-23-2011, 04:54 AM
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J D Allen J D Allen is offline
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Default s&w 547

I have only seen one of these since they were made in the 80's. What is this NISC ?
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Old 07-23-2011, 06:43 AM
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jrplourde jrplourde is offline
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The 547 is a very collectable revolver. They did not make many. I can't imagine any one destroying one by drilling and taping and removing the front sight. By the way, my best gun deal to date is the 547 I recently bought from a forum member, mint condition for $650.

Bob
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Old 07-23-2011, 07:27 AM
scooter123 scooter123 is offline
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The reason why you couldn't get your sighting dialed in with the red dot is due to the offset between the barrel and the sight. At close range this requires a LOT of convergence between the sight and bore axis. BTW, if you ever do manage to sight it for 7 yards you'll find that you shoot completely over your target at long ranges due to that convergence, it's why I ditched using rail mounted sights on my revolvers, made them much too sensitive to distance.

You have basically 2 options. One is to mount iron sights on that 547 and shoot with irons. Hopefully you did get the rear sight assembly for that 547, otherwise it may be a bit of a challenge to get the correct rear sight.

The second option is to do what I've done with 3 of my revolvers, that is equip it with a J Point reflex in a direct mount. All 3 of these guns will shoot within 1 inch of the dot from 20 feet out to at least 120 feet and are sighted in at 35 yards. BTW, they are probably within an inch out to 50 yards but that far away I need to use a scope, just can't see the target well enough in the poor lighting of the 50 yard indoor range I shoot at. I'll also tell you that the J Point ships with a 1 degree wedge shim that can be used in either direction and it may be needed. My 610 needed no shim, the 617 required the sight be tipped down by 1 degree and the 620 is nearly at the limit of needing a shim with 125 gn. 38 spl. but not using a shim allows me to adjust for heavier loads up to Magnums. I'll also warn you that your 547 will have to be drilled and tapped to the new mounting pattern featured on guns made post 1993. Since your 547 predates 1993 you'll want to check to see if the hole pattern complies with that new standard mounting pattern. Unfortunately until S&W set a standard for mounting holes gunsmiths were tapping frames wherever they felt appropriate, so anything made before 1993 with a rail just has to be checked. Good news is that red dot sights are basically something that hit the market in the 90's so it's possible your frame was tapped to the new standard pattern. If it's not been tapped to the standard pattern, try calling JP Rifles and see if they will make up a base with the mounting holes left blank and have a machinist measure your frame then drill and conterbore to the mount fit.

Now for the teaser, a pic of all 3 with the J Point. As you can see the sight sits much lower on the revolvers than what you have now so convergence really isn't at issue. I'll also link to my writeup on this sight because there are minor installation and feature issues you'll want to be aware of. I'll also warn you the cost is about 400 dollars with sight, base, and shipping. However it allows this 56 year old to "dust off" a lot of youngsters even when they're shooting rifles so it was worth it to me.



Purchased 2 more J Point Reflex sights, range report.

Last edited by scooter123; 07-23-2011 at 07:30 AM.
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Old 07-23-2011, 08:18 AM
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murphydog murphydog is offline
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Agree with scooter on the geometry issue, it was likely sighted in for a longer distance. The 547 is a fixed-sight gun, so no need to find a new rear sight. You should be able to find a new front sight blade and cross pin should you decide to move away from the optic.
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Old 07-23-2011, 12:22 PM
whodat whodat is offline
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Thanks for the input guys. Yea, I'm not ready for a reddot setup for pistols or revolvers yet. The eyes are holding up pretty good so far. I plan a getting the front sight and pin sooner or later. For now its point and shot fun. Got to keep the hand to eye thing sharp as possible. Good shootin all.
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Old 07-30-2011, 10:10 AM
diceman3 diceman3 is offline
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Default 547 Range Trip

Since this pistol was ordered for the Israeli's to give to Palistinian Police, it was intended for light defensive service. As I result I have read that it's best not to use "defensive" type ammo. I have the 4" heavy barrel, would you more experienced user's of 547 give me some advice about grains, and using hp's in this type revolver?
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Old 07-30-2011, 02:11 PM
whodat whodat is offline
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Hello diceman,
I was at the range yesterday checking out the Trijicon Green Front Night Sight. I also had a chance to chrono some rounds thru the 547. Here is what I shot.

Precision Delta 124gr. Hornady XTP JHP (1150 fps)
Aguila 117gr. JHP (1135 fps)
Remington 115gr. L9MM1B JHP (1145fps)

Test distance: 12ft.
Shots: 6

Temp: 89-91 degrees
Hum: 55% - Elevation 650 -750ft above sea level
Partly Cloudy

Precision Delta 124gr. Hornady XTP JHP
Hi - 1078 fps
Lo - 1045 fps
Avg.1062 fps
Muzzle Energy: 310 ft. lbs.

Aguila 117gr. JHP (1135 fps)
Hi - 1169 fps
Lo - 1143 fps
Avg.1157 fps
Muzzle Energy: 341 ft. lbs.

Remington 115gr. L9MM1B JHP
Hi - 1169 fps.
Lo - 1124 fps
Avg.1150 fps
Muzzle Energy: 329 ft. lbs.

This is the 3 inch round butt model 547. All rounds function well. POA/POI was better/tighter with 124gr rounds FMJ and HP (I also shot 124gr. Aguila FMJ, but did not chrono them). The Aguila 117 JHP were hot puppy's. They were the only ones where the brass expanded a little bit in the cylinder. Nothing serious, just a little tight coming out. I have no problem with using any of these rounds for Self-defense in the 547. So far, I have shot 168 rounds thru this 547. I have had no problems with extractions up to 100 rds. so far. I won't be shooting more than a 100rds. per outing with this revolver anyway. Next week the D&L Sports rear fix sight will be in and I will test it to see if I will keep it install or not. So far, the Trijicon Green Front Night Sight works great.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Trijicon Green Front Night Sight.jpg (95.4 KB, 27 views)
File Type: jpg D&L Sports Fix rear sight for S&W K frame.jpg (57.3 KB, 29 views)
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Old 07-31-2011, 11:12 AM
diceman3 diceman3 is offline
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Default 547 Range Trip

Thanks for the all the information. With the 4" heavy barrel on my 547, do you think there should be any concerns about the various rounds that you tested? There is probably not a lot of information about best defensive round for this pistol, as pistol had such a short history.
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Old 07-31-2011, 01:51 PM
whodat whodat is offline
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Not really diceman3. It's the same revolver, with a 3 inch heavy barrel. With that said, You won't know until you see what your revolver likes best. No two are exactly alike.
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