I presently own a 686 6" and also a Model 60 3". I am considering my next SW purchase to be an blued N frame in .357 Magnum with a 4" or 5" barrel. While my other guns were bought new, I am leaning toward buying an older gun this time. If I buy a used gun, I'd buy it locally so I can check it before I by it. So this reduces my options to what is available locally but since I am not in a hurry, I can wait to find the right gun.

This will be a range gun not a safe queen.

Suggestions as to what model to look for?

I will also post this in the 1961 to 1980 section of the forum.

Txs!

The workhorse of the N Frames. Any variation of the Model 28.

Look for a M27-2 or a M28-2.

Range gun a 6" 28 (1955/56 to IIRC late 80s) or any vintage 27 from the 1935-40 Registered Magnum if you wallet can handle it; to a mid-90's dash-6; or my personal favorite a 586...... the blue steel version of the 686.



Note: the 27/28 is a larger N-frame than your L-frame 686 with a longer trigger reach...

Those 2 would be my choice with a lean to the 27-2.

The 28-2 is the same gun mechanically as the 27-2 and the differences are the 28-2 doesn't have the 27-2's checkered steel top strap or the 27-2's high luster blue. This was done by S&W to lower the cost of the 28-2 for sale to police which led to the name of the 28-2 being the Highway patrolman.

The model 28 can be had for 500 and up for a range gin but the model 27 with 5 inch barrel is my grail gun....5 inch was never offered on the 28

Zogger52:
You are setting yourself up for a great experience! You have already been given some really good advice by other members of this forum. You have many choices, to arrive at your goal. You could look for the ultimate choice in N frame .357 magnums, the best looking, best trigger & action, perfect bbl. length, and good recoil absorbing weight, the S&W Mod. 27 3.5" Revolver. It is considered by many folks, myself included, to be the nearest to perfect .357 Mag. revolver in existence. You could also start with a lower grade .357 revolver, and enjoyably work your way to the top. ether way you will enjoy yourself. When you get up to the Mod. 27 revolvers, there is no bad length, and they were available in more different lengths than any other revolver that I know of. You could spend a lifetime deciding on the one best for you. Get started, and enjoy yourself.
Chubbo

The 3.5" Model 27-2 in 357/38

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

27-2 would be great, if you can find one. I'm hoping to get a 5" myself pretty soon, but holiday expenses are getting in the way.

No one has mentioned a 27-3. Sure, you give up the pinned barrel and recessed charge holes, but mechanically they are fine and usually considerably less expensive as the collectability just isn't there. No one but an expert will know the difference watching you shoot at the range.

Txs for all the great ideas!

I've got a nickel 5" 27-2 for gazing at, and a 27-6 for shooting....

-2, thru -6....any of them, it's not like the endurance package benefited the .357 like it did the .44.

Or , change your want list and go for a 624 in .44 Special! I have a 4" model I bought new in 1984 and it is the most awesome gun I own!

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A Snider squibbed n the Jungle

The Model 28 Highway Patrolman , mine is a Keeper

Came to post this. Seems everyone did.

Here's a picture of a 4 inch 28-2 with a set of John Culina custom Maple grips.

As others have said, the model 27 or 28 (Highway Patrolman).

Model 27's, particularly the 4 inch variety, are quite costly. In 95%+ condition, you're talking over a grand, probably ~1200+. The 28 is getting up there too. In like condition, they are going ~800 or so.

Here's a really cool one to look for: model 520. It's a model 28 with fixed sights. Those were only made for the NYSP in 1980, then the order was cancelled. It's a very cool gun in my opinion, and like new ones seem to go for ~900.

Now, you say you want an older one. Consider the new 'Classics' models too. While they do not have the pinned barrel or counter-bored chambers, and they do have that key lock, they are still VERY nice guns. The Performance Center makes them, so they are the best production guns you can currently get from S&W. From my own experience, the Performance Center makes VERY nice guns. Honestly, the PC guns that I've owned were TIGHTER than all the older P&R revolvers I've owned.

Very Nice!

Is the .357 magnum caliber your main criteria? I ask because your 686 can handle anything an N frame .357 magnum can. I can understand if you do not want to invest in another caliber. But an N frame to me needs a caliber starting with the number 4. Don't get me wrong, I had a beautiful 5" 27-2 that I gave to my son. It had the best blueing of any S&W I have owned, and I can still look at it or shoot it whenever I want!

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Tony

I agree. When the original Registered Magnum came out in the 30's, the metallurgy at the time required that the .357 mag pressure be contained by the thick-walled cylinder of the N-frame.

Advances in heat treating and metallurgy made the N-frame .357 with 6 chambers 'obsolete' in the functional sense. Some even point out that the heavy cylinder 'batters' itself with fast shooting prematurely.

I'd say that the N-frame is best suited to the .41 magnum or the .44 special. Full-throttle .44 magnum seems to beat up the yoke tube.

Another vote for the venerable Model 28 Highway Patrolman. Something about it, I don't know... to me it just has character, and public service heritage, and heft, and pointability that some more modern heavy .357's seem to lack. No offense, I love me some 686 goodness, but the 28 has a place in my heart even above the Model 27. Shooting as full house of a 158gr Magnum as you prefer out of them is a real pleasure.

Now that I've got all those wannahave handguns(rifles is another thing)I'm ready for a 5'' model 27.But to answer your question(this ain't my post afterall!)my answer for a totaround gun would be a 4''model 28.They come by for a small amount of $$$(compared to Mod 27)and will do more than their job.I know;I got one.
Qc

For an older gun,you should look for a S&W Model 610 10mm or 40 S&W.I recently acquired a 6.5 inch stainless steel and it melts my hear when I shoot it.Great gun in 3 inch and 5 inch barrels all truly worth the money.

You are about venture down a very expensive path because once you realize how well they handle and experience the old school double action trigger pull, you will want examples of all variations. I had to buy another 60" safe because of this. Don't worry, we'll help motivate you when you are on the fence about a purchase

P.S.
Every gun safe really ought to have a 6" 28 Highway. Just start there. The earlier the production the better.

Go 45. My favorite "N" frame shooters are my model 1917, model 1950 (pre-26) and model 1955 (pre-25). I have a real affinity for for 45acp revolvers. The 1917 is a real piece of history. I know they don't fit your criteria, but it's a mere suggestion. Any 27 or 28 with a pin in the barrel and recessed cylinder will do nicely. Good luck.

If you want to stick with 357 Mag, then a 27 or 28 are 2 great choices to look at. But if you decide to go with a -2 variant or earlier, you will be spending a significant amount of money for a good one, especially the 27's. If you go with a -3 to -5 model you will save a few hundred bucks or more and still end up with a very good revolver. I have a 6 1/2" 27-5 among my collection of 4 27's and it's just as fine as shooter as my 27-2's. And it still has the traditional checking on the top strap and not that new "so-called" checkering they are doing nowadays.

And I know you are thinking of an older model, but don't turn your nose up at a 627 in 4 or 5" barrel either. I bought a new 627 Pro in April and it has a trigger that is as nice as my older 27's. And it is 8 shot to boot. The flat sided barrel does detract from the traditional looks in my opinion, but it shoots well. And being a stainless gun, it's easier to keep clean.

For a range gun? I think a six-inch barrel is better suited, and serves well for all-round .357 use that doesn't include concealed carry. No N-frame gun is ideal for that.


Having owned five-inch and six and 6.5-inch barreled .357's, I'd choose a six-inch barrel. It seems to me to be easier to shoot well. The five-inch is a bit easier to carry, but not much. You'll never notice the difference in the right holster, except that the longer barrel may make it harder to achieve comfort during long hours in a car on patrol. But the OP isn't in that position. And tall people don't have the holster toe pressing on the seat, anyway.


IMO, the 3.5-inch barrel is always a mistake over getting a four-inch barrel. Elmer Keith and holster maker Chic Gaylord agreed. The short barreled M-27 has emotional appeal because of its brutal, stumpy appearance. But that's ALL that it offers.

Get a Model 24.

It's it's a range gun, punching big ole holes is sure satisfying!

I been hooked on the n frames with the 6" & 6 1/2" barrels. But the 4" m58 in 41 mag handles really well. The m27-2 and m28's are good choices. There also a good starting point. These can become addicting.

The chorus singing the praises of the 27-2 and 28-2 are correct if the .357 Magnum is your must have caliber. My 27-2 used to be a favorite range gun until I discovered the joys of the .45 ACP caliber N frame! The model 25 or 625 in any dash form with a 4, 5 or 6 inch barrel is an absolute blast to shoot. Big bore fun with reasonable ammo cost even if you don't handload.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

The Model 28 is a great choice for a range gun. They can be found at very reasonable prices and they don't command as much as a Model 27 that had a nicer bluing job and were more expensive. This is a 28-2 manufactured in 1978 and was a Texas Department of Public Safety gun. You can shoot milder .38 Special loads in them for range work.

Ah man, I'd so love a DPS gun (Texan here).

I didn't notice the OPs requirement of .357. That definitely limits the choices to the 27 & 28, unless he wants to look for a 520.

Another option would be a pre-lock 627, they're kinda pricey, though, and may not be easy to find locally.

I'm relatively new to this, But I also agree regarding the 28.
I have a 27-2 in Stainless that's fun too, but the "pawn shop find" where I picked up a 6" Highway Patrolman is by far the most fun to shoot.
Good Luck!

If my memory serves me correctly the Model 27 only came in blued or nickel. No stainless steel variant was ever produced. In 1989 the stainless steel Model 627 was introduced as the "Model of 1989". It featured a  5 1⁄2-inch barrel, a 6-shot unfluted cylinder, and had a round butt with S&W Combat stocks.

Here you go:

As most have said, I'd get a 28-2. The M27 is just too fancy and hard to find in a 4 inch. The 28 is just as good. Plus, it's a tough and durable gun that can take a beating almost like SS. I like the way it looks like a snub with that large frame and short 4 inch barrel.

Attached Images

M28-2 Pic 1.jpg (87.3 KB, 8 views)

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Dr. B

Well, here's my 27-2 with the 3 1/2" bbl:



But for less money...how about my 28-2 with the 4" bbl?:



They are both great shooters... Like them so much that I just picked up a 4" 28 no dash yesterday:



This is a "before" picture...I brought it home, put a couple cylinders of 357 through it to make sure it functioned OK, and will spend some time cleaning it up. these are marvelous shooters, and their weight ensures that even full magnum loads are relatively light recoiling.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Just to make your decision harder, here are a few of my 27's and my 627 Pro for you to gander at.

First, my safe queen . It's a 27-2 4". Still unshot except for the proof shots S&W fires. Above it is my first pistol, a 5" 27-2. It's had 10's of thousands of rounds through it:


Next is a 27-5 with a 6 1/2" barrel I bought off GB 3 years ago. Got it for around $700. It's had a few thousand rounds through it since I bought it:


Finally, just to make it harder for you to choose, here is my 627 Pro I bought new in April. With the Ahrends round to square butt conversion grips I have right about $900 in that revolver. And it's had a few thousand rounds put through it since I got it in April: