Considering the purchase on one of these any downside on one of these as a general plinker and fun gun? Found 5" NIB for $750. What do you think?

Considering the purchase on one of these any downside on one of these as a general plinker and fun gun? Found 5" NIB for $750. What do you think?

I looked at the 627 again it is a 4" model not the 5".Looks like it has a different front sight than the 5".

No downside I can think of other than the cost to feed it once you see how much fun it is to shoot. Loading .38/357 yourself can help to some degree but factory ammo.....WOW!

The front sight is the quickly removable type. I just prefer the 5" gun. I changed the gold bead to a black serrated ramp. Just a matter of personal preference.

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Tom

I have 2 627s, Both are 5" I really like them.

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May God Bless The USA

What is the difference between the 4" version and the 5" version the S&W 627 Perf Center 357Mag 8 Shot? Does the 4" gun take moon clips?

The pro series does but not the standard.

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May God Bless The USA

The 627 pro would be my first choice if I were ever to find one in the area. The price sounds respectable as well.

I traded for the like new 5" JM PC627 V-Comp several years ago - and love it... except for dovetail front sight, which S&W doesn't offer a replacement for. Also, the use of either the comp (shown) or cap simply means something else to clean. With the gun's mass - and my wimpy .357Ms - that comp is for 'looks'. It has a dreamy PC trigger job, of course. Hate that front sight!

Last May found me going to my pusher for a 4" .38/.357M - a new 620. I left with a new 627 Pro for less than a c-note more - WOW! The 627 Pro has the eased ejector star and is dished for moonclps, just like the PC gun. The trigger cleaned up nicely, albeit not quite a PC shop equivalent. That 625JM/Classic-DX style front sight is spring loaded and permits a tool-less exchange in seconds. I added the HiViz and the Ahrends' Retro Targets - and love it. It is my most common range bag rider... even went yesterday, when it digested moonclipped-only ammo - a first of sorts for me (The 625 & it's 'clipped' .45 ACPs spoils you for the moonclip's speed of loading.). I finally ordered fifty more moonclips... I better like them!



Seriously, the 4" 627 Pro will be here long after that PC 5"-er is gone. It is a faster pointer - and a fine 'plinker' - for me.

Stainz

I believe the Pro is your best bet for an 8 shot .357 revolver. They're every bit as good as the overpriced PC guns and I really like that 4" barrel. I studied one closely at a match and it performed very well, even with the moonclipped .38 Short Colt that the shooter was using.

Dave Sinko

Yup, there is one problem. Buy one moonclipped eight shooter and you will want another.

S&W - The Breakfast of Champions.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Thanks for the input yesterday I closed a Gunbroker auction for a 627 4" pro. Will give a range report after get a few hundred rounds.

Does anyone know of a good source for moon clips for a 627?

http://www.alscustom.com/shop/...x.php?shop=1&cat=102

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May God Bless The USA

www.ranchproducts.com (313)277-3118

I believe they make 'em for everybody else. Call them and order 50 for the same $$ you'd pay for 20 anywhere else. Very nice people, very old school company. Much better to call than email.

/c

Good choice. I love these 8 shooters, and am very happy with mine. The Pro-series is the best of the breed. Dillon precision sells good 8 round clips for these, in 10 packs for $19.95. Also they sell a very functional moon clip loader, "The Deluxe Mooncliptool", that is a small marvel of machinery. This thing takes the pain out of trying to load 8 rounds into the clips. It also has a well designed hole at the end that works well to remove the rounds from the clips. (Sounds like a sales pitch doesn't it.) I was told they're made by a local machinist, who underestimated the demand. I had to wait for mine, but it was worth it. The 357 clips are harder to load than the 45 ACPs, at least for me. Good luck with your 627, it should provide good service.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Thanks for the tip on the moon clips and de- mooner I will check out Dillon.

I was perusing the Smith & Wesson website the other day and noticed that the 627 Pro is not listed. Have they discontinued that model?

It is there, I just used the model search button on their website, 627, it pops right up with all the other 627s.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

I have the 627 Pro and the 627 PC. I bought the PC first then the Pro. Knowing what I know now, I would have bought the Pro rather than the PC. For me, the Pro has better balance and has an action almost as smooth as the 627 PC. The main reason I bought the PC was because it accepts moonclips. It was only after I had the PC that I found out the Pro also accepts moonclips but this is not mentioned in any of the Smith & Wesson's product information on the Pro. I love them both however.

627 Pro



627 Performance Center

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"I'm just a dog chasing cars."

Yes I saw that on the moon clips as well and contacted the Gunbroker seller to make sure it used the moon clips. I ordered mine of off Gunbroker so I have not seen it. How does the double and single action trigger pull compare on these to a stock N frame?

The double and single action is very slick on both the 627 Performance Center and the 627 Pro. The 627 PC has more of a competition action. The 627 Pro is a different feel in both the single and double action; it has more of a duty weapon feel to it. The 627 Pro has a Wolff mainspring from the factory and a wider trigger than the 627 PC. They are both great. I would not say than one is better than the other. Also, like the 627 PC, the 627 Pro has a spring loaded front sight making sight replacement quick and easy. If one was to choose between the two, you would only be sacrificing an inch of barrel length going with the 627 Pro. I love the fact they both use moonclips and love the 8 shot capability. Both are true works of art. I really don't understand why S&W does not promote the 627 Pro better than it does.

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"I'm just a dog chasing cars."

I would like to see S&W advertise these a lot more myself. This .357 simply makes too much sense as a carry or house revolver not to do so.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Six months ago, I looked at a 627 Performance Center Gun that was out of time, straight from the box. Today, a gentleman at our local gunshop was looking at one and said that 2 chambers were out of time, straight from the box. And people pay $800+ for these things!

I would much sooner spend $450 on a pre lock/pre MIM 586 or 686 and have it fixed up.

I can't speak to that. I know that I have not had an problems with my 627 PC at all and have shot hundreds of rounds through it. I did have a 625JM that did have a problem of skipping a cylinder when fast shooting. I even tried using a Wolff Extra Power cylinder stop spring but that did not help it. I think that with such a complex collection of moving parts that have to have very precise timing there will be some S&W's that require adjustment. It is a bit disconcerting that ANY Performance Center gun would have timing issues though. I bet the timing was thrown off by the IL!

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"I'm just a dog chasing cars."

I bought a very early 625JM and a somewhat early 627 Pro. Both had 'tuned actions' that were nothing more than filed/ground strain screws - and what looked like normal leaf hammer springs. The 'sharpened' strain screw end worked into the Wolff hamer springs hollow back (aka 'power rib'), lessening the available pre-load at a fully tightened screw. This gave ftf's with Federal primers and the reduced spring, 100% fire with Feds and the 'regular power' Wolff leaf spring. Reducing the trigger return spring helps the DA pull,at the expense of a rapid trigger return. S&W will send you a full length strain screw.

The Ranch Products 8-holers are $50/50 or $75/100 delivered, while the 6-hole .45 ACPs are $35/100. Nice folks, too, if a challenge to contact. The spider-legged .357Ms are a bit of a challenge to load quickly - especially if you are accustomed to RN bullets in those .45 ACP moonclips and the 625JM... it seems to suck them in, while the 627 seems repulsed by the moonclipped rounds. The 627 Pro is, like my PC-shop JM 627, equipped with an eased ejector star to assist rapid reloading.

Moonclips are picky... both sizes seem to like Starline brass (.45 ACP & .357 Magnum), while I have several 8-round clips kept loaded with the Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LHPSWC .38 loads. I have broken the only scissors-style de-mooner I've tried - in the first few weeks. The nutdriver style, like Brownell's carries, works great - and will hold six .45 or eight .357M empties at a time. I didn't see the .357M in the current catalog, but I'll bet they still have them. They aren't much - and easier to manipulate than a hunk of pipe.

Stainz

PS When you get your 627 Pro... be advised... there is no cure for the 'possum eatting poop out of a hairbrush' grin that will appear on your face. Just get used to it. Folks may wonder what you did... let them! Early congratulations on your purchase.

These new guns simply dont compare to my old 6 hole Bangor Punta S&W 586s. I wont trade mine.

Good fer you.^^
I see the standard non-PC 627 gets no love either. I believe this to be the bargain out of the bunch and I personally prefer the barrel profile. Looks like the classics. You would have to machine for clips if you choose, but that's no big deal.

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~I've got your back~

Hey lets keep it down about pushing the 627 pro.If they did that they would have to raise the prices. When you compare the price of a 627 pro as compared to the standard 627, the pro is a bargain. The pro has no mim parts and is already cut for moon clips as well as the slab side barrel. for less then a $100.00 difference the pro is a stand out.

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May God Bless The USA

Both the standard lug 627 (SKU 163357 MSRP $1,003 42 oz) and the 627 Pro (SKU 178014 MSRP $1,059 41.2 oz) have MIM parts. The 627 has these extras: chamfered charge holes, moonclip ready, 'tuned action' or Boss mainspring(?), custom barrel & recessed crown,and a spring-loaded front sight for fast sight changes. Both are great revolvers.

Love my 627 Pro... see my picture - it looks/feels great with the Ahrends Retro Targets.

Stainz

None of the pro series revolvers I have have mim parts. (I have 2 SSRs)
It seems that not all pro series are created equal. only the SSRs have the forges hammer and triggers.
So I guess the PC 627 is a better deal.

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May God Bless The USA

Just got back from the range with my new pro. Really like the gun so far. Shot 50 125 XTP and 150 158 lead SWC. The 125 XTP shoot all 8 shots in 2" at 25 yards off the bags. Plenty good accuracy for me, nice trigger very well finished. Now I have to go clean it up.

Just got back from the range with my 6" 586-3. Performance Tuned when they first opened the shop. As I recall, I paid about $275 for the gun. Been back twice to S&W for wear related issues. She seems more accurate now than the day I purchased her. That said, my 4" Ruger GP100 can give this old gun a real run as far as accuracy goes. With the right load, that GP100 can beat the S&W side by side. Are the new S&W revolvers really worth that kind of money? Perhaps as competition guns thay are. It wasnt all that long ago that I was on the range with a security officer whose duty weapon was a 4" PC 686. His ejector rod backed off while firing, locking up his gun. My GP100 just kept on going bang, shooting tighter groups than this mans duty weapon. He tried my GP100 and traded his gun for a new GP100 the next day.

Congrats, sounds really good and you guys are making my checkbook nervous.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

I am considering buying a 627 PRO but have one question.
Is the use of moon clips required with the PRO or can the gun be loaded and fired without them

They work without moonclips, but there are no decent speedloaders.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Stainz,

i have a 627 pc v-comp , and the factory made a gold bead front for mine at around $50. works pretty well

i also heard that the dovetail front on this gun is a standard rifle size and so other sights can be found.

fly rodder

I am really enjoying my new 627 Pro. I will admit I hard a hard time spending that much money on a new Smith and Wesson. But I have found the quality to be very high on this pistol. I have slightly over 1,000 rounds shot to date without a problem. Shoots cast .38 and heavy .357 to nearly same point of aim. Accuracy is great as is the trigger. The trigger does need an over-travel stop though I think. I have no buyer remorse on my 627.

Fly Rodder,

Some years back, the PC Shop told me the dovetail was that of a 1911's and surely some aftermarket sights would fit - and to let them know what I found out. I became accustomed to black/black sights.

Duskykiller,

Great to hear how happy you are. The 627 Pro would need a solid trigger - like the forged parts, as the MIM triggers are hollow-backed - to fit an overtravel-limit screw. My PC 627 has one - and I have never used it, as it is flush.

Did you try the HiViz front sight yet? I believe it takes the .250" height - same as my 625JM.

I just got my 1k of new Starline .357M and 50 moonclips, so I will start my plinker loads soon (Montana Gold 125gr JHP over 4.5gr Titegroup in .357M case - Fed SP primed - makes 880-900 fps from 4"/5" barrels.). I may become accustomed to the moonclips yet. I have used that load with Zero Bullet's 125gr JHPs, too - and I have a few in reserve. The Starline brass was bought because I found it easiest to handload the moonclips with. Congrats on your purchase.

I am a neophyte, despite my sixty years on the planet, in the world of S&W. My wife shocked me with my first S&W, a new 625MG in .45 Colt, Labor Day 2002. A long time Ruger lover, I quickly became a convert. The only Ruger I still have is an Old Army bp. The others soon went. The last, a MKII, helped defray the cost of a new 617 last September. I had everything from .32M to .454 Casull. The 'new', ie, current production S&Ws, blew them away. I have fewer firearms now - mostly revolvers - which are all S&W. I love it this way - great shooters and great pride of ownership; IL-wart, MIM parts, and two-piece barrels included! Current production S&Ws, like the 627 Pro, are fine.

Stainz

PS Yeah - prices. I remember $.10 white bread and $.30 gas, too... hadn't seen them in a while, either. Never thought I'd make, working and before taxes, what I now take home on retirement, either. Perspective.

I will have to try a Hi-Viz sight. I haven't tried Montana Gold bullets either I take it you like them.

Comparing the 686 SSR and the 627 PRO, hat are the differences beside 6 and 8 rounds and moon clips

The SSR was supposedly designed for IDPA: no moonclips (in standard revolver), only six rounds, and 4" barrel or shorter. It's a medium size L frame.

The 627 Pro is made on the larger N frame, and should work fine for ICORE competition ( but the 5" eight shooters might be more popular??)

Both 4" guns have changeable front sights? And the two guns should handle differently. Grip size is different. Shoot them enough, and you should notice a difference between trigger action/ cylinder size & rotation.
Both guns are real good, depending on what you want.
What else guys?

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

I forgot, my 50+ year old eyeballs really notice the tritium fiber optic front sight on my P220. I never liked this idea until I tried it. Now I like it a lot.

A gold bead actually works best for me, when there is any light at all for the gold to catch.

The front sights of fiber optic or gold really stands out in daylight for me. The tritium fiber optic works like normal tritium at night.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Nice guns, Stainz. Love the pic.

I just purchased the 627 Pro, and want to thank you for sharing your opinion. Since you own both the Pro and the PC versions, your opinion means more to me.

I already have an M&P R8 from the performance center, and just love it's accuracy and smooth action. But I'm a sucker for satin finished stainless steel. And have wanted an SS S&W for a long time. I use moonclips in the 8 shot R8, and like the idea of two guns that can share the same moonclips...

Thanks again for your side by side comparison. Performance Center guns are great, but I like the value of the Pro 627 in this case.

-D