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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 08-18-2009, 11:12 PM
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Default 327 Night guard vs 386 NG

Good day......

I'm thinking of geting a 327 or 386 night guard revolver.

what are the pros and cons

thanks for the input
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  #2  
Old 08-18-2009, 11:53 PM
Revolver_Fan Revolver_Fan is offline
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Default Splitting Hairs

The width (girth) of the 327 (reported as 1.7") probably exceeds that of the 386 by less than 1/2." Both have practically the same overall length (within 1/8") and height.

327 is approximately 3 ozs. heavier than the 386. In any case, neither is a front-jeans-pocket revolver.

A bit more heft and volume with the 327 in the holster and speedloaders on the belt (if you choose this mode of carry).

Given the choice I'd go for 8 over 7. I know from hours of oogling at the local shop that both feel the same in my hand.

This is rather simplistic, but given the fact that they are virtually identical - I suggest that you compare each for fit and pointability - and choose the one that feels best in your hand.

Last edited by Revolver_Fan; 08-19-2009 at 12:00 AM. Reason: Add Missing Width/Dimension
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Old 08-19-2009, 01:27 AM
rz625-8 rz625-8 is offline
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Watchout for Stainless Steel top strap protector to get blown off its seating place above the barrel. And probably frame cracking if you use hot loads. Scandium frame by S&Ws cant take to much over pressured rounds in their Scandium framed revolvers or semis. rz625-8 Stay with steel revolvers. you will be pleased with them instead of the problemchilds of the scandium frames.
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  #4  
Old 08-19-2009, 02:08 PM
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I own an old snub nosed 386PD. I bought it several years before I heard of the Night Guard. One of the things that I did to it was put the extreme duty rear sight on it.


At the time there was no 327 that was comparable. When the 327 Carry came on the scene, I added one of those to the collection. Though I swapped out the Ahrends grips for some Pachmayr Compaqs.


Now that the Night Guards are here, I added a 327NG and have plans on geting a 310NG and a 357NG to go with it. It is the hide out revolver I would have built if I had the chance.


BTW, all three of these can be carried in the front pocket. Loose jeans or cargo pants help. Remember concealed does not mean no bulge or no printing. It means hidden from view.

At the present time I own more than half a dozen Scandium framed revovlers. Most all of them have several thousnad rounds of full power ammunition through them. My 340PD has more than 5,000 rounds of 357 Magnum 158 grain JSPs (old issue ammo) through it plus other ammo as well. They are no more or less prone to failure than the alloy framed revolvers that they have replaced in today's market.

These rumors of failure have been blown way out of proportion thanks to the internet. In the olden days when a model 37 frame developed a crack you heard about it at your range or over a cup of coffee, perhaps 50-80 peapole hear the story. Today that same story goes out over the internet and thousands of people or more hear about it. Then when the next story comes up someone chimes in and says "hey I heard of another one, the company must be going to hell." So today Everybody has heard several stories of these few failures.
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Old 08-19-2009, 05:29 PM
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I expect to get a 327NG one day - for +P .38s (Remington R38S12 158gr LHPSWC). I expect it to outlast me. My nearly seven year old 296 must have >2,500 200gr Gold Dots, etc, through it. No SS strip - just Al-alloy topstrap (... and Ti cylinder!). No appreciable wear, either. No, not a dedicated plinker - neither are any of the NG series. They were designed for a mission. My 627 Pro is a plinker of the first order! Plinkers require SS or CS, not Al alloys.

Stainz
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Old 08-20-2009, 12:19 AM
danbrew danbrew is offline
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Second vote on the 327 Carry Comp. Nice. Have Eagle Secret Service Grips on mine and it is a dream shooting .38s. I put Hogue grips on it when shooting .357s.
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Old 08-20-2009, 08:30 PM
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Salesman at a local shop had a 327NG with the hip grip and a T-Tyler. It pratically disappeared IWB under his baggy tucked in shirt. Very interesting carrier package. He said he absolutely loved the gun. PEN
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Old 08-20-2009, 10:08 PM
maxxpower maxxpower is offline
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I have a 327 as well. AS much as I love my other Smiths this is the only one that I hel the first time and I said "I have to have this."

It is an incredible shooter. I wish the rear sights had night sights or at least an outline of some kind.

For the reasons stated above I'd go with 8 rounds over 7.
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Old 08-22-2009, 10:21 PM
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I have the 386 NG and the 329 NG. I haven't shot the 329 yet, I may get to it tomorrow. I've had it for 3 or 4 weeks. My 386 is my daily carry. I carry every day, morn til night, in a Smartcarry. I've carried for almost 25 years, and this is the best method that I have ever used. I can always carry a big gun. No more mouse guns or buying pants that are too big, but....back on topic... My 386 has very manageable recoil. Not harsh at all. I carry full house .357's in it. The sights are decent at 20 yards. Rough country for ME with a snubby. I love the sc framed snubbies by Smith. I'd like to get a .41 mag in the future. Best -





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Old 08-29-2009, 06:44 PM
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I'd go with the 327. The difference in size is minor, so you might as well get the extra round with the 327. Here's my 327NG sporting a pair of Ahrends tung-oiled grips

RJ
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  #11  
Old 08-30-2009, 07:50 PM
JNewell JNewell is offline
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Limited sample represented here - but IMO the 7x L guns seem to have better triggers than the 8x N guns. YMMV?
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Old 06-16-2010, 01:50 PM
rg9350 rg9350 is offline
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386ng, or stay with my new m10, for carry? any thoughts?
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  #13  
Old 07-25-2010, 04:33 PM
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I have the 386 as my daily carry, comfortably snug in my Thunderwear with one HKS speedloader.

I have put prob 500 or so .38 and 300 .357s thru it with zero problems. The Pachmayr Compac grips are unbelievable. Im not a huge guy, and I can handle a day of fun firing the big boys on target no prob.

Using search to resurrect instead of starting a new thread FTW!
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Old 07-25-2010, 05:43 PM
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Does anyone make a speed loader for the 8 round cylinder? So far I haven't found one.
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Old 07-25-2010, 05:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GKC View Post
Does anyone make a speed loader for the 8 round cylinder? So far I haven't found one.
Thunder Ranch® Oregon 8Shot Speed Loader
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Old 07-25-2010, 06:21 PM
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Quote:
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Thanks...they are expensive but look like they are well made.
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Old 07-25-2010, 08:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GKC View Post
Thanks...they are expensive but look like they are well made.
Dang, I didnt see the price!
That dude is bonkers!
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Old 07-25-2010, 08:27 PM
jessegpresley jessegpresley is offline
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I've read these are nicer than the Thunder Ranch ones. $25 each.

5 Star speed loaders.
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Old 09-23-2010, 05:13 AM
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Thank you BIG TIME for the heads up on the 5 Star Speed Loader. Went to their site and purchased two for my 327NG. ALOT cheaper than going the moon clip route when all the conponents are considered (turning the cylinder, de-mooning device, clips,etc).
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Old 09-23-2010, 11:00 AM
RPD20 RPD20 is offline
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I just went through this delema myself. My local dealer had both the 386 NG and 327 NG in stock. I chose the 327 and love it. Im a sucker for N frame snubbies. I put Pachmayr K/L frame RB Grippers on it. It feels much better now. I have only put 50 rounds through it (HSM 158gr.) and it shot very well. The recoil was very controlable. I pulled the side plate and oiled the internals and gave her some extensive dry fire. This seemed to help the stiff double action pull some.

I think it still needs a trip to the Performance Center for an action job. The rear sight will be sent to Tool Tech to have a tritium vial installed below the notch, figure 8 style.
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Old 09-25-2010, 02:07 AM
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The Pach's make the trigger length a slight bit different. For me the 386 is comfortable but the N NG's are a little long for my finger. Of course, changing the grip is easy.
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  #22  
Old 12-01-2011, 10:25 AM
Willm1 Willm1 is offline
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Default 327 vs 386

I picked up a 386NG recently, have a few hundred rounds through it and so far am pleased with it. The weight is great. The factory Pachmayr's decently handle a .357 cartridge's recoil, but for me personally I don't like the DA with that grip, opting instead for Hogue Bantam's - the drawback being the exposed backstrap which makes shooting .357 fairly uncomfortable.

.38 Special cartridges were a breeze and accurate in about a 3" grouping at the 10 or so yards I was shooting, and .38 + p recoil was no problem. I also checked out the 327 and 329 NG's and simply liked the feel of the 386 better. To each their own.

So it all depends on what you plan for use, nightstand and daily carry being the NG line's strong points. If you plan to shoot .357, I'd op for maybe a 3" or 4" 686, but you'd have no problem in any of the NG's with .38 Special and .38 Special + p. Handle and compare them side-by-side and you'll figure out what you think might be best.

FWIW


Will
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  #23  
Old 12-01-2011, 07:56 PM
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I went through a similar decision between the L frame and N frame Nightguards in .44. I chose the L frame 396 and am very happy with it.

I handle, shoot and enjoy N frames but the L frame just seems quicker in hand. While on paper the dimensions don’t seem like much the L frame is handier in jacket pockets, IWB etc. For me the bore axis is significantly lower on the L frame making it point better. I am also not a dedicated revolver guy (I have to use a semi for work) so I don’t get as much trigger time with it and the L frame just points more like my work pistol for me. As others have said handle and or shoot both (or similar L and N frames) and go with what works for you.

Oh as far as durability I only have 500 rounds through mine. 400+ handloads. 200 rounds of 200grain flatpoints ranging from 800fps to 1050 fps and 240grain LSWC’s from 850fps to 950fps. No issues and this is with the (according to the internet) 396/696 paper thin forcing cone.
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327, 340pd, 357 magnum, 627, 686, 696, ahrends, cartridge, concealed, hogue, l frame, model 10, model 37, pachmayr, performance center, remington, scandium, sig arms, snubby, snubnose, speedloader, tritium

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