Model 627 in .38 Super - Why?

[Avery11]

Just watched a shooting show on T.V. and it covered the IRC. A vast majority of the competitors were using a 627 8 round capacity in .38 super.

I'm unfamiliar with the gun and the cartritge. What's the advantage over a .38 special?

Is it only for the elite shooters or can I use it and see a difference?

I DID the search and came up short.

 

[APS]

Someone with more knowledge than me will probably chime in but I don't think it would have an advantage in ICORE and I think most of the competitors were using 627 in .357/38spec it's just that one gentlemen who mentioned his was in .38Super.
Perhaps you can make major with it in USPSA? The shorter cases would reload easier than major .357 mag loads. If a compensator is used, it would be more effective in .38 Super and if you already have a USPSA competition semi auto for it and want to get into revolvers you can use the same caliber.

 

[wantmoresmiths]

Great question. I was going to venture a guess that the faster bullet speed might be an advantage, (lets you see your hits outside the center scoring ring, and possibly take a make up shot) but now I'm thinking those guys (and gals) get their sight picture, break the shot, and never look back at the target.

All of the 38 super versions I have seen are ported, thereby reducing muzzle jump, but you could have the 38/357 version ported to gain the same advantage.

I'm old and slow so I just use the 38/357 version.

 

[Big Cholla]

.38 super advantages:

1. Makes 'major' fairly easily with right bullet weight and powder charge.
2. Higher operating pressure makes the compensator more effective.
3. Shorter brass makes for quicker and more reliable dump of the spent cartridges.
4. Shorter overall loaded cartridge makes for quicker and more reliable reloading.

.............. Big Cholla

 

[David Sinko]

I owned one of S&W's first run of 8x.38 Super revolvers and I was bitterly disappointed with it. It would not function at all without moonclips and mine keyholed with every size, shape, diameter and weight of cast bullet I ever tried. It was very particular about which powder I used and any powder that left behind any fouling caused all kinds of extraction problems which then quickly led to chambering problems. As far as I could tell, its single purpose was for winning ICORE matches, which are shot at 120 PF with lots of reloading. As an added insult, brass that had been fired in .38 Super Open autos generally would not fit into the cylinder after sizing. I found one load which functioned perfectly and gave excellent accuracy, but I did not like the narrow range of application and traded the gun away. That was the best trade I ever made.

Nowadays the eight shot .357 Magnums can be loaded with .38 Short Colt in Starline brass with Hearthco moonclips. This setup is so good that it makes the .38 Super revolvers obsolete. The Super revolvers are not worth the money and headaches. Most shooters that I knew that had the Super complained about them even more than I did, though most of their problems were quality control related. This always was a remarkably inferior product for an expensive Performance Center item. S&W was alleged to have used .357 barrels with .355 cylinder throats (hence the poor performance with cast bullets) though I never slugged mine to verify it. I was happy to get rid of that revolver and I have since bought an eight shot 627 in .357 Magnum. The Magnum is a far better revolver and much more useful, versatile and practical.

Dave Sinko

 

[kraigwy]

I shoot a un-modified M-64 in ICORE. The winners at our club seem all to be using 8 shot 38 supers. Full moon clips make my standard speed loaders look like I'm going backwards. Those extra two rounds don't hurt either.

But I'm too old to change.

 

[TSQUARED]

The 627 in 38 Super was designed or the competitive pistol shooters. The theory is that the shorter case will speed up reloads.

 

[snake charmer]

The 627 in 38 Super was designed or the competitive pistol shooters. The theory is that the shorter case will speed up reloads.

Plus round nose bullets for the 38Super are easier to find than
for the 38/357.

 

[tenntucker]

Two advantages are moonclips and you can use 9mm ammo instead of 38 super where power factor is not an issue.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

You can also shoot the 38 short Colt out of it. Just got a 38 super cylinder for the "L" frame that I'm going to build a competitive gun out of it for me to use.

 

[tenntucker]

You can also shoot the 38 short Colt out of it. Just got a 38 super cylinder for the "L" frame that I'm going to build a competitive gun out of it for me to use.

38 short colt is all I shoot out of my 357 M627. Hearthco clips and starline brass. Perfect ICORE gun.

 

[505Gibbs]

I've got one, and accuracy has NEVER been an issue!

 

[AZ CHUCK]

I have & shoot 38 Super 627 & 686 in Ipda - Icroe - uspsa & steel Matches. Lower power factor loads with 135 gain RN. Shoot very well and soft. For the 165 PF I use a 170 Gain RN these are great loads fast shoot a lot better than I a old fart can hold

 

[colt_saa]

My first thought would be faster reloads.

The moon clips for auto loading cartridges are more rigid than the one designed to work with rimmed revolver cartridges. This means less wobble on the reload.

This revolver is set up for 9x23. Naturally it can also use 38Super or 9MM. The original 357 magnum cylinder allows it to be swapped back and forth in just a minute or two.