I have been reading a lot on the internet about the 9mm 547, and like anything else on the 'net, you can find any opinion you want. "These were Lear Siegler guns, and junk", or "they were nearly hand made and are the best of the k frames". "They aren't as accurate as other k frames" or "They are the most accurate of the k frames". "Extraction is a problem and they are fussy on ammo" or " They function flawlessly and shoot any 9mm". "Trigger pull is too heavy because of extra stiff springs", or "trigger and hammer springs are just right for the 547, but can be replaced with lighter springs without problem".

So having become completely confused, I thought I would ask the people that own them for their input. I have a 3" RB model 65, and feel the 3" rb 547 would make a nice companion.

Any feedback from owners would be appreciated.

John

HI John, welcome to the Forum. You will find it to be the most civil and polite forum out there.
I have several 9mm wheelguns and 2 are the 547 a 4" and a 3" which have a square butt and round butt respectively. I have had no problems at all with either, I have heard that some of the first batch had some problems with the wire clips for the extractor breaking, but I have never seen a broken one.
The accuracy is as good as any K frame I have owned-which is pretty good. I did find that with off brand 9mm ammo there could be sticking problems on extraction, but that was with foreign stuff. It also seemed to affect accuracy somewhat.
For a fixed sight weapon, they are not only accurate, but with 125 or so gr ammo moving at 1000-1200 FPS they shoot right to point of aim, which is always nice.
I think you will enjoy one. The available 9mm ammo ranges from run of the mill range stuff to really hot JHP and JSP. I bought a lot of the FMJ expanding 9mm by Federal, and it is dynamite stuff. Great penetration and great expansion, and it is FMJ thus evading some places that limit HPs(New Jersey comes to mind). The bullet shape also makes reloads easier.
I also have a Browning barracuda .357/9mm combo revolver, a clutch of 940s(all barrel lengths), a 940 356 PC, 2 M60s that have extra 9mm cylinders, a pair of Ruger SP101s in 9mm (all barrel lengths), a pair of Ruger Speed Sixes in 9mm, and a Security Six 9mm that was gone over by Cylinder&Slide and is one of the most accurate guns I own. I also got into 40 cal wheelguns and 10mm, to say nothing of .45 ACP.
As you can see I like revolvers in auto calibers. You will also, I think.

I also have two 547's, one in each barrel length. Very nicely made, no malfunctions with a variety of factory and handloaded ammo, and plenty accurate. What surprised me the most about them was that they don't seem to lose the velocity you might expect due to the barrel-cylinder gap.

And welcome to the forum. It's usually a pretty nice crowd around here.

I have a 4 inch that I bought new in 1983 when all of the gun mags were quacking about the wonder 9 pistols. I wasn't much of a pistol fan and I am still not one. So I decided to go with the 547.
I have been impressed with the gun. It is accurate and it has not had the first problem with the extractor system. I just wish I would have bought a 3 inch version when they were for sale.
I just looked at my bill of sale from 1983. I paid $232 for it. The serial number is a mystery for me though. " The Book" says that 19D99xx should be a 1977 piece. I bought it new in the box when they hit the street in '83. Can any 547 expert help with that one?
Randy

I have an early 4" SB M547 & realy love this revolver..
It shoots deadly accurate & have never had extraction problems with it like I have with my M940..
They do have a stiff hammer spring but that can be finessed expecialy if your not useing millitary surplus ammo.
I too am always looking for a 3" RB M547 to add to my small harem of S&W 9mm revolvers..
I only wished I would have picked up a few of these when there were a little over $200 in the mid 80s.
Here's a pic of my 547 along with a couple of other 9mm Smiths..
Gary/Hk

Headknocker, if it's any consolation there are fewer 4-inchers than 3-inchers, so the toughest part of your search is over...

RRSCR, my "Book" (3rd Ed.) shows my 19DXXXX to be made in 1983 (page 399), the same year as my ABNXXXX.

RidgewayCO, Thanks for the tip. I have been looking on page 398 at the K frame serial numbers.
Randy

i had a 3" many moons ago. it was very reliable & accurate. wish i still had it...

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thanks very much, robert

I still have a photoscan of the 547 Owners Manual on my hard drive to email anyone who wants it..
I have it in jpg & pdf formats..
email me @ [email protected]

And yes there's fewer 4" 547s than 3"ers..
S&W made 10,270 of these from 1980-1985, 6486 round butt and 3" barrel, and 3784 with a square butt and 4" barrel..
S&W also did the changeover from pinned barrel to crush fit during the 547s manufacture as you see them both ways..
Good Luck finding one at a "Decent" Price..
I have a forum member here who is thinking about selling me his 3"er as He doesn't shoot it as much as others in his collection..
I don't think you can go wrong with a 547 as long as your not paying "TOO MUCH"..
Great Shooter, No extraction problems & 100% reliable..
In fact my House Gun currently is my 4" 547 & over time I have aquired about a dozen 547 speedloaders in HKS & Safariland..There out there, Look threw the piles of them at the gunshows, The HKS # is 547.. They were discontinued..
I have shot just about every manufactured 9mm ammo threw mine & have found that the 124gr Hydra Shoks & 9BPLE to be very accurate in my 547..
It will shoot the Winchester White Box Value Pack stuff just as it will the Blazer Brass & Aquilla..
I've even shot +P+ Isreali Sub-Gun 9mm threw mine..
I have never shot any "Steel Cased" Rubbish Wolf ammo in either my 547 or 940..
With the prices on 38/357 at all time highs & non availability & 9mm Para seems to be the cheapest priced & most abundant centerfire ammo available currently the 547 makes sence..
Enjoy!!
Gary/Hk

I have never had a problem with my 547, but I don't shoot it a lot.

akaov1man: what about that Browning Barracuda, how do you like that gun. I've never actually shot one. Do they work OK? I'm a big fan of revolver's shooting auto cartridges also, and was just wondering.

I have five 547s, sadly on one with a 3" barrel. They are fine shooting revolvers and seem to me, to be more accurate than my other K frames. The triggers are smooth and do not seem any heavier than the other K frames. However, I do not have a trigger scale with which to measure the pull. There was a short discussion on trigger pull in a recent post. The change from the pinned barrel started with serial number AAFXXX. Do not know what year this happened.



AKAOV1MAN, hope you will post some photos of your collection.

I have posted these before



And the 4 in.



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Terry

They are a great gun, buy a 4 inch and have fun shooting it. Makes my NIB go up in price, and they do make a good savings account.

Thanks for the comments so far - very helpful. I have relatives throughout the length of California looking in shops and at shows for a 547, but no luck so far. In California, a fair price seems to be whatever the seller asks for their S&W, assuming they have what you are looking for, and that they are willing to sell.

Thanks for the 'welcome to the forum' comments. I have been here for a number of years, but went on medical leave for a while, and wasn't using the computer very much. When I revisited this forum, I found that my registration and password still work, but my previous posts went away, so I am starting fresh!

My collection is small - a 1961 k-22 6" with target hammer, an early 686 4" that my wife has claimed, and a 3" RB 65 fitted with S&W 'bookend' Brazilian Morado wood smooth, finger groove RB stocks. So I am looking for a 3" RB 547 to complement the M65.

Well, the bad news is that they aren't on California's 'approved' list, so I can only buy on if it is already in CA. I have had relatives scouring local gun shops and shows throughout the state, with no luck. No nibbles on my WTB threads either.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to find a Calif 547, especially a 3"bbl RB?

I just saw a 3" M547 for sale in California but the seller states "Not For Sale In California"..
There's a Cali Gun Forum that I'd look into & run a WTB there like you have here & maybe you'll come across someone willing to part with thiers..
Of course you may have to cut out a kidney plus break the bank to aquire it..
5 Wire has a great Price Breakdown in one of the 547 threads that might be usefull to you, In fact look at the bottom of this thread @ Tags and pic 547..
I have a forum member who has offered to sell me his & have to wait till the finacial advisers can allow it myself..
Thinking about selling my 686 to help fund it??
Notice my NEW Signature
Good Luck JCE

Gary/Hk

4" P&R M547 w/ Factory Stocks

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