My first Smith - 627 Performance Center

BluesHarp

BluesHarp

Member
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
14
Reaction score
3
Location
Utah
Strange that after so many years of owning and shooting guns, I've never had a Smith and Wesson of any kind. My Pop gave me this last week for my 50th birthday present, the 627 Performance Center 8-shot .357 with 5" barrel. What a piece! I've been shopping around for quite a while to find the "perfect .357", if there is such a thing. I just helped my oldest son find a .357 he could afford, and he got the Ruger GP100, which he has been happy with. I decided that since I can't afford a Colt Python in good shape, I'd go for one of the S&W models. Maybe the 686. But I hadn't found the right one yet. Well, he made the decision for me, so I'll go with that! This looks like a fine pistol.
My627Small.jpg

I still haven't fired it. I'm interested to see how it feels compared to my son's Ruger. But I like the balance. Unloaded it weighs exactly the same as the GP100 with 5" barrel, I believe. So with 8 rounds in it, it doesn't seem like it will be an unmanageable weight. My favorite wheelgun up to now as been my Uberti single action Peacemaker .45 with the long barrel. You really can't compare the two, we're talking about two completely different kinds of gun. I just needed a large frame double-action revolver in my collection, and it seems like from what I've read, this is a Cadillac of pistols. Here are my two babies together.
627AndUbertiSmall.jpg

If anybody has feedback on the 627, I'd love to hear it. I've shot the Ruger GP100, and also the Ruger SP101, but those are the only .357s I've ever fired. I've mostly had automatics.
 
Congratulations on your first SW.
Probably won't be your last.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN8815.jpg
    DSCN8815.jpg
    134.2 KB · Views: 246
How is the Pro Series different? Looks like a shorter barrel than mine, is that 4"? Still has 8 rounds? What are the other differences? It looks very similar, just a smaller package.
 
The Pro series is different, and according to S&W falls between the standard model & the Performance Center version. PC has gold bead front sight, two sets of grips, and probably gets a bit more attention in the trigger action than the Pro. The Pro is a 4" barrel, 8 rounds. I really like mine, so does everyone else who gets a chance to shoot it.

Getting a 627 PC on your birthday? Now THAT'S what I call a present!
 
BluesHarp said:
How is the Pro Series different? Looks like a shorter barrel than mine, is that 4"? Still has 8 rounds? What are the other differences? It looks very similar, just a smaller package.
Click to expand...

It is a 4".
All very similar to PC version but a little less expensive, so not as much custom work, which is fine with me.
 
I have a 2-5/8" 627 PC -- the so-called "Blood Work" gun because some actor named Eastwood used one in a movie by that name. It is one of the most accurate compact big-frame guns I have ever owned. In fact, I liked it so much I ended up with two. (Long story).

Here's one of them keeping company with a different instrument of situational awareness.

IMG_0665.jpg


You are going to love your five-inch 627. That is perhaps the best all-purpose barrel length out there, though you will sometimes hear that claim made for four-inch guns.

And Happy Birthday! Now go punch some paper.
 
Yeah, it was a nice gift from my father, who has given me a couple of older guns, but this was shiny new in the box--wanted to cheer me up because of some tough times I'm going through. It's one hunk of nice gun, I can tell. I like that snubbie with the wood grips. Small enough for concealed carry? That is a beautiful pistol. I actually plan to replace my rubber grips with wood at some point. The rubber grip is practical, but I love classic wood like the walnut on my Peacemaker. That grip was actually made by my father.
 
Great revolvers. Period.
I can find nothing wrong with any of mine. In fact I just picked up a UDR today.

Check Ranch Products for moon clips.

Enjoy,
Bob
 
I too came from the single action revolver world to the dark side of them "new fangled" double action Smith & Wessons. It was a 1947 K frame .38 spl. that won me over.... one clean breakin' shot at a time. I finally had to admit that that gun had a better single action (and double action, duh) pull than any Ruger I'd ever shot.

Balance? Well, the jury is leaning towards the single actions... ain't it grand that we can own, shoot and enjoy both? Clean Break
 
I have a 5" PC its a great gun, no MIM hammer or trigger or other MIM parts, Walther Lothar match grade barrel, interchangeable front sight, are among the differences from the non PC model. It is one of my favorite handguns of all time.
 
I'm with you, Clean Break. There is nothing like shooting my single action .45 one-handed. With the 7.5" barrel, I can hit cans as regularly as two-handed with my 1911 .45. Yes, I'm new to the world of double action revolvers. I've shot some, but most of my shooting has been automatics and that SA .45. So I plan to have some fun learning a whole new kind of shooting with this 627. I've had it a week now, and haven't shot it yet. Maybe this weekend if the dang weather would clear up. I remember a Colt Army .38 special my grandpa used to have. I think it was it favorite piece. Unfortunately it's not in the family anymore. Would be fun to have around.
 
That's a nice gift from your Dad. Thank him and stay on his good side, there might be more coming! I have the 627 Pro and love it. After that I bought the 2 5/8 PC 627. I don't care for that as much as the 4 inch Pro. The shorter barrel don't balance as good. These eight shooters are all great peices though. Load up on plenty of moon clips and practice reloading with them. You'll get pretty fast and impress your semi auto friends when you out shoot them.
 
I've been doing some competition bowling pin shooting for a while, just for fun. I tried several guns and then stayed with my Para 1911 .45 auto. It's a great knockdown gun for that kind of shooting. I've been away from the range for a bit--had an accident. Got hit in the head with a ricochet at the range. Bullet carved a nice 3-inch long groove in my scalp, just missing the bone. Had I been a six-footer instead of 5'11", or if I would have had my head raised slightly, I wouldn't be writing this today. Anyway, when I go back I'm going to try the new 627 on some pins. The 8 round capacity is perfect for the class I shoot in.

Here's my current pin shooter:
ParaGIexpert.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

444 Magnum
Need advice on Performance Center 627
Replies
3
Views
114
Protocall_Design
P
8shot
Smith and Wesson 686 Performance Center Stainless .357 Mag 4" Barrel 6-Shot SALE
Replies
2
Views
301
Jeep 1
Jeep 1
K
627 Performance Center snubby
Replies
6
Views
836
kaaskop49
K
P
Standard vs. Performance Center Pro
Replies
3
Views
415
RoiVin
R
D
Smith and Wesson 16-4
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
NavySCPO
NavySCPO

Latest posts

Back
Top