I've been hankering for another S&W revolver lately.Wasn't sure what model or features I "needed" but it was enough to keep me up at night thinking about it :-)

So today I was in a LGS helping a friend buy a Ruger MK III target pistol when I spotted this beast in the bottom of the display case.
The tag simply said " S&W M&P 327, used, no box" . On inspection the gun appeared to be 98%+ and was marked simply M&P r8 on the right with the Performance Center stamp on the left. I knew it was a scandium framed, railed version of the 8 shot, Moon clip cut 627 (which I love) but not allot more as I've never been a "tacticool" type revolver guy. Part of me thought it was as ugly as a shaved warthog but...still, it felt good in the hand, had a decent action, looked clean and (oddly) begged not to go back in the case. Anyway, with a little haggling over the lost box, moon clips, etc I took a chance and brought it home for an investment of $735 .

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Dave

Nice Scratch!!

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PTLAPTA!

Congrats on the steal.... very fun gun to shoot

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Dave T

Better than calamine lotion. Look forward to range impressions.

I've been drooling over the M&P R8 for about 6 months now to join my stable of S&W wheelguns, the 686+ and The Governor. Please be sure and post your results from your initial range report. By the way, Great Deal on your purchase.


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That was a great price on that revolver!

Thanks for the encouragement. I was planning to pull the top rail off but now I'm thinking that maybe a revolver with a red dot might be just what I subconsciously "needed". I'm going to install one I have laying around and try to get to the range this week. Off to stuff some moon clips tonight!

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Dave

sounds like a great idea. I have that 'itch' too, for a red dot gun.

Great Buy!!, Mine came to me much the same way had some extra cash on hand and one came up on a local forum. Initially I didn't care for the looks but after a few times out shooting it really grew on me it is now on a par with my prelock V-comp. When my shooting buddy comes out from cali it is the only gun he shoots!! Let us know how you like it after a range trip or two.

Wee---That 627 reminds me of an old girlfriend.

''So UGLY she'd turn a freight train up a dirt road''

She sure was a lot of FUN tho.. E N J O Y

Well, I think that the purchase was a fine deal.....! Can't seem to find one around my area. On-line sites are generally around $1,000+. I think that I want one... felt that way for a while. Quite a handful with full power loadings.... But still nice. Great deal.

Had mine for about a year and a half now and it is a superb shooter. Your lucky with your find as I drove 4 hours one way to pick mine up NIB as was the only one available in a 250 mile radius.

Sometimes the wanting is better than the having, but NOT in this case. I have enjoyed every round out of the R8.

Hi all, new to the forums here, and congrats on the steal of a price, I'm pretty jealous as I bought mine new at my LGS last week. I hope your first range visit is better than mine.

First day I picked it up, I walked over to my LGS' indoor range because I just couldn't wait to do so, and found it shoots to the left with the iron sights, so much that adjusting the rear blade full right still puts it about 3-in to the left of center @ 7 yards.... but I put my Vortex Venom red dot on it (which I got specifically for this gun) and I can punch some holes-it's dead on! Also had quite a few light primer strikes, which seem to be fairly common with a weak strain screw setting.

My LGS says run a box or 2 of Federal 357 through it and to 'get used to the trigger' to rule out me for the accuracy, and ammo for the light primer strikes. I'm just not sure I wanna spend ~ $65 to find out if I should send it back or not. I'm just really disappointed I cant use the Iron sights, as it's at full adjustment and still not center....

Congrats on your gun. First, remove the grips and check the strain screw. Assure that it's a;; the way in and tight. If not, that explains your light strikes. IF it is tight, then your gun needs to go back. ( This assumes
you were shooting factory ammo in your initial runs.) Second, if it is indeed a warranty issue on a new gun, then S&W will pick up the tab for shipping and arrange for you to deal directly with them. (no FFL needed.)

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Dave

Thanks for the reply, and yep it's all the way in. I was using factory ammo, however it was "Armscor" 357 Mag ammo, my LGS said that was a brand they usually have issues with.

I think I'll send it back for warranty for the light primer strikes as well, but mainly for the accuracy issue. I'm still bummed about any QC done for it.

Ok Gents, here is the requested follow on report on the new R8. So home testing showed the gun to have a 12# DA trigger pull. (+/- 3 oz). It's not a bad action but will need the same action TLC that I gave my 627PC. Next, I surveyed my optics box and figured my old PDP2 BD was likely my best option . ( The Mini Reflex sight I had around, just looked lost on this gun.). The 327R8 and PDP2 weight in at 47.3 oz. That's about 3.5 oz heavier than my all steel 627PC is bare. As big as the PDP2 is, it seems to balance decently on the 327. Still, if it was ugly when I brought it home, it's down right menacingly ugly now with the old PDP2 on it.
Anyway, I got off to the range with a mix of mooned and loose 125gr .38 special reloads this afternoon. After a cylinder or so to dial in the 5min dot, I was consistently shooting single action ,2.5" groups at 50' without allot of applied discipline. ( Read: I was rushing a bit to get to the steel shooting part of the test:-) That's about as I usually do with a .22 match pistol and 2 min dot these days so I'm good with that.
Lastly, (and here is where I fell into lust), I moved back a bit and ran some DA drills on some 4"-8" steel targets I brought along. As expected, the clipped 125gr conical's just launched themselves into the cylinder. Recoil was all but non existent and it was easy to stay on target with these light target loads. It's been 20+ years since I've done any "action shooting" with a optics wearing revolver. Must be like riding a bike though as I was ring'n and grin'n right down to my last round.
Bottom line: This gun will likely not be a safe queen in the near future. I think it (nicely) fills a niche in my shooting collection that I forgot was even there. A little action work and it might become a favorite.

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Dave

Lovin the trr8 myself as well. I have the 686+ 2 1/2 inch and I really liked the appearance of the trr8. Stopped by one of my LGS looking for hard-to-find powders and found one on display. Well, it followed me home, grabbed boxes of ammo and rushed out to the range. Absolutely crazy about the feel and smooth PC trigger. One question tho, I also intend to add-on red dots and lights, but where did you find a holster to carry that bad boy. Actually looking for one that will hold it B4 I add on all the important stuff.


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Eight rounds of .357 magnum, It doesn't get ant better than that.

Nice to see alot of "positives" in a thread and wanted to add to it in saying my R8 was bad*** out of the box! Extremely phenomenal well made piece of work. DA is a dream also! Well fit, well made! Shooting it is amazing and i recently thought, if i had to keep only one in a caliber, this would be it for 38/357s. No problems whatsoever. Only problem is not having enough time to shoot it more. I do not run an optic on mine. I have a dedicated gun for that.
V-notch in the back. 4 holes plugged. "Red dot" in the front! Sideplate never removed......

@Lou Which Red Dot did you use for the front sight. Did you mount it yourself or have the LGS mount it for you? The front sight (brass) is a little weak for my aging eyes. Otherwise, this Trr8 bad-boy is friggin awesome. Even with full loads of knock-down .357 it is the sweetest,smoothest, most accurate bang bang I have ever shot! My prior favs were the 686+, and the Governor, but this dang thing keeps me making up reasons to go back to the range daily. Well, at least I have more and more brass to reload LOL


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The front sight is easy to remove. You push down on the sight and up. Super easy. You can install one in 30 seconds without tools.