S&W M&P R8 Still having problems?

jerdog3 · Nov 23, 2019

This is my dream gun. So like the scholar I am, I went to Youtube and gun forums to do my research. Haha.

I love this guns look so much that I tried to ignore the first few videos and threads that were about the barrel shroud problems. But I have found so many that ignore them any more. I can't buy a gun this expensive and not be able to trust my life to it, or even my range day fun to it! Haha.

Has this problem been fixed by S&W?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
jerdog3

bipe215 · Nov 23, 2019

Mine has been flawless

colt_saa · Nov 23, 2019

jerdog3 said:
This is my dream gun. So like the scholar I am, I went to Youtube and gun forums to do my research. Haha.

I love this guns look so much that I tried to ignore the first few videos and threads that were about the barrel shroud problems. But I have found so many that ignore them any more. I can't buy a gun this expensive and not be able to trust my life to it, or even my range day fun to it! Haha.

Has this problem been fixed by S&W?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
jerdog3

Welcome to the Forum

There are at least dozens of us here who own and shoot the 327s and have had zero issues for a decade or more

As far as I am aware, the 327 family of revolvers does not now, nor has it ever had an epidemic problem

Perhaps you can elaborate on what problems you are referring to

My favorite of the 5" 327s is my TRR8 Two Tone

bigfatty · Nov 23, 2019

If you are referring to the canted barrel shroud issue, I can vouch from personal experience that it still exists.

HOUSTON RICK · Nov 23, 2019

I have enjoyed mine for years. No problems. First that I heard of it. Yes, they are cool!

kaaskop49 · Nov 23, 2019

bigfatty said:
If you are referring to the canted barrel shroud issue, I can vouch from personal experience that it still exists.

In an earlier thread a year or two ago, a poster provided a link to the website of a firm that offered a tool (wrench?) for tightening the shroud on these models. This, after some posters reported the shroud loosening.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

9mmsubgun-m11 · Nov 23, 2019

No trouble with my M&P R8.

colt_saa · Nov 23, 2019

kaaskop49 said:
In an earlier thread a year or two ago, a poster provided a link to the website of a firm that offered a tool (wrench?) for tightening the shroud on these models. This, after some posters reported the shroud loosening.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

That is EWKArms.com

He started doing wrenches, barrels, and shrouds for Dan Wesson revolvers many years ago

Adding the Smith & Wesson spanner wrench to the line up was pretty easy.

I have bought DW stuff from him in the past. Nice quality products.

He even made a DW barrel nut that let me parody Maxwell Smart by having a suppressed revolver

I never bought the S&W wrench because I already own several adjustable spanner wenches that will fit the Model 327's nut

jerdog3 · Nov 24, 2019

Thank you all for your replies. It seems like it would be hit or miss with getting an R8 that doesn't have problems with the barrel shroud. Since posting this I have found many more videos and even a thread on this forum about this problem (link below). It's too bad because that is the perfect home defense revolver. But if someone is making an aftermarket wrench to fix a problem, there must have been a lot of them. I'm very happy for you guys that got a good one! I'm just not that lucky, I know my barrel would fall off in the store and they'd say, "you broke it you buy it!" Haha.
There are a lot of videos of people showing the barrel shroud moving around or even coming off. Here is the link to the thread below:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...oose-barrel-327-r8.html?598742=#post140523878

Lou_the_welder · Nov 24, 2019

As you probably saw in that thread, mine had issues.
But now that its up to spec.,I've been shooting it the past 5 weeks. Putting everything in it. From wild to mild. I've been really trying to shoot it loose again, but no. It's good.
I think now if the barrel nut isn't properly checked and tightened to begin with, you may get one with this issue. But I've also heard several that have shot theirs and put alot of rounds through them and had no issues.
Again. You might be right. You dont know what your going to get. But I'll tell you, it's one accurate revolver. It may be more accurate than my 627 PC 5" that I've been directly comparing it to. It just shoots that well.

I've broken and rendered revolvers useless for so many reasons(too long to list). If the barrel nut becomes loose, at least you could still shoot the gun. (It'll let you fill the cylinders 4 or 5 times before the banging of the top rail becomes annoying, with the weight of the optic......)

jerdog3 · Nov 24, 2019

Great info Lou! I hope you don't have that problem ever again! I alway worry about certain guns that have known issues. For instance I just found out that my second choice of revolver, the Ruger GP100 7 shot, has an issue with certain ammo that is at the upper end of the allowable specs. If you try to load 7 rounds of blazer brass for instance, the 7th won't fit, and the cylinder won't close.
I'm totally aware that every line of products will have a lemon here or there, but when there are well known issues and I feel I have to hope to get a good one, I should just except that I need to look elsewhere. I just don't have enough money to buy a project gun, or have one I can't rely on. But darn it, that R8 is a great looking gun!!!

kaaskop49 · Nov 24, 2019

I seriously considered one of the two 327 'tactical' models, but I'm the guy who needs an electrician to change the batteries in a remote or flashlight. Loose bbls, not for me. Instead, I went with the 627 Pro Series and haven't looked back. My finest revolver. Good luck, OP, in your choice!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

jerdog3 · Nov 24, 2019

kaaskop49 said:
I seriously considered one of the two 327 'tactical' models, but I'm the guy who needs an electrician to change the batteries in a remote or flashlight. Loose bbls, not for me. Instead, I went with the 627 Pro Series and haven't looked back. My finest revolver. Good luck, OP, in your choice!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

The 627 is beautiful!

Benchrest1 · Nov 25, 2019

Never had a problem with my TRR8.

JayFramer · Nov 25, 2019

They are used by many SWAT teams as an entry weapon because the shield man’s shield messes up the slide movement on automatics.

The 8 round capacity and devastating manstopper .357 ammo plus ability to reload as fast as an auto with mooners and ability to mount a lightbulb and snooper scope make it a solid choice.

lkabug · Nov 25, 2019

I have had my TRR8 for two + years. Love it, no problems.

Groo01 · Nov 25, 2019

no problems here...

SLT223 · Nov 26, 2019

The probability of having an issue is low to very low. You will notice people post more about problems than the opposite. I would guess for every problem you read about there’s about 100+ guns that are problem free.

jerdog3 · Nov 26, 2019

SLT223 said:
The probability of having an issue is low to very low. You will notice people post more about problems than the opposite. I would guess for every problem you read about there’s about 100+ guns that are problem free.

I'm the most unlucky *** you will meet. Other than my wife and kid, I'm mush. If you see me getting on a train, I suggest you wait for the next one. Having said that, I think I'll get a bad one, or it will fall apart when I take everyone to the range and ruin the day. Haha.
I think I'm going with the Ruger GP100, but I'm not opposed to hearing anyone's ideas.
Thank you!

S&W M&P R8 Still having problems?

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