The S&W Model 627 is an excellent handgun, and in looking over my started threads here I noticed that I had yet to post a review of it. Here is a stock photo from the web. Mine looks like this except that mine now sports Pachmayr Compacs.



Here is a near-C&P of a post I did quite a while back on the now-defunct Kansas gun forum. 12/2008

Okie-doky, I took the 627 out today and put 200 rounds of 38 Special through it. Fifty mid-range wadcutters, fifty of the standard velocity 38 158 gr SWC, and the rest were WWB from WallyWorld.
The gun shot marvelously, which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone; after all, it is a Smith & Wesson. As I mentioned before, I took the Hogues off and put a set of Pachmayr Compacs on, and these were good except for one thing: the cartridge closest to the frame seemed to catch on the grips and not eject 100% without rotating the cylinder slightly to clear it and then it dropped free. Doing some work with a Dremel might be in order here. The recoil was quite mild, and the gun seems to be very accurate in my hands. I shot all of the rounds double action, at ranges of from three to seven yards.
The trigger pull is good and the action is smooth. I expect it to break in even better,
No bench testing was done, but the gun like I said before, seems to be very accurate in my hands, even though at the close ranges that I shot it at, it seemed to shoot a trifle low.
Would I recommend it for CCW? Frankly, no. And the reason has nothing to really do with the size. It is the lack of speed loaders that are available. And yes, I do know of the Maxfires. Besides, there are many better carry guns out there. Would it serve in this capacity? Probably, and it might even do well. It would, I imagine, do quite well as a hunting sidearm
In short, it's a great gun, but it is not for everybody.


A couple of updates, if I could.


I have since found some speedloaders that seem to work at least decently. One is the 5-Star brand and one more is the Speedbeez.


The 5-star works like the HKS but is machined from aluminum and the Speedbeez work like the old Dade speedloaders that some of you might recall from the early 1970s.


The grips I finally settled on are the Pachmayr Compac grips mentioned earlier. I solved the problem of cases hanging up by taking a knife and cutting part of the grip away.


Anyway, I hope that this may interest at least some of you.

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If your gun is the 4" Pro Series model, than that is the model I have. Bought sight unseen 3 years ago, a phone order from my LGS/range pro shop, it is the finest revolver I own. Only wish it had come with the grips shown in the above photo; am not fond of the Hogue finger grooves, too bulky but comfy. Replaced them with Hogues w/o grooves. Handles .357 ammo well, double taps with mags on silos are no problem.

Would love to find the 5" 627PC version as a companion piece and the snub 627PC is a lovely revolver. Many of us consider (and rightfully so!) the 686 models as S&W's flagship line, but IMHO, the 627 8-shots are not far behind. Room for all!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Agreed. I have a 681, a 686, and a 986, and they (especially the 681) are the most practical handguns that I have.

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Let's be careful out there

The 8 shot .357 N frame is one of the best ideas that S&W has ever had. However, I wish we could finally see a standard production brushed stainless model with the classic half lug, tapered barrel. Putting a bull barrel on the standard production 627-5 was a big mistake and one of the factors that led to its poor sales numbers.

Great post OP. It would be nice to see a company (other than Speedbeez) offer a quality "push" style speedloader for the 7 shot L frames and the 8 shot N frames in the future. That is long overdue.

I also agree with the above post about the practicality of the L frames. The fixed sight L frames (581,681,619) are the ultimate no-frills medium sized .357 Magnums. The lighter barrel L frames (619,620,686 Mountain Gun) give up nothing to the K frame magnums (with the same profile barrel) in weight. Hopefully, they will make a comeback someday.

If that photo from the S&W catalog sku 163357 represents your piece, then you have one plain Jane, practical, piece of equipment like Smith used to make years back, only it has a .357 bore with eight chambers.

That's what I bought about 11-12 years ago. Like I said in the OP, I put Pachmayr Compacs on it. Mine also sports a lanyard attachment.

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IMHO It’s the best gun in S&Ws lineup


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Man, a 627 Mountain Gun would look neat.

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- Post No Bills -

Thank you for the report. If I ever have the extra dineros, I'd like to get an N frame in .357.

I've been saying the same thing for about 15 years.....

I even contacted my regional S&W sales rep about it last year. Long story short, it isn't in cards anytime soon....even if a large distributor proposes a volume order. Just a different company now than years past. I'll tell you, oil companies and gun companies (and probably a few others) really shouldn't bother being public. Too many non-specialized people end up on the boards, and the decision making / guidance gets whacky....to say the least.....

That is a crying shame. It would be the ultimate full size .357 Magnum, and far easier on the eyes than the 627 Pro Series. It amazes me that they offer ridiculous items like the Governor, and niche revolvers like the 610, yet they can't bring out obvious .38/.357 offerings like this.

Just curious: why was the bull barrel a mistake?

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It added unnecessary weight to a revolver that did not need it. S&W had it right from the beginning with the graceful tapered barrel on the full size .357 Magnums.

It's one of those questions that will never be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. Some people prefer lighter-weight barrels and some people prefer heavier. It affects the balance as well.

The history of the Model 10, once S&W came out with the heavy-barrel option is a classic example.

I'd like an MG in 10mm.

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Let's be careful out there