A nearby gun store has popped up with 3 'used' Performance Center, 8-shot model 27's. A 4" blue a 3" blue and a 3" nickle. Kinda pricey at around $1100 ea but they are all like new. (They are also going to get rusty from me drooling over them !!). My question is are they worth the extra bucks and if so, why?

A nearby gun store has popped up with 3 'used' Performance Center, 8-shot model 27's. A 4" blue a 3" blue and a 3" nickle. Kinda pricey at around $1100 ea but they are all like new. (They are also going to get rusty from me drooling over them !!). My question is are they worth the extra bucks and if so, why?

I think that depends on whether 8 shots is a must have. There are several of these guns, apparently Lew Horton models, advertised on Gunbroker right now, some of them with "buy now" prices ranging from just north of $1000 to about $1200. Used six shot 27s in excellent to nearly new condition seem to be selling for several hundred dollars less.

Are they pre lock or are they the new ones?

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

The new ones

I have one of the pre-lock 6-1/2 inch 8 shooters, still unfired. I would love to have a 4 inch version. Someday I may bob my 6-1/2 incher to 4 or 5 inches and start carrying it around the place.

The line to call me "Stupid" forms on the left...

The only recent Horton 8 shooters I've seen are the PC made Registered Magnums, in 3 1/2" & 5"; and those were made 2 or 3 years ago.

Are they worth it? Well, I think Sig autos are nice but over priced, same for H&K. And I haven't spent $300+ on a pair of grips (but there are some really nice grips in this price range). Worth it??

But!! I own a 3 1/2" Horton 8 shooter and it was well worth it. The PC action, the barrel length & square butt, the blue or nickle finish, and the tighter specs they make these to: are all reasons I like this terrific PC made Smith .357...

Add moonclips from Ranch Products and your favorite tool.

Fantastic .357s, even better than S&W's standard revolvers - which I like quite a bit.

EDITED: This picture shows a set of Fitz grips, and to me, they are worth much more than what I paid...

__________________
July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Like everything else, they are if someone thinks they are. Just like that piece of paper we call the "dollar".

Yes they are worth it. If you love quality, accuracy and innovation the only answer is YES. Here in one photo are all 6 variations of 8 shot model 27 revolvers that have even been produced.


As has already been pointed out the 3" model 27s are actually 3 1/2".

The 4" blue is rare. It is one of only 100 produced back in 2000 for Bangers. I would be surprised if it lasted very long. BTW, the 4" is pre-lock.

Why is a Perfomance Center revolver better than a production revolver?

Remember since these all come out of the PC that means that they have air gauged, match grade barrels. It means that the tolerances are tighter than on production guns because the PC replaces their tooling more often. All parts are produced on the PCs CNC mills and not on the mills over in the main production building. The programming of those designs is often slightly different for a PC gun when compared to it's production brother.

PC revolvers have hammers and triggers are forged instead of MIM (not a performance issue, but forged look better). It means that the actions are superior to the normal off the shelf production gun.

PC guns often have additional features not found on their production brothers, like trigger stops are fitted, cylinders cut for use with or without moonclips. Plus other differences from production guns that I just can't think of at the moment.

As to accuracy, they are fantastic. I have found mine to be amongst the most accurate revolvers that I own. I love being able to load up 20-30 moon clips the night before going shooting and just pop them in and out of the revolvers (2 or 3 clips are supplied).

__________________
"Acta non verba"

I was lucky enough to get a good deal on one of these recently, sure is a nice gun.
Bob

Thanks for the replies here. As it was pointed out I was wrong on the barrel lengths. Two were 3-1/2" and the third was 5", not 4. I put the 5" one on layaway and can hardly wait until I get it paid off. I read one report that said the shooter got a 7/8" group at 25 yds with Hornady 158 gr XTP and 14.5 gr of 2400, that is incredible!

Congrats on your 5"er, I have heard nothing but great things about them. I want one of those, or even more a 4"er, but was lucky to buy the one I have. We'd really like to hear more about your 5"er after you get it.

And with all the different guns that S&W has made over the years, we just never know what barrel length might have been put on what gun. Keeps things really interesting.

__________________
July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909