S&W 547: any issues?

Erik F · #1 01-05-2009, 08:53 PM

OK, I'm not even going to try and justify this one. I shot one, I love it, now I want one.

My only concern is with the cartridge itself. Modern 9mm loadings run at similar chamber pressures to the 110/125gr .357 loadings that we've all been warned not to shoot extensively through K-Frames.

The one I shot has the flattened bottom edge to the forcing cone. Theoretically, the gas-venting issue may be worse for this, since it's a shorter cartridge.

Unless, that is, I'm missing something.

So, please tell me this thing is going to blow up within a few rounds so I'm not tempted to drop serious cash on one

Erik F · #2 01-05-2009, 08:53 PM

OK, I'm not even going to try and justify this one. I shot one, I love it, now I want one.

My only concern is with the cartridge itself. Modern 9mm loadings run at similar chamber pressures to the 110/125gr .357 loadings that we've all been warned not to shoot extensively through K-Frames.

The one I shot has the flattened bottom edge to the forcing cone. Theoretically, the gas-venting issue may be worse for this, since it's a shorter cartridge.

Unless, that is, I'm missing something.

So, please tell me this thing is going to blow up within a few rounds so I'm not tempted to drop serious cash on one

john traveler · #3 01-05-2009, 09:23 PM

The story is that S&W developed the 9mm revolver to meet a french police requirement. When the french police cancelled the order, S&W sold them on the open market. I even remember seeing them sold at the local Big Five Sporting Goods stores. All hindsight, of course, but the opportunity to buy them reasonably came and went, and now they are treasured collector's items.

The flat on the bottom edge of the forcing cone is characteristic of K frames. It provides clearance for the gas ring when the cylinder is closed.

I don't know that you can make a direct comparison to gas cutting or flame temperatures based on similar chamber pressures. The bad-boy characteristic of the light-bullet .357 Magnum is the prolonged burning characteristics of the large, slow, powder charges used. The 9mm does not share this characteristic. For that matter, 9mm pistols, submachine guns included, are not known for being barrel burners.

HEADKNOCKER · #4 01-05-2009, 11:42 PM

My 4" M547 is my only K frame & have shot many different loads including +P+ & have never seen any bad results from doing so..
There was a 547M that was actualy a 357 Mag made on overrun 547 frames..
I have a couple thousand subgun 9mms I bought for $100 a 1000 at the last Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot that I'm tempted to try in the 547.
My 547 is a Tack Driver & is extreemly accurate for a 4" revolver..
Check out this range report I found on the web for the Model 547 4"..
http://www.vintagepistols.com/range_report_S&W_547.html
Erik F was the one you tested a 3" Round Butt or a 4" Square butt?
I traded a Ruger SP101 for my 547 & believe that was one of the greatest deals I ever made
Gary/Hk

jefats · #5 01-06-2009, 06:04 AM

Erik,

Get it. You'll be sorry if you dont'. Shooting it with modern ammo is not an issue.

5Wire · #6 01-06-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Erik F:
OK, I'm not even going to try and justify this one. I shot one, I love it, now I want one.

My only concern is with the cartridge itself. Modern 9mm loadings run at similar chamber pressures to the 110/125gr .357 loadings that we've all been warned not to shoot extensively through K-Frames.

The one I shot has the flattened bottom edge to the forcing cone. Theoretically, the gas-venting issue may be worse for this, since it's a shorter cartridge.

Unless, that is, I'm missing something.

So, please tell me this thing is going to blow up within a few rounds so I'm not tempted to drop serious cash on one

I had the same question and asked S&W about appropriate ammo. The reply I got was that any commercially manufactured 9 mm ammo was OK including Plus P.

I didn't go any further, Plus P Plus is not OK'd by most manufacturers.

Erik F · #7 01-06-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HEADKNOCKER:
Erik F was the one you tested a 3" Round Butt or a 4" Square butt?

3" round. That's the other thing: I love 3" K-Frames. I only got to run two cylinders through, but I was easily able to carve out the bullseye at 30". Recoil feels like a stout .38.

This is going to be expensive

Thanks for the advice!

S-W4EVER · #8 01-06-2009, 05:13 PM

The only issue I can think of is I don't have one (yet).

5Wire · #9 01-06-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

3" round. That's the other thing: I love 3" K-Frames. I only got to run two cylinders through, but I was easily able to carve out the bullseye at 30". Recoil feels like a stout .38.

Maybe a little sharper, too. My problem was the back of the trigger guard slamming into my middle finger when using the stocks that came with it:

Then I switched to Hogue Bantams and the pain went away. (Kept the Originals, of course.)

HEADKNOCKER · #10 01-06-2009, 08:16 PM

I gotta Find a 3" 547 at a Decent price..
It's on my Must find list..
Also those Hogue Bantam grips that 5wire shows are the cats pajamas IMO..
Gary/Hk

5Wire · #11 01-06-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HEADKNOCKER:
I gotta Find a 3" 547 at a Decent price..
It's on my Must find list..
Also those Hogue Bantam grips that 5wire shows are the cats pajamas IMO..
Gary/Hk

I liked the Bantams enough to put them on 686 Plus 2-1/2 Bbl and I was going to get another set for my 617 Plus 4-inch Bbl but wound up with Crimson Trace LG-306s which are pretty close to the same shape but with only one finger groove.

By the way, the 3-inch 547 pricing seems to be trending downwards (while the 4-inch's is rising), so good luck, there's gotta be one out there for you.

Rock185 · #12 01-06-2009, 08:49 PM

I have owned two 3" 547s. I shot all knds of 9mm through them, to include, standard 9mms, NATO ball, +P,+P+ and equivalent reloads. All fired and extracted without any problems.

The only issue I had with my guns, was with the carry-up/timing becoming a bit lazy after a moderate amount of shooting. I suspected that this might be the result of a steel hand working against a softer/copper extractor. My Ruger SP101 in 9mm , using the same types of ammo, has never exhibited this issue. ymmv

nicky4968 · #13 01-06-2009, 09:01 PM

IIRC, the extractor isn't copper, it's beryllium.

HEADKNOCKER · #14 01-06-2009, 09:38 PM

My 4" 547 needed an oversized hand to correct carry up..
It's a standard K Frame part BTW, Nothing Special about it..
That Beryllium is some super hard stuff..
Not sure why they used it but assume it was to keep the extractor segments from binding in the extractor or rusting together..
BTW Numbrich has the extractor segments & S&W no longer stocks them @ $11ea, Here's the link
Numbrich 547 Extractor segments

BUFF · #15 01-06-2009, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by 5Wire:

"the back of the trigger guard slamming into my middle finger when using the stocks that came with it..."

Those round butt Magna gips probably weren't the original factory grips. Most if not all 3 inchers came with checkered round butt "Target" stocks that fill in the space behind the trigger guard much like the replacement grips you used.

When these came out, a key selling feature was that lots of surplus 9mm ammo was available cheap, some of it hot submachine gun loadings, and some M-547 owners shot their new sixguns a lot. My guess is that, were either the forcing cones or the ejector system somehow deficient, we would know about it.

We haven't heard about any problems with them. Mine, bought new back then, has been fine with everything I have shot in it.

5Wire · #16 01-06-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Those round butt Magna gips probably weren't the original factory grips. Most if not all 3 inchers came with checkered round butt "Target" stocks that fill in the space behind the trigger guard much like the replacement grips you used.

Like these, I suspect?

I still prefer the Bantams and I think they make the gun look better.