Forgive my ignorance but I am sort of new to the S&W revolver world. I have an older model 36 but my latest aquisition is a M327 Night Guard with the 2-1/2".

Here is my question:

When searching the web and even S&W's site, I can only find a replacement cylinder for the 627.

I was wondering if the 627 cylinder and the 327 cylinder are the same or interchangable?

I have found a PC unfluted cylinder for a 627 that I may purchase if it will work.

Reasoning behind buying an extra cylinder is that I really don't want to send mine off to have machined for moon clips as I am not even sure that I prefer moon clips over speed loaders yet. I want to leave my options open as well as not have to deface the original equipment if not necessary.

Any feedback as to if this other cylinder will work?

THANKS!

Cylinders are not a drop in part.
There is a chance you could get lucky, 1-1000 chance maybe.

Adjustments needed:

Endshake, carry up, cylinder air gap & head space. The barrel might need to be removed too......

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NRA Benefactor Member

That really depends... On guns with the "new style" cylinder (and your 327 is) IF you can use your original extractor in the new cylinder the cylinder swap usually a drop in requiring only setting the endshake and checking the barrel/cyl gap. The new style cylinders are very consistent.

As to the OP's question. If you're wanting a cylinder cut for moonclips you're not going to get a "drop-in" because you won't be able use your original extractor. The cylinder comes as a cylinder assy which includes a new extractor which WILL need to be fitted. Both the cylinder AND extractor are moonclip cut. S&W has and will sell you a moonclip cut 627 cylinder assy in SS or Ti.

The simplest thing is to have someone like TK Custom cut your cylinder assy for moon clips. It will drop back in with no fitting and still allow loose (non-moonclipped ) rds to work like they did before it was cut.

BTW, the means that you can use a speedloader on a revolver set up for moon clips. Personally I prefer moon clips because I have a bunch of them. That means I can load up boxes of ammo while watching the news and being tempted to throw a brick at the TV.

Yes, you can, but I'm not sure who makes 8 shot 327/627 speedloaders.

Here is a few

Thunder Ranch® Oregon 8Shot Speed Loader
.357 N-Frame Accessories

Then there is the tried and terrible Maxfire

Maxfire Revolver Speedloader 38 Special, 357 Magnum 8-Shot Package of 2 - MidwayUSA

Maybe I should have said "good" speedloaders.

That Thunder Ranch loader better be good for 50 bones. I dont think there is anything wrong with the 5 Star loader either. Maxfires are straight terrible and everyone knows it.

To bad there are no SL variants for it.

To me the issue is they're the HKS type which compared to a Jet or Comp III (or I or II) does a better job dumping rds on the ground than in the chambers. The Ranch loaders sure seem well made and pretty. Unfortunately they copied the HKS.