Shrek Of The Arctic
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2019
- Messages
- 313
- Reaction score
- 1,010
The last time I posted, I knew I was hot for an 8 shot .357. I was betwixt and between a steel frame or unobtainium frame. I went with unobtainium for additional carry ease and it was the original item of covetousness for many, many moons. I was able to pick it up yesterday.
In my desperation, I'd taken a gamble and bought my Smith & Wesson M&P R8 off Gunbroker. I usually prefer to handle a gun before purchase, especially with revolvers. The gamble paid off for me...mostly. it had good timing, solid lock up, no hammer push, end shake, etc. The finish was in good used condition, the fit was excellent. The only issue was the action itself was just...flat terrible. Awful. Like dragging a spoon handle first thru a bucket of pea gravel.
I brought the revolver home, tossed it in my favorite baking sheet, pulled out my box of S&W parts and went to work.
First thing I did was add a Power Custom extra length firing pin. After finding a couple of new S&W revolvers with short firing pins and failures to fire, it's just what I do. Lends good peace of mind for $15-$20. Then I swapped in a Wolfe 12lb. Trigger return spring, and lubricated the action. It had been bone dry.
The action was improved from Gawd awful to less awful. I took it to the range like that, and put 150 rounds through it. Hoping to flirt with the notion of shortening the strain scew, I tried loosening it, just to see what I could get away with. The answer was nothing. If that strain screw ain't down completely snug, it will not fire reliably.
At 15 yards, my accuracy varied from good to mediocre. I think the heavy, gritty action had alot to do with the mediocre part. There were several times I paused in the beginning of my trigger stroke because I thought the gun was locked up, then gritted teeth and just pulled through.
I did find the gun very controllable with full on .357 mag loads. Like...more controllable than I had any reason to expect from an unobtainium gun. It also shot everything I fed it from 140 grains up to 158 grains to a very close point of aim.
I got cold, shot out, and grumpy, packed my toys and went home. Once home I ate some dinner, drank some hot liquids, and tore into the action...again. I polished the high spots on the moving parts with 1600 grit lapping film and worked my way up to 4500. It honestly was a far cry from my best work, but when put back together the action was much improved. Still a little bit heavy, but much smoother, without slamming into a wall so hard at the beginning of the trigger stroke.
I'm planning to shoot it tomorrow in a Steel Challenge match. This is only my second competition, but I've already learned that competition is great for pushing equipment and finding limitations. I'd love to bob the hammer, but reliability is already so unforgiving that I'm afraid to give up any mass.
As much as I've focused on the awful action, this revolver is overall a big win for me. A rough action is much more fixable than many other things that coulda been wrong. Infact, it may have been one of the reasons this gun was affordable for me in the first place.
I look forward to it in competition. Last time, I kept having to reload my 625 for just ONE more shot. Going from 6 to 8 shots should be helpful, if I can hold up my end of the deal.
And....I shot Steel Challenge with it yesterday. It shot reliably, and as accurately as I could. The extra two shots were a huge benefit, and the 5" bbl. Was nice on the farther targets.
But...towards the end, I found myself unpleasantly surprised to draw my gun and find no front sight on it. The whole plunger mechanism thing let my front sight get pulled out on the draw. In a hurry to finish the last two stages, I swapped in my 627 PC with a 2.5" bbl. I hate to say it, but at this point I find myself actually liking that 627 alot more. Way smoother action, more solid and balanced feel.
I honestly can't help but to wonder if I chose poorly. Not that I'm giving up on the 327. I'm gunna try to get it more to where I want it to be. Mainly get the action improved, and I think I want to drill and get a roll pin to hold in that front sight.
In my VERY limited competition experience, I've already learned that any weaknesses in your gun will be exposed. Loose red dots. Improper lube, badly sized cartridges, disappearing front sights, etc. Even a simple Steel Challenge is a tough metric to test a gun on it's second outing.
I'm still giving the 327 a chance, but I'm starting to eyeball another 627.
I know everyone enjoys a glowing review of a shiny, new, long sought toy, but...I just ain't there yet.
In my desperation, I'd taken a gamble and bought my Smith & Wesson M&P R8 off Gunbroker. I usually prefer to handle a gun before purchase, especially with revolvers. The gamble paid off for me...mostly. it had good timing, solid lock up, no hammer push, end shake, etc. The finish was in good used condition, the fit was excellent. The only issue was the action itself was just...flat terrible. Awful. Like dragging a spoon handle first thru a bucket of pea gravel.
I brought the revolver home, tossed it in my favorite baking sheet, pulled out my box of S&W parts and went to work.
First thing I did was add a Power Custom extra length firing pin. After finding a couple of new S&W revolvers with short firing pins and failures to fire, it's just what I do. Lends good peace of mind for $15-$20. Then I swapped in a Wolfe 12lb. Trigger return spring, and lubricated the action. It had been bone dry.
The action was improved from Gawd awful to less awful. I took it to the range like that, and put 150 rounds through it. Hoping to flirt with the notion of shortening the strain scew, I tried loosening it, just to see what I could get away with. The answer was nothing. If that strain screw ain't down completely snug, it will not fire reliably.
At 15 yards, my accuracy varied from good to mediocre. I think the heavy, gritty action had alot to do with the mediocre part. There were several times I paused in the beginning of my trigger stroke because I thought the gun was locked up, then gritted teeth and just pulled through.
I did find the gun very controllable with full on .357 mag loads. Like...more controllable than I had any reason to expect from an unobtainium gun. It also shot everything I fed it from 140 grains up to 158 grains to a very close point of aim.
I got cold, shot out, and grumpy, packed my toys and went home. Once home I ate some dinner, drank some hot liquids, and tore into the action...again. I polished the high spots on the moving parts with 1600 grit lapping film and worked my way up to 4500. It honestly was a far cry from my best work, but when put back together the action was much improved. Still a little bit heavy, but much smoother, without slamming into a wall so hard at the beginning of the trigger stroke.
I'm planning to shoot it tomorrow in a Steel Challenge match. This is only my second competition, but I've already learned that competition is great for pushing equipment and finding limitations. I'd love to bob the hammer, but reliability is already so unforgiving that I'm afraid to give up any mass.
As much as I've focused on the awful action, this revolver is overall a big win for me. A rough action is much more fixable than many other things that coulda been wrong. Infact, it may have been one of the reasons this gun was affordable for me in the first place.
I look forward to it in competition. Last time, I kept having to reload my 625 for just ONE more shot. Going from 6 to 8 shots should be helpful, if I can hold up my end of the deal.
And....I shot Steel Challenge with it yesterday. It shot reliably, and as accurately as I could. The extra two shots were a huge benefit, and the 5" bbl. Was nice on the farther targets.
But...towards the end, I found myself unpleasantly surprised to draw my gun and find no front sight on it. The whole plunger mechanism thing let my front sight get pulled out on the draw. In a hurry to finish the last two stages, I swapped in my 627 PC with a 2.5" bbl. I hate to say it, but at this point I find myself actually liking that 627 alot more. Way smoother action, more solid and balanced feel.
I honestly can't help but to wonder if I chose poorly. Not that I'm giving up on the 327. I'm gunna try to get it more to where I want it to be. Mainly get the action improved, and I think I want to drill and get a roll pin to hold in that front sight.
In my VERY limited competition experience, I've already learned that any weaknesses in your gun will be exposed. Loose red dots. Improper lube, badly sized cartridges, disappearing front sights, etc. Even a simple Steel Challenge is a tough metric to test a gun on it's second outing.
I'm still giving the 327 a chance, but I'm starting to eyeball another 627.
I know everyone enjoys a glowing review of a shiny, new, long sought toy, but...I just ain't there yet.
