627PC 5": PMA00xx vs CTU99xx

[elbiciclista]

I have been searching for a 627PC 5" for some time. I wanted to buy a pre-lock version, but I couldn't find one so I bought a more recently produced one (CTU99xx, Product Code 170210).

No sooner had I bought it than I found a new-old-stock pre-lock one for sale (PMA00xx, Product Code 170116, manufactured in 1998-99), so I grabbed it.

I haven't taken either one to the range yet. I'm not even sure I want to fire the early unfluted one, since it is really a collectible because of the serial number and the fact that it is still new-in-box. However, I have dry-fired each to test the trigger pull. Both are smooth, but the trigger pull of the locking version is very smooth and definitely lighter.

This started me thinking:

Looking purely at functionality (instead of collectibility, cosmetic appearance, etc.), has the Performance Center made improvements in the 627PC's over the 15 years between these models such that the later ones are clearly better performance shooters? Or am I making too much of the difference in trigger pull? It just seems it would be logical to think their best designers would directionally improve their designs over a decade and a half.......it would be pretty sad if they didn't.

But all this is theory. Please, someone who has shot 627PC's a lot, do you believe the later ones perform better at the range?

 

[bobf]

PC guns in general as I only have one 627PC a pre-lock RJM prefix, it has the best action I've ever felt. I have other PCs, a 27, 686, 629s including 2 made this year, they are good but the older one is best.

Some of my older ones are not as good as the new ones. My group seems to be the individual guns and not when they were made.

 

[AzRedleg]

I had a later PC 627 V-Comp in .357 Magnum. It had the lock. Trigger action right there with other high end revolvers I own. It was the most accurate revolver I have owned. The factory test target measured .67 inches for an eight shot group center to center at 25 yards. Very impressive. I ended up selling all my large frame .357s in the long run.

If it were me, and I were keeping both of them, I'd probably fire the used one and keep the unfired one in the safe.

If I were only keeping one, I'd keep the one I liked the best and put it to good use on the range.

 

[Nightowl]

The unfluted, no lock were a special run and are or will be collectable. I would safe that one and shoot the one with the lock. That is if I could over come the the urge to shoot it too. Nice catch on the unfluted, it is hard to find.

 

[elbiciclista]

The unfluted, no lock were a special run and are or will be collectable. I would safe that one and shoot the one with the lock. That is if I could over come the the urge to shoot it too. Nice catch on the unfluted, it is hard to find.

Richard,
Yes, I've already decided to put the unfluted one in the safe. It is SN 0001, so I figure it will gain in value over time.

BTW, we took the later production one to the range yesterday. I still don't like the look of the lock, but it is a wonderful firearm to shoot..........very smooth and easy to shoot, just does the work itself with little recoil. My son still prefers his (was mine) early 90's Model 686 4", so I think this will become my home protection firearm. But.......I'm still going to keep looking around for a non-locking 627PC, just one that isn't a collectible.

 

[Nightowl]

They do show up from time to time, but there are not too many out there. I found one after several years of looking, as my first one had the lock. It is a great shooter, though, and I don't think I would part with it now.

 

[OldGrump]

This is interesting! I have one of the unfluted, no lock 627 that I was thinking of selling. It is in the LHVxxxx range. S&W said it was made in July of 2003.

Elbiciclista your're lucky to have the box and extras. Mine is used w/out the box.

 

[UncleEd]

Not PC models, but I've found the newer made 686s to have very smooth and lighter trigger pulls than some of my older guns and yet the new ones are very reliable.

For me the IL has become a non-issue. I think Smith knew this would be so and just never paid much attention to those who virtually demanded that the IL be removed.

 

[elbiciclista]

This is interesting! I have one of the unfluted, no lock 627 that I was thinking of selling. It is in the LHVxxxx range. S&W said it was made in July of 2003.

Elbiciclista you're lucky to have the box and extras. Mine is used w/out the box.

Chuck,
Looking at the Standard Catalog, yours is the:

Model 627-3 "Hunter" that had 8-shot unfluted cylinder with chamfered charge holes, slabside 6" barrel with four Mag-Na-Ports. Barrel is marked "357 Magnum 8-Times", Rosewood grip. Product code 170095.

It was manufactured in the very late 90's. I didn't list all the details, but I assume that sounds familiar.

 

[OldGrump]

Chuck,
Looking at the Standard Catalog, yours is the:

Model 627-3 "Hunter" that had 8-shot unfluted cylinder with chamfered charge holes, slabside 6" barrel with four Mag-Na-Ports. Barrel is marked "357 Magnum 8-Times", Rosewood grip. Product code 170095.

It was manufactured in the very late 90's. I didn't list all the details, but I assume that sounds familiar.

Elbiciclista, Mine is product code #170116. Here are some pics.

 

[Skydivinglawyer]

I believe if you check.......your firearm will be marked 627-PC
not 627-3. And that is a 5 inch barrel, not 6.
The production run was less than 2 years. Most likely the distributor of the pistol was Lew Horton.
Also, since you have the box, you can look on the label for the 'Special Order' code.
This is a set of 4 numbers which indicate the Julien Calendar.
For Example 8099 would indicate that the pistol was completed ('vaulted') and label
created on the 99th day of 1998. I own BDM0040. A friend owns an RJM and we were
actually able to count the days between his pistol and mine.
The Smith & Wesson Collectors Association has a past article written by Rex Halfpenny
concerning the 627's and it has been very informative.

 

[OldGrump]

I believe if you check.......your firearm will be marked 627-PC
not 627-3. And that is a 5 inch barrel, not 6.

Thanks for the info Skydivinglawyer.

I checked mine and it is marked 627-PC, and the barrel is 5 inches. But, sadly mine don't come with a box.

 

[elbiciclista]

Elbiciclista, Mine is product code #170116. Here are some pics.

You guys really have me confused.
Yours is product code 170116, and the SN prefix is LHV?
The Standard catalog says prefixes for the 627-3 Hunter are LHV and RBS.
It says the prefix for product code 170116 is PMA.
So, I guess this is a mistake, or it is only partial information.

 

[elbiciclista]

The Smith & Wesson Collectors Association has a past article written by Rex Halfpenny
concerning the 627's and it has been very informative.

Skydivinglawyer,
How can I find this article?
I found the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association webpage but I don't see a reference to articles.
Probably just overlooking it.

 

[Skydivinglawyer]

That catalog is good, maybe even great, but it is not exhaustive.
Sir, you will have to join the S&W Collectors' Association and buy a back copy of the article.
I'm glad I did both.

 

[OldGrump]

You guys really have me confused.
Yours is product code 170116, and the SN prefix is LHV?
The Standard catalog says prefixes for the 627-3 Hunter are LHV and RBS.
It says the prefix for product code 170116 is PMA.
So, I guess this is a mistake, or it is only partial information.

Elbiciclista,

I contacted Lew Horton on my 627. They said that it was one of their Special Edition guns. It was made in 2003 but, it was supposed to have a 6-inch barrel. It has the 5-inch barrel because S&W quit making the 6-inch before they could complete the run. There were only 300 made at this time. Mine is listed as product code: 170095

It looks like these 627-PC's are all Lew Horton guns. I think they said there were two runs of them. Some were made between 1998 - 1999 and some were made between 2002 - 2003

 

[elbiciclista]

Elbiciclista,

I contacted Lew Horton on my 627. They said that it was one of their Special Edition guns. It was made in 2003 but, it was supposed to have a 6-inch barrel. It has the 5-inch barrel because S&W quit making the 6-inch before they could complete the run. There were only 300 made at this time. Mine is listed as product code: 170095

It looks like these 627-PC's are all Lew Horton guns. I think they said there were two runs of them. Some were made between 1998 - 1999 and some were made between 2002 - 2003

Interesting. The first run must be the one listed in the Standard Catalog as the Model 627-3 "Hunter" which I described above, and shows a 6" barrel. The product code for that model is 170095. They don't mention a 2nd run with 5" barrel, which is not surprising if it was such a small run.

I note yours apparently does not have the internal lock, although S&W had started installing it at that time. Maybe since it was a 2nd run of an earlier model, they rationalized no lock (?).

Pretty unique gun, with that product code and a 5" barrel small run. Certainly a keeper.

 

[Redlegvzv]

Not that anyone asked me, but if a gun is in my safe it is going to get shot now and then. No point in owning a gun that is too nice to shoot unless you truly are a collector, which I am not. I have a new 627PC and it shoots like a dream, if that is helpful. Great action, excellent groups; it is limited only by my skill.

 

[elbiciclista]

Not that anyone asked me, but if a gun is in my safe it is going to get shot now and then. No point in owning a gun that is too nice to shoot unless you truly are a collector, which I am not. I have a new 627PC and it shoots like a dream, if that is helpful. Great action, excellent groups; it is limited only by my skill.

Yes, I'm going through the same thought process.
I have shot the 627PC several times now, and it is indeed a dream to shoot. Yes, it shoots better than I do. It is actually my favorite shooter right now.

So, what to do with the "collectible" one? It is in the safe now, and I can't bring myself to shoot it. An S&W collector should have it, and I am not a collector. I may well go ahead and put it up for sale, just to remove the temptation to take it to the range.