686 owners and 627 owners its time to do battle, convince me which is better

[Maximumbob54]

The one and ONLY failing in the N frame .357 magnum is the slightly shorter cylinder than the K/L frame. That aside, the N frame will absorb more recoil, hold eight shots in the cylinder, and the forcing cone is built like a tank. I say buy the five inch 627, find a stock/grip that fits your hand, and shoot the hell out of it. Or buy the middle child that is lighter, skinnier, and only a six or seven shotty. Python. I would trade my Python for a P/R 27 esspecially a 3.5" 27... Mmmm..... N frames....

 

[snake charmer]

The one and ONLY failing in the N frame .357 magnum is the slightly shorter cylinder than the K/L frame. That aside, the N frame will absorb more recoil, hold eight shots in the cylinder, and the forcing cone is built like a tank. I say buy the five inch 627, find a stock/grip that fits your hand, and shoot the hell out of it. Or buy the middle child that is lighter, skinnier, and only a six or seven shotty. Python. I would trade my Python for a P/R 27 esspecially a 3.5" 27... Mmmm..... N frames....

PM me I have what you want for trade.

 

[nawilson]

also (this may be a dumb question) can i load the 627 pro without any moonclips in. Just put load each chamber individually with no moon clip attached or on the cylinder. i dont really know how the whole moon clips thing works

Yes, you can fire the 627 sans moon clip. It isn't necessary to shoot but does make reloading faster.

Personally, I vote for the 627. They are both large revolvers, so I think the extra round is worth the slightly larger size. On the flip side, if you want to use speed loaders, they are easier to find for the 686+.

 

[FloridaFlier]

Both of these are fairly heavy revolvers. With a standard .38, the recoil is non-existant. The large N-frame is really noticeably bigger to me. You just don't need it. Whatever job you're looking to do, if you can't do it with 7 shots, you can't with 8 either.

Get the 686. It will be a classic. The 627 frame is only necessary for heavier calibers than we are talking about here.

 

[Snowbandit]

If I could only have one, and it included concealed carry use, I would go with the 686+. It's a poor CC choice but better than an N-frame. For any and all other considerations give me the 627.

 

[colt_saa]

I own a few L-frames. A couple are commemoratives, my CS1 and the only one that I really shoot, my L-comp.

However, I truly LOVE N-frames. I have about a 16:1 ratio of N to L frames. The 8 shot family of 357 Magnum revolvers are wonderful examples of the firearms makers art. The 27/327/627 wheel guns are high quality revolvers.

If you went for one of the 327 offerings, you could have an 8 shot N-frame that weighs less than the 4" SSR.

And of course if you are a fan of carbon steel revolvers , there are 6 variations of the 8 shot model 27. The blue steel 3 1/2" is one of my favorites. It carries well on the belt or inside the waistband.

 

[fyimo]

Actually this has been a fun thread to read and of course I expected different points of views when I made my first post. I think S&W got it right with the L frame and I'm happy they made it. I still can't over look my 27-2 5 inch P&R revolver as being one of the best balanced reviolvers I ever held or fired.

The beauty of this hobby is we can all over indulge ourselves in what we like and it's not a sin to like any S&W revolver and to treat it like it's a holy grail but we just need to remember that it just happens to be OUR holy grail and not everyones.

 

[imashooter2]

I've got both. Neither is better. They're just different.

Do you like the feel of and L or an N frame better?

 

[Dodobird1589]

i really need to hold both one after the other. i like the features of the 627 but if the l frame feels better im gonna go with that. i too am really enjoying reading this thread as i love guns and love hearing everyones opinions on their favorite models

 

[jspick]

I have a 686 no dash 6" and dearly love the gun. I have a 627 model of 1989 5.5" barrel and I dearly love that gun too!

Which is my favorite? aaaahhhhhh...............I think the 627, but don't quote me on that!

John

 

[m4bgringo]

also (this may be a dumb question) can i load the 627 pro without any moonclips in. Just put load each chamber individually with no moon clip attached or on the cylinder. i dont really know how the whole moon clips thing works

You need to try a wheelgun with moonclips sometime, you'll see why we love them.

 

[nebmike]

I had a 686 for many, many years... until I got my 627 Pro back in January. Bought it as a carry gun and it gets used quite frequently for that purpose.

 

[Dodobird1589]

Can anyone recommend some good front and rear fixed night sights?

 

[MTKTM]

For me the answer to this question would depend a lot on what I was going to do with the revolver. My first ever handgun is a 27 6.5" no-dash given me by my father when I was a high-school kid back in the 1960s, and I still have the gun and used it extensively back then for everything from hunting to plinking to personal defense.

I acquired a 627 5" PC gun a few years back and it's excellent for woods carry and range use, but is basically "illegal" for IDPA and IPSC revolver shooting. If I wanted to use a revolver in one of those games the way to go would, IMHO, be the 686SSR. Or a nice 66 in 4".

 

[M2MikeGolf]

N Frame caliber should start with 4...............

Really ???? It was the 357 that started it all

Strange, I could have sworn the .45LC/ACP and .44 SPL Handejectors were built on N Frames. My Model 1917 (.45 ACP) was built in 1919, and I could be mistaken, but I think that was a few years before the .357 debuted.

I'd like to point out something that may or may not have impact on a choice. I have a 619 (L frame if you are not familiar with it) and some years ago owned a Model 27. Although the 27 is an outstanding revolver, I have always liked K frames better, for size and balance. The L frame (to me) was the perfect balance between the two; sturdy enough for continuous magnum loads, small enough for balance, size and weight. I have found that the L frame handles recoil just as well as my old N frame. But more importantly for me, the size of the L frame was really what won me over; I am retired military, and for years I pretty well owned, qualified and fired autos. After I retired, I found I wanted to return to the revolver fold, and found that my L framed 619 was an extremely effective transition from years of handling autos due to it's balance and size, and vice versa. Just a little food for thought from a slightly differnent view. I love the 627s, but I think the 686 with a 4" barrel is great compromise of power, balance, handling and size.

Also, since moon clips have been mentioned, I have to say that I'm sold on them. Since I have owned my old 1917, I have become pretty impressed with them. There are a few companies out there that do moonclip conversions for revovlers, and I have thought about having it done; I like them better than speedloaders. Those that use them in revolvers swear by them, they are a fast and easy way to load, but you must be carefull about bending them.

Will be interested to hear which you decide on, you can't really go wrong with either!

 

[hberttmank]

I've got a 4" 686+ and a 5" PC 627, the 627 is my favorite revolver of all. 8 shots, the smooth PC trigger, recoil absorbing frame, it's the ultimate 357. Not that there is anything wrong with a 686. Having both is the only solution.

 

[cantpickone]

I have a 6 round 686 and a 8 round 627PC. The much less costly 686 shoots every bit as well and accurately as the 627PC.

 

[Stainz]

To put things in perspective:

4" 686 SKU 164222 39.7 oz MSRP $849

4" 627 Pro SKU 178014 41.2 oz MSRP $969

Those are current prices - from their website. It translates to less than a 'Benjamin' at the typical dealer. A big 1.5 oz heavier, too.

Stainz

 

[h24trapman]

Dodobird1589, now for the rest of the story, just go ahead and buy both because we all know that is what the final result will be

 

[John wilson]