I have both. Here they are ranked with a 586 L-Comp thrown in as it is arguably a premiere carry weapon by S&W in the .357/.38 snub category and is so often overlooked.
FIRST PLACE. The 627 Performance Center 8 Shot 2.625" barrel has been my favorite shooter for five years. I have two.
627 GENERAL: At 6'1" the N frame fits my largish hands, and the trigger distance is perfect the trigger resting in the middle of my first pad. Highly accurate. Like the 586, it has been to TK Custom for a defensive action job taking a pretty good action to just about perfect. I also have a little chamfering in the chambers and moon clips just fall in. In competitive shooting against semi-autos it has crawled out on top more than once. Handles recoil exceedingly well, only hurting with game loads you wouldn't use in a defensive weapon anyway. It is fine for OWB concealed carry, I carried it today under a black t-shirt.
627 NEGATIVES: the N frame cylinder is too tubby for IWB carry, so for that I look to the L frame 586; and, the front site is very complicated/expensive to switch to night sites so I am qualified with my agency with the 586 L-Comp.
627 LEATHER: A Galco Combat Master (Pictured) for competition and I have two Galco High Ride Silhouettes which conceal better than the Combat Master particularly with shirts that don't hang so low. Also the High Ride is a thumb break and I highly recommend a level of retention. The belt in the picture is also Galco.
AMMO: See 586 L-Comp next.
SECOND PLACE. The 586 L-Comp 7 Shot 3" full-lug barrel. Just as good a shooter as the 627, incredibly well built, although the L frame is just ever-so-slightly-too-small for me, but I carry it and shoot it with full confidence. The L frame is an amazingly narrow profile for a 7 Shot, IWB carries easily. Pinned front sights made going to better night sights simple, so I qualified with the 586 with my agency for off duty carry, and it lives between the seats unholstered in my patrol car in case I'm attacked while seated in the driver's seat so I don't have to dig my retention level III holstered Glock. At 37 oz. like the 627, the 586 handles recoil exceedingly well. .357 Magnum defensive loads at 400-500 ft. lbs. of energy is no problem double action, although the latter could over-penetrate. And of course this weapon is compensated for further recoil control. While not enhancing performance, I kind of like that the trigger and hammer are drop forged steel instead of MIM; and, while a weapon is a tool and not a jewel, the 586 L-Comp is arguably among the best looking revolvers in the S&W catalogue.
NEGATIVES: the blued finish takes more TLC than stainless, the stock front sight is Tritium, but so tiny you'd have to be an owl to pick it up at night so I went aftermarket. The barrel is compensated and it is unnecessary on this weapon for defensive carry only helping with huge .357 loads you'd never use for defensive carry unless you were in the woods re dangerous game. For even hot .357 Magnum defensive loads both the 627and the 586 L-Comp has no problem with them.
LEATHER: Both a black and a tan Galco High Ride Silhouette pictured (the tan on the 686+).
AMMO: moon clip in gun is .357 Magnum Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel (300ish ft. lbs.) - both the 627 and 586 are virtually unaffected by the recoil and over-penetration is unlikely with this load. On occasion I carry moon clip reloads in a Galco speed loader pouch, and inside are defensive .38+P for the shorter cartridge accelerating re-load. For somewhat hotter short barrel .357 Magnum Short Barrel see Barnes VOR TX and Buffalo Bore. Here are ballistic tests of the .357 Magnum Short Barrel Speer Gold Dot:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4axGhtdblmI[/ame]
THIRD PLACE. PC 686+ 7 Shot with 2.5" Barrel. Acceptable shooter for sure, but just not in the league of either of the above guns. Handles recoil acceptably well. Slightly less weight. And as you can see in the pic, I switched out the grips. This weapon sees very little to no carry. Having said that, loading the 686+ with +P, this could be a great balance for someone with normal to smaller hands who wanted a little less recoil in a smaller lighter package, but still have a stout enough weapon to pack a real punch without punishing recoil and giving 7 shots. This is a fine weapon, and I would feel perfectly adequately armed with it, just for me, the other two are better yet, and I wish I had a second 586 L-Comp instead.
NEGATIVES: While only 3 oz. lighter than the 627 and 586 L-Comp, the 686+ is not as stable with hotter .38 +P or .357 Magnum. My sample did not have the out-of-the-box smooth even action of the 627 or 586, and reminded me of a new 686 SSR. The action issue is to some extent moot as any carry gun I use goes to TK Custom for a defensive action job; some folks on this site use the Performance Center for the same advanced tuning.
LEATHER: My 586 L-Comp Leather of course is interchangeable with the 686+.
AMMO: I would say Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 +P for someone really needing low recoil; or ideally, a +P just a little bit hotter than the Speer SB .38+P.
