686 vs. 627 Question

[MikeZ65]

Hello All,

I'm a long time lurker, new member to the group.

I already own a couple of handguns, but it's time for a wheel gun, and you're all so knowledgeable and I'm so indecisive...

I don't have all the money in the world to spend, otherwise I'd probably just get both! In the meantime, say this was the only revolver I would ever own. I'm caught between the 627 and the 686.

I'm thinking mainly for range use, but also for possible home defense. 627 or 627PC... 686 either the plus model or the SSR model. I'm not too happy about the MIM parts, but especially dislike the lock. However I'd probably be purchasing a brand new gun.

What do you think? 627 may be a bit sturdier with the N frame... another round in there is kinda nice. 686 looks sweet and there seem to be a lot of fans of that model.

Help is definitely appreciated!

Thanks,

Mike

 

[MikeZ65]

Hello All,

I'm a long time lurker, new member to the group.

I already own a couple of handguns, but it's time for a wheel gun, and you're all so knowledgeable and I'm so indecisive...

I don't have all the money in the world to spend, otherwise I'd probably just get both! In the meantime, say this was the only revolver I would ever own. I'm caught between the 627 and the 686.

I'm thinking mainly for range use, but also for possible home defense. 627 or 627PC... 686 either the plus model or the SSR model. I'm not too happy about the MIM parts, but especially dislike the lock. However I'd probably be purchasing a brand new gun.

What do you think? 627 may be a bit sturdier with the N frame... another round in there is kinda nice. 686 looks sweet and there seem to be a lot of fans of that model.

Help is definitely appreciated!

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Shorty4T]

Hi Mike,
Welcome aboard as a member! I'd have to vote for the 686. If this were to be my only revolver, I'd get the 4", it balances extremely well and is possible to carry it if needed. Every 686 I've ever shot can out shoot me, but that also goes for the N frames.

There are a lot of 686 fans around here for a reason

. While all of the Smith revolvers are premium I'd have to put the 686 as the revolver that everyone should own...at least 1.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I would vote for the 686 SSR, nice all around gun. You can shoot matches or butthead's with it

. Plus it makes a good paper puncher to.
By the way - Welcome to the forum

.

 

[Revolver King]

If you hang around here very long you will own both, Welcome to the forum. I can't decide, but I own 6 or 7 686s and 1 627.

 

[MikeZ65]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your speedy replies! I can certainly see that I'm going to wind up with more than one eventually! But for now it's looking like the general wisdom for the first purchase seems to be the 686, which is kind of where my heart was headed anyway. Maybe the 627 next... or a snubby... Ah!!

Though I didn't mention it in my original post, I was always partial to the 4" model of either, unless I went with the 5" 627 performance center revolver.

I think I'm going to grab a 686 SSR and I'll check back in when I've had a chance to get it to the range.

I've been going through this in my head for months, back and forth through the catalog, etc. I appreciate the help and the warm welcomes!

Safe shooting!

Mike

 

[technosavant]

The 627 Pro might be worth a look.

I love the way the N frame fits my hand, and the Pro comes already cut for moonclips (it has some of the goodies of the PC version but for a fair amount less). Since you won't be carrying the thing, there's not much reason to worry about size (the main reason to step down to the L frame 686).

You may want to consider your desired method of reloading- if you like moonclips, then the 627 Pro or PC. If you like speedloaders, the 686+ (they don't make 8 round speedloaders).

 

[MikeZ65]

Being a 1911 sort of a guy (sacrilege?) I don't think the weight thing will be much of a concern. I held a 5" 627 and the weight felt nice. As far as weight goes, I tend to have a harder time with the plastic gun I own as far as feel and accuracy. Let's not mention any names...

As you said, I'm really not too concerned about concealing it for carry since I don't have a full carry permit.

Having not reloaded a revolver, except by hand, I'm not sure what the differences, pro and con, would be for using a speedloader vs moonclips. I believe that IPSC requires that you use speedloaders rather than moonclips, but I could be wrong... Any other differences/preferences?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[akr]

I'd just use that nickel 629.

 

[bountyhunter]

My current defense gun is a 686-3 (7 shot) with 6" barrel. I like the 627 but don't own one becuase I am continually disgusted with the quality of the new ones I see here sporting their ridiculous $1100 price tag.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Having a 627-0 and a 586, I can tell you that the bore axis on the L frame is lower than the N frame.

I can also tell you that the cylinder is longer on the L frame, allowing heavier bullets to be crimped in the crimping groove as opposed to crimping over the driving band in order to chamber in the N frame.

My 627-0 is the old style 6 shooter with the hand checkered top strap, so it's old school, but dimentions like cylinder length are the same.

Either way, you'll be well served with both weapons.

 

[Hook686]

I have both a 4" 686 and the 5" 627PC. I like both. The 686 is cheaper, shoots good and carries easily in the field. The 627PC has a smoother trigger and I can shoot it with similar accuracy to the 686, only at 25+ yards greater distance.

I use the 627PC at local club practical weapon matches, where 8 shots comes in handy. I prefer 8 shots of .357 magnum to 8 shots of .45 acp. Is the 627 worth $300 more than the 686 ? I think so, but a 4" 686 would not be a disappointment either.

 

[akr]

Originally posted by bountyhunter:
My current defense gun is a 686-3 (7 shot) with 6" barrel. I like the 627 but don't own one becuase I am continually disgusted with the quality of the new ones I see here sporting their ridiculous $1100 price tag.

I only paid $686 delivered for mine, and worth every penny.

 

[Revolver King]

Hey guys they didn't come out with the 7 shot 686 until the dash 4 model. I too am a big fan of the 686+

 

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by akr:

Originally posted by bountyhunter:
My current defense gun is a 686-3 (7 shot) with 6" barrel. I like the 627 but don't own one becuase I am continually disgusted with the quality of the new ones I see here sporting their ridiculous $1100 price tag.

I only paid $686 delivered for mine, and worth every penny.

I would buy a 627 in a second for $700 or $800. Out here in kali, that's about what a new 686 sells for.

 

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by Revolver_King:
Hey guys they didn't come out with the 7 shot 686 until the dash 4 model. I too am a big fan of the 686+

My bad, my 686 seven shot is a -4 model. Brain fart, own too many guns....

 

[akr]

Originally posted by bountyhunter:

Originally posted by akr:

Originally posted by bountyhunter:
My current defense gun is a 686-3 (7 shot) with 6" barrel. I like the 627 but don't own one becuase I am continually disgusted with the quality of the new ones I see here sporting their ridiculous $1100 price tag.

I only paid $686 delivered for mine, and worth every penny.

I would buy a 627 in a second for $700 or $800. Out here in kali, that's about what a new 686 sells for.

Mine is the Standard version with the traditional bbl.

 

[BoneDigger]

I have not shot the 627 although it does appear to be a very nice revolver. I do own a 4" 686-3 and it is just about the perfect revolver as far as I am concerend. I put a nice set of wood grips on it and it is now my go-to woods gun.

Todd

 

[crackedwindshield]

You can have mine for $800 627 Pro 4"

 

[stevieboy]

I own a 686 6" which I truly love. I had an opportunity to fire a performance center 627 a few months back. I was surprised at how light it seemed to be relative to the 686. I know the difference is not in total mass. But, the center of gravity of the 627 is more back towards my hand than on the 686, which is truly a front end heavy gun. Which is preferable? I'm not sure. I was getting tiny groups when I fired the 627 and shooting it was certainly a pleasant enough experience. But, as I said at the beginning of this post, I love my 686 . . . .

 

[piggyback]

Man oh man! What a hard question. First of all, I wouldn't put a limit on one gun, because I would only be kidding myself. I was just going to get a couple 357's, but now I can't stop. I need help. All I have to do is look at one and I want it. I will try to keep this simple, but it is going to be rough. The 627 seems like it does shoot at the tighter pattern but I know ammo is different. I love both of my guns. My wife has a 627 V-Comp. Luckily we picked it up used and got a real decent deal, and that baby is tight. I just got through 4 days of finishing my 686, and it is beautiful, so I guess I can't really answer your question, so good luck!

 

[Revolver King]

[/QUOTE] My bad, my 686 seven shot is a -4 model. Brain fart, own too many guns....[/QUOTE]

+1 on owning too many guns exspeacially 686s

 

[Stainz]

My only 686 is a 5" half-lug 7-shooter. While I like it - the 627 Pro I bought last spring is a lot nicer. Comparing S&W's current prices from their site, the 4" 686+ has an MSRP of $932 while the 4" 627 Pro is MSRP of $1,059 - figure about a C-note difference at the dealer. Mine has one for $759 new in his case (Mine was $719 last year.).

Below you'll see my massive 627 collection. Yeah, the JM PC 627 V-Comp has a nicer PC-shop trigger, but the 627 Pro will be here when it's gone. It has the same dished for moonclips cylinder, with eased charge holes. Not a great plus for me - the spindly/spider-legged 8-shot moonclips just don't load like the .45 ACPs in my 625JM - it spoiled me forever for moonclips. As a range gun, they are super. You can load rounds fast from a bucket or bag - 2 rounds at a time. One of the 627 Pro's best attribute - that spring-loaded front sight - changeable in seconds without tools. Add the Ahrends retro targets in cocobolo and a HiViz front sight - ~$85-$90 - and you'll have one like mine below. They also come with a 'tweaked action' - actually a shortened strain screw. Get a full length one if you use Wolff hammer springs. I think the 627 Pro is S&W's 'Best Buy' now - replacing the 625JM - my previous choice for that title - but I am fickle.

Stainz

PS Welcome to the site - and the madness of S&W revolvers - they are addictive.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Here is part of my 686 family, plus a 627. I only have about as many as R_K does, 6 total.

 

[mclark202]

I just bought this one a week or two ago. Paid $400 for it as pictured. I really like it and it is my first real wheel gun, next to my airweight revolvers.

 

[cylinder]

This is the old picture of both, I have removed the scope and put X-frame grips on the 686 recently:

If I had to keep just one, it would be the 627 because of the better balance, but I do like shooting both.

 

[MikeZ65]

Boy, oh boy. You're all a wealth of information and beautiful pictures to boot! Seems like there is no definitive answer though... I'm going to have to hold them both again in one sitting to see how the balance feels. My dealer is pretty good about keeping a large supply of Smiths in stock, though he was pretty Obama depleted the last time I was there.

It's really fun to see that you're all not just revolver nuts, you're Smith and Wesson nuts! I hope to join the club for as much as my salary will allow. Over time I hope to have a few to scroll through!

Thanks everyone!

Mike

 

[BoneDigger]

I know you said you were going to purchase a new gun, but I don't understand the reasoning there. A used 686 can be had for under $400 if you look hard enough. Buy one, have fun with it, then add a 627 in a few months. There are a ton of used 686s on the market. They pop up quite often as people sell them to buy the latest greatest plastic thing on the market.

Plus, by buying used you can avoid the lock.

Todd

 

[MikeZ65]

Originally posted by BoneDigger:

Plus, by buying used you can avoid the lock.

Todd

You know, I was waiting for someone to say this. I'm surprised no one else mentioned the "avoid the lock. Buy used" thing.

Is that lock as horrible as I've been hearing? I kind of enjoy putting my own scratches in the thing and definitely don't want to purchase something with some modification someone failed to mention in their advertisement.

Where do you suggest looking around for one? Online or just through local dealers?

 

[Nightowl]

If you just gotta buy new, get the best first! Even with the lock, the 8 short Performance Center 627 is one fine gun. AND, it still has a good profile compared to the buried hammer, ugly looking 686 with lock. The lock totally changes the profile of all frames smaller than the N.