Classic Model 27-9 durability

[1locolopez]

I just got me a like new model 27-9. I was looking in You Tube and so a complaint of premature gas cutting in the top strap, as well as, some discoloration to the body of the cylinder. I got the revolver thinking that a .357 of this size, benefiting from modern metals, would be very durable. Have anyone heard of this? Will S&W stand by the product?

 

[Fishinfool]

Your model 27 is indeed a durable handgun. Gas cutting of the underside of the top strap is common and expected in magnum revolvers. It reaches a certain point, and stops. Not an issue, and almost any mag revolver with a fair number of rounds thru it will show some.

Most discoloration of the cylinder can be traced back to powder fouling and lead splatter, which often looks like finish loss, but isn't. A good cleaning fixes that issue.

S&W has a very good reputation for customer service. You would be a rare duck indeed if you actually managed to wear out your revolver thru normal use (not abuse).

Larry

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Gas cutting is usually linked to lightweight bullets & curtain magnum powders.

If you use standard weight bullets & moderate powders, mainly, it'll be minimized.

Enjoy your new revolver!

Welcome to the Forum !

.

 

[1locolopez]

Thanks. Like most people I usually just shoot 38 special in the 148 grain SWC variety, with the occasional .357 to get out the cobwebs.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

If you shot only full power .357 Magnum, and bought big box budget ammo, you'd need to spend $20,000 or more, just on ammo, to wear out your Model 27.

Even then, it could be sent back to Springfield for a complete rebuild, and returned back to factory specs for minimal costs.

 

[Nightowl]

A model that late is drilled and tapped for a scope, and if the screws are too short, gas will bounce off of the top strap and blemish the cylinder. It cleans! This is especially noticeable on stainless guns.

You will not ever wear out the gun if you continue your shooting habits.

 

[H Richard]

I would recommend standard bullet loads, not light 110's or 125's. Then you should write up instructions for using it for your great grandson that probably isn't born yet.

 

[BigBill]

To me any gas cutting is unacceptable. They say here that using the 296 powder when reloading causes it. Probably a steady diet of hotter loads does it. I believe with standard magnum loads it shouldn't cause gas cutting.

I shoot very heavy magnum loads out of my ruger revolvers and my colt Python and never seen one have gas cutting. But that was decades ago when I was a wild and crazy guy. But the rugers are made from carpenter steel, Usa.

 

[Pythonman]

A model that late is drilled and tapped for a scope, and if the screws are too short, gas will bounce off of the top strap and blemish the cylinder. It cleans! This is especially noticeable on stainless guns.

You will not ever wear out the gun if you continue your shooting habits.

I just got my new in box used Mod 27 Classic back from S&W that had a barrel torqued too much to the right looking at the muzzle end creating sighting and potential functioning problems. They fixed the gun up with a new blued barrel and recut the forcing cone to correct cylinder gap specs and did a firing and full function test. It's perfect. So today I shot a couple of boxes of jacketed .357 through it and all went well, she's a shooter! Now I have what looks like brass or copper markings on the top front portion of the cylinder over each cylinder hole. Which method works best to remove these marks. Thank you.

 

[Nightowl]

I use Hoppes or MPro7 and a bronze brush, but all my later guns are stainless. Bronze will eventually wear on the blue, so a nylon brush might be prudent.

 

[LAH]

The gas cutting hurts nothing & like said above, it will stop at a point.

 

[muddocktor]

Yep, gas cutting stabilizes after a certain point. My original 27-2 has had in excess of 30k rounds through it and I have some gas cutting on the top strap, but it hasn't changed in any way for years and years. I do stay away from shooting hot 110-125 grain loads through it nowadays and the 357 Mags I shoot from it are in the 140-180 grain range from mild to wild. But back in the 70's and 80's I ran many a 125 grain JHP propelled with a hefty load of Blue Dot, 2400 or 296 powder that would blow a giant fireball when shot.

Oh, and BigBill, don't think your Rugers are immune to gas cutting either. I used to own a 357 Max Blackhawk and it had a noticeable gas cut line on the top strap when I got it (traded a dog for it ). Again, on that revolver the gas cut had stabilized and didn't grow any deeper. And 357 Max is a bit higher pressure round than the 357 Mag, but not to the extent that cartridges such as the 454 Casull or 460 S&W are to the 45 Colt (high pressure for Ruger revolvers).

Here is a pic of my old 27-2 as it sits nowadays. Maybe this will ease your mind as to how well a model 27 holds up with usage and time. Remember, this is with 30K plus rounds through it. It did go back to S&W about 3 years ago for a tuneup, but they only turned the barrel back 1 turn to get rid of throat erosion in the forcing cone area, plus changed some internal parts. Nothing was done to the frame or cylinder.