Dump the full barrel underlug.

[pistolpete10]

The full lug on the 4" guns is great, a bit heavy on 6" guns. You can still get the half lug on the 629, mine's a 6".

 

[Rubone]

Do you guys like the angled lug? Would that be an ok compromise?

To me they are the least aesthetic of all. I really want a 8 shot 27 variant, but the angled lugs on the PC models make me throwup in my mouth a bit.....

 

[Fishinfool]

I too like the full under lug on barrels up to 6 inches.

I bought one of the first 586's with a 4 inch barrel that hit the dealers shelf. I found I shot it better than a half lugged barrel, and the slight muzzle heaviness gave me better recovery during fast DA shooting. I used that gun quite successfully in PPC competition, and as a uniformed duty carry.

I also prefer it on my iron sighted 6 inch 629 Classic Hunter. The gun holds steadier for me with some muzzle heft, and recovers quicker from recoil.

Looks are subjective, and I can see where a long barreled gun, especially in a light recoiling caliber, can make for a heavy carrying weapon depending on use.

Larry

 

[Engine49guy]

One of my dream guns is an 8 shot 4" SS N frame .357 that looks exactly like the pre war Reg Mag, 6 groove tangs, SB grip frame, exact replicas of pre War Magnas with a spare set of post war Cokes to boot and real top strap checkering instead of the current cheapo immitation stamping.
Wood presentation box and hole delete and I'm all in.
Make one in 22lr and I will buy the pair.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I missed this 586 earlier - it's a little less than gorgeous because of the wear but, still, a great looking revolver.

But, HEY!!!! I'm not stuck on full underlugs - these are gorgeous, too!!!

Model 27 Classic elk stocks by bgmntmn

M25 5 elk grips

All lovely!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Moo Moo]

I'm a sucker for a full underlug also. However, these are range guns only for target competitions as per the Firearm laws here in Australia.

 

[Rpg]

Do you guys like the angled lug? Would that be an ok compromise?

Not for me.

I think those things are better suited to Luke Skywalker than any contemporary application.

 

[scooter123]

I have a model 620, that is the tensioned barrel, 7 shot, L Frame in 357 Magnum. It also features a semi lug profile and it will shoot under an inch at 50 yards.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have a 686 Mountain Gun. S&W should have made a lot more of them and the 617 Mountain Gun. I've been looking for a 617 MG for a long time.

Me too on the 686 mtn gun....Also me too wanting a 617 mtn gun

 

[44wheelman]

Okay next discussion….unfluted cylinders. Seems I have a few of those on my full lug guns…a 90's thing I guess. Because I want more inertia as I'm double action shooting?

 

[Laketime]

I remember when the factory called it the ejector shroud on a K and N frames.I must have missed the change over to everything being called a lug.

 

[Papabear1324]

As a retired Architect, I look at proportions in design. The full lug barrel has the proportions the make the gun look great. With the bulk of the gun body the skinny barrel needs the under lug to make the gun not look anemic. Everything is in proportion with the full under lug. Like it or not, the design team at S&W added it for looks and and to tame some recoil, not because it is cheaper to make.

 

[schutz5]

To my eyes,the underug is reminiscent of the Single Action Army revolver.

 

[gfors]

I like them all

The full underlug really helps with recoil, and steadying the gun for range work. My 5' 2" 105 pound daughter has no problem hitting the target, with full house .357's, out of this 686. I like that the 617 matches the same weight and feel.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

As a retired Architect, I look at proportions in design. The full lug barrel has the proportions the make the gun look great. With the bulk of the gun body the skinny barrel needs the under lug to make the gun not look anemic. Everything is in proportion with the full under lug. Like it or not, the design team at S&W added it for looks and and to tame some recoil, not because it is cheaper to make.

And that's what they make hacksaws and belt sanders for.........Not everybody likes Cherry Coke.

 

[RoyM52]

I like that the 617 matches the same weight and feel.

When Smith first came out with the 617 this was one of the reasons that was stated for having the full lug. For LEO to practice with a revolver that matched weight and balance with their service revolver.

I bought a 4 inch 617 no dash and carried for many years as a snowshoeing woods gun. I read all the negative posts and have a difficult time believing that there is so much hate for such a fine firearm.

I also bought a 629-3 with a non-fluted cylinder. {6 inch} Another fine firearm being bad mouthed on this thread. So sad to see this , seems the haters would just buy a different model.

 

[StrawHat]

…I like that the 617 matches the same weight and feel.

When Smith first came out with the 617 this was one of the reasons that was stated for having the full lug. For LEO to practice with a revolver that matched weight and balance with their service revolver…

I am not aware of any Law Enforcement Agency with a budget for practice guns. And since most cops aren't that gun savvy, they won't be buying them either.

…I bought a 4 inch 617 no dash and carried for many years as a snowshoeing woods gun. I read all the negative posts and have a difficult time believing that there is so much hate for such a fine firearm…

I carry a 45 ACP when I snowshoe or walk my property.

I read all the comments also, wrote some of them too. I did not realize that making a negative comment made me a "hater". Anymore than your comment makes you intolerant of others.

…I also bought a 629-3 with a non-fluted cylinder. {6 inch} Another fine firearm being bad mouthed on this thread. So sad to see this , seems the haters would just buy a different model…

The point of the initial statement is that there are few models being produced without the underlug and/or the non-fluted cylinder.

As for the idea that the weight and shape of a revolver makes a revolver chambered for a smaller cartridge handle the same as a similar but differently chambered revolver, well, I find that humorous. I have heard it expressed for the K Masterpiece series also. It only applies to the first shot. After that the weight changes. By the time you get to the third or fourth shot an experienced competitor can feel the difference.

We would just like more choices.

Kevin

 

[ladder13]

How about we dump the post ~ 2000 frames with the unsightly paint drip and hole on the left side.

 

[gfors]

I am not aware of any Law Enforcement Agency with a budget for practice guns. And since most cops aren't that gun savvy, they won't be buying them either.

Colorado State Patrol bought some M18's, for just this purpose. This 18-3 (shown with an earlier 4-screw) belonged to a trooper, who bought it when CSP transitioned to semi-autos.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I think Smith went with the full underlug to compete with the Colt Python's looks and simultaneously reduce manufacturing costs.

Smith was successful in cost reduction, but missed the aesthetic improvement achieved by Colt.

Smith's full underlug adds weight and poor balance that does nothing to improve shooting characteristics.

How could you reduce cost by adding more metal, more machining and more finishing to a handgun???