Model 627 Performance Center V-COMP Pros/Cons

[psx]

Hi


I'm about to buy my first revolver/pistol and are looking into the Model 627 Performance Center V-COMP. But I would really like some pros and cons for the revolver. Do you have any you can share?


Does it take all kind of .357 / .38 ammo - or is there certain kind of ammo it does not handle very well?

 

[Bullet Bob]

It will handle any .38/.357 ammunition, and handle it well.

I can't think of any cons.

 

[swagmeister]

Never seen a bad review on one. It should be a great shooter.

 

[S&WIowegan]

627 V Comp

I have had one of these for many years and used it quite a bit. If you shoot lead bullets in the gun the slots in the comp will fill up with debris. If that happens the comp will become ineffective except for the weight it provides to moderate muzzle flip. Cleaning the lead/debris out of the comp is a chore. Using jacketed ammo helps a lot but the comp will still accumulate junk.

In summary, while the comp seems like a good idea it's more trouble than it's worth. I solved the problem to my satisfaction by buying a comp from S&W with no slot cuts. The gun is pretty heavy.

Good Luck and enjoy.

 

[kaaskop49]

^^^what he said. Get a 627 without the Comp. I have 3 and love them. Weight keeps down any muzzle flip, IME.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[clang444]

I took my comp off and put the plain cap on instead. Great Gun.

The only con is you can go through a lot of ammo...

 

[RKmesa]

They are great 8-shooters and pretty easy on the eyes...

 

[colt_saa]

Smith & Wesson has been offering V-Comp equipped firearms for more than 50 years now

The first one I recall is the Model 41 with it's 7 3/8" barrel. Back in the olden days we used to spray the Comp with Carter's Compensater Cleaner just before shooting. It made cleaning it MUCH easier, but that was in the 80s and I do not think that product is offered today. I used to buy it mail order from Hebard Guns. However there many are other cleaning products that can be substituted.

My second exposure to the V-Comp design was when I was shooting pin matches (I'm thinking the 90s)

This revolver firing 45 SUPER ammunition made a Very potent pin gun. The V-Comp was quite effective keeping the muzzle down for firing on the next pin.

Jacketed ammunition reduces the cleaning to hardly more than scrubbing a barrel. Lead bullets are another story. I am sure that today's coated lead projectiles would be a wonderful choice. I stayed away from plated bullets since the early ones would shed plating in the bore and it would try to exit the V-Comp. Our modern double plated bullets won't have that problem

I was happy to see the 627 offered in a V-Comp. 8 rounds of 357 Magnum

For some versatility, I have a second cylinder for this revolver chambered in 9x23 Winchester. The shorter cartridges in moon clips thicker than the ones used for 357 makes the reloads much faster while maintaining 357 Magnum performance. I was kind of envisioning an 8 round pin gun. I have never fired this revovler with the false muzzle installed, only the V-Comp

The 9x23 Winchester chambering allows all of the shorter cartridges to be loaded into moon clips and fired. This includes 38 SUPER, 38 ACP, 356TSW, 9x21, 9MM Parabellum, 380 ACP and others

I have not fired my newest V-Comp yet

 

[505Gibbs]

Here's another V comp - it's a safe queen right now!

 

[Bullet Bob]

"Smith & Wesson has been offering V-Comp equipped firearms for more than 50 years now"

They've been offering compensaters, but I believe the "V" in the current name refers to the v-shaped barrel/underlug.

 

[RGPM1A]

I use mine for bowling pins. Use 180gr coated bullets over 11.5gr of 2400 in a 38spl+p case (for easier reloads if needed). I put a Revo compensator on it and it completely tames the recoil. No issues with lead build up whatsoever.

Overall a really nice revolver.

BTW TK Custom sells the comp but its only a three port version as mine was one of the 4 port originals that aren't sold anymore.

 

[RetCapt]

Bit of a digression here, but an interesting point if I can be cut some slack for the thread drift.

For a number of years, Wichita Arms offered a slab sided stainless steel barrel shroud with an integrated comp for S&W L frame revolvers, Ruger GP 100 revolvers, and IIRC, Colt Pythons. In other words, anything with a full length barrel lug. The appearance was quite similar to the Performance Center compensated revolvers pictured in this thread. They were popular in some of the competition venues where a revolver with minimal recoil was desirable for rapid shooting (and allowed under the rules). One of the road tests said that the additional barrel/muzzle weight plus the compensator materially reduced recoil. It said that .38 cal wadcutters felt like .22 cal long rifle. I sent my L frame to Wichita to have one installed (the recommended method since the front of the barrel lug had to be precisely drilled and tapped to accommodate the hex head retention screw). I was shooting a lot of .38 cal wadcutters in PPC competition at the time, so I had a supply on hand and I was accustomed to the recoil in stock as well as PPC revolvers.

The road test was right; .38 cal wadcutters did/do feel like .22 cal long rifle. My 6" L frame S&W 586 already had a match action job, and was electroless nickel plated. The Wichita Arms shroud/comp was the final customizing touch. Between the smooth, light DA action, the significant forward weight bias at and even a bit beyond the muzzle, and the compensator, there is an absolute minimum of sight disruption when shooting.

Even before embarking on customizing this revolver I had concluded in my own mind (meaning opinions will vary) that the L frame was the ideal .357 Smith & Wesson platform.

This revolver, with the work done on it, is my favorite Smith & Wesson revolver out of all that I own or have owned.

If 627 Performance Center V-Comp revolver owners feel the same way about their revolvers, then that justifies the cost.

 

[colt_saa]

"Smith & Wesson has been offering V-Comp equipped firearms for more than 50 years now"

They've been offering compensaters, but I believe the "V" in the current name refers to the v-shaped barrel/underlug.

The V has nothing to do with the barrel profile

It has to do with the angle that the Comp's ports are cut at