I picked up this 327NG earlier this year, it was lightly used and I got a good deal on it. It immediately became my favorite outdoors gun, a great combination of size, weight, caliber, and capacity for carrying while working outside or in the woods and a great companion piece when hunting, fishing hiking, etc. It's nicely balanced, has great sights, and is heavy enough so that you don't get beat up shooting magnums but light enough for comfortable carry, and plenty accurate for anything but serious target work.
However, as much as I liked it, there were a couple of issues that needed tending to. First, the hammer spur was always scraping and digging into my arm. Second, the DA trigger pull sucked, it was waaaayy too heavy and rough and since I only shoot my revolvers DA that was unacceptable. Finally, there was the issue of the infernal lock that none of us can stand. So, in order to make it the ideal gun for my needs, I took it to my friends at Dietrich Gunsmithy for a little work over. They bobbed the hammer, made it DAO, did a terrific action job - about 6lbs with a nice short stroke thanks to a trigger stop that gives it a Pythonish feel, disabled the IL, and chamfered the charge holes. They also did a very nice job of refinishing the hammer and trigger, with a fine bead blast and hot blue they came out looking like dark color case hardening, not bad for MIM parts.
Now, with these few mods it is, IMO, the perfect field gun and can do duty as an everyday carry piece as well. It's too bad S&W has discontinued the NG line, they are terrific guns, maybe the best modern revolvers made.
However, as much as I liked it, there were a couple of issues that needed tending to. First, the hammer spur was always scraping and digging into my arm. Second, the DA trigger pull sucked, it was waaaayy too heavy and rough and since I only shoot my revolvers DA that was unacceptable. Finally, there was the issue of the infernal lock that none of us can stand. So, in order to make it the ideal gun for my needs, I took it to my friends at Dietrich Gunsmithy for a little work over. They bobbed the hammer, made it DAO, did a terrific action job - about 6lbs with a nice short stroke thanks to a trigger stop that gives it a Pythonish feel, disabled the IL, and chamfered the charge holes. They also did a very nice job of refinishing the hammer and trigger, with a fine bead blast and hot blue they came out looking like dark color case hardening, not bad for MIM parts.
Now, with these few mods it is, IMO, the perfect field gun and can do duty as an everyday carry piece as well. It's too bad S&W has discontinued the NG line, they are terrific guns, maybe the best modern revolvers made.
I normally don't like bobbed hammers but have to admit it makes sense on a gun like that.
I like the polished trigger, I've had the hammers and triggers polished on several revolvers that I've had work done on, I like a little bling on other wise plain guns. The 'smith asked if I wanted him to polish them on the 327 but I said no since it's just a work around piece.
