New 3" 63 arrives - range report

[Stainz]

Well, it's here. I just spent more on a new 3" 8-shot .22 J-frame revolver than I spent on a 4" x10 617 or a 6" 629 or a 4" 625JM - all bought new over the last five or so years. A sign of the times. It bought one cute little .22 revolver. My proper idea of what a 3" 317K should be, albeit with a lot more mass. The red HiViz is appreciated by my 'mature' eyes. I normally like larger grips, see my 5" 63 below, but the OEM grips are fine for this 'cute little .22 revolver'. Okay, wood would be nicer... maybe after Christmas.

Here it is as my short barrel .22 - with the 4" 617 and 5" 63:

Here it is with my 5" 63:

Oddly, the DA trigger of the brand new 3" 63 is nearly indistinguishable from the 5" 63. The older 63 has seen many rounds - ~1,500-2,000+ - and was polished internally. I also changed it's springs to lower effort Wolffs - it was a great improvement over it's original DA trigger - and that of every 317 & 351 I've ever checked. The new 3" 63 was nearly as smooth - and light, DA pull-wise, as the 5" 63. It's smoothness improved with today's 160+ rounds, too. The sights were kind to my mature eyes, thanks to the fiber optic front, and were dead on at 12 yd with my WallyWorld el-cheapo (~$16/550) Federal 36gr HP's, hitting coincident POI/POA. At least the smallest SPC metal plates couldn't be missed - but that trigger helped.

I really feel blessed to be able to afford this new 63 - it is a keeper. Maybe a pocket gun - for day hikes. I need to try some CCI Velocitors & Stingers...

Naw, that would be like hotrodding it - it's a great plinker - and apparently loves my cheap ammo. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all - and WAR Eagle!

Stainz

 

[ishootblanks]

What are those funny holes above the thumb-piece for the cylinder release??

 

[diamonback68]

The model 63 should have been a tapered barrel no lug 3" kit gun from day one, in my opinion.

But I like yours anyway.

 

[Revolver King]

New 63

Thanks for the pictures and the report. Mine came in today, but I can't pick it up until Sat. I hope mine is as good as yours.
PS, I listed my 242Ti in the classifieds today.

 

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

Hi Stainz
Great pictures and a good looking set of "wheels" you got there. Happy Thanksgiving!

I sent you a PM about the M629PC UDR in stock at Bud's

 

[gld1203]

99% great post. Last two words fail. RTR

 

[Stainz]

What are those funny holes above the thumb-piece for the cylinder release??

Duh... that's where you put the key in to wind it up. I thought everybody knew that!

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Stainz

 

[mag318]

Nice looking revolver, is the barrel sleeved?

 

[JohnnyK]

Have another range report for ya'll. Just picked mine up today and headed directly to the range with it.
The first thing I noticed about it was that it just "looked right" with the 3" barrel. Feels great in the hand with the "issued" grips.
The second thing I noticed was the a w s o m e single action pull. Measured between 3 and 3 1/4 pounds and crisp. I mean....it's approaching M-41 poundage! The double action actually measured 13 lbs. but feels much lighter. As it approached the "shelf" toward the end of the DA pull it's nice'n smooth.
One down side - the red hi-viz front sight as it settles in to the rear notch - only about 1/2 of the dot is visible once you have a good sight picture. I don't "hate" the dot, but most likely I'll replace it with a serrated ramp in the future.
Adjusting the rear sight (took about 3 clicks of windage and 2 clicks elevation to get it on) is typical of Smith's I've had in the past. The "clicks" are pretty indistinguishable and sometimes it just keeps going to the next click. As I recall from other Smiths I've had this might work itself in after a while.
This I noticed after my time at the range - the forcing cone is pretty rough with machining marks very evident. Even after about 100 rounds through it today unless my eyes deceive me I can just see a lead buildup just ahead of the forcing cone. Not bad though.
To the shooting! Keep in mind it was flippin' 33 deg. and gusty wind here in western Michigan today, but I was at an outdoor range that's bermed off on three sides.
I only had time to fire one group with each load and shot all eight for each group. Here goes:

Starting with the worst: CCI Std. vel. lead: 4 3/8", b u t 7 of the 8 went in to 2.5" and 4 of the 8 went in to 1".

CCI Mini Mags: 3 3/4"

Aguila 38 gr. copper hollow point: 2 7/8"

CCI Velocitor: (Believe it or not) 2 3/4" and a nicely rounded group.

Just for grins I shot one cylinder full (last time I do t h a t) of Aguila 60 gr. subsonic. Standing from ten yards the "group" was 3" high of the aiming point and all bullets hit the paper sideways. After those 8 rounds the cylinder didn't want to latch back in place easily and the cylinder was binding somewhat. After some more shooting the trouble subsided and she was back to normal. Never did figure out the problem.

As for grips, I have a pair of the old Uncle Mikes which are almost identical to the pair that comes on the gun - at least at first glance. The Uncle Mikes are definately a bit thicker and once on the gun make it more pointable with a few degrees less muzzle high attitude.
I also have a pair of what I believe are Badger, a nice chocolate brown striped wood with open backstrap and finger grooves in the front. They fit great and give the gun a totally different feel and make it much more compact. Hard to decide...but they a r e interchangable.
All in all..... love it!

 

[samwood]

Thanks for the encouraging reports. I received my 63 on Monday, but haven't had a chance(or sufficient motivation) to fire it yet. Hope to remedy that tomorrow. It was -10 degrees F last night and about 9 degrees today.

I also noticed that the DA trigger pull seems significantly improved relative to my other unmodified J frame 22's.

I replaced the rubber grips with the wooden grips that come with the Model 60 Pro. The revolver looks and feels great; just hope mine shoots as well as yours.

 

[noshow]

Thanks for the encouraging reports. I received my 63 on Monday, but haven't had a chance(or sufficient motivation) to fire it yet. Hope to remedy that tomorrow. It was -10 degrees F last night and about 9 degrees today.

I also noticed that the DA trigger pull seems significantly improved relative to my other unmodified J frame 22's.

I replaced the rubber grips with the wooden grips that come with the Model 60 Pro. The revolver looks and feels great; just hope mine shoots as well as yours.

Where can I get those Mod 60 Pro grips? I want them for my 3" Mod 650!

 

[samwood]

I ordered three sets from S&W about a year ago. I believe they charged me about $43 per set.

 

[Stainz]

Comparing the 5" 63, actually, a 63-4, to the new 3"-er, which is a 63-5, one has to wonder what the engineering change was. The 3"-er does have a taller and longer front sight base - and the red HiViz supplied looks like the same short height one I used on the 4" 617. The 5" 63 has a shorter, both in height and length, sight base. The .25" tall regular HiViz worked - it just overhangs slightly.

The S/N's are odd, too - the older one uses a DCN0XYZ number the new 3" uses a CPL7xyz number. The 5" has a 8/08 shot case, the 3" is 11-10-10. The grips are different - the screw is a straight blade on the 5" - a T10 on the 3". The 3" has a wider top fg - and molded S&W emblems in the softer stipling/checkering - the 5"-er's has neither - and was uncomfortable, thus the Hogue square butt conversions. The OEM's on the 3"-er are an improvement - and will stay until I can afford some decent wood ones.

Are the 60 Pro grips like sandpaper on the side, a la the 686SSR's?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stainz

 

[ab4ka]

That's some sweet stuff there!

 

[jeffrey]

Duh... that's where you put the key in to wind it up. I thought everybody knew that!

What a wonderful image!

I am interested to see that the new model 63s have shrouded ejector rods. It does look kind of odd on a kit gun. My beloved 4-inch 63-3 does not have one.

 

[Skyblazer]

Please share some comparisons between the 617 and the 63.
I'm relatively new to guns and need to decide between these two.
Purpose would be range practice and initial gun training for my 35 year old son. Probably 5" or 6" barrel.
Would either be a preferable training platform to transition .357 SW 627-5 revolver shooting only .38 ammo?

 

[Stainz]

The 617, as a K-frame, is still considerably smaller than the 627. Larger than the J-frame 63's, it is still a better choice as the grip/balance/lockwork are closer to that of the N-frame 627. Which 627-5 will you have?

Stainz

 

[samwood]

Stainz,

The 60 pro grips do look to me like a downsized version of the 686 SSR grips. But these feel good to me, not like sandpaper, and fit my small hand well (I've got them in my non typing hand now).

I also have a set of these grips on a older Model 60 with a full lugged 3 inch barrel; they feel fine with all loads I've tried. This revolver is a 38 special, not a 357 magnum; so that may make a difference.

 

[Skyblazer]

StainZ, thanks for your response, very helpful

I ordered the Performance Center 627-5 , product code 170210, .357 Magnum, 8 rounds, 5" barrel, Gold Bead front sight, rear adjustable, 9.5" length, 44 oz. Stainless Steel Matte Silver, $1375 retail paid about $925 delivered with insurance from Buds Gun Shop, Lexington Ky.

Plan to add Crimson Trace laser.

Have no plans to shoot .357 bullets. Will shoot .38 for target practice and home defense.

The gun is with my California FFL (another $75) until Dec. 3.

I will add the 617 .22LR for target practice and a 870 12 gauge for home defense. Had originally ordered the S&W 41 but decided to stick will revolvers for training continuity.

If I were doing it over I would order the Performance Center .357 Model M&P 8R so I could mount a front Surefire X300. Will probably add it anyway.

We have 30 day wait periods in CA between handgun purchases but effectively it takes longer.

 

[Stainz]

If you plan on shooting it a lot, the SS PC627 is a better choice than the Al/Sc alloy framed 327. I don't feel they are the long-life frames that the SS variants are. If you need the lighter weight, that's one thing. I sold my 5" JM PC627 V-Comp to fund a 2.5" 327NG snubby for home protection. I already had a new 2 5/8" PC627 UDR, 'Blood Work' remake, from 4/10 - and loved it. Another one was literally a couple bucks more than the shelf-sitter 327NG - and is moonclip-ready, the 327NG isn't - no brainer. In my case, there was a 10 oz weight difference - that R8 is 7.8 oz lighter than your 627 - not that much. Of course, the R8 has that rail under the barrel for a laser, rocket launcher, bayonet, etc. All 627/327's - heck, all K/L/N/X - frames of recent manufacture with adjustable rear sights - can fit a scope rail in place of the adjustable rear sight, so they all can mount a red dot or optical scope. You will be happy with that PC627!

Now - .38 ammo. GA Arms reloads a harder lead 158 gr LHPSWC in .38 Spcl +P - it chrono-ed within a few fps of the similar Remington R38S12 at the range where I shoot, in 2", 5", & 6" .38 & .357M's. I keep the softer Remingtons for snubbies & carry - practice with the GA Arms. I keep ~ 10 8 x .357M moonclips loaded for the two 2 5/8" PC627's & 4" 627 Pro. I also have the excellent 5 Star Firearms speedloader and 2 x 8 loading plate.

Stainz