Next Revolver Purchase?

[sailor723]

I'm not sure which forum to post this in as it covers both old and new guns as well as Smith and Wesson products and other manufacturers but here goes...

I seem to have developed quite an affinity for revolvers lately. So far the collection is very small ...from S&W a 586 no dash and a K-38 target masterpiece as well as a just acquired 4.5" Alfa Proj 9mm. I put 3 guns up for sale a couple of weeks ago and have sold two so I'm starting to think about buying another wheelgun. By nature I tend to like older things but new is certainly on the table. Right now the options under under consideration are...

New

1. A Smith and Wesson 686 Plus Pro Series for $1165 GST in

2. A Smith and Wesson Classic Series Model 27 for $1059 (USD so about 1350-ish CAD) + GST

3. A Smith 627 PC for 1485 GST in.........probably getting a little rich.

Used

1. Wait for a nice early Model 27 to come along. Cost unknown but I'm guessing $1,000-1200+ depending on condition and whether or not it has tools/presentation case etc. Rusty Wood Trading just sold a fairly decent looking one with some wear very quickly that was listed at $950

2. A Colt Trooper III that I've seen for $865. It's not perfect in terms of finish but would be a considerably cheaper option than the others....... The poor man's Python??

3. Dan Wesson 15-2 I've seen these at 550-650 ask here. Once again a cheaper option and a gun with an interesting story that i don't have.

Thoughts?...Opinions?....other suggestions of guns I've missed ?

Note**

I am in Canada so prices/tax references etc are all for the Canadian market.

Also, Handguns with a barrel length of less than 106mm (about 4.2") are prohibited so in terms of what is available think 5" and up.

 

[colt_saa]

Not taking cost into the picture since to me it does not mater. If you like the more expensive firearm you just save a bit longer or have it on Lay-A-Way a bit longer. 75% of the firearms I bought in my younger years were done on Lay-A-Way. Over the 10-20-30 or more years we keep a firearm, a few hundred dollars is no great big deal. $300 over 10 years is $2 per week.

I have to say I would go for the model 27/327/627s.

The current Classic 6 shot model 27s are well made. Sorry that the only one I own is a 4" and I know it is forbidden there, but here is the pic. The current nickel is very nice and the extra side plate screw adds a kind of nostalgic look.

As to the 627PC offerings, I will guess you are looking at the 5"

These are superb firearms. Built on different CNC mills than production guns, to tighter tolerances with tooling that is changed more frequently to keep those tolerances tight. The features of a PC revolver are different and sometimes unique among S&W products.

One of my favorites is a 6" Heavy Hunter 627 that was made in very small numbers. The HEAVY barrel keeps the muzzle on target even with the heaviest recoiling loads.

If you like to play the shooting games you could look at a 327 TRR8. This 5" revolver has a Scandium frame that drops it's weight almost to a 4" model 19/66 but retains the 8 shot capacity of the N-frames.

BTW, a Trooper MK-III is not a Poor Man's Python . . . . That was the Trooper that shared the Python lockwork. When Colt went to the MK-III the trooper was changed to a coil spring based action that no longer resembles the Python in any manner.

 

[sailor723]

Great information....thanks for the reply

 

[Macinaw]

Not taking cost into the picture since to me it does not mater. If you like the more expensive firearm you just save a bit longer or have it on Lay-A-Way a bit longer. 75% of the firearms I bought in my younger years were done on Lay-A-Way. Over the 10-20-30 or more years we keep a firearm, a few hundred dollars is no great big deal. $300 over 10 years is $2 per week.

I have to say I would go for the model 27/327/627s.

The current Classic 6 shot model 27s are well made. Sorry that the only one I own is a 4" and I know it is forbidden there, but here is the pic. The current nickel is very nice and the extra side plate screw adds a kind of nostalgic look.

As to the 627PC offerings, I will guess you are looking at the 5"

These are superb firearms. Built on different CNC mills than production guns, to tighter tolerances with tooling that is changed more frequently to keep those tolerances tight. The features of a PC revolver are different and sometimes unique among S&W products.

One of my favorites is a 6" Heavy Hunter 627 that was made in very small numbers. The HEAVY barrel keeps the muzzle on target even with the heaviest recoiling loads.

If you like to play the shooting games you could look at a 327 TRR8. This 5" revolver has a Scandium frame that drops it's weight almost to a 4" model 19/66 but retains the 8 shot capacity of the N-frames.

BTW, a Trooper MK-III is not a Poor Man's Python . . . . That was the Trooper that shared the Python lockwork. When Colt went to the MK-III the trooper was changed to a coil spring based action that no longer resembles the Python in any manner.

Hoping not to totally hijack the thread:

How it the Trooper MK-III coil spring mainspring in longevity as compared to the Python V type spring. What is more robust?

 

[W.E.G.]

Your Smith and Wesson revolver must be a .44 Magnum.

Quit making excuses and under-compensating.

Get with the program.

 

[serger]

Get the 629 Canadian that Wild West has:

Smith & Wesson 629 Canadian 4.25" .44Mag

Or if it has to be a 357 then I'd go with one of their Ruger GP100's. Those guns you can firewall with reloads and You'll NEVER wear them out.

But then again, Frontier Firearms has a Nice 686, and the price is right:

http://frontierfirearms.ca/firearms/handguns/smith-wesson-686-107mm-barrel-357-mag.html

 

[Road_Clam]

What to buy ?? You owe it to yourself to think impractically and stupid...



A 12" bbl 460XVR with a bipod about fits that description !

 

[silentflyer]

Don't discount the Dan Wesson, a lot of gun for the money and usually the most accurate of all the wheel guns i have ever owned or shot.
Try to buy one of the guns made in Monson Mass, they are usually the best made ones. Haven't seen one of the new CZ DW 715's but CZ has a good reputation for quality firearms.

 

[BarnStorm]

I like option #3. I'm a Dan Wesson fan. Here's my 357 and my 44.

 

[Herknav]

Of the choices listed, I'm in the "wait for a 27" camp. You already have a .357, so you can wait. Plus, you said you like old stuff.

Having said that, I don't think I've ever heard a cross word about a DW revolver. I've never shot one, though. The one PC I've shot was amazing.

Good luck!

 

[BigBill]

No k22 yet? After that it's the s&w n frames.

Nickel finish rocks........

 

[mogwan]

Sailor,
What kind of shooting do you do? Do you reload? I have seven S&W's that range from the practical (4" Mod. 617, Mod 18) to the less practical (2.5" 686 Snubby) to the collectable (Mod. 27 3.5".)

For larger bore, you can't beat a 686; but you mentioned you already owned a 586..

If ammo cost is a concern and you like to shoot a lot, look for a nice (non-reissue) 6" Mod. 17 .22lr, or a 6" Mod. 617 .22lr Stainless. The K Frame size is hefty and a K frame .22lr will weigh a few grams more than a 38/357 K Frame.

How about a non-lock Model 15 or Mod 19?

A very nice and interesting gun is the S&W model 627 Model of 1989- the Stainless Steel version of the Mod. 27 that was made on the 'old' equipment, as the 'repro' Mod 27's are a bit different to the originals. And the 627 SS will only increase in value as production was limited.

If you want to venture outside of the more traditional models the S&W Performance Center made & makes some very attractive models.

Me, i'm more a purist who prefers an older, non-lock gun in excellent condition; for a similar price to a current production S&W with the lock hole.

I've never been a fan of Dan Wessons, I sold my Colts cause parts were impossible to find, and once you're hooked on S&W's you will sell your Ajax, etc.

 

[shocker]

Either the new 66 or 69. Both have 110 mm barrels so legal in Canada.

 

[sailor723]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I don't reload so .44 is a little too pricey in terms of feeding it.

I'm interested in the Dan Wesson 15-2 but wonder if it's a little too close to the 586 I already have.

I'm thinking it's coming down to either waiting for a decent 27 to come along (scarce item in a thin market up here) or go with one of the new options. Although, I'm not really a fan of the matte SS finish/black rubber grip look of most of the new guns.

 

[Nlmadog]

I am a S & W Nframe collector, currently the stable only has 29-2,27-2 & 25-5. My lastest addition is 351PD in 22 mag. Very cool
I collect snakes and I agree a Trooper, not even a Mark V is a poor man's Python. I think a Trooper is based on the Cobra frame. You can google Colt and get a full history of the origin each Colt model.

 

[zelda]

l almost bought this one. But have decided on a 986...

Smith & Wesson 627 Pro series 8 shot 357 178014 : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

 

[rwsmith]

Well, you already HAVE.....

Well, you already HAVE a 586 or I would say get the 686 hands down. Mine is a 6" but is a six shooter. You can get good used ones for a lot less than a new one.

Since you have that covered, I might get an N frame but I lean toward the smaller calibers for economy, even though I reload. If I got a big caliber it just wouldn't get shot that much.

I wouldn't argue with a Dan Wesson.

Colts are cool but they cost too much. That cuts me out right there.

 

[muddocktor]

Since I am in the process of collecting all barrel lengths of Model 27 pistols, I guess I am a little (or more than a little) prejudiced on which way for you to go. I would suggest a nice 27-2 (or earlier), as I find that the P&R N frame 357's just look much better than the newer models without the recessed cylinder. I can live without the pinned barrel, but the larger gap between cylinder and recoil shield doesn't look as good. I'm presently trying to acquire a nickel 27-2 with a 3 1/2" barrel, to go along with my 4 and 5" 27-2 nickel guns. I also have a 5" 27-3 and a 6 1/2" 27-5 in blue. And strangely enough, the 27-5 actually does have a recessed cylinder; S&W must have found a stash of them for that series of revolvers when they did the "12 Revolvers" series around 1990.