Ordered a NIB 327 TRR8, what can I expect?

[Co Th G]

I recently purchased two new "Performance Center" guns, a 625PC and a 627PC. Both had to immediately go back to S&W for repair as both had bent hammer pins, with the 625 being the most out of alignment.

The good news is that S&W quickly repaired both guns, but being "Performance Center" guns, there is no way they should have left the shop with the hammers go grossly mis-aligned and impacting the side of the frame, robbing the hammer of energy.

When I got the guns back, I sent them both to my gunsmith for hammer bobbing and competition action jobs. Both guns cylinders needed additional chamfering, as the stock chamfer is minimal and very roughly executed. The 625 needed it's chambers reamed.

Both guns are now excellent shooters and I fully expected them to need work to be true competition revolvers, but the problems of bent trigger pins are unacceptable, especially for the premium "Performance Center" guns go for.

 

[Brothernov]

Overall, I love my TRR8. However, when not using moon clips I don't like how the bullets "rattle" in the cylinder chamber There's roughly 1/8" of slop for chambered rounds rattle back out of the cylinder at the 3:00 and 9:00 positions. I also had about a 5% occurance of strikes too light to fire a round.

That said, I don't have a single issue when using moon clips.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Except for looks,,, The only place the bullets need to be "tight" is under the firing pin.
Room around the cylinder is not a bad thing as it allows dirt to fall out.
The light strikes could be the hammer spring tention screw ,
They will back out or some use it to " tune the action".

 

[KertP]

Light strikes

My new TRR8 is headed back to S&W for correction of a problem of light strike misfires in DA shooting.
Wonder if the fix will be to just swap in a heavy mainspring in place of the Wolff unit it was issued with.

Since I am the second owner of my TRR8, I don't get the free warranty service from S&W, but mine also suffered from light strikes when I first got it. I did some measuring of headspace and barrel-cylinder gap and found mine to have 5 thousandths too much headspace, and almost no barrel-cylinder gap. I moved the cylinder back 6 thousandths and that took care of the problem, although I still want to set the barrel back about 3 thousandths. I called S&W and they will not sell the tool to remove the barrel nut, so will have to fabricate one from a socket when I get the time to do so. Just for good measure, I installed an extended firing pin from Cylinder & Slide. I reload with CCI primers and do not have problems with light strikes anymore. Love the gun. It is the most comfortable .357 Mag to shoot that I have ever owned.

 

[Florida J Frame]

The barrel nut tool is available after market. Brownell's part # 100-006-343AG. Price was $33.99 two years ago.

 

[Charles Grimm]

An extremely long wait! I ordered mine in December and I still haven't heard a thing. I e-mailed S&W months ago, they said I'm on the list. I'm actually waiting for a S&W M&P R8. I wonder if they are still making them?

 

[POWinCA]

Expect the finest revolver you will ever own.

Lightweight, accurate, bad ***.

I havent had any FTF like others. First, tighten the mainspring screw. If that doesnt fix a problem, put in a full power mainspring and or an extended firing pin. My 629 had FTF after I lightened it. Remember, a revolver is a precision instrument with mechanical forces in balance. Lightening the trigger is going sacrifice mainspring power. You have to tune it.

But the TRRP is the only revolver I havent touched. I agree the grips could be improved. I dont like the teardrop hammer, so I switched to a square hammer.

The TRR8 is my nightstand gun.

I found a piece of brass inside my barrel once. The jacket probably separated. Dont put cheap ammo in a 1200 gun.

 

[POWinCA]

Add me to the TRR8 crowd.
Have a new one on the way, 1149 shipped, which was the best I could find.
As its an N-Frame, I'm hoping that they haven't downsized the grip frame to K size like was done on the X-Frames.
Plan to ditch the Hogue and substitute the new 629 grip, much more to my liking.

I thought the new 629 grip was made by Hogue.

Yeah, I've been looking for that grip too for both my TRR8 and my 629.

 

[bbqbob51]

I have been lusting after an 8 shot Smith for awhile now. This past spring I handled one in a gun shop. It was a used 327 with a scandium allow frame and looks very much like the R8 except it has a 2" barrel. He had a $850 price tag on it which seemed pretty good to me since the new retail is currently over $1300. I could see no sign of wear on it and seriously considered it, probably could have talked him down at least $50.
I would have jumped all over it if it had a longer barrel and I still wonder if I should have bought it as I just don't see any 8 shot Smiths be it 627, R8, 327, whatever. Here is it is:
Product: Model 327

 

[Box20022]

I have been lusting after an 8 shot Smith for awhile now. This past spring I handled one in a gun shop. It was a used 327 with a scandium allow frame and looks very much like the R8 except it has a 2" barrel. He had a $850 price tag on it which seemed pretty good to me since the new retail is currently over $1300. I could see no sign of wear on it and seriously considered it, probably could have talked him down at least $50.
I would have jumped all over it if it had a longer barrel and I still wonder if I should have bought it as I just don't see any 8 shot Smiths be it 627, R8, 327, whatever. Here is it is:
Product: Model 327

For the condition and price you should have jumped on it ! I was lucky to find one brand new online for $998.00 out the door and it shoots like a dream and believe it or not is a good concealed carry gun. Although I primarily use mine for home defense. The selling point to me on the 327PC is the ultralight 21 ounce weight , 8 shots of .357, and 2 inch barrel. The R8 is not of any use to me for my specific needs conceal carry & home defense , although I am sure it is a fine revolver, when I do carry the 327PC on occasions I am not even aware it is there. The only minor criticisms is the 2 moon clips they include which although very strong are not easy to load because they do not align well at all if you speed load. The wood factory grips are fine , to fine for routine carry and use , I replaced them with Packmayr black rubber presentation grips. Well good luck on whatever you choose.

 

[tomadv]

I shot four Steel Challenge stages last Tuesday and the gun was awesome. All double action. I got used to the heavier trigger pretty quick and no light primer strikes. A lighter trigger would be nice.
If I wanted to lighten the trigger what are the options? Lighter main spring and use Federal primers? Could the strain screw be adjusted to strike a balance between trigger pull and reliability? This is a game gun not a SD gun.

 

[bbqbob51]

For the condition and price you should have jumped on it ! I was lucky to find one brand new online for $998.00 out the door and it shoots like a dream and believe it or not is a good concealed carry gun. Although I primarily use mine for home defense. The selling point to me on the 327PC is the ultralight 21 ounce weight , 8 shots of .357, and 2 inch barrel. The R8 is not of any use to me for my specific needs conceal carry & home defense , although I am sure it is a fine revolver, when I do carry the 327PC on occasions I am not even aware it is there. The only minor criticisms is the 2 moon clips they include which although very strong are not easy to load because they do not align well at all if you speed load. The wood factory grips are fine , to fine for routine carry and use , I replaced them with Packmayr black rubber presentation grips. Well good luck on whatever you choose.

Box20022, Yeah, since that day I have had the feeling I had made a mistake. I had $800 cash on me and could have worked out something. The problem is I had never shot one and I didn't see it a as a conceal carry gun as I already have my carry gun. The dealer didn't have it too long; I saw him at a gun show the following weekend and I inquired about the gun and he said he sold it a few days earlier. Oh well.....

 

[Firedog86]

Was just reading about this article. I have had just about every revolver that smith made up until about 1990. The only thing I have left is K-14 (38 spcl. perfect condition) and a 1076 (slipped in a semi, I think one of the best rounds made). IMO, why? should you have to send back a 4 digit figure weapon to have anything fixed? Back 30 or 40 years, S&W was the top dog (except for my 4" Python). I just do not get it, why any weapon (except the old "Sat. night specials") should have to be sent back for years. (average person does not fire over 3 or 4 hundred rounds thru a handgun over its entire life span) I've got stuff that has been sitting around for over 10 yrs. that have not even had 20 rounds thru it (my own fault). Bottom line, S&W needs to get back to their old ways, and be the best once again. Sorry for the rant here, but I feel better now.

 

[Charliegun]

Previous post stated barrel nut tool was available from Brownells but the part number listed does not show up on Brownells website. I would really appreciate any help in finding a barrel nut wrench / tool

 

[tomrkba]

Mailed off the $$$ today for a NIB 327 TRR8.
$1200.00 shipped, best price I could find.
Not all that easy to come by right now.
Intended use will be a Range / Home gun.
Have not had the pleasure of trying one out.
What can I expect? My 1991 8 3/8" 629 Classic has been my benchmark for triggers (since 1991). Have put thousands of rounds through it.
Should this be a big step up from the old 629?

My TRR8 has had no trouble with light primer strikes. Bummer!

Post a video of it misfiring and send the link to S&W Customer Service. I bet you'll get a prepaid shipping box ASAP

What can I expect?

I will tell you that my TRR8 is excellent. It is so good that I took it to a defensive handgun course. Eight rounds of 357 Magnum is quite nice. My gun is very, very accurate and I had no trouble with any of the drills.

I do use Ranch Products moon clips. However, since speed loaders are available from 5Star and Thunder Ranch, I tend to prefer those to moon clips.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Previous post stated barrel nut tool was available from Brownells but the part number listed does not show up on Brownells website. I would really appreciate any help in finding a barrel nut wrench / tool

That was about two years ago. They may have dropped it. Try giving Brownells a call. Maybe they can track one down for you.

 

[Charliegun]

I will give that a try,thanks

 

[Reaper_6A]

I have an R8 that misfired 80% of ammunition fired through it right out of the box. I sent it back to S&W, told them for $1250 they can fix it. I received it it has been a rack driver ever since.

 

[damudbug]

Smith & Wesson Revolvers

I am an old, old retired cop from KC,MO. and we carried the old Model 10 and 15's when I was still there. After I retired they changed to the 9mm semi auto's. But I always remember what our range master used to say. If you practice and are proficient, you should be able to take down the threat with the six round in your sidearm. Well, I have mellowed. It took 10 years for that. But you know today I still have my Service revolver Model 15-3. I also have a 64 and a 10. I admit I tried the semi-auto's but it only took one time for a jam and I said nope. I will stay with my 10 for my conceal and carry. I don't like the small J frame snub nose revolvers. I like that feel of heavy steel in my hand. However this new 8 round revolver, I know I will buy it simply because it is a S & W. "Best made revolvers/handguns in the world.

 

[MCM]

Got mine back yesterday. They replaced the firing pin with a longer one. Same great trigger. (That was my worry and mentioned it to them in my letter) Off to the range to check it out! This is really a great revolver. Too bad the short firing pins are marring its reputation. To my its probably the nicest wheel gun S&W has ever built.

Just got back from the range........ Mines going back to S&W for the same light strike issue. Both factory ammo and reloads....
Both single and D/A. Moon clips might help, but there is no excuse for it. Should go bang every time. This trip I probably had 20-30 / 150 rounds. Probably a short firing pin.
Didn't try moon clips, that could just mask the problem.
Rats............

Quote:
Originally Posted by TAROMAN View Post
My new TRR8 is headed back to S&W for correction of a problem of light strike misfires in DA shooting.
Wonder if the fix will be to just swap in a heavy mainspring in place of the Wolff unit it was issued with.

I had that problem and they replaced the firing pin and strain screw.

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