R8

[Buckingham]

Anybody else out there with an R8? It was hard to find and expensive but I never understood before I got it what people were talking about "perfect balance". It feels like an extension of my hand. Unfortunately, I equipped it (it comes with Piccatiny rails) with a light/laser combo that messes up that balanced feeling. I'm thinking of mounting the light/laser on a FNX 45 I have but I just like to have the revolver right there and ready for home defense. In my opinion, autos screw up more often than revolvers.

 

[colt_saa]

Anybody else out there with an R8? It was hard to find and expensive but I never understood before I got it what people were talking about "perfect balance". It feels like an extension of my hand. Unfortunately, I equipped it (it comes with Piccatiny rails) with a light/laser combo that messes up that balanced feeling. I'm thinking of mounting the light/laser on a FNX 45 I have but I just like to have the revolver right there and ready for home defense. In my opinion, autos screw up more often than revolvers.

Welcome to the Forum

The M&P R8 is a very fine revolver as well as one of the most accurate 357 Magnums ever produced by S&W.

I own the 327 TRR8 which is basicly the same firearm but the lower equipment rail is removable just like the top one.

Most TRR8s are all black like your R8, mine is what I tend to call a semi pinto though some folks refer to it as a two tone. My TRR8 has polished barrel flats and flash chromed hammer, trigger and cylinder release to a littl contrast. Mine is also wearing older factory combat grips.

 

[bigtubby]

Yup, I bought mine because I had some extra cash and it was available wasn't looking for one. It came lightly used and has FO sights has grown to be a favorite of mine and makes every range trip.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I got a TRR8 for an Ohio deer gun.
Mounted rails , and a Zeiss red dot [used] quick on/off sight.
DAD decided he needed a lighter deer gun and "borrowed " it...
He got him a deer in his 80th year with it,,, 35yds no less!

 

[davetnitro]

i have an R8, it is an excellent shooter, i have a vortex red dot that i use with it...

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

R8 here,purchased 2 days after Christmas. Several thousand rounds down range and it along with my 929 are my most used range toys.

 

[KertP]

I bought my TRR8 used. Previous owner managed to shoot it out of headspace. S&W wanted an arm and a leg to fix it, so I did it myself. I love the gun. Never thought I would enjoy a .357 Mag as much as I do the TRR8. It really does have perfect balance, and is the easiest recoiling .357 I've ever shot. Just for fun, I equipped it with a red dot to shoot bullseye competition. Ended up not shooting in the league, although I did manage some decent groups at 25 yards offhand - i.e. I could keep them all in the black on a NRA 25 yard target, shooting timed fire. I thought about using it for deer, but already have a Dan Wesson Model 744 .44 Mag that I use as my deer gun, and it really doesn't get any better than the Dan Wesson.

 

[Dain Bramage]

Interesting claim in the Nutnfancy TRR8/R8 video review. At about 5:30, he lists the differences between the two models, and says the R8 has polygonal rifling and the TRR8 has standard rifling.

The S&W site doesn't mention rifling, but they do link the Nutnfancy review at the TRR8/R8 pages. Can any R8 owners refute the claim? Since I reload mostly lead, it would make a difference in which model I would seek.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Pretty sure both guns currently have the same standard rifling.

 

[Macinaw]

I shoot Steel Challenge with 120gn LNFP without any leading. Accuracy is spot on. It is the R8 version.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Hell I like the R8 so much I am now looking for a 327 Night Guard to go along with it.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Pretty sure both guns currently have the same standard rifling.

I looked at a TRR8 when I got my 627PC 8-Times a few weeks ago & it was hard to tell, because the rifling was dirty, but from what I've noticed all the two-piece barrels seem to be ECM? That's how my Night Guards are anyway, as is my PC460 Carry. The 8-Times has the old style (broached?) rifling.

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[HOUSTON RICK]

Very Nice and Desirable Revolver. I am jealous. Thank for the pics everyone.

 

[Mr.Lee]

I have read the same thing about the R8's rifling being different and only firing certain bullets. I have a TRR8 so I did not pay that much attention.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

I looked at a TRR8 when I got my 627PC 8-Times a few weeks ago & it was hard to tell, because the rifling was dirty, but from what I've noticed all the two-piece barrels seem to be ECM? That's how my Night Guards are anyway, as is my PC460 Carry. The 8-Times has the old style (broached?) rifling.

.

I thought he might have been asking about whether one of the 2 might have a polygon barrel. Some have mentioned this in the past but nobody has said for sure if they did or not.

 

[Dain Bramage]

Concerning the rifling issue, here's the reply straight from S&W:

"Dear Customer,
We do not use polygonal rifling on either of those revolvers.
Smith&Wesson values its customers and we are happy to have served you today. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further assistance.
Regards, Ashley"

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

S&W, unfortunately, didn't provide any details to you on what type of barrel each actually has though. The ECM barrels are not polygonal but they are different from their traditionally cut barrels.

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[Brothernov]

The TRR8's my favorite shooter. Love the Culina grips, but I'm considering moving them to a different gun, not sure they look right on this one.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Make sure you test your TRR8 on both single and double action. Some were found to light strike on double action only. A quick trip to the mother ship fixed the problem with mine. They replaced the firing pin and strain screw.

 

[Sartori42]

Anybody else out there with an R8? It was hard to find and expensive but I never understood before I got it what people were talking about "perfect balance". It feels like an extension of my hand. Unfortunately, I equipped it (it comes with Piccatiny rails) with a light/laser combo that messes up that balanced feeling. I'm thinking of mounting the light/laser on a FNX 45 I have but I just like to have the revolver right there and ready for home defense. In my opinion, autos screw up more often than revolvers.

I have an R8 and also enjoy its balance. To make sure I didn't unbalance it with a laser/light combo, I mounted the smallest laser I could find. It's kinda my daytime HD gun and I'm happy with the arrangement. I have an auto with laser/light combo for dark encounters (nightstand gun).