Range Report, PC 627, 2 5/8, Ahrends and praise for two other MIM,IL friends.

[peppercorn]

This was my second outing with the 627 and it really has grown on me as a consequence.

I started the day with full house .357 mags, somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 rounds and moved on to .38 +P for another 150 rounds.
I put Ahrends grips on this as soon as it arrived as I have XL hands and found the factory grips way to small. The Ahrends are a nice compromise and easily conceal carry, even though I chose the round to square conversion.
I find that the N frame guns fit my hand just right and the extra weight makes for a more stable shooting hand.

The 627 represents one of four MIM, IL guns that I own and enjoy, the other three consisting of a 629, 29 Classic and a model 60.
Although I own, shoot and enjoy many of the early guns I haven't been able to knock these for any reason from my experience. Accuracy, timing, durability and reliability is 100%.


Now for the pictures.

29 Classic and 629

Thanks for looking............................

 

[WabbitSwayuh]

Nice...Both the shooting and the photos! Would sure love a 627 PC...

 

[turbo38gn]

Very nice!!.. I've had both the PC627 and the 629 in my XL paws 3 times in the last 4 days.... Been up to Smith and Wesson Retail Store 3 times since Monday... grrrr... I put 2 guns and an MP-15 lower receiver on layaway monday.. I wanted the 627 or 629 first.. couldn't pull the trigger.. You've pretty much convinced me. Troublemaker.. After the IDPA shoot ends sunday.. maybe Monday night I'll figure out a way to tap one.

 

[brucev]

Cool post and pictures.

 

[DCWilson]

Good shooting and great photos. I am a big fan of the PC 627 snub, and half by accident ended up with two of them. Most of my Smiths are either prewar or early postwar; there are a few that originated in the last 20 years, and of these recent ones the PC 627s are my favorites.

In the accounts of many and in my personal experience too, these are inherently accurate revolvers. My first time out, two cylinders full at 50 feet all landed inside a four-inch square on one of my targets, and nine of them landed within a two-inch circle. (148 grain wadcutter .38 Special match ammo.)

I don't have XL hands, but I have hands that aren't a good match with the standard S&W grips for these guns. Somewhere I have a set of Ahrends non-combat stocks, and I may give them a try the next time I have one of these guns at the range. Ultimately I will try to make my own custom stocks from some hardwood scraps I have lying around.

 

[peppercorn]

Thanks alot guys!

Very nice!!.. I've had both the PC627 and the 629 in my XL paws 3 times in the last 4 days.... Been up to Smith and Wesson Retail Store 3 times since Monday... grrrr... I put 2 guns and an MP-15 lower receiver on layaway monday.. I wanted the 627 or 629 first.. couldn't pull the trigger.. You've pretty much convinced me. Troublemaker.. After the IDPA shoot ends sunday.. maybe Monday night I'll figure out a way to tap one.

It sounds like it's time, both the 629 and the 627 shoot unbelievably well, I just hope the other half doesn't find out that I had anything to do with it.

Good shooting and great photos. I am a big fan of the PC 627 snub, and half by accident ended up with two of them. Most of my Smiths are either prewar or early postwar; there are a few that originated in the last 20 years, and of these recent ones the PC 627s are my favorites.

In the accounts of many and in my personal experience too, these are inherently accurate revolvers. My first time out, two cylinders full at 50 feet all landed inside a four-inch square on one of my targets, and nine of them landed within a two-inch circle. (148 grain wadcutter .38 Special match ammo.)

I don't have XL hands, but I have hands that aren't a good match with the standard S&W grips for these guns. Somewhere I have a set of Ahrends non-combat stocks, and I may give them a try the next time I have one of these guns at the range. Ultimately I will try to make my own custom stocks from some hardwood scraps I have lying around.

That kind of performance, out of the box, is why I now have four of the 'modern' guns. It is just really something to behold, on top of being very addictive.

.

 

[ladder13]

I was in a local gunshop today and thought I spotted a 627PC in the case, turned out to be a 657PC, 41 mag. Nice fit and finish on the gun. I don't need a 41 mag or I may have walked out with it.

 

[CWH44300]

Nice photos - I like the grips on the 629 , I bet they would look good on the 29. I agree on the out of box performance of the new era guns , I have 7 of the new style 44 maggies and I'll probably get kicked off the forum for saying this but they are far better shooters then my older guns both in accuracy and longevity(sorry but that's been my experience) - keep shooting them and keep having fun.

 

[XTrooper]

I was in a local gunshop today and thought I spotted a 627PC in the case, turned out to be a 657PC, 41 mag. Nice fit and finish on the gun. I don't need a 41 mag or I may have walked out with it.

I'm glad it wasn't me that saw that PC 657. Need it or not, I wouldn't have had the willpower to go home without it! I've always like the .41 Magnum cartridge, but don't presently own any .41 Mag revolvers and a 657 would have solved that problem nicely.

 

[XTrooper]

Nice photos - I like the grips on the 629 , I bet they would look good on the 29. I agree on the out of box performance of the new era guns , I have 7 of the new style 44 maggies and I'll probably get kicked off the forum for saying this but they are far better shooters then my older guns both in accuracy and longevity(sorry but that's been my experience) - keep shooting them and keep having fun.

This has been my experience, as well. Of the many revolvers I've owned over the years, my PC 627 is one of the very best I've experienced. It is exceptionally accurate and its trigger is just extraordinary; a first class revolver in every respect.

 

[Stainz]

It is with great sadness that I inform you, Mr. peppercorn, that your 2 5/8" PC627 UDR doesn't have obvious MIM parts. The hammer and trigger are flash chromed forged parts, and you can't chrome MIM parts. The hammer's face has machine/forged marks. A MIM hammer would be slick as a baby's behind. The trigger is solid and drilled for a piece of a roll pin as a trigger stop. MIM triggers are hollow backed - no trigger stop. Of course, it does have the IL! I know these things - I have two of them... and love them!!

Heck, most of my S&W revolvers have MIM and the IL - just not so much the PC627s.

Those square conversions look great - I tried my Ahrends retro targets - and liked them - but settled on the PC Shop walnut grips.

Stainz

 

[ladder13]

I'm glad it wasn't me that saw that PC 657. Need it or not, I wouldn't have had the willpower to go home without it! I've always like the .41 Magnum cartridge, but don't presently own any .41 Mag revolvers and a 657 would have solved that problem nicely.

Steve, it's at Collector Rifle and Ammo in Hopewell Junction NY 845-227-4100...... THERE, you have no excuse.

 

[turbo38gn]

There's always Smith and Wesson Retail Store.. they had 4 of them in the showcase yesterday along with one PC627 and one PC629... and if I can get there today, the 627 is going in the back room if it's still there...

They have the national IDPA match going on this week and yesterday was a zoo with shooters buying everything..

 

[peppercorn]

Nice photos - I like the grips on the 629 , I bet they would look good on the 29. I agree on the out of box performance of the new era guns , I have 7 of the new style 44 maggies and I'll probably get kicked off the forum for saying this but they are far better shooters then my older guns both in accuracy and longevity(sorry but that's been my experience) - keep shooting them and keep having fun.

Seven of the new 44s, wow, and I thought I was gluttonous. Which 7 do you have?
The grips on the 629 are Eagles, which are great, and I almost ordered another set for the 29 and would have had I not found the 'old' targets.
Also, speaking of 'accuracy and longevity' of the new guns I am going to start a new thread on the subject as it relates to my 29 Classic.
I took some macro shots of the cylinder notches on the 29 yesterday because after more than 250 rounds of 'Mags' the notches are showing almost NO Peening, none.
As a comparison, one of my 'old' 29s showed significant peening after the same usage.

It is with great sadness that I inform you, Mr. peppercorn, that your 2 5/8" PC627 UDR doesn't have obvious MIM parts. The hammer and trigger are flash chromed forged parts, and you can't chrome MIM parts. The hammer's face has machine/forged marks. A MIM hammer would be slick as a baby's behind. The trigger is solid and drilled for a piece of a roll pin as a trigger stop. MIM triggers are hollow backed - no trigger stop. Of course, it does have the IL! I know these things - I have two of them... and love them!!

Heck, most of my S&W revolvers have MIM and the IL - just not so much the PC627s.

Those square conversions look great - I tried my Ahrends retro targets - and liked them - but settled on the PC Shop walnut grips.

Stainz

Mr. Stainz,
Please take a second look at the sixth photo from the top, the one with the cylinder open and loaded, there you can see that the back of the trigger is indeed hollow. From your description it sounds like this is in fact an MIM part?

This has been my experience, as well. Of the many revolvers I've owned over the years, my PC 627 is one of the very best I've experienced. It is exceptionally accurate and its trigger is just extraordinary; a first class revolver in every respect.

I have to agree, I thought that the trigger, out of the box, felt as though it had been 'worked'.

Steve, it's at Collector Rifle and Ammo in Hopewell Junction NY 845-227-4100...... THERE, you have no excuse.

You guys are great, making sure no one misses a chance to acquire that 'necessary' next gun thereby making sure we are all in the doghouse together.

 

[ladder13]

There's always Smith and Wesson Retail Store.. they had 4 of them in the showcase yesterday along with one PC627 and one PC629... and WHEN I get there today, the 627 is going in the back room if it's still there...

They have the national IDPA match going on this week and yesterday was a zoo with shooters buying everything..

Fixed ya!

The 657PC was marked $899, is that good bad or eh?

 

[turbo38gn]

Fixed ya!

The 657PC was marked $899, is that good bad or eh?

S&W had a $944 tag on it I believe, less my 10% would make it........ about $860... I could have gotten 30% off MSRP on Monday when I bought 3 other guns on layaway... $750. would have been the number.. danggit... I guess my 386 Night Guard 7-shot will have to keep me happy until I can find a deal... similar gun

 

[XTrooper]

Steve, it's at Collector Rifle and Ammo in Hopewell Junction NY 845-227-4100...... THERE, you have no excuse.

You are what is known these days as an enabler!

 

[CWH44300]

Peppercorn - I have a pair of 329PD's , 3. 4" 629's , one 8.375" 629 classic and one 8.375" 629DX. I enjoy them all , thanks for a great thread

 

[ladder13]

You are what is known these days as an enabler!

Sorry Steve .................................................................................................................................

 

[Steve_NEPhila]

I really enjoy photos of dirty guns, especially when they are new dirty guns. There are plenty of MIM and IL bashers and I get the criticisms of the IL. A few of my revolvers have the IL in them, and a few had them removed (those tasked with serious business like carry duty).

Thanks for the gorgeous photos.