S&W 327 PC 2"

[jp0319]

Hi, I am looking at getting a S&W 327 Performance Center 2" revolver. I found this in the smith catalog and became very interested in it. The issue is that I cannot find much info or many real reviews of this pistol. It looks perfect for my purposes: Winter Carry, and general home defense.

I only found one thread on here which talked about it and it was only one page. I have found little to nothing else on the web about it at all.

Does anyone have any experience with this revolver, any wisdon or reviews, any pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
JP

 

[47D]

Hi, I am looking at getting a S&W 327 Performance Center 2" revolver. I found this in the smith catalog and became very interested in it. The issue is that I cannot find much info or many real reviews of this pistol. It looks perfect for my purposes: Winter Carry, and general home defense.

I only found one thread on here which talked about it and it was only one page. I have found little to nothing else on the web about it at all.

Does anyone have any experience with this revolver, any wisdon or reviews, any pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
JP

If you are referring to the 2 5/8" barrel 8 shot 627 PC model, there are many fans of it here. It's also known as the UDR (ultimate defense revolver) or the 627 Bloodwork (for it's use in a Clint Eastwood movie by the same name). Here's a thread with a number of great pictures and good info: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/193717-ordered-627-neo-blood-work-today.html

ETA: I should read more carefully - you were asking about a 327 not a 627. The 327 will obviously be much lighter than the 627, with a corresponding increase in felt recoil.

 

[s&wchad]

I haven’t shot my 327Sc a lot, but I have shot it. It’s much more manageable with magnum loads than a 340PD, but it’s substantially larger too. The titanium cylinder requires special precautions when cleaning (nothing abrasive) and the alloy frame makes use of a flame shield to prevent topstrap cutting. The shield may need replacing if you shoot a lot of magnum loads, but the gun’s covered under the lifetime service policy. I changed out the grips on mine to something shorter, the older factory grips are shown in the last photo.

If you want one, I suggest watching the auction sites. Excellent used examples seem to sell for between $700-$800.

 

[jp0319]

Thanks guys, I just confirmed with my dealer that he has one on the way for me and I send him a check for a down payment. Now I just have to look for a holster.

s&wchad, how is the DA trigger pull? Would it benefit going back to the performance center for the master revolver action package? I plan on using this as DAO and probibly having the happer bobbed.

JP

 

[s&wchad]

s&wchad, how is the DA trigger pull?

Wonderful, just as is! You will notice a distinct "ping" sound when dryfiring.

 

[HiVel1]

[I put some CT grips-on mine-this could be the ultimate snubby-light wt., and it shoots 8 times! You will like it.

 

[jp0319]

Wonderful, just as is! You will notice a distinct "ping" sound when dryfiring.

Thats good to know, maybe I can save some money for once lol. I'm hoping mine comes with the original Ahrends grips and not the newer stippled ones with the S&W logo I have seen. If not I guess I'll have to order some.

What holsters do you guys use to carry this chunky little guy? I've been looking at a Kramer Horsehide Pancake, or Cross draw. There don't appear to be to many holster choices for this particular wheel gun.

JP

 

[MTKTM]

Thats good to know, maybe I can save some money for once lol. I'm hoping mine comes with the original Ahrends grips and not the newer stippled ones with the S&W logo I have seen. If not I guess I'll have to order some.

What holsters do you guys use to carry this chunky little guy? I've been looking at a Kramer Horsehide Pancake, or Cross draw. There don't appear to be to many holster choices for this particular wheel gun.

JP

I bought one roughly 5 years ago. I've shot it quite a bit, it's great. Mine has a sort of octagonal barrel rather than conventional rifling, ala Glock. Still, it shoots quite well, is very easy to handle even with full mag loads, and a regular pussycat with 38s.

I'm not 100% positive about this, but think mine came with a special holster. It is a DeSantis strong-side belt holster, light brown in color, fits the gun perfectly. It has the PerformanceCenter logo impressed inside the trigger-guard cover portion. I might be mistaken, though, I am trying hard to remember whether I ordered that from S&W after getting the gun, or if it came with it......but am thinking the latter. Anyway, I'd wait to buy a holster until you get the gun, partly to see whether you get one with it and can save yourself the trouble and expense of ordering one, and, even if it does not, I like to get a gun, hold it in my hand, get a "feel" for it, and only THEN decide what sort of holster I want. As you have observed, this might be a tough one to find, although a custom shop can certainly help you out.

Enjoy the 327PC, it's a great gun.

 

[jp0319]

I have read some conflicting reports as to the ease of using .357 mag ammo in this pistol. How does it or better yet how do "you" handle full power .357 in this? I am thinking of stoking it with Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP +P. But if it handles fiull power .357 I may go that way instead.

JP

 

[MTKTM]

I have read some conflicting reports as to the ease of using .357 mag ammo in this pistol. How does it or better yet how do "you" handle full power .357 in this? I am thinking of stoking it with Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP +P. But if it handles fiull power .357 I may go that way instead.

JP

To be perfectly honest, I've fired more 38 (or 38 equivalent handloads in 357 brass) than I have full-charge 357. I find the gun not all that bad to shoot with 357, but there can be no doubt about what is happening when it goes off. It kicks and jumps some. Nothing like full charge 357s, or even +P 38s in an unobtainium J-frame like the 340PD. I guess I'd say that shooting it with 357s is comparable to shooting a 4" 629 with full 44 Magnum loads......at least that's my admittedly very subjective impression.

 

[jessegpresley]

Bell Charter Oak makes holsters for this specific gun, and I believe they're a forum sponsor, as well.

I love this gun, want to get one. The recoil has been scaring me off, though.

I see a lot of used ones on Gunbroker. Buds price on them fluctuates. When it's below $1k is when they get my attention.

 

[MTKTM]

I love this gun, want to get one. The recoil has been scaring me off, though.
.

Recoil, or how we "feel" it, tends to be pretty subjective and individual. I was trying to think of how to fashion a comparison......if you've ever shot a 29 or 629 in 4" persuasion with full 44 Mag loads, you'd find that the 327 kicked less than that with full 357 Mag loads. You definitely feel it, it snaps back a bit, but I'd compare it more to shooting a 6" 29 in terms of the recoil impulse.

I have a Ruger SP101, a full steel but small (bigger than a J-frame, smaller then a K) five shot 357. It's heavier than the 327 but smaller. I find the 327 more pleasant to shoot than the SP, probably because of the size and shape of the grip. I'm using the OEM grips on my 327.

 

[dan-g]

I really like mine. its the perfect size for Iwb carry and I will second the simply rugged holsters, there fantastic. As far as really increasing your reload speed buy some steel oversize Hearth Co moon clips and put some snap caps in a few sets to practice. For the really deal I use Speer 125gr gold dots and they fit very snug with hearth-co clips. Also pick up a cylinder and slide oversize firing pin it will eliminate any FTF that might come your way. Its a great gun for a bigger guy as long as you dont have love handles because then IWB it would protrude ridiculously. Check out the leather moon clip holders by that run the belt through the center of the moon clip and buy a demooning tool.

Only other suggestion is to get some patch mar decelerators like the ones on the night guard so you can shoot the **** out of it. If you like wood my favorite is the uncle mikes pictured but they are a bit stingy if you practice your rapid 3 cylinders full drill with them, with hot 38's there perfect for a good long session.

 

[jessegpresley]

Such a good lookin' gun. I love stub noses;-)

 

[Stainz]

I have two of the 2 5/8" PC627 UDR's. The Performance Center N-frame grips, SKU #414170000 ~$50 + s/h from S&W Accessories, on the right hand UDR below, were a great handling improvement over the poorly fitted Eagle boot grips that came stock on the UDR. Heck, even the Ahrends rounded/no f/g cocobolo stocks were an improvement. I did get a second set of the PC grips - both are similarly gripped now.

Why two UDR's? I knew of the 2" PC327 - but no one had one just over a year ago - plus, it listed for more $. I sold 'an old friend' to buy a 327NG for a bedside gun... but switched to a second UDR for less than the cost of a McD's 'Happy Meal' more... the 327NG isn't moonclip ready - a deal killer for me. The PC327, PC627's, and 627 Pro are moonclip ready.

As to weight - the UDR does weigh 40+% more than the PC327 - great for recoil control - but more to tote. Recoil isn't a problem here - I reload, so my .357 Magnum loads are .38-ish level loads, anyhow. The hottest ammo I shoot is my PD preference - Remington R38S12 158gr LHPSWC +P's. My 3" 60 Pro is a little lighter than the 2" PC327 - and those +P's are 'all day shooters' in it - enough bump to know the revolver discharges, of course. I keep ~ a dozen moonclips so loaded. I have never bought - or loaded - real .357 Magnum loads. I do have real commercial .44 Magnums available, found one day in the range's garbage can - each box containing 44 rounds, should I get attacked by big bears - but even Birmingham's 'Jimmy Morgan Zoo' doesn't have bears any more, so the likelihood of seeing one anywhere - even in the wilds - here in central Alabama is nil.

Recoil is subjective... and I won't 'subject' myself to much more of it in the future - CTS problems in my wrists. I did launch over a thousand real .454 Casulls from my SRH - but I traded that away - and my Ruger #1H in .458 Lott - nearly seven years ago. The 'Governor' is the hottest recoil producer I've purchased in years - and it sports a .500 Magnum Hogue grip!

Stainz

 

[jp0319]

Thanks guys, I'm thinking of sending it off to superior performance to slick up the DAO trigger even more and bob the hammer so it will be DAO as a defensive revolver I see no reason to shoot it single action. Anyone ever use them for revolver work?

JP

 

[MTKTM]

Stainz mentioned that the 327NG was not moonclip ready. But the 2" snubby 327PC is. Just wanted to make sure that was understood.

I would also mention that I have one of the PC UDRs, but not in 357, mine is a 44 (629) and it still sports those little boot grips. I shoot it a lot. It kicks a bit, but I devised a modified grip technique that works well with that particular combo.

I'm surprised to hear that the Governor is such a hard kicker. Is that with the 410 shotshells? I recall firing one of the Bond Arms O/U derringers in 45Colt/410 and found it pretty mild with the Colt rounds, but nasty with the shot-shells.

 

[dan-g]

ive though about bobbing the hammer on my 327 because I have never fired it single action but im cheep and have a garage full of metal working tools so I was just going to do it myself whenever I have some free time. I was also going to drill out the front site and slip a tritium vial in there but my free time is almost nonexistent so who knows when this is all going to happen.

By the way, have you tried the stock trigger on the 327pc? It is a really quality action to begin with and I didnt polish out the internals or anything. I haven't felt the need to do any modification to the action but then again ive put about 2000 rounds down the pipe so that's really smoothed everything out.

Personally, I would recommend just buying it ,shooting it a bunch and figuring out the mods afterward. If your going to do anything, boobing the hammer, installing a tritium front sight and dehorning the gun are all mods I want done. I loved this gun so much I went and bought its bigger brother for the more long range work when you can pack a 5 inch. (I did end up taking the ultra dot off the 5 inch 327, it has really nice iron sights so you dont need a red dot).

 

[1aafan]

 

[jp0319]

Well my dealer sent me confirmation that he recieved the 327 and sent me the receipt. I can't pick it up until march so I have plenty of time to pay it off and compile some ammo to shoot, some new grips, and maybe a holster. I'm going to see if I can get my wife shooting this with .38 loads so I can send off her j frame for some work.

JP