What Older N Frame Do You Recommend?

[texagun]

The Model 28 is a great choice for a range gun. They can be found at very reasonable prices and they don't command as much as a Model 27 that had a nicer bluing job and were more expensive. This is a 28-2 manufactured in 1978 and was a Texas Department of Public Safety gun. You can shoot milder .38 Special loads in them for range work.

 

[jtcarm]

The Model 28 is a great choice for a range gun. They can be found at very reasonable prices and they don't command as much as a Model 27 that had a nicer bluing job and were more expensive. This is a 28-2 manufactured in 1978 and was a Texas Department of Public Safety gun. You can shoot milder .38 Special loads in them for range work.

Ah man, I'd so love a DPS gun (Texan here).

I didn't notice the OPs requirement of .357. That definitely limits the choices to the 27 & 28, unless he wants to look for a 520.

Another option would be a pre-lock 627, they're kinda pricey, though, and may not be easy to find locally.

 

[Casbah77]

I'm relatively new to this, But I also agree regarding the 28.
I have a 27-2 in Stainless that's fun too, but the "pawn shop find" where I picked up a 6" Highway Patrolman is by far the most fun to shoot.
Good Luck!

 

[texagun]

...
I have a 27-2 in Stainless that's fun too....

If my memory serves me correctly the Model 27 only came in blued or nickel. No stainless steel variant was ever produced. In 1989 the stainless steel Model 627 was introduced as the "Model of 1989". It featured a 5 1⁄2-inch barrel, a 6-shot unfluted cylinder, and had a round butt with S&W Combat stocks.

 

[saemetric]

Here you go:

 

[DocB]

As most have said, I'd get a 28-2. The M27 is just too fancy and hard to find in a 4 inch. The 28 is just as good. Plus, it's a tough and durable gun that can take a beating almost like SS. I like the way it looks like a snub with that large frame and short 4 inch barrel.

 

[les.b]

Well, here's my 27-2 with the 3 1/2" bbl:



But for less money...how about my 28-2 with the 4" bbl?:



They are both great shooters... Like them so much that I just picked up a 4" 28 no dash yesterday:



This is a "before" picture...I brought it home, put a couple cylinders of 357 through it to make sure it functioned OK, and will spend some time cleaning it up. these are marvelous shooters, and their weight ensures that even full magnum loads are relatively light recoiling.

Best Regards, Les

 

[muddocktor]

Just to make your decision harder, here are a few of my 27's and my 627 Pro for you to gander at.

First, my safe queen . It's a 27-2 4". Still unshot except for the proof shots S&W fires. Above it is my first pistol, a 5" 27-2. It's had 10's of thousands of rounds through it:


Next is a 27-5 with a 6 1/2" barrel I bought off GB 3 years ago. Got it for around $700. It's had a few thousand rounds through it since I bought it:


Finally, just to make it harder for you to choose, here is my 627 Pro I bought new in April. With the Ahrends round to square butt conversion grips I have right about $900 in that revolver. And it's had a few thousand rounds put through it since I got it in April: