Smith and Wesson 627 accuracy

1

1972RedNeck

New member
Recently I just got my first short gun. It is S&W 627 with a 5" barrel. I love everything about it except for the groups that it (or me) shoots. At 25 yards, I can't get a group smaller than 8". I have tried all kinds of different ammo. Resting on a bag doesn't help much at all so I don't think it is me.

With an open sight rifle, 2" groups at one hundred yards is no problem. I loaded a random empty round into the cylinder to see I was pulling or flinching but I held stock still right on the bull's eye.

Never having owned a pistol before (only shot one a few times before), I am wondering if I am expecting too much from a 5" revolver or if there is something amiss. Thoughts?

Also, with the rear sight all of the way down, ALL of the shots hit above the bull's eye.
 
With the right ammo, from a bench I get 1 1/2 inch groups at 25 yards. Now, my 627 is very well tuned with an action job getting the double action pull down to 7 lbs or less.

You could probably take it to a gunsmith for a tune up. Also are you shooting single action or double action? Start with single action. Use the front pad of your finger and be sure you are pulling straight back and that the gun firing is a surprise.

Fire with the gun supported on the bench using a shooting rest. I use Caldwell and am very happy with them.

Don't try to see your hits when firing. Keep aiming until the gun settles back down. Then you can check your hits.
 
If a high 8@25 is the best it can do, something's amiss.

IME, an in-spec but stock S&W should be able to shoot 1"-ish at 25 yards with decent ammo and from a solid rest. This is the inherent accuracy of the gun itself.

The ball-n-dummy drill suggests you're not flinching, but if you know an experienced handgunner, I'd have them shoot it as well.

If a high 8@25 is the best it'll do, have a gunsmith look at it or contact S&W. They'll send a repair authorization to you and get it fixed pretty quickly.
 
Those do sound like problems with the gun. I have a 627 and get far better accuracy than that. One-hole accuracy at 15 yards is not out of the question. And the sights should permit POA=POI shooting. Have you ruled out bore leading? Even if that's an issue, the sights deserve a trip back to the factory.
 
Rifle skills really don't translate to handguns all that much.
Even off bags and a bench there's plenty of ways to mess up a shot.
But don't feel bad, handguns are hard to master.
Like MrBorland said, find a good pistolero to try it before assuming it's the gun
And if it turns out not to be the gun, (most likely), then find someone who can show and explain how to shoot it.
The explaining is the hard part.
But there's plenty of youtube videos that help.
Especially look for the ones by Jerry Miculek, the king of revolver shooters.
 
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Yep. As others have said Mr. Borland in post #3 nails it.

If I were in your area I'd be HAPPY to take a few shots with it, not that that would tell us anything I just really, really am impressed with S&W Model 27 and never can forget how I blew it in the late '70's when I had a chance to buy a LNIB one for $300!:mad:

Please let us know how this plays out.
 
Sorry I can't help you figure it out. But, these kind of groups should be the norm. Both of these guns are current 627 models.

A scope of some sort will really help when testing loads for accuracy.

Dave

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I have a S&W 327 which is similar, but with different materials. Does the 627 have a nut at the muzzle holding the barrel shroud on? Accuracy went to hell with my 327 and I found that the nut was loose. S&W didn’t supply a wrench, but I modified a Dan Wesson wrench and Loc-Tited the nut down tight. After that, it was super-accurate.

 
Does the 627 have a nut at the muzzle holding the barrel shroud on? Accuracy went to hell with my 327 and I found that the nut was loose.
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I got to handle and fire a Model 27 once, a LONG time ago, and was THOROUGHLY impressed by the fit and especially the finish and how smooth it operated.

Accuracy though was terrible even at short ranges.

But it turned out it wasn't the nut at the muzzle end (the model 27 didn't have one) it was the nut holding onto the grips that was the problem. :D The gun shot fine for someone who knew how to shoot a DA revolver.
 
first question I would ask is "What kind of groups are you getting with other revolvers"?

If you're getting 1" groups with 5 other guns, and this one get's 8" groups, then it might be related to the gun....maybe.

If you get 8" groups with 5 other revolvers... it's probably not the gun.
 
Does the 627 have a nut at the muzzle holding the barrel shroud on?
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I looked up some photos on the net of what your 327 muzzle looks like and my 627's do not have that kind of locking nut. Quite interesting.

I have tried all kinds of different ammo./QUOTE]

What kind of ammo have you tested? I have found that .357 ammo shoots better than .38 out of my .357 revolvers. And I have found that jacketed bullets shoot more accurately than lead.
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