The Dilemna of the Smith 627...

R

rnovi

New member
I am in a quandry...a large, torturous quandry that rides my mind without reason...incessant...relentless...

I saw a Smith 627 (or something like that...) at the local g-shop. 8-shot N frame...moonclips...5" barrell.

I have questions...dangerous questions...I don't need this gun. I have a 6" GP100 already that I intend to use for some small to medium game hunting...

1. is the 627 legal for any IPSC USPSA type competitions? An 8-shot revo would seem to have some kind of basic advantage...

2. How well do the moon-clips work with such a long cartridge as the .357? Do they allow for truly fast reloads ala 625 in .45 acp (I do have a 625JM and love it...)

3. Is the 627 designed to actually handle a steady diet of full loads? Could this be used as an effective hunting weapon? or...

4. Or, really, is this more of just a novelty gun?

It looks fun as all get out, but really, besides my passion to put this thing in the safe I just can't see it's validity...


Help me understand!
 
1) I don't play the games so will leave that to those who know.
2) The moonclips work quite well, but to be honest they do work best with shorter cartridges like the .45 acp or 9mm.
3) The N-frame is one of the strongest .357 magnum revolvers. It's predessor, the Registered Magnum, shot the original .357 magnum load which was much hotter than the loads of today. The one thing that will give it a little trouble is a lot of fast double action shooting. Starting and stopping that big cylinder spinning takes a toll on parts.
4) It could be a novelty, hunting, gaming, defensive, target, or just plain old fun revolver.
 
I agree with Magic. The short cartridges work better for gaming reloads. I hear (and that's all) that for gaming some use Colt .38 cartridges as they are short and stubby. The inertia of the large cylinder spinning, as noted, does cause parts wear quicker if doing FAST double action shooting. On the other hand due to the size of the gun one has a greater leverage in the action compared to some smaller frames so perhaps the trigger pull can be reduced lower. Indeed, Apex Tactical, offers action jobs (for gaming) with a trigger pull under 5 lbs. DA (and near 3 lbs with the proprietary hammer design).

Aside from gaming I think it might be more a novelty. As with you it keeps tugging at my mind and I don't need it. Aside for one extra round(627) the 7 shot 686 Mtn. Gun weighs about 8 oz. less and is a bit more compact for many uses. One thing to consider is the trigger reach on an N frame vs. L or K is quite a bit more so if you have short fingers and/or a small hand and do a lot of double action shooting it might not be for you.

Moon clips are another issue. They do get bent and all and have to be loaded and unloaded which takes time and tools. The gun can be used without moon clips unlike rimless cartridge N frames. Good speedloaders do not exist (although at one time a firm made a speedloader that looked like an HKS for it).

For hunting one could get a 629 Mtn. Gun that weighs about 5 oz. less with the more authoritative .44 mag. That is the logic that kept me from buying one so far. (Don't know if it will continue to work!).
 
I wanted one BADLY...

till I shot a friend's 627. Same issues as noted above, moon clips not nearly as fast as my 625, etc.

I went out and found a nice used 27-2 instead for 1/3 the price. Much happier.
 
RE: Competition

I shoot my 627 in ICORE. If you want to go IDPA, you can only load six (but the barrel can only be 4" anyway, so it is a moot point).

Rick
 
Competitions

I use my 627 for ICORE, Steel, and USPSA Production (where it has a -2 ammo disadvantage). Others shoot them in USPSA Limited 10 which allows them to place ammo and holster where they want, but, forfeits 2 rounds and power factor). There is no competitive "advantage" except for Steel against 6 shot revolvers. In ICORE you shoot against other 8s and you are actually at a disadvantage to other guns in USPSA competition. They are great guns and are as strong as any other N frame. You can obtain a much better trigger than the one on your Ruger. One note. The moonclips you get will be "brand sensitive" depending upon where you get them and no moonclips that I know of for the 627 likes Winchester brass.
 
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