Anyone here with experience with the new S&W Nightguard series?

[chaim]

So, I'm looking to buy or replace a gun in a couple different categories. One category I'm looking for is a good revolver for IWB carry- I don't want it to be too big (IWB) and I want it to be relatively lightweight (I can't carry my S&W 65LS and a pocket gun due to weight and a bad back- I'm looking for something under 30oz and preferably in the mid-20s). *

This thread isn't for suggestion of other guns (I have another thread for suggestions and ideas).

On my other thread someone mentioned the Nightguards (man, I must have gone too long without keeping up with the gun market to have missed those). They look very interesting.

However, after a search I noticed one or two people on THR who seem less than happy with theirs. Normally, one or two people unhappy with a gun might be something I could overlook, but I doubt there have been very many Nightguards sold yet given their price and time on the market.

So, I'd like to know how many here have direct experience with them (they own one, or a good friend does and they have experience using them).

How reliable are they? How well do they shoot? How accurate are they?

These aren't the first S&W lightweight guns, even in medium and large frame models. They strike me as somewhat similar to guns like the 327PD and 329PD. So, feedback from PD series owners might also be useful.

If it matters, the models that most interest me are the 386NG, 396NG, and maybe the 357NG (mmmmm, .41mag) and 327NG (mmmmm, 8 rounds of .357mag).

*Note: I do carry around the house, but otherwise I carry when out of state (MD isn't a carry state). I'm not talking about, or advocating, breaking any laws. I like having both revolvers and autos for carry, but I do carry revolvers more often- if I transport the mags unloaded (interpretation of MD state law on transportation seems divided on whether loaded mags count as a loaded gun and I want to be on the side of caution) it is just easier to load up my revolvers when I get to my destination than load up a 10-15 round mag (and unloading is much quicker).

 

[jfh]

I have the 386 Night Guard.

I'm about 80% satisfied with it.

1. For me, the C&S Deep Notch HD rear combat sight is a nightmare to use--I get vertical stringing at best.

2. I would rather have this particular (frame / caliber / weight) combination with a 3" barrel.

Those two criticisms are highly subjective, so weigh them how you wish.

Other than that rear sight issue, it has been a pleasure to shoot. I've put about 400 rounds through mine, perhaps more; I used it in my "short barrel reloads" reloading project. At the 10-15 yard distances I use for that project, the issue of practical accuracy is strictly my "aging eyes" proelm.

Were it not for the 686 I have as a bedside gun, I would use the 386 for that duty.

It is NOT currently one of my carry guns, as I don't care to carry IWB / OWB. I'll eventually get some sort of underarm rig for it, but for now I pocket carry an M&P 340.

If you search in this forum for "Night Guard," or "386," I suspect you will find more conversations from when the Night Guard series first came out / THR members bought them.

Jim H.

 

[steveracer]

I had a 325NG, and I didn't care for it. Too light for the balance. Too light to shoot well. Not bad guns, but I didn't care for it. The sights are a great idea, but they reall aren't any fun to shoot well with.

 

[WC145]

I have 315 Night Guard, the K-frame/.38spl model. I'm very happy with it, it's a well balanced package that is light enough for comfortable carry, but not so light that it's uncomforatable to shoot, and it is the smallest and slimmest of the Night Guard series. It is accurate at the ranges we've fired it, though we've only shot it out to 15yds so far. The sights are great, very easy to acquire and the front sights jumps right out at you. I'm considering the same set up for my 586 L-Comp. Recoil is very manageable, my wife likes to shoot it even with +P ammo and she's quite recoil shy. Mine has Hogue Combat grips in it, not the Pachmayers. The action is smooth, but heavy, it'll be getting a new Wolff main spring to lighten it up a bit.

I haven't tried the others so I can't comment on them, but I'd be comfortable carrying the 315. The only thing this gun needs is to have the cylinder cut for moonclips (my preference) and the action lightened, then it'll be a perfect little carry piece.

 

[danbrew]

I have the 310NG, 325NG, and 329NG. The 325NG is my favorite of the three and I sometimes use it for concealed carry. The one thing you must be careful of with these revolvers, imho, is if you are shooting an auto cartridge (.40, 10mm, .45), you must consider bullet jump with cartridges that do not have a good crimp on the bullet. Using Aguila ammo, I've consistently found that by round 5 or 6, the boom of the previous rounds has unseated the bullet on the remaining unfired cartridge(s). So much so that the front of the projectile sticks out of the cylinder binding it and preventing movement of the action. After experiencing this a few times, I'm now confident that all it takes is to use ammo with a good crimp (never had it happen with the winchester white box ammo or a variety of self defense loads), yet if you do have the bullet jump, you can simply put your finger on the right side of the cylinder and push it back it. It will fire in the case of an emergency. I'd like to blame S&W for this as I think their current crop of guns have lots of issues, but this one comes down to crimp and the fact that you've got a compact kinetic bullet puller. Having said all of this, I still like the 325. Probably because I really like the 625.

The 329? It's nice. Haven't had the same bullet crimp issues. It's a handful - but I like small, light-weight and big booms. I'm not sure how realistic a platform this one is, but if you like big bores and light weight, this is fun.

The 310? Is going back to S&W. It fairly consistently locks up as the cylinder bolt sometimes does not clear the back of the hammer - thus locking the gun up and preventing it from firing. It is either a cylinder, cylinder spring, plunger, or plunger spring issue. Worse, though, there's a fairly well-known issue about firing pins not being the right length - I consistently experience a failure to fire (at least 40%) because of this short firing pin. Using both .40 and 10mm rounds. What's worse than expecting a boom when you get a click? That sucks. In addition, I get a LOT of bullet shavings. While I got a lot of revolvers, I'm not the most technically savvy revolver guy - I can only imagine that the cylinder is not correctly aligned with the barrel. It's unfortunate as I have a 610 and I really like it a lot.

I've replaced the grips on all of them with the Hogue grips.

I also, btw, have a 327 PC revolver - a .357 2" bbl. It's an 8-shot N-frame revolver. It is 6.5 oz. LESS in weight than the 327 NG. I really enjoy shooting this one and use it for regular cc.

 

[chaim]

Well, for the carry role this would fill I just bought a Rossi 461 (J-frame sized, 6 shot, .357mag). Still, I think I may eventually add a Nightguard. I like S&Ws (and the lock doesn't worry me) and these are very interesting looking guns. I'll probably get the 386, 396 or 315 (and maybe the 327 or 357NG). If they made the 325 in .45LC I would definitely be picking one up in the next year or two.