Hi-Cap .357 Smith & Wessons

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Confederate

Confederate

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The subject of 7- and 8-shot .357 revolvers gets almost no attention here, and, frankly, I know almost nothing about them. No gunstore in my part of Maryland seems to have one and I have no idea whether such guns are readily available, how much more they go for and whether there are any downsides to using them. I also don't know how durable they are.

Does S&W even make any 8-shot .357s? (I wouldn't think they could be made to function practically, but I don't know.)

They've been around long enough that if there are any problems with the design that they would be generally known.

Anyone have any experience with them? What are the downsides? Availability?

Thanks.
 
I've got a 7-shot, a 586 L-Comp. No downside to it. The six and 7 shot cylinders are the same diameter. The 8 shot models are N-frames. The extra rounds help to close the "capacity gap" between revolvers and autos.
 
I have the 386 night guard. I just purchased the gun about 3 weeks ago and so far I've put maybe 300 rounds through it in a mix of .357 and .38.

The gun is very accurate, specially for a 2.5inch barrel. Last night I put approximately 120 rounds through it and didn't have a single issue.

I believe it's the 327NG that comes in the N frame and is an 8 shot. Mine is the L frame which is 7.
 
This has got to be one of the more "anti gun" thread titles I've seen here.

Smith & Wesson did not sit down and plan on making a "hi-cap" anything.

They design the best firearms that they can, given the tools and technology of the time.

So they've come out with a 7 shot revolver. .

. . big whoop. Technology has allowed this to happen. It's not a "hi cap". It's primary design was to hold 7 rounds. 7 rounds is it's "designed capacity".

Now if you go find a 'smith to stick a 10 round cylinder in a large-caliber S&W, you could consider that a "high capacity" revolver, as it wouldn't be "factory produced".


We really need to watch our words. Vindicating the anti's phrases isn't why we're here.
 
This has got to be one of the more "anti gun" thread titles I've seen here.

Smith & Wesson did not sit down and plan on making a "hi-cap" anything.

They design the best firearms that they can, given the tools and technology of the time.

So they've come out with a 7 shot revolver. .

. . big whoop. Technology has allowed this to happen. It's not a "hi cap". It's primary design was to hold 7 rounds. 7 rounds is it's "designed capacity".

Now if you go find a 'smith to stick a 10 round cylinder in a large-caliber S&W, you could consider that a "high capacity" revolver, as it wouldn't be "factory produced".


We really need to watch our words. Vindicating the anti's phrases isn't why we're here.
Click to expand...

What?:rolleyes: and what do you mean anti's phrases? Good Grief
 
I cannot see any downsides to them. The more the better for me. If any downside maybe the strength of the cylinder compared to a heavy built ruger would limit your hotloads.
 
I have a S&W model 627 V-Comp with a three inch barrell that is eight shot.
It is an N frame revolver.
 
I have a 686+ and a TRR8.

Both are very nice except that the TRR8 has very limited options for holsters...
 
i've been looking at an 8 shot 627 and can only find two possible "downside" issues

1. can't find speedloaders for when i don't want to use moonclips...actually that's that completely true. Clint Smith, who prefers speedloaders to clips too, had some metal speedloaders made...they're just a bit spendy when you're used to paying for Safariland Comp-IIs

2. when you want to shoot quickly, the bolt notches will start to get peened from stopping the cylinder. again there is a solution...replace the cylinder with a coated Ti one

if you're looking to have the action tuned, the finest S&W competiion pistolsmith available is Randy Lee of Apex Tactical in Morro Bay CA www.ApexTactical.com
 
My primary gun is a S&W 686 Combat Magnum. Speedloaders in 7-shot are available and I have several. This is a devastating platform. The gun has pros and cons, but the solidity and weight help to control the gun so that it can deliver payload with high accuracy. These are man-stopping bullets, per box-o-truth, and many other sites that have done testing. The .357 high grain hollowpoint is close to a .44 magnum. Having fired both repeatedly, the .357 is about all I can handle in a handgun.

The Rossi .357 is a direct copy and I've found it to be the better gun, after hundreds if not thousands of rounds fired. Still, I make my primary the S&W and use the Rossi for backup. The S&W will not fail you. I've experienced so many auto jams that I'd never depend on an auto for my life.

Oh, there will be hundreds of people here who will tell you that they've fired a gazillion round through their 1911 or whatnot and that they have never once had a problem, and I do not dispute that.

But every auto I have ever fired has had jamming issues. Revolvers are best for HD IMO because they do not fail and are 100 percent reliable if kept in good condition. I guard my loved ones with revolvers and only consider autos as backup weapons.
 
The downside is that you can't use Safariland speed loaders.
Click to expand...

Yep, and last time I checked some competitive venues disallow use of revolvers with a capacity greater than six. Some are fine with it as long as you load it down to six.

As for the 686, the 7 shot plus model's cylinder is actually stronger than the six shot model because the cylinder stop notches on the 7 shooter line up with the thickest part of the cylinder (like 5 shot J Frames), whereas the 6 shooter 686's stop notches line up with the weakest (relatively speaking) part of the cylinder: that portion directly opposite the chamber.

I may prefer my S&Ws overall, but I'll give Ruger credit where it is due. Next time you look at a 6 shot Six series or GP100, note the off center cylinder stop in the frame. This allows the cylinder stop notches in the cylinder to be offset from the chambers on these even number capacity guns, reducing the likelihood of a blown chamber in that "weakest" spot.

My primary gun is a S&W 686 Combat Magnum
Click to expand...

Actually, it is the 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum Stainless :D .
 
I regularly carry a 7 shot Smith and Wesson 386 Mountain Lite, customized to suit my needs in a carry gun. This is a 3 1/8 inch barrel scandium frame, titanium cylinder wheel gun that tips the scales at just under 20 ounces (with the grip). Here is a photo:

IMG_0897.jpg

This is a fine shooting revolver that I have put many many rounds through without any problem. I bet my life on her.

Below is my Smith and Wesson 327 M&P R8 from the Performance Center. She weighs about 36 ounces and has just recently gotten a new set of JM grips. The 327 is an eight shot revolver of the highest quality. This revolver is a very very accurate weapon, as evidenced by the second pic below.

IMG_1194.jpg

4 shots, 10 meters standing offhand group.

IMG_1213.jpg

Do a little research on Smith and Wesson.com and you may be better enlightened before making statements outside of your area of expertise.
 
8-shot you say?

Here's mine, a S&W 627-PC 8-shot .357, N-frame with 2 5/8" barrel.

These were made by the S&W Performance Center in either 1999 or 2000..I forget which without looking it up.

I think they are making them again, but have heard the latest version (10 years after the originals) has the infamous S&W lock.

For the record, no problems mechanically, shoots great, shoot and carry it often. I've put Craig Spegel boot grips on mine instead of the orginal ones made by Eagle.

366701645.gif

366701644.gif

373123795.gif

373123796.gif

366701637.jpg
 
Have a 620. Great gun, very accurate, but that seventh charge hole means that sometimes that last casing gets hung up on the standard Hogue grips that come on the thing....plus, IMO, the hogues throw off the aesthetic balance of a 4" half-underlug, but that's just me.

Biggest pain in the neck is finding a good holster (some won't fit the seven-shot cylinder due to the offset fluting), and 7-shot speedloaders are almost nonexistant.

But man, it's an awesome gun. Very useful as a reloading testbed for some hot .357 loads. As an added benefit, it just looks freakin' cool. :D
 
Im less than in love with most of the 8 shots because they came around after the lock. I never got into L frames either because I figured a K Frame was the way to go.
 
fourdollarbill said:
What?:rolleyes: and what do you mean anti's phrases? Good Grief
Click to expand...
The term "high capacity firearm" is an antigun phrase.

Ol Marge and Tad Gungrabber at the breakfast table looking over the interwebz when they find this thread with a title from their own phrasebook.

"Look at this dear, even they know they have too many rounds in their guns."



If it comes out of the factory with a 30 round magazine (certain .22WMR pistols), than it's not a "high capacity firearm", but "designed capacity".

Now when you go and conjigger yourself a 150 round mag for your 30 round .22WMR pistol, than you've got a 'high cap", cuz it exceeds the factory specs.


Some of you are already in the anti's camp and don't even know it :(
 
By the way, I was looking at some holsters and wondered if S&W had any, and I see that a 686 Combat 7 is around $1000 - almost double what I paid in 2001. These aren't cheap.
 
nalioth said:
The term "high capacity firearm" is an antigun phrase.

Ol Marge and Tad Gungrabber at the breakfast table looking over the interwebz when they find this thread with a title from their own phrasebook.

"Look at this dear, even they know they have too many rounds in their guns."



If it comes out of the factory with a 30 round magazine (certain .22WMR pistols), than it's not a "high capacity firearm", but "designed capacity".

Now when you go and conjigger yourself a 150 round mag for your 30 round .22WMR pistol, than you've got a 'high cap", cuz it exceeds the factory specs.


Some of you are already in the anti's camp and don't even know it :(
Click to expand...
yeah, I'm not buying it. but ok.
 
I acquired the 686P with a 3 inch barrel about 2 months ago. Used but in great shape
I got it for $525.00

I like the 7 shot cylinder. I like the weight and the sights.

I have other Smith and Wesson revolvers and I like them also.

So far only about 150 rounds have gone down range from this 686P.

Flawless. Very accurate. Recoil is minimal with .38+P and just a little more
brisk with .357s but very manageable.

It currently is my HD/nightstand handgun.

Just got two speedloaders for it which work well.
 
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