Gary W. Strange
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2018
- Messages
- 384
There was a recall on some of the early ones. I have heard two different reasons. The cylinders made of the wrong steel and some say the cylinders were for 44 magnum. I really don’t know. The ones that went back had a red C stamped on the box. That was the only way they were marked. Mine didn’t have the red C. I was told, if I sent it back and it didn’t pass, S&W would keep it and replace it with a current revolver, because there are no more replacement cylinders available. I chose to email my serial number in, to customer service, and if it failed, locating a cylinder or having one made. Luckily mine was made later and was ok, according to S&W. I got a S&W letter, from Roy Jinks saying it is not in the recall range. With all the custom makers out there now, I figured if worse come to worse, I could have a cylinder made for it. You could not run fast enough, to give me a current S&W revolver. I don’t know that, they are bad revolvers, the lock, and the contours on the smaller frame revolvers, doesn’t appeal to me. That is just me. I love the older revolvers. I really like the 5” model 27. I think it is a great compromise between the 4” and 6 1/2”. 5” just seems like a good all around barrel length. Not too short, not too long to carry, longer sight radius and delver more velocity and energy. I had a 5” 629-4 classic, years ago, and l sold it, to buy something, I thought I needed more. I have regretted sell that one a lot. Looking back ,now, it was the perfect 44 magnum revolver. I would love to find one, in excellent or new in the box, I could afford. I have that and a 5” model 27 on my list. I wish 5” was a more common barrel length. It is a very useful barrel length and it just makes sense. Beautiful revolver you have.Another of my "Grail" guns...a 4" M-24 or 634. As I recall, didn't the 624's have a recall for cylinder heat treating? At any rate, Rio's comment that his M-29 Mountain Gun fulfills that itch...a 4" bbl'd .44 with a pencil barrel. To date, I've satisfied mine with a M-69, though the 'tube' does seem a bit long...but its light weight makes up for the longer bbl. IMHO.
Since you mentioned the M-27 in 3.5", 4" or 5"...here's one of mine, and in my eyes, the 5" bbl. makes it the best looking of all the Smith "N" frames. It carries well in a high rise OWB, ie. it does not stick me it the short ribs when mounted on tractor, 4x4, car or truck. But another 1/4" would have precluded carry in the foregoing. Skeeter Skelton's writings, back in the 70's, piqued my interest in that bbl. length for the M-27, once calling it his favorite length in a Smith...strong praise, then and now, for sure.
My M-27, 5" is the most accurate of all my .357/.38's. And its only short coming that I can think of is the short cylinder (when compared to say a M-19/66), which requires me to crimp in front of the driving band when loading Lyman/Keith's 358429, the LSWC 170 gr. In all of my guns, that bullet is a real treasure for accuracy and smack, but the nose section is just too long to allow crimping in the designated groove for the M-27. Here's the pic of mine....Best Regards, Rod