Tell me about the Model 27

[TargetTerror]

A local shop has a Model 27 357 magnum for $450, not sure what barrel length (I saw it online). What should one look for in a used Model 27? Anyo way to date them in the shop? And being on a beefy N frame, can even the older Model 27s stand up to a fairly aggressive diet of 357 magnums?

 

[Cocked & Locked]

And being on a beefy N frame, can even the older Model 27s stand up to a fairly aggressive diet of 357 magnums?

They certainly can!

 

[Jim March]

A 27 in reasonable shape is worth $450. And then some. Fine gun. The model 28 "Highway Patrolman" is the same basic gun but with a plainer finish.

Run "the checkout" (see stickied post, this forum).

The 27 (and 28) have enormous resistance to "blowup" under heavy loads. Great gun to learn handloading with as you have a good "strength margin" - that does NOT mean a beginner should try to exceed good recent-issue reloading manuals! But it does mean you have some protection against minor to moderate screwups.

The N-Frame 357s do have a weak spot. Since the cylinder is relatively heavy, there's a lot of momentum in stopping and starting. Which means that rapid-fire with LIGHT ammo (38Spl in particular) can slowly kill these things. That's not what they were built for - they're tuned for booming out the big stuff under controlled, aimed fire and in that role they're still excellent weapons. You can shooting rounds at reasonable fire rates, no more than one shot per second at the fastest. Don't try and go "full auto" with 'em like you were Jerry Mikulek.

At the height of rapid-fire revolver competition such as PPC, the S&W K-Frames were preferred over these Ns. The lighter K cylinder wouldn't try and beat the gun to death. They would then add weight to the barrel to the point where the whole gun weighed as much as an N.

Bit of a paradox but that's how it goes.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the S&W M-27 is a great gun. i have one with a 8.375" barrel. mine has the the pinned front sight, recessed case rims and the beautiful checkered top strap and barrel rib.

they were originally offer in barrel lenghts of 3.5, 5, 6.5 and 8.375" (note there is no 4 or 6")

you can make the big N-frame run fast and live...however you will need to replace the cylinder with a Ti one

 

[madcratebuilder]

Sounds like a good price to me. I saw a 98% 5" with a $699 tag on it.

 

[Murdock]

Massachusetts is within reasonable driving range for me, so I'd be happy to go to the shop that has the gun and check it out for you, to see if it's really worth that much. Where is it?

 

[buttrap]

450 for a 27? thats around what they went for new 25 or so years ago. I would be jumping on that really fast before it goes poof out the door and makes someone else very happy!

 

[Murdock]

This reminds me of the thread on "Great deals I now kick myself about because I fooled around too long thinking." :banghead:

 

[cottonmouth]

27

You can't go wrong with a model 27, or a pre 27!

J.B.

 

[TargetTerror]

This reminds me of the thread on "Great deals I now kick myself about because I fooled around too long thinking."

Funny you should say that. I called the shop at 11am this morning, and they were in the process of doing the paperwork on it. It was a 6 inch too, just what I wanted :banghead:

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

Just because you missed this one doesn't mean you can't have one. The N frame .357 holds a special place in my heart, particularly the 4 and 5 inch ones. You can still find a 4 inch Model 28-2 for 400-450 bucks in good shape if you look. It makes an excellent nightstand gun or range toy, and some crazy folks even carry an N frame sometimes.



Five inch 27-2

 

[ClemY]

My 27-2 is also a 6". I tested several S&W .357s side by side, and the 27-2 still was the most accurate.

 

[SaxonPig]

Mmmmmmm... The 27 (and its variants) is my favorite revolver bar none. Yes, they are very strong.


The granddad of the model 27, the Registered Magnum.





I really like the 5" models.





But the 3.5" guns are the most popular and bring the highest prices.





I find the 8" 27 well balanced due to the slender and thus lighter barrel,

 

[rbmcmjr]

Here is an early post-war advertisement for the gun that became the Model 27:

 

[bshepherd]

Among the finest that S&W ever made.
I have a couple, a 4-inch 27-2 in Nickel, and a recently aquired 27-2 with 8 3/8" barrel in blue.

 

[keyboard commando]

357 Magnum

3.5" pre 27 that was shipped in 1950.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

A lot of people will say the Colt Python is the best .357. Others, including me, say the M27. What a great gun. I have 3.5", 4", 5", 6", 6.5". Had a 8 & 3/8 a long time ago but had to get rid of it do to cash flow problems at the time.

 

[Colt46]

Cocked and Locked

I've never been tempted to get me a model 28, but if I ever run acrosss one as nice as yours the plastic would hit the counter before I batted an eye.
Beautiful!

 

[9mmepiphany]

be careful not to confuse the M-28 with the M-27. they have a totally different look.

the easy why to tell is the checkered top strap and barrel rib

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I've never been tempted to get me a model 28, but if I ever run acrosss one as nice as yours the plastic would hit the counter before I batted an eye.
Beautiful!

tHaNk YoU sIr !!

 

[Checkman]

I like that advertisement. Very politically incorrect.

 

[Bear41mag]

I just paid $600 for a pre 27 3.5 inch and thought I got a steal, your lucky if you can find a nice Model 28 for $450. Myself, I would jump on it.