I feel bad for what I am about to do

[Love Life]

Good morning members. A while back I posted that I had worn out my Uber cool S&W 327 PC TRR8, and that I was looking for a Ruger to replace it. I got much advice from the forum on both Rugers and a couple models of S&W that should hold up better. As I have explained before my guns are not safe queens. They are my woods and bumming guns and get a good amount of scratches and holster wear in short order. The following is the reason I feel bad:

I have decided on a new pistol. A MINT S&W model 27. It doesn't have the pinned barrel or recessed chambers, but it is pre-lock with good lockup and a double action trigger pull that is smooth as butter. The bad part is that it is nickel plated. The reason I feel bad is because it is MINT, comes with the box, and did I mention MINT. I just feel bad buying a gun this nice knowing full well what is going to happen to it. Oh yeah the out the door price is below $500:twisted:

[Kraschenbirn]

I've never owned an M27 but have owned a couple of M28s and IMO you might possibly wear out some of your own parts before a properly maintained N-frame gives up the ghost. My first one was a brand-new pre-Punta Bangor with the "duty gun" finish and it was the gun that caused me to begin casting for more than just my MLs. My best guess would be that I put 25-30,000 rounds - mostly .357s - through that gun before trading it in an M57. (btw: 40 years later, I still own...and use...the same Lyman 358156 mould I bought to feed that gun.)

Bill

[captaint]

I had, given to me, a pinned mod 27 that was nickel plated. The guy that GAVE it to me also gave me the original box of Speer ammo that he bought with the gun. There were 30 rounds left unfired. Anyhow, I hate nickel, had no money invested - so I called S&W and got a price to strip and blue. Two hundred bucks. They did a beautiful job. I'm an action job away from a really, really nice piece. I love N frames. enjoy Mike

[Ed K]

Hold on a minute... take a deep breath, do not let your emotions get the better of you. Stay the course, stick with the plan:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showpost.php?p=1408926&postcount=28

[Love Life]

Hold on a minute... take a deep breath, do not let your emotions get the better of you. Stay the course, stick with the plan:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showpost.php?p=1408926&postcount=28

Oh man you have a good point. It probably doesn't shoot straight anyway.:p I always have been a sucker for nickel plating though.

[scattershot]

Well, on the other hand, a M27 as you describe would increase in value over time, and it's probably less than you would spend for a new GP100 or Blackhawk. Just to further muddy the waters a little.

[Love Life]

Well, on the other hand, a M27 as you describe would increase in value over time, and it's probably less than you would spend for a new GP100 or Blackhawk. Just to further muddy the waters a little.

Thats exactly what I was thinking.

I bet EdK is googling gunshops in my are as we speak!:kidding:

[Ed K]

Get whatever you want. Over time I know we all toss the what-ifs around in our minds... just some faster than others :-)

[Mk42gunner]

There are only two downsides to a Model 27 that I can see--
1. You can't load a 358429 in .357 brass, and
2. They are uncomfortably large in my hands. This is strange since a Ruger Redhawk fits wonderfully.

I have had a couple of N frames, a 6 1/2" Model 25-2 and a six inch Model 28. They were accurate revolvers, but they felt just a little too big to be comfortable.

As long as you are happy, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Robert

[BruceB]

The S&W 27 is a wonderful piece, whatever its vintage. It will give you excellent service and ENDLESS pleasure when used as intended.

Holster it, carry it, SHOOT it....and enjoy. Guns are made for shooting, so let your descendants worry about the paltry few hundred bucks' "loss" you may incur by firing the revolver. The pleasure derived from the use of the 27 is worth a whole lot more than the monetary "loss" that might be involved.

I speak as the previous and current owner of several fine M27s. Each one is a gem!

The price you quote is an absolute steal....

[Hawken]

Good morning members. A while back I posted that I had worn out my Uber cool S&W 327 PC TRR8, and that I was looking for a Ruger to replace it. I got much advice from the forum on both Rugers and a couple models of S&W that should hold up better. As I have explained before my guns are not safe queens. They are my woods and bumming guns and get a good amount of scratches and holster wear in short order. The following is the reason I feel bad:

I have decided on a new pistol. A MINT S&W model 27. It doesn't have the pinned barrel or recessed chambers, but it is pre-lock with good lockup and a double action trigger pull that is smooth as butter. The bad part is that it is nickel plated. The reason I feel bad is because it is MINT, comes with the box, and did I mention MINT. I just feel bad buying a gun this nice knowing full well what is going to happen to it. Oh yeah the out the door price is below $500:twisted:


If you just can not bring yourself to shoot it, I will take it off of your hands, for $50 more than you paid.:-P

[Love Life]

I just got back from the gunshop. I held it, fondled it, squeezed that superb trigger again, admired how shiny it was, and...put it back. This little voice in the back of my head (probably Ed K) kept saying "what you really want is gp100. So After all the heel dragging and soul searching I put my money down on a 4 inch stainless GP100. The nickel plating was a double edged sword here. I just couldn't bring myself to put that beautiful firearm through what my hiking guns go through. I will admit that it was nice to hold a firearm that you could tell had some quality put into it.

[PacMan]

You are beginning to sound a lot like my wife. Just kidding of course.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

What's that gunshop's phone number.

EdK's younger brother...

[357Mag]

LoveofLife -

Howdy !

BY ANY CHANCE... ARE YOU RELATED TO BRETT FAVRE ?!

My gooness'.... thought we had you talked back from the brink; there !

GP100 vs M-27. For me.... apples and oranges. Or... Buick vs Cadillac, et al.

I'm not sure you ever did comment on your hand size. Those "N" frames do hold appeal for many of us larger-handed fellows. A GP100 is a whole diffrn't ball game, all-together. Even a Python ain't the same thing, as-far-as fit in the hand goes versus a M-27.

For as superb a gun as a GP100 is, I can't imagine any version of it will ever approach the accomplishments of a classic M-27 5" for perfection in balance; and control-ability when shooting full-tilt .357Mag loads. And, those 4 " and 6" .357Mag "N"-frames have virtues all their own to offer.

I'm probably in the minority, having carried some version of a .357Mag "N" frame
for over 36yr. It's what I used in Clint Smith's handgun class ( before he went off to start " Zesty Ranch " ) when all others were campaigning .45 auto's.

It's what I shot in local competitions against the Jeff Cooper's minions, all of whom simply had-to have a "massaged" 1911. And, I shoot no-kiddin .357 MAGNUM loads.

Hope that GP works out for you !

Best of luck in your endeavors !

With regards,
357Mag

[9.3X62AL]

N-frames......just an hour ago, I was fondling a Model 625-3 at the local shop. Model of 1989, no glory hole, no MIM, but $799. And dirty from firing. Kinda rolling that one around a little, still.

I can understand your concern about cosmetically marring that nickeled M-27, but the N-frame 357s are just so darn nice. And that price was excellent. Gotta make yerself happy, though--and if the GP-100 trips your trigger it isn't our place to second-guess your selection.

[EDK]

What's that gunshop's phone number.

EdK's younger brother...

Look at the address....I didn't move to New Hampshire!

In the past 40 odd years, I've had a few Model 27s and a bunch of Model 28s. A few of them became 44 Specials back in the early 70s. They are a little heavy, but try one of the original 627s from "the gun of the week" period of the late 80s and early 90s from S&W...that's one heavy duty piece of hardware.

Your GP-100 is a 41 frame...the Model 27 is a 45 frame...overkill in a 357, but your grandkids could be shooting it with a minimum of repairs. There ain't no flies on the GP-100, but Uncle Ed would have grabbed the 27 for $500 and digging out the MILT SPARKS holster for it....d*** belt shrank in the past 15 years!


:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

[Love Life]

Idaho Sharpshooter- I regret to inform you that the revolver is no longer available. I called my buddy can't get right and described the pistol and price to him. He immediately proceeded to say many things to me that can't be typed here without me going on a 10 day vacation. Immediately after work he sped to the gunshop and bought the revolver.

Sadly to say it does shoot straight. I don't have the largest hands but the N frames are really easy for me to shoot. Especially if they don't have the finger groove grips. Now back to the story. So as we are shooting and marveling at this fine firearm, my buddy continues to rag on me. The worst part is at the end of all of it he asked me to load a couple boxes of ammo for him. He also took a picture of me shooting it on his phone and swore to e-mail me that picture everyday until either I die, he dies, or his phone dies. So soon I can conform to the picture rule.

Final price out the door. Wait for it....$489

[Aaron]

Shoulda' bought and sold it. Probably would have been within' spitting distance of getting your gp100 for "free"

[Love Life]

Shoulda' bought and sold it. Probably would have been within' spitting distance of getting your gp100 for "free"

That crossed my mind as well, but I know if I had bought that gun I would have held on to it for a while and the value would have decreased significantly after it took a couple dips in the river, slid down the hills with me, and got shot a ridiculous amount. Like I said. My guns see alot of use which is why I tend to shy away from nice wood, bluing, etc.

Eventually I would have been here again a couple of years from now asking the same questions and kicking myself for not buying a GP100 while they were still under a $1,000.

[tacklebury]

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/tacklebury/rugernewmodelblackhawkconvertible45coltright.jpg

[9.3X62AL]

ROOGER GUN PORN WARNING!! RATED "R"! :)

If you choose a quality maker, there is little chance of buying a "bad" 357 Magnum. The companies have the internal dimensions pretty much dialed in, and the caliber is just so darn useful.

There are 3 S&Ws and 1 Ruger in this caliber in my gun safe, with barrel lengths ranging from 2.5" to 7.5". My first centerfire handgun was a 357 Magnum, and I'm certain that the last sideirons I would ever part with would be so chambered. SAAMI kinda neutered the caliber ~20 years back, right along with the 41 and 44 Magnums......but the L-frame and N-frame S&Ws will safely run the 1935-level 357 loads without strain--and the GP-100s and Blackhawks won't bat an eye running 158 grain Lyman to 1500 FPS with the 6" or longer barrels. My rule of thumb has been to run the L/N-frames right up to Doug Wesson's load limit, and loads surpassing that get fired in my Bisley Blackhawk. K-frames are limited to current SAAMI pressures (36K PSI). Even at those lower pressures, 14.5 grains of WW-296 behind Lyman #358156 does a fine job of lighting up adjacent hillsides at dusk when fired from the 2.5" Model 19. Way fun, that.

[S.R.Custom]

...If you choose a quality maker, there is little chance of buying a "bad" 357 Magnum. The companies have the internal dimensions pretty much dialed in...

Meh... I'm not trashing Ruger per se, but I currently have a Blackhawk on the bench I'm rebarrelling. Seems the groove diameter is .359" (!!!).

[Trey45]

Congrats on your new shootin' iron! I love those GP100's, I don't own one, but I want one.

Here's what my $500 M28-2 looks like.
http://hotimg23.fotki.com/a/67_238/165_33/SWM282009-th.jpg (http://hotimg23.fotki.com/p/a/67_238/165_33/SWM282009.jpg)

I bought the pistol and a pound of Red Dot for $500 total out the door price.
I still want a 4" GP100, I'm hoping by this time next year to have one.

[Groo]

Groo here
Just what did you do to wear out a TRR8???????????

[Love Life]

Groo here
Just what did you do to wear out a TRR8???????????

Shot it.

[John Ross]

I don't know what you do in the woods with your guns but I had a nickel pre-29 holster gun that I carried and shot all the time and it looked fine. The frame finally developed a crack at the cylinder stop notch in 1978 after it had 77,000 rounds through it. Sent it back to the factory and they built me a new gun with the same serial number. Sold that gun a few years ago to a collector who loved the idea of a three-screw gun marked 29-2 with a serial number that indicated it had been made in 1956...

[Love Life]

I don't know what you do in the woods with your guns but I had a nickel pre-29 holster gun that I carried and shot all the time and it looked fine. The frame finally developed a crack at the cylinder stop notch in 1978 after it had 77,000 rounds through it. Sent it back to the factory and they built me a new gun with the same serial number. Sold that gun a few years ago to a collector who loved the idea of a three-screw gun marked 29-2 with a serial number that indicated it had been made in 1956...

I do not stick to the trails. I do a lot of river crossings along with rock climbing and hill sliding. I go in all weather so snow, rain, etc. I'm thinking that either a half flap or full flap holster may be just the ticket once I get my new gun. I do not abuse my guns, but when I say I go on long range hikes, I mean 3 day hikes. You never know what could happen. You could kind of sort of fall of a cliff, fall in a river and let it carry you down a ways, and many other things. If you stay on the beaten path you are not exploring.

[altitude_19]

HOW did you wear out the 327?

[Love Life]

HOW did you wear out the 327?

I shot 38 special+p loads out of it. I believe I just got a lemon, but the performance center shouldn't send out lemons. It also had other issues besides getting worn out by loads it was more than capable of handling.

[altitude_19]

What's worn out? Was it unreliable?

[Lloyd Smale]

to me a guns a tool. Made to be used. I dont treat my 2000 dollar linebaughs any differntly then i do a ruger blackhawk. they all get shot. They nickle plated those smiths for a reason. The finish holds up better then bluing and youd have made a blued one look bad long before your nickle one will. No doubt some of my guns get shot alot more then others but it isnt a matter of what they cost or what there worth that decides which gets used more. Its a matter of which i like more.

[Murphy]

Oh yeah the out the door price is below $500:twisted:[/QUOTE]

Smith & Wesson made more than a few Model 27's and I'm reasonably sure there are thousands of 'safe queens' around the USA.

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it, matter of fact at that price? I'd work that baby like a rented mule!

Murphy

[Love Life]

What's worn out? Was it unreliable?

It got out of time and started spitting lead. It had cylinder binding from the get go. It was weird. It would fire 5 just fine and then bind a little on the last three. Out of the box I had light firing pin strikes, but that was fixed by tightning the tension screw in the grip fram. All in all I was not happy with the gun and finally got rid of it when it started spitting and leading the cylinder flutes. Oh yeah lets not forget the tool marks in the barrel that looked like rockets. It never leaded, but once again the performance center should be able to produce a better firearm.

[9.3X62AL]

Meh... I'm not trashing Ruger per se, but I currently have a Blackhawk on the bench I'm rebarrelling. Seems the groove diameter is .359" (!!!).

That's outside my experience with Blackhawks. Izzat from the factory, or did someone over-do fire-lapping? I might be inclined to open the throats to .359", if they were smaller than the grooves. But the re-tube is "doing it right".

[Love Life]

Looking back on it all here is what I have to say and just some thoughts.

Every company that mass produces an item is due to let a bad one get out. This is all across the consumer item spectrum. I am not bitter about it. I'm just disappointed. After all the questions and input, and pitching a hissy fit on my other thread about not wanting S&W info I put up and purchased a Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman. I had my money down on a Ruger GP100, but after much thought decided to stick with Smith and Wesson. I like the recessed chambers and the pinned barrel along with adjustable sights and a 4 inch barrel. Here is what I think about when I look to purchase firearms

Double Action revolvers-The first company I always think of is Smith and Wesson. There are other fine revolvers out there, but I have always had a S&W in my holster.

Single action revolvers- First company I think of here is Freedom Arms, but reality and the boss of the house usually have me going to Ruger.

Semi-Auto pistol- Glock, Glock , and Glock

Rifles- Savage first, Ruger second, and Remington when they are the only one who makes the Caliber I want in a hunting rifle.

What I am saying is is that all companies will let a lemon out on occasion, but don't cut off that entire portion of your firearm options due to it.

[Doug Bowser]

I bought a 98% Model 28-2 S&W .357 Mag for $325.00 last month. It shoots as good as it looks. Got a Bucheimer holster with it and a box of 158 gr REM ammo with it.

Doug

[FN in MT]

Never been a big Ruger fan...the majority of their pistols simply do not appeal. Other than the Single Actions.

Passing on a M-27 ....to buy a GP-100........:groner:

No hope for you son...no hope at all.

FN in MT

[Love Life]

Never been a big Ruger fan...the majority of their pistols simply do not appeal. Other than the Single Actions.

Passing on a M-27 ....to buy a GP-100........:groner:

No hope for you son...no hope at all.

FN in MT

Fn- You should have read the whole thread to get the awesome twist in the end. I bought a S&W model 28-2 highway patrolman with pinned barrel, recessed chambers, and4 inch barrel.

[snowwolfe]

Oh yeah the out the door price is below $500:twisted:

Nice revolvers, have owned a couple in the past and never had a problem with any of them. Had no idea there value went up so much. I must be out of the loop on handguns, I would of thought a minty one would of brought $400 or so.

[FN in MT]

Fn- You should have read the whole thread to get the awesome twist in the end. I bought a S&W model 28-2 highway patrolman with pinned barrel, recessed chambers, and4 inch barrel.

My fault...the thought of getting rid of that 27 for a Ruger...I was probably half naseous...my only excuse.

Your gonna like the M-28. I've got three of them.

One a 4" that I carried AS a Highway Patrolman (How ironic?) for several years.

OK...Your back in my good graces. Carry on.[smilie=s:

FN in MT

[Love Life]

I was almost drawn into the darkside

[Wheeler]

It's not real without a picture :)

[Love Life]

Dang rules. If it gets here today I will post pictures.

[Char-Gar]

That handgun was made to be shot and not collected. Let it live out it's destiny!

[BLTsandwedge]

N-frames......just an hour ago, I was fondling a Model 625-3 at the local shop. Model of 1989, no glory hole, no MIM, but $799. And dirty from firing. Kinda rolling that one around a little, still.

You'll never regret purchasing a 625. I use Lyman's old 452389- that discontinued 185g button nose wadcutter- I'll never shoot offhand as good as that revolver can deliver.

[Love Life]

It's not real without a picture :)

Well here she finally is. My new to me S&W model 28-2. Based off the serial number this one was made in 1973. It has a tiny bit of flame cutting on the top strap, but all that means to me is this gun was shot a lot so therefore needs to continue to be shot. Lock up is strong

I took it shooting today and it is very accurate at 20 yards with both 38 special and 357 magnum. It feels very good in my hand as well. I look at this gun and it just screams BUSINESS.

The only thing that bothers me about it are those stupid hogue grips. Now I am on the look out for one to be a safe queen/range only gun. This one will be my new hiking companion.

[kelbro]

Walnut fan here. I don't like the looks of the Hogue grips either but for me, they flat out WORK! I now have them on my Single Six, My MKIII Target, and my Dan Wesson 15-2. Had them on the 586 that I sold too.