This is the gun that completely changed my view on revolvers. I have had a S&W 500 4″ for many years and it is a thing of beauty but due to the punishing recoil, headaches and numbness that come with the 500 it has seen minimal action over the years. When I saw this 627 V-Comp I was intrigued by the thought of a 8-shot .357 magnum and being somewhat new to revolvers I quickly learned that you can shoot .38 Specials through it. I went ahead and purchased this 627 in January 2015 and it quickly made me a believer of Smith & Wesson and the Performance Center.
My S&W 500 was the only gun I could compare it to at the time. The 500 exhibits excellent quality and craftsmanship so the 627 didn’t seem vastly different but it clearly is exceptional and top of the line. After just one trip to the range I was hooked and the addiction to S&W began. I am not going to saturate this review with technical details but just my opinion and experience.
Here are some observations after 6 months of ownership and 5000 rounds through the gun, about 80% 357’s and 20% 38 specials.
Fit and finish – Everything is as good as it was when i bought it. The coating they use is called PVD and is very smooth and durable. I take good care of my guns anyway but this thing doesn’t show a single scratch. Every component of this gun is fitted flawlessly and operates like a fine watch.
Compensator – The compensator is removable with a hex screw under the barrel on the business end of this gun. Remove the screw and you can easily twist or pull the compensator off. Included with the gun is a silver non-compensated end-cap which is about a centimeter long and also attaches with the hex screw.
Grips – these are S&W branded Hogue rubber grips and are outstanding. I have had several people shoot this gun and all of them have liked how the grip feels.
Shooting – I have put everything from hot 357 loads to 38 specials through this. Everything is completely manageable. The 38 specials have minimal recoil and remind me of shooting a 22LR. I believe the compensator does help with felt recoil and follow-up target acquisition. I have had several friends shoot this and it has become a favorite among many. One of them left the range and later that day went home and hit the Buy It Now on an auction.
Moon Clips – The gun came with a few moon clips but I didnt use them for the first few months. My friend who bought the 627 after me told me “Once you use the moon clips you will never go back.” and he was right. The moon clips are easy to load and unload. They fall into the cylinder perfectly and makes extraction very fast and simple. I ordered 20 more and they make my range trips very efficient.
Summary – It is not a cheap gun but it is outstanding. My only warning is to be prepared for an addiction to S&W and Performance Center guns.
