Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
M&P R8: In the era of modern pistols that hold more than a dozen cartridges in each magazine, a wheelgun in the hands of a police officer seems archaic. However, many SWAT officers know that a revolver can fill an important role during tactical operations, especially for the lead officer on an entry. The M&P R8 is a purpose-built, full-sized revolver with a 5-inch barrel and an eight-round cylinder. Even with its large size, Smith & Wesson was able to keep the weight down to only about 36 ounces through the use of a scandium alloy frame. The underside of the barrel has an accessory rail for adding a light or laser, and a matte black finish helps reduce glare.

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 60: An excellent choice for concealed carry, the 3-inch-barreled Model 60 revolver also makes for a good competition gun in CCW matches. Fitted with wood grips that force a high hold on the gun, the wheelgun has a ramped front night sight for quick target acquisitions and fast follow-up shots. The rear sight is adjustable so the shooter can dial in his or her ammunition for precise shots in either a competition or self-defense situation. The matte stainless steel finish looks good and resists corrosion. Since the gun is in the Pro Series, and is not a Performance Center piece, a shooter can run this in a stock revolver competition division.

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 625: A true race gun, the Model 625 is a revolver built for speed. The gun is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge and is designed to work with full moon clips for lightning-fast reloads. The Performance Center chamfers the charge holes in the cylinder for quick, positive loading. As with other Performance Center handguns, the Model 625 has a tuned action. The interchangeable front sight has a gold bead, while the rear sight is blacked out and adjustable. A custom teardrop hammer is installed on this revolver, while the Performance Center trigger is equipped with a stop to eliminate overtravel. Laminated red, white and blue grips finish out the look of this gun.

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 627: Part of the Pro Series, the Model 627 is an eight-shot revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum. Like other members of the Pro Series, the gun has enhancements that make it faster and more accurate than a standard production gun. Smith & Wesson uses a tapered 4-inch barrel that has a recessed crown for increased precision while protecting the crown. A bossed mainspring is used for a lighter, smoother trigger pull that will still provide reliable ignition of the rounds. For easier reloads, the Model 627 has chamfered charge holes in the cylinder.

Smith & Wesson Revolvers 2016 Model 627 V-Comp

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 627 V-Comp: Chambered for the .357 Magnum, the Model 627 V-Comp is no standard six-shooter. In fact, it is actually an eight-shooter. Tuned by the Smith & Wesson Performance Center, this revolver is fitted with a removable barrel compensator to help tame recoil and muzzle flip. When paired with soft-shooting .38 Special ammo, the gun is a real pussycat to run. The Performance Center adds a chrome hammer, trigger and trigger stop. The tuned action ensures reliable ignition with every silky-smooth stroke of the trigger. The synthetic grip ensures the shooter has ample control on the gun during competition and recreational shooting.

Smith & Wesson Revolvers 2016 Model 629 Competitor

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 629 Competitor: From knocking down bowling pins with magnum loads or cutting precise holes in paper with soft-shooting target loads, big-bore firepower is popular with a range of shooters. This .44 Magnum revolver offers a long sight radius with a 6-inch barrel plus the ability to easily add an optic to the top of the gun. The underside of the barrel has an adjustable weight system to help reduce muzzle flip. For help in controlling the gun with even the hottest loads, Smith & Wesson installs a set of highly regarded Hogue synthetic grips on the Model 629 Competitor. A tuned action is standard on this revolver, as is the beautiful glass-bead stainless finish.

Smith & Wesson Revolvers 2016 Model 629 V-Comp

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 629 V-Comp: Few calibers have enjoyed such a storied history as the .44 Magnum. The Model 629 V-Comp is a Performance Center creation, mating the .44 Magnum with a tuned action and a variety of competitive features. The 4-inch barrel has a removable compensator to reduce muzzle rise when rapidly shooting full-bore .44 Magnum loads. A bright orange front sight helps keep rounds on target downrange, while the pebble-textured grip enhances the shooter’s control. A stainless steel finish is standard, with a chrome trigger and hammer providing an exquisite accent.

Smith & Wesson Revolvers 2016 Model 686 Competitor

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 686 Competitor: Another competition gun, the Model 686 Competitor is fitted with a weighted barrel to help control muzzle flip during recoil. The included barrel weights are adjustable so the shooter can tune the gun to the precise amount of muzzle flip reduction required. Additionally, the 6-inch barrel has an accessory rail along its top for the addition of a competition optic. The Performance Center tunes the gun for a smooth action and installs a trigger with a stop. Both the trigger and the hammer are chromed while the rest of the gun enjoys a glass-bead stainless finish. Hogue synthetic grips are used to cushion the hand and provide the shooter with increased control of the gun during recoil.

Smith & Wesson Revolvers 2016 Model 686 SSR

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 686 SSR: Designed for the Stock Service Revolver (SSR) division, the Model 686 SSR is a standard Model 686 with competition-legal upgrades for a slight edge when it is time to put lead downrange. Part of the Smith & Wesson Pro Series, this revolver has a custom 4-inch barrel with a recessed, precision crown for excellent accuracy. The rich wood grips help to force a high hold on the gun so the shooter can better control recoil. Smith & Wesson chamfers the charge holes for surer reloads. The front sight is a ramp with a bright orange insert, while the rear sight is adjustable. The result is an upgraded revolver that is ready to deliver on target when it counts.

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson
Model 929: Signed by revolver master Jerry Miculek, the Model 929 is an excellent choice when competing in ICORE and other revolver matches where speed and accuracy are so important. Built on the N-Frame, this Performance- Center-enhanced revolver is fitted with a titanium cylinder that holds eight 9mm rounds. The cylinder is properly cut for the use of full moon clips to give the shooter a smooth, fumble-free reload. The 6.5-inch barrel has a removable compensator. A chrome teardrop hammer and chrome trigger contrast the gray cylinder for a nice visual effect. Finally, the Model 929’s frame and barrel have a high-quality, glass-bead stainless finish for an extra touch of class.

Once the mainstay of both law enforcement service and many shooting competitions, the mighty revolver has taken a backseat to high-capacity semi-automatic pistols in recent decades. However, revolvers remain formidable tools in the right hands for both competitive and law enforcement duties.

RELATED STORY: 11 of the Best Backup Snub-Nose Revolvers

Smith & Wesson manufactures a wide range of firearms, but it has never left the wheelgun behind. From quality standard models to highly specialized tools, the company offers a number of exceptional revolvers.

There are two lines of S&W revolvers of particular note: the Pro Series and those from the Performance Center. Performance Center guns are highly specialized guns tuned by some of the best gunsmiths in the business. Typical Performance Center revolvers feature tuned actions, target crowns and cylinders cut or chamfered for faster reloads.

Pro Series guns are still considered stock revolvers for competition divisions, but they are a step closer to Performance Center upgrades from the standard models. Pro Series models commonly come equipped with high-visibility sights, improved grips and other small upgrades that can enhance a shooter’s performance on the range or street.

While many law enforcement officers carry a revolver as a backup or off-duty gun, many are used by members of tactical teams. When making a high-risk entry into a building, an officer holding a ballistic shield will often lead the way. A shield can induce a malfunction in a semi-automatic pistol if it interferes with the slide. Additionally, some semi-automatic pistols can malfunction when held at odd angles or with a less-than-perfect grip. For an entry team attempting to rescue hostages, the stakes are never higher and the reliability of a revolver helps ensure that the good guys go home alive.

RELATED STORY: 10 Reasons Why You Should Own a Revolver

Here is a sampling of the specialized revolvers currently available from Smith & Wesson. From race guns to defensive models, there is one here for you.

For more, visit smith-wesson.com or call 800-331-0852.

M&P R8

Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
Barrel: 5 inches
OA Length: 10.5 inches
Weight: 36.3 ounces (empty)
Grip: Synthetic
Sights: Front post, adjustable rear
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 8
MSRP: $1,329

Model 60

Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
Barrel: 3 inches
OA Length: 7.75 inches
Weight: 23.2 ounces (empty)
Grips: Wood
Sights: Night front, adjustable rear
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte stainless
Capacity: 5
MSRP: $799

Model 625

Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 4 inches
OA Length: 10.5 inches
Weight: 42 ounces (empty)
Grip: Altamont laminate
Sights: Gold bead front, adjustable rear
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Satin stainless
Capacity: 6
MSRP: $1,079

Model 627

Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
Barrel: 4 inches
OA Length: 9.75 inches
Weight: 41.2 ounces (empty)
Grip: Synthetic
Sights: Interchangeable front, adjustable rear
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte stainless
Capacity: 8
MSRP: $999

Model 627 V-Comp

Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
Barrel: 5 inches
OA Length: 11 inches
Weight: 47 ounces (empty)
Grip: Synthetic
Sights: Adjustable
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Two-tone
Capacity: 8
MSRP: $1,559

Model 629 Competitor

Caliber: .44 Magnum/.44 Special
Barrel: 6 inches
OA Length: 11.25 inches
Weight: 57.7 ounces (empty)
Grip: Hogue synthetic
Sights: Adjustable
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Glass bead
Capacity: 6
MSRP: $1,549

Model 629 V-Comp

Caliber: .44 Magnum/.44 Special
Barrel: 4 inches
OA Length: 10 inches
Weight: 44.1 ounces (empty)
Grip: Synthetic
Sights: Adjustable
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Matte stainless
Capacity: 6
MSRP: $1,559

Model 686 Competitor

Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
Barrel: 6 inches
OA Length: 11.5 inches
Weight: 53 ounces (empty)
Grip: Hogue synthetic
Sights: Patridge front, adjustable rear
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Glass bead
Capacity: 6
MSRP: $1,439

Model 686 SSR

Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
Barrel: 4 inches
OA Length: 9.5 inches
Weight: 38.3 ounces (empty)
Grip: Wood
Sights: Interchangeable front, adjustable rear
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Satin stainless
Capacity: 6
MSRP: $999

Model 929

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 6.5 inches
OA Length: 12.25 inches
Weight: 44.2 ounces (empty)
Grip: Synthetic
Sights: Patridge front, adjustable rear
Action: DA/SA
Finish: Glass bead
Capacity: 8
MSRP: $1,189

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Reinventing the Wheel: 10 Elite Revolvers From Smith & Wesson

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