Posted: 11/4/2011 7:04:53 AM EDT
| Does anyone have experience with these? I'm thinking about getting one, and can't decide between the .45 ACP or the .357. They seem very well built and would love to hear what those who have them think. |
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I have the 7 shot .357 though it actually came out a little before the night guard series.
It's a scandium frame and titanium cylinder 2.5 inch 7 shot I sent it to Cylinder and Slide and had the hammer bobbed, trigger job, chamfered charging holes, front night sight and rear extreme duty fixed sight. Great gun.... Shoots great. I carried it for several years as my primary working UC as a LEO. Does not look like a cop gun and does not have the potential to jam when wrestling in the front seat of a car. |
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http://myc3g.com/photos/Guns_hikey-3.jpg
I have the 386. Honestly, I can't recommend it. For a target gun the barrel is way too short to be accurate at a decent distance. And for a carry gun, well do a google search on failure to fire or light primer hits for these guns. I'm actually wating on my longer firing pin to come in this week but I'm also looking to trade it in on a 686 in the next couple of months. Personally, if I had to do it again, I'd buy a snub nose 686 with the 3" barrel. |
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Quoted:
http://myc3g.com/photos/Guns_hikey-3.jpg I have the 386. Honestly, I can't recommend it. For a target gun the barrel is way too short to be accurate at a decent distance. And for a carry gun, well do a google search on failure to fire or light primer hits for these guns. I'm actually wating on my longer firing pin to come in this week but I'm also looking to trade it in on a 686 in the next couple of months. Personally, if I had to do it again, I'd buy a snub nose 686 with the 3" barrel. Wow, I had no idea that Smith ever had any problems with any of their revolvers...my impression is their reputation is pristine. However, that's why I'm asking. Thanks for the input. I checked out a few 686s today at the fun show, and aside from being a bit heavy, it felt great. I may get a 686 and change the rear sight to a C&S extreme duty. |
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I agree.
I will say that every instance of one of these guns having problems, they were sent back to S&W (on S&W's dime) and the problem was corrected. Problem is, you're paying nearly $1000 for a gun that you need to send back to the factory before even taking it out of the box is BS. I would REALLY like the Performance center 686, but considering the price, I might just save $300 or so and go for the SSR which is the pro series. When I spoke to the guy at the LGS he said I can get about $400 for my 386 so that helps. |
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I just bought a 386 Night Guard. I read about the issues, but I'm comfortable under the sideplate, so I just put in a longer-travel firing pin (as part of the Cylinder & Slide duty carry kit with the different springs).
I need to take some better pictures, especially since I've put a pair of oiled Ahrends grips on it, but here's a shot with the cheap camera: 
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| I have a 327 nightguard and couldn't be happier. Got to love 8 rnds of .357/.38spl. Great little sidearm for hiking/backpacking/hunting. If you get one, I would recommend you swap out the the firing pin for a longer one. I also removed the lock -but that is just a personal choice. Everything has been perfect. :-) |