I like the grip of the Taurus better, for starters. My fingers never truly fit right on the S&W’s grip and, had I bought it from the friend, the first thing I would have done would be to put a different grip on it.
First things first, this is one fun gun, perhaps my favorite handgun to shoot within my collection. The ergonomics, smooth trigger, and accuracy are just stellar. Not to mention the power, yet manageable recoil only a .357 magnum can provide. An absolute pleasure to shoot. Now to the stats: a 7 round .357 Magnum, weight of 28.8 ounces, a height of 5.4" and a width of 1.531", trigger is double action/single action and includes a hammer transfer bar for additional safety, the barrel is 4" long and ported, and runs at an MSRP of $670.
Looking the revolvers over, I spotted a cool looking revolver with a matte stainless finish and a 6.5 inch vented, ported barrel with full underlug. It was the Taurus 627 revolver in .357 magnum. The fit and finish of the Taurus was flawless, and sported all the features of the Smith without the price tag. Knowing what I now know about Taurus firearms in general, I paid for the gun and headed home.