Performance Center Smith 1911's

[rep308]

A friend of mine is in the market for a 1911 and is looking at Smith and Wesson for a full size Government .45 with adjustable sites. I see that the performance center has a couple of models, and I own and appreciate the fit and finish of performance center firearms. Does anyone own or can comment on the differences between the standard Smith and the performance models? The performance center models seem to run about $400 more from the listings on gunbroker.

 

[Supermoto]

Not worth the extra cost. You don't get anything special for the price. Same parts as the standard gun... but someone spent extra time fitting the part, which can make a world of difference, both good or bad.

I would tell your friend to get the standard gun and upgrade parts as he sees fit.

 

[Iron Horse Gunn]

I have to 2nd what Supermoto says. I have a standard S&W 1911,SS with target sights SKU 108282). S&W shows a retail of $1150
(+ or- ). The PC 1911 SS SKU 170261 is $2450. That about $1300 at retail. A good pistolsmith ( Greg Derr ) can do wonders for a small part of that price difference. I've had mine about 2 years and it's coming up on 22,000 rounds.

 

[Moderator]

Does the performance center 1911 use non-standard parts (slide, barrel, frame) and magazines? Or is that only for the 945?

 

[Greg Derr]

The 945 is a different frame/slide design. The whole gun is different than a 1911. I've seen some good tight guns come out of the PC. I have also seen what I consider sub-standard work from them too. Greg

 

[M1911]

Does the performance center 1911 use non-standard parts (slide, barrel, frame) and magazines? Or is that only for the 945?

Just as non-standard as regular S&W 1911s

That is, external extractor, S&W firing pin safety. But standard magazines.

The 945 is the weird one.