S&W Performance Center. Worth the $$$?

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Robert W

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I'm giving serious consideration to a S&W Performance Center model. Well at least I was before reading about some rather disturbing instances of misaligned barrels on a number of different S&W revolvers.

So my question is this, has S&W improved it's quality control to the point where a person won't regret dropping a grand on something of theirs?
 
I have two revolvers from the custom center and love them. I paid more for them than a standard model, which I have a bunch too, and I'd do it again.
 
I'm all about S&W PC. I'm only acquired PC gun from S&W. If you lucky enough to go to S&W tour, you will be amazed this dept. I'm one of the lucky guy to take a S&W tour.

Sent from my Tinfoil hat
 
My wife has a performance center 642 j frame and the trigger compared to a standard 642 is much better.
 
I had a PC 1911 in 2006 I traded it in for a trap gun....I was so mad at myself I replaced when cash allowed in 2010 I love it. I'm not a great shot but this gun makes me feel like I can shoot.
 
I own three different PC guns and they are all far better than you would expect out of a standard S&W. I would by nothing but PC if I could afford it.
 
Can't speak for the autos. However a friend had a 945 and it was very accurate and it was made very well.

As far as the revolvers go I've found there not miles apart from their regular production counterparts.

My regular production post lock 686 (about 10 years old) has hands down the smoothest trigger and cylinder fit and function of Saltys entire revo family.

The way I feel it breaks down is you're "usually" guaranteed you're going to get a nice functioning piece if you go PC but that's not to say you can't get a quality piece that performs just as well if you go regular production.

Play with it and look it over well before purchasing whatever you decide on.
 
I had a PC 627 V-comp that had terrible bluing, burrs on the forcing cone, burrs on the crane, misaligned hammer, that rubbed the frame. terrible trigger. I sent it back but S&W said because they couldn't get the rear dovetail red dot mount off, they couldn't put the gun in the vice. The gunsmith didn't know how to remove 2 screws with loctite on them. Bunch of clowns.

The parts aren't any different on a PC gun then a normal gun, so any if the gunsmith is having a bad day, you can get a piece of crap from them. I wouldn't buy another one unless I could completely take it apart before buying it
 
I'm coming across a lot PC horror stories on-line. A lot more than I would have expected given the price these guns sell for. Misaligned barrels. Malfunctioning "Hillary Holes". What gives?
 
In the past six months I've seen 2 PC revolvers the sucked. One flat out wouldn't fire. I don't know how it left the shop without being test fired, but it did. The other was the new 929 revolver. That one also had to go back for a multitude of reasons. I was looking at getting a 929 for myself but now I'm going to wait and see if things improve. It's too bad, because I really love S&W Revos.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner instead of Tapatalk.
 
Back when the Shooting Sports Center was still open I was down there and I overheard two employees there talking about a couple of guys at the Performance Center and how badly they sucked.

QC has always been S&Ws biggest problem. When they are good, they are very good, probably the best in the business, and when they are bad they are rotten. This is not a new phenomenon either. They had issues back when they were making M1917s for the .gov, higher than acceptable rejection rates for their Victory Models in WW2. Police agencies can relate real horror stories: back in the 1960's San Antonio PD adopted the M58 MP .41 Magnum. Rejected dozens, out of time, broken actions and some fitted with .44 Mag Cylinders. I think it was either SC or NC Dept of Corrections that sent a whole order of Mod 64 Revolvers back a few years ago, guns would literally not fire.

I don't exactly know why this is, and there may be different historical reasons. Problem is S&W isn't a brand it's an icon and icons aren't supposed to fail. OTH they have and continue to make some of the best guns in the world and for me I have an emotional attachment to them like no other brand. A S&W has filled my holster most of my life, although a Ruger does that today, but when it doesn't it's more than likely a Smith.
 
My experience with PC guns has been flawless. What I find is if a person is looking for problems... you'll find them. Robert, you are probably better off just moving away from S&W as it looks like no matter what, you won't be happy. I tend to focus on the other 999 perfect guns, not the 1 in 1000. But if you can get out of the microscope mentality... I believe any S&W gun will bring a smile to your face.. they are still the best gunmaker out there!!!
 
Actually, I've fired and owned a number of Smiths (the first handgun I ever bought was a 4" M13) and was seriously considering purchasing a PC piece, but then, while looking for some reviews of the model I was interested in, I started seeing all these on-line reviews and Youtube vids of people having to send their PC guns back to the factory only to either get them back in worse condition than they sent them in or having to settle for factory refunds. That's not the sort of thing you want to keep hearing when you're thinking of dropping a grand on a new gun.
 
Once again Robert.... this is obviously a lets slam S&W thread... you have just reinforced that to me. If this is what you found... why even start this thread....!!

one more thing... what model are you speaking of?
 
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turbo38gn said:
Once again Robert.... this is obviously a lets slam S&W thread... you have just reinforced that to me. If this is what you found... why even start this thread....!!

one more thing... what model are you speaking of?
Click to expand...

No one's forcing you to post in this thread. So...
 
Robert W said:
No one's forcing you to post in this thread. So...
Click to expand...

You asked I responded..... just because you don't like my answer, no need to put me out... I mean honestly, you have thanked 2 negative responses and not acknowledged any of the majority positive posts... so once again... trolling is an obvious term that comes to my head.. not trying to start a pissing contest, just stating the facts Mam.. have a nice day.
 
turbo38gn said:
You asked I responded..... just because you don't like my answer, no need to put me out... I mean honestly, you have thanked 2 negative responses and not acknowledged any of the majority positive posts... so once again... trolling is an obvious term that comes to my head.. not trying to start a pissing contest, just stating the facts Mam.. have a nice day.
Click to expand...

Turbo,

I didn't give a negative response but a historically accurate one and an anecdotal one. For the record I own more S&W guns than any other and I own a lot of handguns. I am also a S&W stockholder. Having used S&W products for over four decades, studied their history, talked in person with Roy Jenks who was the factory historian for decades and toured the production facility in Springfield, I think I'm in a better position to give an accurate account. They are a manufacturing business, and all manufacturers have their ups and downs with regard to QC whether its pianos, automobiles or firearms. If you can't deal with historical fact and perceive that as somehow being negative then you have a problem. Some of the best guns I own are S&W's.
 
mark056 said:
Turbo,

I didn't give a negative response but a historically accurate one and an anecdotal one. For the record I own more S&W guns than any other and I own a lot of handguns. I am also a S&W stockholder. Having used S&W products for over four decades, studied their history, talked in person with Roy Jenks who was the factory historian for decades and toured the production facility in Springfield, I think I'm in a better position to give an accurate account. They are a manufacturing business, and all manufacturers have their ups and downs with regard to QC whether its pianos, automobiles or firearms. If you can't deal with historical fact and perceive that as somehow being negative then you have a problem. Some of the best guns I own are S&W's.
Click to expand...

I think his response was to Robert not you Mark. I have 3 S&W's and 5 Ruger pistols and I only had to send back my M&P for an issue with the sear and my pro series 9mm 1911 had some not so good machining marks on the inside of the slide but other than that they've been great pistols with thousands of rounds through each. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another S&W, except for some of their revolvers. I like my overbuilt Ruger revolvers that can handle a steady diet of hot 357 and 44 loads like Buffalo Bore, where S&W just won't take that abuse. But S&Ws revolvers do have really nice triggers - at least the ones I've shot.
 
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andrew1220 said:
I think his response was to Robert not you Mark. I have 3 S&W's and 5 Ruger pistols and I only had to send back my M&P for an issue with the sear and my pro series 9mm 1911 had some not so good machining marks on the inside of the slide but other than that they've been great pistols with thousands of rounds through each. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another S&W, except for some of their revolvers. I like my overbuilt Ruger revolvers that can handle a steady diet of hot 357 and 44 loads like Buffalo Bore, where S&W just won't take that abuse. But S&Ws revolvers do have really nice triggers - at least the ones I've shot.
Click to expand...

I think if you critically read his response, he clearly stated that Robert's thanks were to the two people who wrote negative things. I was one of the people that Robert thanked. Implication that I was clearly writing negative things about S&W. I rest my case counselor.
 
mark056 said:
Turbo,

I didn't give a negative response but a historically accurate one and an anecdotal one. For the record I own more S&W guns than any other and I own a lot of handguns. I am also a S&W stockholder. Having used S&W products for over four decades, studied their history, talked in person with Roy Jenks who was the factory historian for decades and toured the production facility in Springfield, I think I'm in a better position to give an accurate account. They are a manufacturing business, and all manufacturers have their ups and downs with regard to QC whether its pianos, automobiles or firearms. If you can't deal with historical fact and perceive that as somehow being negative then you have a problem. Some of the best guns I own are S&W's.
Click to expand...

Mark, my response wasn't a rip directed at you. I simply pointed out the negative or whatever you want to call it part of your response. I have no problem with historical facts, just with the OP and his obvious trolling of this subject. As for visiting and owning S&W products, I own many PC and standard model S&W guns. I also spent too much time, the last several years the Shooting and Sporting Center was open, hanging around, shooting, buying and talking with several old timers there. When they closed, I had 2 PC guns on layaway.. get your panties out of a bunch and enjoy your guns as much as I usually enjoy your many responses here.

- - - Updated - - -

mark056 said:
I think if you critically read his response, he clearly stated that Robert's thanks were to the two people who wrote negative things. I was one of the people that Robert thanked. Implication that I was clearly writing negative things about S&W. I rest my case counselor.
Click to expand...

and by the way, call it what you want, but yours did include a negative depiction.. [grin]
 
Supermoto said:
I had a PC 627 V-comp that had terrible bluing, burrs on the forcing cone, burrs on the crane, misaligned hammer, that rubbed the frame. terrible trigger. I sent it back but S&W said because they couldn't get the rear dovetail red dot mount off, they couldn't put the gun in the vice. The gunsmith didn't know how to remove 2 screws with loctite on them. Bunch of clowns.

The parts aren't any different on a PC gun then a normal gun, so any if the gunsmith is having a bad day, you can get a piece of crap from them. I wouldn't buy another one unless I could completely take it apart before buying it
Click to expand...

This, I own Performance Center revolvers and their quality is really hit or miss. I had a 625PC that had a terribly over-clocked barrel. I just bought a 929PC and had to look at 3 of them since the first had a hammer that rubbed on the frame, the second had an over-clocked barrel, but the third was dead nuts perfect.

I have owned a plethora of PC, pro series, and regular S&W revolvers and really can't say the quality is head and shoulders better than the stock series. The performance center turns out beautiful guns like my 4" 629PC with un-fluted cylinder and barrel though.

They have to build to a wide audience so the triggers tend to be heavier than I like anyway.

I don't yet own a 1911PC but they seem really well fitted.

Chris
 

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