Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols Other Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols from the 1950's to Present


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-24-2009, 07:59 PM
cporfe's Avatar
cporfe cporfe is offline
Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Liked 269 Times in 73 Posts
Question Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?

Hello to all,

I've been wanting a Walther P99 for some time, but couldn't swing the bucks. This Saturday, at the Nations Gun Show in Chantilly, Trader Jerry's had several S&W Md 990L in 9mm and some Md 990s in .40 S&W and .45ACP with the decocker, all probably old stock and selling for $389 each. The .40's had night sights, but I'm not into that caliber. Well, I bought the 9mm model which is DAO with no decocker. Its serial # is SAG008X. There's almost nothing on the Net about this model. Suprica's 3rd only barely mentions it being the new model designation after 2004. The S&W on-line catalog doesn't have much info either. This gun did come with the spare front sights and in-the-white stainless steel slide. Spare magazines are expensive but I found a couple for $32.50 each delivered.

Question to the forum, does anyone have one of these and have shot is regularly? How does it shoot? Do you carry it for CCW? Will P99 holsters fit (I figure they would, but since S&W made the slide I'm not sure).

Any opinions?

Thanks
Chris
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-26-2009, 12:49 AM
Fastbolt's Avatar
Fastbolt Fastbolt is offline
Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: CA Central Coast
Posts: 4,638
Likes: 915
Liked 6,591 Times in 2,191 Posts
Default

S&W made the 990L series a bit differently than Walther made their roughly equivalent model, which is the Quick Action (QA).

If you don't have an owner's manual, download the .pdf online manual from the S&W website and read about how the 990L model is operated.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore...other/SW99.pdf

S&W basically used the QA sear housing block in the 990L's frame, but didn't include the decocking button in their slide design. That means the 990L has to be 'decocked' in the same manner as the Glock (or S&W's Sigma), which involves pulling the trigger on an empty chamber to begin the field-stripping process. Why? Nobody seems to claim to know why that decision was made.

The 990L series was pushed to LE while the M&P pistol project was being developed. The best explanation I heard offered was that the QA's (990L) consistent trigger pull was considered more marketable to LE customers (no decocking to return a gun from a single action/cocked condition to a double action only condition with a heavier trigger stroke). The QA's trigger stroke was lighter than the full DA trigger stroke by about 3 pounds (on paper, anyway).

I ordered one of the last SW99 9mm compacts just before they switched over to assembling only the 990L's (although they'd still make the standard SW99's for LE customers currently using the SW99's, if pressed). I didn't care for the trigger of the 990L series, myself, but that was just a matter of personal preference.

FWIW, the striker spring used in the 990L (and QA) is heavier than that used in the standard SW99 (and AS), and a different trigger bar guide is typically used in the sear housing block, as well.

I've been to a few SW99/P99 armorer classes and own a pair of SW99's. I also carried an issued SW99 .40 for a while, too.

Although the premature slide stop engagement issues were resolved in the .40 99's, and some further refinements and revisions have occurred in both the SW99/990L and P99 lines, I still happen to prefer the 99 series chambered in 9mm, myself.

I didn't care for the SW9945 I tried for a while. Not that anything was wrong with it, or it exhibited any functioning issues, it's just that it didn't seem to lend itself well to a reasonably sized .45 pistol, well-balanced pistol. Maybe if they had made a compact version ... but the M&P was apparently on the horizon as a new project.

I happen to think the 99 series is a design which never received the appreciation it deserved in this country. Maybe because Walther didn't really push the P99 line all that much. Dunno.

While I have no plans to get rid of my SW9940 (full-size), I don't enjoy shooting it as much as I do my SW999c (compact). That's a dandy little 9mm gun. I can actually wring some better practical accuracy out of it than I can my favored 3913. Of course, having shot more than 10,000 rounds through it I've become fairly familiar with it by now, too.

Nice little gun.

The triggers on all of the SW99's I've ever handled & shot seemed to improve with time, too.

I've posted a number of threads involving my thoughts on the 99 series in previous threads, so i won't get into any more details in your current thread.

Congrats.
__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-26-2009, 09:48 AM
cporfe's Avatar
cporfe cporfe is offline
Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Liked 269 Times in 73 Posts
Default Thanks

Fastbolt,

Thanks for your in-depth response. I really appreciate you going over this topic. I'll search for your other comments. I hope you are enjoying retirement! One day I'll get there too.

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-26-2009, 11:06 AM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is online now
SWCA Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,909
Likes: 3,513
Liked 6,729 Times in 2,620 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cporfe View Post
Hello to all,

I've been wanting a Walther P99 for some time, but couldn't swing the bucks. This Saturday, at the Nations Gun Show in Chantilly, Trader Jerry's had several S&W Md 990L in 9mm and some Md 990s in .40 S&W and .45ACP with the decocker, all probably old stock and selling for $389 each. The .40's had night sights, but I'm not into that caliber. Well, I bought the 9mm model which is DAO with no decocker. Its serial # is SAG008X. There's almost nothing on the Net about this model. Suprica's 3rd only barely mentions it being the new model designation after 2004. The S&W on-line catalog doesn't have much info either. This gun did come with the spare front sights and in-the-white stainless steel slide. Spare magazines are expensive but I found a couple for $32.50 each delivered.

Question to the forum, does anyone have one of these and have shot is regularly? How does it shoot? Do you carry it for CCW? Will P99 holsters fit (I figure they would, but since S&W made the slide I'm not sure).

Any opinions?

Thanks
Chris
The 990L is pretty much the same as the Walther P99QA. The action is designed to be like a Glock. Same short, light trigger pull for each round, as opposed to the 990, which has the same long, heavy trigger pull for each shot.

S&W, who made the slides for both the Walther version and the S&W version, did not put the decocker in the 990L, due to the danger than the gun would be decocked while holstered, and then not be able to be fired instantly when needed. Note that Walther addressed the issue by using a smaller decocking button, thereby lessening the possibility of inadvertent decocking.

Thus, the 990L will be the same to shoot as the 99QA.

Last edited by shawn mccarver; 11-28-2009 at 11:47 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-26-2009, 08:36 PM
cporfe's Avatar
cporfe cporfe is offline
Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Liked 269 Times in 73 Posts
Smile Thanks!

Shawn,

Thanks for the info. I hope to take this newby out to the NRA range at their headquarters this Saturday morning and see how it shoots for me.

Appreciate the words and you taking your time.

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-28-2009, 06:28 PM
cporfe's Avatar
cporfe cporfe is offline
Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Liked 269 Times in 73 Posts
Default Nice trigger

Well I put 60 rounds or so of WWB 115grns through it today at the NRA. Not much time for it as I was shooting my CMP rack grade Inland M-1 Carbine too.

I really like the 990L! It shot a little to the right, fixable with the adjustable windage rear sight. Almost dead on after that at 15 yards.

Next up are the hollow points from Federal and maybe a few 147grn too just to see how it handles.

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-28-2009, 11:49 PM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is online now
SWCA Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,909
Likes: 3,513
Liked 6,729 Times in 2,620 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cporfe View Post
Shawn,

Thanks for the info. I hope to take this newby out to the NRA range at their headquarters this Saturday morning and see how it shoots for me.

Appreciate the words and you taking your time.

Chris
Chris:

You're welcome! You will find that most everyone on this forum is anxious to help and provide good information. Many of the regular posters to this forum are some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Glad to have you on the forum!

Shawn
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-06-2009, 06:26 PM
truckemup97's Avatar
truckemup97 truckemup97 is offline
Member
Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm? Anyone actually shoot a Md 990L in 9mm?  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Indian Territory
Posts: 3,321
Likes: 1,770
Liked 559 Times in 260 Posts
Default

I love this place. I bought a 990L .40 S&W today, used with no manual. Do a google search and it brings me right back here with a link to the PDF manual. Thanks!!
__________________
Insert short witty words here
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
3913, 45acp, carbine, ccw, glock, nra, sigma, sw99, walther

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
s@w 990L timefortee Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 5 12-08-2016 09:48 PM
990L sights sabretooth Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 1 03-25-2015 07:04 PM
S&W 990L Goni11290 Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 0 06-21-2012 10:54 PM
SD40 or 990L Indy0651 Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 1 03-25-2011 12:52 PM
Rare S&W 990L in 357 Sig (1 of 15) myak Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 1 12-27-2008 06:32 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:54 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)