Anyone Ever Swap PC Top Ends?

[4T5GUY]

Of course the question is why? But I’m going somewhere with this question.

We all know about the many variations that can be made by changing out parts. I like my spare 3913/6906 top end on my 5906, (or my 3906.) I ran my 4516 top end on my 4506 for a while and really liked it.

But my question is how will a PC top end work on a like lower. PC examples are supposed to be mated from beginning to end. I tried my 45 Recon top on my Shorty 45. It fit. It fit very well. I tried my 9 Recon top on my Shorty 9. It fit but was VERY tight. It seemed OK with a spot of grease and repeated cycling. I was not able to fire function them.

I know I need a life or a different focus but last night I won a Shorty 40 MKIII top end from Gunbusters. It was under $300.00.
I’m hoping it will fit on my 2nd run Shorty 40. I think the end result of a two tone, adjustable rear sight Shorty 40 would be nice. (I got the Shorty 40 locally for $460.00 so I’m still kinda ahead.

If the MKIII top end doesn’t fit, maybe with some help it could?

Any thoughts/experiences recommendations?

Jim

[Sevens]

I kinda like what you are thinking... at the same time, I know that I speak for myself and I speak accurately when I say that I’m totally PC crazy! It is what I love in guns more than anything, nothing else is really even close.

My guns? I won’t even consider it, not even simply to try with no ammo. My PC guns have such an elite fit and feel, running one slide with one frame is either going to be a slight bit (ugh ugh no way no how) or a slight bit tight (I just frickn’ passed out) and I’m just not even going to consider it.

I also understand if others don’t agree, for any reason. But never gonna happen with mine.

[4T5GUY]

Umm, well I was hoping my post would escape your notice. Hmm, guess it didn’t. I’m glad I made you shudder Sevens, justifiably so though.

Thanks for your input again of course.

Jim

[Sevens]

Allow myself to amend... my.. self. (think Austin Powers)

If I had some kind of catastrophic failure with a PC gun whereby a slide was cracked or something I cannot even imagine without getting light headed, I’d certainly bite the bullet and try it.

And your situation where you actually have a second top end, I really like where you are coming from with it.

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by 4T5GUY

Of course the question is why? But I’m going somewhere with this question.

We all know about the many variations that can be made by changing out parts. I like my spare 3913/6906 top end on my 5906, (or my 3906.) I ran my 4516 top end on my 4506 for a while and really liked it.

But my question is how will a PC top end work on a like lower. PC examples are supposed to be mated from beginning to end. I tried my 45 Recon top on my Shorty 45. It fit. It fit very well. I tried my 9 Recon top on my Shorty 9. It fit but was VERY tight. It seemed OK with a spot of grease and repeated cycling. I was not able to fire function them.

I know I need a life or a different focus but last night I won a Shorty 40 MKIII top end from Gunbusters. It was under $300.00.
I’m hoping it will fit on my 2nd run Shorty 40. I think the end result of a two tone, adjustable rear sight Shorty 40 would be nice. (I got the Shorty 40 locally for $460.00 so I’m still kinda ahead.

If the MKIII top end doesn’t fit, maybe with some help it could?

Any thoughts/experiences recommendations?

Jim

I would never put a random, non-fitted upper onto a Performance Center lower and then start shooting it to wear the parts into each other

If you want a Performance Center auto loader with two top ends, then get the second top end fitted to the frame by a Master Gunsmith


The Performance Center has produced convertible auto loaders before

The upper on the frame is 356TSW while the 2nd upper is for 40 S&W. Both are cartridges that Smith & Wesson introduced in the 1990s. As far as I have been able to establish, this is the only one the Performance Center made for the public

I do know, the 3566 Limiteds that the Team Smith and Wesson shooters used in the 1990s were built with both 5" and 6" slide assemblies so that they could conform to the rules of the various competitions that were taking place then.

[4T5GUY]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

I would never put a random, non-fitted upper onto a Performance Center lower and then start shooting it to wear the parts into each other

Yes of course. Thank you for your input. I agree wholeheartedly. If this Shorty 40 MKIII does NOT “just slide on/fit perfectly” I would have NO intention of firing it. The 9 Recon top end on the Shorty 9 lower, I would never attempt to “fire form” it to “fit.”

But like I said, the 45 Recon top end just fell on the Shorty 45 lower. Hand cycling was perfect with dummy rounds. I would feel very comfortable test driving this combination.

Jim

[Green Frog]

Being fat, dumb, and happy, I’ve been doing about the same thing with a 2nd Generation gun, and posting my progress here. I wanted a two tone (blue over stainless) all metal, retro-looking semi auto, so when I ended up with an orphan blued 439 slide, I mated it to a beater 639 I acquired. Note that I didn’t start with pristine examples from the PC, but more worn, pedestrian examples. Witness my two tone Franken-Smith.

I guess all this enforced time at home is making a lot of us think of what oddities we can make up.

Froggie