I have collected Perfromance Center pistols for 27 years but have only shot two, a 5906 DPA 4" and a 945 Compact. I tested the SA trigger pull on the 845, 952-2, 3566 Limited, 4006 Limited and 5906 PPC. All were fantastic. I now have a second 845 with a trigger that is the best I have ever tested. So, I am looking for a manual of arms on the PC single action trigger to learn the proper method of operation. I may decide to keep this one and shoot it!


Anyone with information or experience competing with a PC single action pistol please chime in.

Do you need an owners manual?

I can post some pictures if that helps?

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This is the way....

I’m not exactly sure what you are asking, but yes I agree that without any question my MPC 845 has the smoothest and lightest trigger, (by far,) I have. That sweet trigger combined with everything else makes it a super accurate pistol.

Although not technically a PC collector I have a few but not enough.

I’ll list the single action trigger pull on the “target” PC examples for comparison to the 845. I won’t list any of the PC compact trigger pull weights because that’s a very different thing.

745 PC Special @ 4 lbs, (MPC,) 845 @ 2 lbs, early LEW 945 @ 3 1/2 lbs, 5906 PPC 9 @ 3 1/4 lbs and my Comp 40 @ 3 lbs.

I’ve set a few of my Colts @ 2 1/4 lbs but there is still no comparison to the 845 even after their upgrades.

Jim

The Owner's Manual that came in the box of my 845 was just the generic Centerfire Pistol manual (Nov-1994) that all appropriate models got.

It had nothing specific on SA models & the 845 is not mentioned in it anywhere.

The only article I got from Lew Horton, when I asked about my 845, was a sales flyer for it, nothing on the trigger.

Are you asking about how to adjust it or something else?

And definitely shoot it!

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Waiting for the break of day

Thanks Erocksmash, BLUEDOT37 and 4T5GUY for the info provided. Here is a photo showing the PC 845 document that I am looking for. BLUEDOT37, that is a very nice looking 845 Limited. I am looking for any information regarding the operation of the PC single action triggers on the 845, 3566, 4006 or 5906 PPC.

Attached Images

SW PC 845 Limited Brochure.jpg (26.6 KB, 45 views)

I have a Pro Series, 1911 45acp that I love.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When I bought mine it was NIB . I just checked and there was no brochure like that in it . If you want to shoot one you can always borrow mine .

When I got it I kept telling myself that I wouldn't shoot it , I don't want the value to go down . That lasted about 2 months . An 845 is made to shoot . Yeah , there weren't many made , but I don't think of it as a "collectable ." It was made to shoot , it was intended to be shot by people that appreciate a fine firearm .

Now I know what you are asking, sorry. The picture explained it.

I had some extra time to go through, (OK find,) the boxes to look for what you’re seeking. Nope. None of them has that particular piece of literature.

Like “cherrypointmarine” posted about his, (although mine was not NIB but ANIB/with “everything” so I wouldn’t mind using it,) I thought that it came with everything as advertised in the description. I thought it did but maybe not? I still think my particular 845 does have everything because there’s LOTS of stuff that came with it. I can’t imagine the original owner removing just one item from the total.

Here’s a picture of everything that I got. Well except the 845 because everyone knows what they look like.

Jim

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2A84424A-80A9-48C5-84E3-079395B77CD8.jpg (70.7 KB, 51 views)

Jim , did yours come with a second spring ? Mine has one , I think it's for lower powered rounds .

Thanks to all. Here are three PC Brochures. One came with the 845 and two with the 952. They may contain the information that I am looking for. I called S&W but they did not have any of these documents. If anyone does and can scan the pages, they may contain some or all of the information that I am looking for. Maybe Fastbolt or BMCM could chime in!!
Thanks

Attached Images

	SW PC 845 Limited Brochure.jpg (26.6 KB, 31 views)
	Supplemental Operating Instructions Mod 952-2 SAO.jpg (58.4 KB, 34 views)
	Mod 952-1, 952-2 & 952-3 Safety & Field Stripping Operations 3.jpg (46.2 KB, 38 views)

Here you go - hope this helps you.

Attached Files

	952 operating instructions.pdf (85.0 KB, 59 views)
	952 operating instructions 2.pdf (67.1 KB, 38 views)

Thanks huthike. I can probably eliminate the grip safety and firing pin disconnect aspects and get to the information applicable to the 845. If not, I may have to find the 845 brochure that is shown in the photo below.

Attached Images

SW PC 845 Limited Brochure.jpg (26.6 KB, 7 views)

Your plastic box is different than what mine came in.

Mine came in the plastic box with the beveled corners that was the new "standard" box at that time & it was made on 01/09/1996.

Did the later ones maybe get a Performance Center specific plastic box?

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Waiting for the break of day

The black ones are from the early runs .One of my 945's , product code 170104 the first run , came in a black case . I'm not sure when they stopped using them but I'm sure someone knows . One of my other 945's is product code 170147 which is the second run ? Mine came in the PC case . I was on the big board looking at 945's and there was a 170147 in the black case which it was numbered to , a Lew Horton . So I'm guessing they quit using the old black cases 1999-2000 .

I would have guessed that the early ones got the standard production boxes & the later ones got the black ones with whatever design they had on them?

4T5GUY, when was yours made, per the label?

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Waiting for the break of day

1997.

Most of mine are 1997 & 1998 and they all have the PC black boxes. I don’t have anything from 1999 but the ones I have from 2000 + have the PC blue plastic boxes. The VERY early PC example I have didn’t come with a box and like you I’m pretty sure the original box was cardboard hence long gone.

Jim

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	8924AD51-E5BB-4BE3-B9A7-EB42257F854C.jpg (39.0 KB, 20 views)
	676209BA-6C9F-48FA-8D0C-8A0DE945110D.jpg (54.3 KB, 32 views)

The black boxes actually had no design but they, (most,) had the “GOLDEN LABEL” ha ha. At least the latter blue plastic boxes had the PC emblem molded into the top. I don’t know anything about the aluminum cases because none of my examples that were supposed to come in them have them. That’s fine by me because if the original outer shipping box, (with label,) isn’t with them they’re just another aluminum case. Just my opinion of course.

Jim

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BCD47BA9-DE93-48D1-B8B8-2BC517352031.jpg (47.9 KB, 21 views)

Thanks for the pictures & info.

The first blue plastic boxes (like my 845 came in), which ended most deliveries in the cardboard boxes, seem to have started about mid 1995.

My earliest blue plastic box with the beveled corners is from May-1995.

I wonder when the first black boxes started being used?

Does anyone have a black plastic delivered before 1997?

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Waiting for the break of day

The only black one I have is from the first run of 945's , product code 170104 . The end label has the date as 8203 .

Hmm, that label seems very familiar to me. Looks like they left on the same day but I’m sure my 945 is much better than yours.

Is your serial number higher or lower than 46?

Jim

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C5F1D14F-3F17-4F19-B27B-8D8D3D0EF104.jpg (28.5 KB, 15 views)

Ok Jim , this is getting flipping spooky ! Mine is serial# 43 . But yours is a Lew , mine is a RSA .

Here is info from a thread posted by member Grinder. His photos are no longer there so I added some that I have.



PC pistol box or case ID thread

"I decided to assemble a basic pic group for PC pistol boxes and cases to benefit owners.

#1. The blue texture plastic PC case.
These had the label stuck on the side. Most labels fell off over the years. I find a good percentage under the foam if the owner realized he lost it.
The larger were used in the fullsized models and the smaller in the compacts. Used from 1991-1994. The small model was used on the 1997 170091 .40 Tactical also.



#0. The Briley box.
The 170037 .356TSW Briley shipped in this standard S&W blue cardboard box in 1994. Believe this was because the pistols were shipped in bulk to Briley in unfinished condition.



#2. The standard S&W blue plastic case.
These were used for a very short time in 1995.
The 170067 PC 9mm Compact and 170076 Shorty40 MKIIIS were delivered in these, as well as a few revolvers



#3. The Doskocil black plastic case.
Has a gold PC label on the front and the factory label on the side.
Used on a large number of models from 1996-1998.



#4. The ribbed aluminum PC case first series.
A chinese made case used from 1998 - 2002
The case was shipped in a cardboard box with the label on the outside.
No box = no label



#5. The ribbed aluminum PC case second series
A chinese made case different from #4 used in 2003
Also shipped in a cardboard box with external label.



#6. The PC soft case used from 2003-2005.
These came in a cardboard box with the accessories inside and the label outside.



#7. The smooth aluminum PC case.
Used from 2006 til recently.
Also shipped in a cardboard box containing the label.




Please remember S&W didn't throw much away, a the occasional oddball may show up and the years I listed are rounded off. There are models made over several years which may have different cases. Generally the year it was shipped determines the packaging, not the model. Also pistols which were stored in the vault may have a later generation case.
I hope this helped you PC pistol lovers out there."

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	S&W PC Blue Plastic Case Top.jpg (89.6 KB, 11 views)
	Doskocil Case used by S&W PC.jpg (158.2 KB, 11 views)
	Performance Center Handgun Case.jpg (32.4 KB, 10 views)
	S&W PC Alum Smooth Case.jpg (72.2 KB, 9 views)
	S&W PC 5906 IDPA PC Rug & Shipping Box.jpg (45.0 KB, 10 views)

That’s a great post Red Cardinal and it should be the title of a “notable thread.”

Here is another, the PC Grey Plastic case that my 5906 PPC came in directly from S&W in 2009. Also, the standard blue plastic case briefly used by PC approx 1995.

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	PC Grey Plastic Case for PPC.jpg (75.1 KB, 14 views)
	S&W Std Blue Plastic Case used by PC.jpg (47.7 KB, 9 views)

AND, I am still looking for this PC 845 Brochure. I hope someone has it and will share the info or scan a copy.

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SW PC 845 Limited Brochure 2.jpg (135.7 KB, 10 views)

Red Cardinal, great info. I have PPC 9 5" serial 1000, that I got in 2008 or 9. Box is in the attic. I was wondering how that serial compared to yours, when I got my gun the PC said they did not have any others and were only holding that one in the safe due to the 1000 serial number. Have always wondered if they did another run or how high the serial numbers went on the PPC 9s. Most new PPC shooters were going with 1911s at that time. I was only buying the gun to replace the 5" older model I had sold. And later bought back...Thanks

On the subject of trigger weight , remember the PPC 9 models had to comply with the NRA rule 3.5 lbs mininum weight.

The serial number on my PPC had a UBZ prefix and was in the 6800s. It was shipped to me in Oct 2009. They must have done something. However, I believe they would have used whatever SN was next or available for small runs. As others have said about S&W, "never say never".

I don't think the printed owner's manual has much to say about the actual manual of arms for handling the gun in a competition setting.

The basics are simple. Load the gun, engage the safety, holster (if for USPSA or IDPA etc.) Draw, disengage safety, fire. The devil is in the details, hitting the slide safety quickly calls for its own technique which I doubt the company explains. The which I am not qualified in, I looked hard at a 745 but decided I did not want to reprogram my reflexes from the 1911s I had been shooting for so long.

One of my PPCs has the same UBZ prefix (UBZ 68XX) and gray case as yours pictured above.

Well, it seems that testing the trigger pull on the 845 sent me into hallucination heaven thinking of becoming a bullseye shooter. Searching for information on the SA trigger made me realize that it was an entirely different convention from the traditional DS/SA trigger of the 3rd gens that I have used in LE.

The best trigger pull I have ever experienced and the all American 45APC cartridge without the despised grip safety and magazine disconnect places it above the other Performance Center SA pistols that I have collected at one time or another and then sold.

But I must come back to reality where the most of my training and experience is in defensive shooting. My 3rd gens were decock only or converted to decock only including the 3913, 4006, 4513TSW, 4516-3, 4566TSW and 4506-1. And of course, the 9 Recon, 40 Recon, 45 Recon, and 5906 DPA came de-cock only from the factory. I had my 3566 Compact converted. With all of these pistols setup for defensive shooting, I dare not confuse my old brain with a new convention. Lucky me as I just completed range qualifications with my 3913 and 4006. Therefore, I will soon pass my magnificent 845 to someone else to enjoy whether as a collectible or to shoot.

Attached Images

	S&W PC 845 Limited L On Case 5.jpg (95.1 KB, 34 views)
	S&W PC 845 Limited R On Case.jpg (53.2 KB, 27 views)

Back to the original question, looking for operating instructions for a single action S&W semiauto pistol. Recently, I traded for a 745, and it included the specific manual for the 745 in which I found the instructions for use. I copied the instructions and scanned to a photo below for those who wish to print a copy. Also included is a photo of the donor 745.

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	S&W 745 Left IPSC 10th Anniversary in box.jpg (89.6 KB, 13 views)
	S&W 745 Use Instructions.jpg (117.2 KB, 16 views)

That's neat. I wonder if I have one of those in my 745 box?

The magazine disconnect in the Smith & Wesson design doesn't interfere with the trigger pull/weight/feel in any manner. The grip safety that was used in only the 952-1, 952-2 and the 945-1 also has no interaction whatsoever in any way with the trigger pull/weight/feel in those pistols.

The Model 52/52-1/52-2 has the magazine disconnect and it's got some of the most phenomenal trigger pull weight/weight/feel of anything that S&W ever built.

I have a pair of 845's and they are exquisite and they might be my most loved handguns ever, but I will note that the 52's trigger along with the 952, 4006 Limited, PPC-9 and 3566 Limited trigger all have adjustable pre-travel and over-travel stops that unfortunately the 845 never got.

And yes, even the 745 got the pre-travel and over-travel adjustment of the elite group listed above that the 845 never got. WHY these were left off the 845 is a curious bit of trivia for which we will likely never see an answer.

As for the magazine disconnect safety, this feature never bothered me on any duty/service pistol that also featured a manual decock lever. But a magazine disconnect on a full target pistol such as the 52 or 952-1, 952-2 is not only silly, it's extremely annoying. If you don't have a magazine nearby, it is simply not possible to easily lower the hammer.

Here is a photo of the cover of the 745 IPSC Specific Manual.

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S&W 745 IPSC Specific Manual.jpg (54.0 KB, 10 views)