Performance Center vs standard production revolvers - worth the extra price?

[MXP]

Yes, I can see that. The difference between 0.004 and 0.006 would be next to nothing. It is only if you can eliminate the gap 100% there is a significant gain in velocity. But not many revolvers are "gas tight". I only know the Russian Nagant and I think I have seen a s&w .22 single shooter with a very long barrel where the chamber is in the barrel like a pistol. You may not call that a revolver but it looks like a revolver.

 

[MXP]

Yes, I can see that. The difference between 0.004 and 0.006 would be next to nothing. It is only if you can eliminate the gap 100% there is a significant gain in velocity. But not many revolvers are "gas tight". I only know the Russian Nagant and I think I have seen a s&w .22 single shooter with a very long barrel where the chamber is in the barrel like a pistol. You may not call that a revolver but it looks like a revolver.

This one:
http://www.************************...g-rifle-ctg-single-shot-10-barrel-pistol.html

.....the URL auto generation tool did not work......but if link is copied to browser it works.

Funny gun.......

 

[MXP]

This one:
http://www.************************...g-rifle-ctg-single-shot-10-barrel-pistol.html

.....the URL auto generation tool did not work......but if link is copied to browser it works.

Funny gun.......

Search on this topic:
Need assistance with a S&W 22 Long Rifle CTG single shot 10" barrel pistol

......the system destroys the link

......looks like a collectors item.....

 

[kennyb]

I love al of mine (5) from the performance center

 

[pakm]

model 27-R8

I also have a model 27 with 5 inch barrel, and it an awesome shooter. I had to have a R8 (27) and paided the price for it. I also have a model 28 with a trigger job on it. Actually I like the 28 a little better then the other two. (there is no one around here I trust to do a trigger job on my guns.) South Houston. but I did pick up a Ruger SP100 a while back., it's double action is better than the two model 27's about about the same as my model 28. it's got a 4 inch barrel and it might be a little heavy, but it's a real accurate shooter.('o' I shoot double action almost always),, the only gun with as smooth as my 28 is another model 28 that I have had for about the last 40 years or so. A friend put a .44 special barrel on a model 28, reamed out the cylinder to .44 special, reblued the whole gun, and did a trigger job on it. the single action pull broke at 3.1 lb.s(ok, it was about 40 years ago.)(it also shot off a ramsome rest, a 1 1/2" group at 50 yards ) but I shoot all of them and love them all. and ofcourse there are others to play with. but any of the "N" frame smiths are hard to beat. but the Rugers in 100 and 101 are coming up just behind them.

 

[slenet]

I own a 686 Pro Series 5" and a 686 Competitor PC 6". Never touched again the Pro Series since i tested the Competitor. Ok the setup is pretty different (barrel lenght/sight radius and weight). I would not say that i like it for the origin from Performance Center, but it gives me confidence to own a good revolver, tested by objective criterias.

 

[adams484]

I agree but...

If the question was applied to more pedestrian models like the Model 60 or 686, then I'd say save the money and go for the production line guns. I could afford it if I wanted to spend the bucks, but the production guns are more than fine.

I agree with Ashlander but when you consider that $900 verses an additional $300 then "In for a penny in for a pound" comes to mind. When the additional is over $500 I would be itemizing the benefits before going ahead.

But having the extra grips and figuring that $200 would be labor attributed to hand tuning then it might not be a bad deal.

But again like Ashlander said the production guns are fine. I absolutely love my 686 and could not make it better if I wanted to.

 

[CCV]

Loved the revolver, but I had to change the stocks.

 

[Ed Fowler]

MPX there is a very good discussion in the antiques section.

 

[Cal44]

I have snubs in both 44 magnum and 357 magnum.

The 357 is a PC gun, the 44 is not (however it was a special run).

Both are equally nice.

627 PC:

629:

 

[MXP]

I think s&w should adapt some of the PC craftsmanship to the standard production. E.g. the precision crowing, the polish of the trigger parts. Ensure barrel is perfect and not canted etc. You expect this to be perfect when you get a s&w? ......I do at least ....if not you could just buy a Colt?

 

[grumpy7159]

I have the 627PC and a 625PC. Both are better than my production 29, 60, and 17. But I sent a Ruger GP100 to Cylinder and Slide and the difference is the same as night and day. Double action groups tightened up to almost the same as my single action groups. I will send any new production Smiths to a reputable pistol smith to have the custom work done even if it costs a little more.

 

[fltmap]

I own a 627 Performance Center, and it is definitely a quality firearm. However, the first thing I did with the weapon after receiving it was to take it to my gunsmith and have a trigger job done. As it came from the factory, the trigger was simply not acceptable, in my opinion, for a Performance Center weapon. After the trigger was worked on, the pull was noticeably lower, although not as good as my numerous 686's after they have been worked on. Nonetheless, I enjoy firing all the Smith and Wesson wheelguns that I own....and most of them are equipped with red dot sights, and used for shooting steel plates, from as far away as 25 yards.

 

[mule69]

I do not own a regular production 686 but I do own the Performance Center model 686 Plus. Contrary to some comments above I really do not think you could send a regular production model to a gunsmith and end up with the results you do with a Performance Center. My PC is simply gorgeous and worth every penny.

 

[GeorgeD]

I have owned 2 PC 627's. Of all the handguns I have owned or carried in the military they are number 1 and 2 the most accurate handguns I have fired! Enough said!

 

[cal50]

I cant fault any of my PC guns actions as received from S&W. All of them have been extremely smooth DA , no stacking and crisp SA break.

One of the signature traits of most PC guns are special barrel profiles and lengths that you can not get easily from a pistolsmith or aftermarket cost efficiently.

 

[Barrie]

I have been considering selling my 1958 year model M41 to get the money for a PC627. I think they are the nicest pistol I have ever seen anywhere. I also own a M46 as well so I will get by without the 41 needless to say.

 

[cal50]

I have been considering selling my 1958 year model M41 to get the money for a PC627. I think they are the nicest pistol I have ever seen anywhere. I also own a M46 as well so I will get by without the 41 needless to say.

The 41's are sweet and I have owned a few thru the years. I would get one, keep it a while , sell it, miss it then buy another. After I sold my 3rd one I decided I wanted a field pistol more than a full target gun.

I ended up getting a Ruger MKII slab side target & a 627 PC.
( I don't miss the 41's any longer)

 

[BLUEDOT37]

The roughness of it's forcing cone & uneven (side to side) B-C gap were disappointing though. You see this on production models but apparently isn't given any special treatment/attention on PC models. Personally I don't see any obvious signs of "hand fitting" on the new guns, unlike on the old PC guns.

I just read this thread which has a picture of the rough forcing cone of the owners PC629.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...neven-forcing-cone-erosion.html#post138605948

This looked similar to mine & to me doesn't represent any "extra attention to detail" provided on PC offerings.

.

 

[bigfatty]

I just read this thread which has a picture of the rough forcing cone of the owners PC629.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...neven-forcing-cone-erosion.html#post138605948

This looked similar to mine & to me doesn't represent any "extra attention to detail" provided on PC offerings.

.

Same experience. I got mine with a poorly machined cylinder that would alternately close and not close, a precision crowned barrel with precision tool marks on it, and the front sight placed so far to the left it'd make you cross eyed ... among other flaws. I had to send it in ... replaced the barrel, extractor, reseated the sight, refinished the entire revolver ... well, they were nice enough not to finish buffing out some of the wavey lines from the rough steps ....

Not overly impressed with fit, finish and attention to detail. You do get a lot of value for the additional features, though, although I'm still trying to figure out why the gave mine a dovetailed front sight which is resulted in little more than making sure I can't put an aftermarket sight on it because nobody makes anything to fit it ...