Tell a story of your personal Performance Center epiphany

[clang444]

They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words:

This was my 1st PC gun. I bought it from a dealer that specialized in pre-ban black rifles during the Clinton gun ban. The dealer would buy whole collections to get at the pre-ban guns he wanted which were then advertised on the internet. All other guns were usually sold locally at very reasonable prices.

During one of my visits he showed me this Tactical .40. I didn't even want a 40 cal but the gun just oozed quality. Now it's probably one of the last guns I would ever part with.

 

[Sevens]

Yes! Though I am not a huge .40cal guy either, I ~really~ wanted that pistol and thought I had a fighting chance at one a couple years ago on a Gunbroker auction. As it turned out, one bidder was willing to go more and I will always feel like I missed a good one there. And the drop-dead gorgeous two-tone reminds me of my 745's that I love. She's such a beauty!

 

[toddcfii]

Thanks

Ha, it reads a little funny when you are patiently waiting for a decent price on a 5-inch 952 when you've revealed that you have both the 6-inch guns in 952 and PPC-9! (because those cost a mint!)

And would it be bad to point out that there are two versions of the 5-inch PPC-9? There's the more common long dust cover and the seemingly more rare short/square slide. The muzzle end looks just like the aforementioned SD-9/40/356 pistols.

You've got some KILLER pistols!

Thanks Sevens. I think I got a couple good deals on the 6 inchers. I did not know there were two versions of the 5 inch PPC9 though! Interesting. The 5 inch PPC9 I had came with a black plastic case that had a PC sticker on it. The 6 inch PPC9 I have came with a metal PC case. I am guessing the plastic case was sent out with the early PPC9s. I think the 5 inch I had had the short square slide. See pics.

 

[Sevens]

Yes, though I definitely don't know FOR SURE, that square-muzzle slide seems to be the more rare of the two offered. Beautiful!

 

[Stentor]

As I started to explore and appreciate a wider range of handguns I stumbled upon S&W PC firearms.

My first PC pistol was a PPC9 (5 inch)--which got me hooked.

After that I picked up a very nice 952 long slide.

And I just got a 945 (no dash, stainless).

It's fair to say I have become a fan of the 3rd Generation PC pistols.

 

[EPGuy80]

I don't have a PC gun. I really want one. But I want the never to be found Shorty 9. Gunbroker has a couple of Shorty 40's, but I'm not a huge 40 guy. I bought my 4013 because I wanted to be able to shoot 40 if I can't find 9. I was thinking about snapping up one of them, but I have a couple of friends that swear it's too much to pay for one. My main concern is if I do get one, I'll want to shoot it because I keep reading that it's awesome, but I won't shoot it because they don't make 'em like that anymore. Such a catch 22.

 

[Kevin G]

I wanted a model 52 when I first became aware of their existence. About 15 years ago I went to the LGS to look at a model 52-2. Young sales clerk mistakenly showed me a 9 mm gun tagged as a 952 And marked $825. Ended up buying the 52–2 I was seeking, upon getting home I researched the 952–1, got on the phone for mediately, put it on hold and owned it the next day.
A couple years later, same LGS, a large Smith 45 in the case marked performance center 645 for $850. Store had a copy of the standard catalog was able to determine it was an 845 so I bought it.
Kevin

 

[Sevens]

Stories like that can STILL HAPPEN these days, I would just guess that it would be a much more rare occurrence. More likely to be a gun show find than a gun shop -- I think the internet has made these guns far more difficult to "hide." The 845 in particular is extremely good at hiding because it is one of very few S&W pistols that don't have a model number displayed on it anywhere. (well, the more limited second series does...)

 

[Protocall_Design]

I started shooting matches in 1979 with S&W revolvers. Don't do autos. Got tired of paying someone to work on them, then get it back and poorly done. I'm a tool & die maker by trade, so I started doing my own. There has been a learning curve over the years, but I could always end up with what I wanted, with quality workmanship.

You always pay for your education one way or another, in money, time, ruined parts, buying tools, etc. It has been a fun and rewarding journey though. I can now make a S&W revo into anything I want it to be and have a stable of premium, one of a kind, tack driving ones. For me, the real Performance Center is my shop. Been tuning and building all out custom ones for a long time. Just my personal ones though.

 

[Rock185]

IIRC, it was about '99. I had gone to a gun shop I frequented to buy a Colt Special Combat Government. They usually had things like Custom Shop Colts, Ed Browns, etc. in stock. I noticed they had a PC 945, no dash, in stock. I don't recall if I'd ever even seen a 945 before. Anyway, as I was a regular customer, and assured them I'd buy it if I scratched it, they allowed me to field strip the Colt SCG and the 945. The difference in the fit of barrel/bushing/slide/frame between the two was obvious. The Colt seemed to have been assembled, like any other production model, not fitted. The fit of the 945 was more like SIG P210s I'd owned. No comparison in my mind. I went home with the 945. In the years afterwards, I bought several more Performance Center guns. Only have three PC guns left, but wish I'd kept them all.....

Added a photo of two of the three PC guns I have left, 4" and 5" DPA 5906s.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

A couple years later, same LGS, a large Smith 45 in the case marked performance center 645 for $850. Store had a copy of the standard catalog was able to determine it was an 845 so I bought it.

I heard the new SCSW#4 now has a picture of one in it, making identification even easier.

.

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

My first PC pistol was a used PC9 that I paid $450 at a gun shop in the mid-90s. I was told the original owner said it was an inaccurate shooter. For the price, I also got a $100 IWB holster also. The original owners story was completely wrong. I put a set of Trijicon Novak night sights on it and carried it for many years. It was light, quick and easy to shoot a clean APOSTC score. It resides in the safe today.

 

[625smith]

Not much of a story teller. The first PC auto that I shot was the 945. Great shooting pistol shoots better than me! Added a 952 long slide and an 845. Got to love the quality of the PC pistols.

945


952


645, 645, 745, 845, 945

 

[Turn & Bank]

Hi Sevens and all
Hmm, for me anyway, I'm not sure I'd use epiphany in context with anything other than religion but in the context of enlightenment yeah OK I'll go for it. I don't remember how it struck me but I knew of the PC guns and having more cash then brains I stumbled upon a 3566 and snagged it. Phew, that hurt! Since then I've purchased 4 more PC's (all the old stuff) and after that 3566 the others were cheap! How's that for a frame of reference. The PC-9 and PC-45 will probably go out the door one of these days and if I recall the PC-9 has not been fired but the 45 has but still looks new. Anyway they're great pieces and I should off the 3566 as it is unfired with like 6 mags and 1000 rounds of ammo but I just love that all stainless frame! Oh the humanities! Not much of a story but it's mine! Ha, ha!
All of you Stay Safe!
T & B

 

[Sevens]

Who has brought home their first true Performance Center pistol lately, and has a story to share?

*TRUE means please don't add a tale where a robin's egg blue ported "PC" Shield or an M&P 15-22 is the subject, bleccchhh.

 

[the big guy]

I think my first was a 945 5". Then a 3566 5" and a case of ammo. Spent the next 20 years haunting gun shows looking for a compact. A friend told me about GB, found that compact almost immediately, along with more than a few others like the shorter 945's, 952's and on and on! Scored a NIB 845 at a LGS for 750.00. PC semi autos are the finest guns I have ever handled, they absolutely amaze me. I mostly shoot a 745, because I hate to put the wear on the PC's!

 

[Rskoski]

My first post seems appropriate to highlight my first Performance Center PC9 I just pickup recently. I had no idea how great the triggers were on these. I have had a regular 6909 for years but it is of no comparison.

 

[Rskoski]

I did however find one surprise when I went to disassemble the pistol to thoroughly clean it. I have never seen this application used before in a magazine. This is probably because I am fortunate that I live somewhere that I don't have to deal with such issues.

 

[vigil617]

I did however find one surprise when I went to disassemble the pistol to thoroughly clean it. I have never seen this application used before in a magazine. This is probably because I am fortunate that I live somewhere that I don't have to deal with such issues.

I'm speechless. For goodness's sake, somebody send Rskoski a PC magazine so his gun won't have to endure this cobbled-together embarrassment any longer than necessary!

A fine gun for your foray into the PC semi-autos, sir! And since you are new to them, here's a hint in case you have trouble getting the gun reassembled with the tight-tolerance Briley bushing: from outside the muzzle, use the barrel to line up the bushing at a slight angle that will allow you to then slip the barrel into position inside the slide, then voila! Barrel will drop in like a charm.

 

[Sevens]

Shameless thread bump, we need some of the newer folks to add their experiences.

Myself, I have added two PC guns in the recent past, I need to get some pictures up.