Update
I have had the chance to wring out my BMCM customized 457 over the last several weeks. The first two shots, were bullseyes on a 3 inch Shoot-N-See target affixed to a B27 at 10 yards.
VERY happy. It was all down hill from there.
The rest of the first range session was VERY frustrating. All my groups were around 3 inches at 10 and then 15 yards, but they were ALL high and right. It was me, not the gun. I have OEM grips on it with a rubber grip sleeve. I'm thinking it allows my large hands TOO much purchase on the grip and consequently too much finger on the trigger. Being a lefty, this accounts for the groups to the right of POA.
As far as the rounds grouping to the right of POA......dunno. Too tight a grip maybe?
Last night I spoke to a fellow who is former Durham P.D. His relative was the P.D. armorer. Their Detective division carried issued 457s and some officers had 457s for off duty carry. He had some interesting insights into the gun. He told me that their 457s were amazingly accurate - as in 2 inches at 25 yards, when new. But as the round count went up, a few high round count guns - 4K+ - started shooting much larger groups. He said the S&W LE rep told them it was due to the slide eating into the frame and there was nothing that could be done.
But according to this gentleman the LE rep also told them to clean the barrels with a stainless steel brush!
They were using lead rounds to qualify.
My 457 has a very high round count, + or - 9K, but my rails, as verified by BMCM through photos, are in pretty good shape. I use synthetic grease on them and have changed my recoil springs around every 2500 rounds. And I am told, by folks who were there, that the prototype 457s were run out to 25K rounds - including proof loads - "...with no appreciable wear observed..".
The second range session went a little better than the first. Some "A" hits. A lot of fast shooting and mag changes while engaging two targets. I was more pleased. And I was using better ammo too. Federal 230 grain ball. During the 1st range session I was using S&B 230 grain ball - because I get it for cheap at the shop I work part time in. But my 457 evidently does not like it as well as Federal and even WWB.
Yesterday, thanks to the kindness and generosity of my friend Jeppo, I got in a third range session with my 457. It started off a little rough, the high right thing again.......and I was using S&B 230 ball again....hey, its cheap and I have A LOT of it.
But when I slowed down a little and worked the basics, the groups - which were still pretty good - got more centered and closer to POA. See? ME not the gun. And then, I shot a drill that we had watched yesterday morning on another board. It was a video by Ken Hackathorn, shooting a drill called the "Wizard". 3 yard line, from the holster, under concealment, 1 shot to the head of an IDPA target in 2.5 seconds. After a few misses I settled down and got a few good hits.
Anyways, it restored my confidence in the 457 as a carry gun and my friend Jeppo certified that it is good enough in my hands for my purposes.
Thanks again to BMCM for all his advice and excellent work - on ALL my guns. But in particular the 457. It is a gun that I have carried often over the last 5 years and due to his work, will be carrying most of the time going forward. It is just the right size, just the right weight and in St Peters favorite caliber. The Goldilocks gun of carry 45s. Regards 18DAI
I have had the chance to wring out my BMCM customized 457 over the last several weeks. The first two shots, were bullseyes on a 3 inch Shoot-N-See target affixed to a B27 at 10 yards.
VERY happy. It was all down hill from there.The rest of the first range session was VERY frustrating. All my groups were around 3 inches at 10 and then 15 yards, but they were ALL high and right. It was me, not the gun. I have OEM grips on it with a rubber grip sleeve. I'm thinking it allows my large hands TOO much purchase on the grip and consequently too much finger on the trigger. Being a lefty, this accounts for the groups to the right of POA.
As far as the rounds grouping to the right of POA......dunno. Too tight a grip maybe?
Last night I spoke to a fellow who is former Durham P.D. His relative was the P.D. armorer. Their Detective division carried issued 457s and some officers had 457s for off duty carry. He had some interesting insights into the gun. He told me that their 457s were amazingly accurate - as in 2 inches at 25 yards, when new. But as the round count went up, a few high round count guns - 4K+ - started shooting much larger groups. He said the S&W LE rep told them it was due to the slide eating into the frame and there was nothing that could be done.
But according to this gentleman the LE rep also told them to clean the barrels with a stainless steel brush!
They were using lead rounds to qualify.My 457 has a very high round count, + or - 9K, but my rails, as verified by BMCM through photos, are in pretty good shape. I use synthetic grease on them and have changed my recoil springs around every 2500 rounds. And I am told, by folks who were there, that the prototype 457s were run out to 25K rounds - including proof loads - "...with no appreciable wear observed..".
The second range session went a little better than the first. Some "A" hits. A lot of fast shooting and mag changes while engaging two targets. I was more pleased. And I was using better ammo too. Federal 230 grain ball. During the 1st range session I was using S&B 230 grain ball - because I get it for cheap at the shop I work part time in. But my 457 evidently does not like it as well as Federal and even WWB.
Yesterday, thanks to the kindness and generosity of my friend Jeppo, I got in a third range session with my 457. It started off a little rough, the high right thing again.......and I was using S&B 230 ball again....hey, its cheap and I have A LOT of it.
But when I slowed down a little and worked the basics, the groups - which were still pretty good - got more centered and closer to POA. See? ME not the gun. And then, I shot a drill that we had watched yesterday morning on another board. It was a video by Ken Hackathorn, shooting a drill called the "Wizard". 3 yard line, from the holster, under concealment, 1 shot to the head of an IDPA target in 2.5 seconds. After a few misses I settled down and got a few good hits.
Anyways, it restored my confidence in the 457 as a carry gun and my friend Jeppo certified that it is good enough in my hands for my purposes.
Thanks again to BMCM for all his advice and excellent work - on ALL my guns. But in particular the 457. It is a gun that I have carried often over the last 5 years and due to his work, will be carrying most of the time going forward. It is just the right size, just the right weight and in St Peters favorite caliber.
The Goldilocks gun of carry 45s. Regards 18DAI
Now, I have to import it or possibly wait for the Sept 21 show. 
