5906 PPC

[4T5GUY]

Another question that I’ve wondered about is the PPC9’s acceptance targets.

Did all of the three different PPC9’s originally come with acceptance targets? (5 rnds, 1” @ 25 yrds.) The few 5” short dust cover examples that I’ve seen have acceptance targets done by Tom Gordon. Mine is dated 12-22-98 but I copied two from 1997.

Jim

 

[CALREB]

To answer Jim Watson, it's because they already had the gun. The Target Champion was already made just for WISCHO in Germany and the 356 TSW model even earlier. Just had to change the rear sight and get permission for sales to US. I was told years ago, by a PC person, that was the reason sales were to LE only. The first year there was an open division Semiauto match at the Police Nationals was 1997 and people were scrambling to get something to shoot. Someone at S/W came up with the idea of using the Target Champion, with an Aristocrat 3 position rear sight and calling it the PPC model. If model 52s had only been 6 rounds !!!

 

[colt_saa]

If model 52s had only been 6 rounds !!!

Actually model 52s are quite easy to convert to 6 shot. All it needs is to have the slot extended straight down in the magazine body.

I have six or eight magazines that I converted this way that have been used in various matches over the years. I even was told I was cheating once by not using a revolver and I asked them to point out the rule that said I couldn't use my Model 52. For more than 25 years these magazines have proven to be 100 percent reliable

When I did the first conversion I actually tried to make one a 7 shot magazine but it was simply not consistently reliable that way

 

[Sevens]

If you stumble across enough magazines you will find that some mistakenly tried to up the capacity by milling out an extension that exactly follows the geometry you already see and that has proven futile — and that milling out at an angle that follows the magazine body like you did does work.

The saving grace is that even these altered magazines, whose crazy value is dashed with the modifications will still feed the original capacity of five properly.

 

[Dino44]

Update, I raised the funds to purchase the 5906 PPC 6". I drove to the shop today and found out a collector from New York beat me to it. As promised price would have been $1899.99 plus tax, 6.35% in CT. "Snooze you lose" applied in this case. I am glad however, that a fellow collector is going to have a "Merry Christmas" though. Plus, there is always something else out there.

 

[colt_saa]

At that price I would have crawled there on my knees, in the snow and even put it on a credit card that I couldn't afford to pay off to get that deal . . .and I already have one

I am not surprised that 9 days after your first posting it is already gone

 

[Dino44]

At that price I would have crawled there on my knees, in the snow and even put it on a credit card that I couldn't afford to pay off to get that deal . . .and I already have one

I am not surprised that 9 days after your first posting it is already gone

LOL, I just didn't want to go the credit card route this time. I took a shot at waiting, because the higher end, and more rare guns I have been seeing at the shops I frequent, have been sitting for a while. Inflation has definitely been a factor the past few years. Even in a state with some affluent buyers.

 

[BigBoss3006]

LOL, I just didn't want to go the credit card route this time. I took a shot at waiting, because the higher end, and more rare guns I have been seeing at the shops I frequent, have been sitting for a while. Inflation has definitely been a factor the past few years. Even in a state with some affluent buyers.

Not surprising in CT. As a native, gun culture is all but gone there. Relatively few good shops left. I picked up a Shorty Forty for less than $500 the last time i visited CT, happened to be sitting behind the glass while i was at the range

 

[Tntcwg3]

Wow, I can't remember the last time I saw ANY long slide variation that went for less than $2k! I'd have hurdled a crawling colt_saa to beat him to that deal( and I don'trun or jump anymore)! I'm glad to hear you have the 945-1 to console you; more than once I've missed out on several want-list guns while pursuing something else, then ended up missing on it, too.

 

[Taj]

In 2000 they made the 5906 "Super 9" it came with 3 - 5" bbls, 9x19, 9x21, 356 TSW. It also came with a tuned single action trigger. (I can't find a 6" 5906 in S&W 4th edition)

When I was working there....and being an old PPC shooter, several of us where trying to get them to make a 6" version of the PPC 9. At that time they did not have the machinery with the capacity to make a slide that long. Right after I retired one of my buddies that still worked there said they now could make a long slide, but unfortunately I was never able to get my hands on one. I am very jealous! I do have a Super 9 and it is a great pistol, but it is not a Performance Center built gun.

 

[Taj]

colt_ssa, Thank you Sir, for the additional information. I now have a different problem. While I was contemplating the magazine issue here in CT. This afternoon, I came into possession of a beautiful 945-1. Now I have to figure out how to fund the PPC. I will start a new thread to show off the 45.

Dino,

I could always buy it for you Brother and just hang onto it until you can fund it. Of course I'd have to make sure it was all working correctly before you took possession.

 

[colt_saa]

In 2000 they made the 5906 "Super 9" it came with 3 - 5" bbls, 9x19, 9x21, 356 TSW. It also came with a tuned single action trigger. (I can't find a 6" 5906 in S&W 4th edition)

Page 435 of the 4th edition Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson lists the 6" 5906PPC product code, 170223, in the left column

 

[colt_saa]

When I was working there....and being an old PPC shooter, several of us where trying to get them to make a 6" version of the PPC 9. At that time they did not have the machinery with the capacity to make a slide that long. Right after I retired one of my buddies that still worked there said they now could make a long slide, but unfortunately I was never able to get my hands on one. I am very jealous! I do have a Super 9 and it is a great pistol, but it is not a Performance Center built gun.

I am not sure what years you are referring to, but in 1992 Team Smith & Wesson had Model 3566 Limited pistols with both 5" and 6" slide assemblies. Paul Liebenberg built them

Paul made the ugly magazine extension himself for his 3566 Limited

 

[Tntcwg3]

Wasn't there a video review on that special 3566 on "Forgotten Weapons"?

 

[jt1207]

Wasn't there a video review on that special 3566 on "Forgotten Weapons"?

Yes, they have two videos on the 3566. One on the 5" and one on the one in colt saa's picture. I've watched them both

 

[TomG1965]

To Taj,
You mentioned "while I was working there" does that mean the PC or S&W in general?
TG

 

[TomG1965]

Another question that I’ve wondered about is the PPC9’s acceptance targets.

Did all of the three different PPC9’s originally come with acceptance targets? (5 rnds, 1” @ 25 yrds.) The few 5” short dust cover examples that I’ve seen have acceptance targets done by Tom Gordon. Mine is dated 12-22-98 but I copied two from 1997.

Jim

All PPC 9's were supposed to come with targets, but the early ones didn't always have them. I have copies of every PPC 9 I ever built, the original was always shipped with the gun. The short dust cover was done to enhance slide velocity, later determined to be not required.
TG

 

[4T5GUY]

All PPC 9's were supposed to come with targets, but the early ones didn't always have them. I have copies of every PPC 9 I ever built, the original was always shipped with the gun.

Guess I’m slow sometimes TomG1965.

I kept thinking about it and it finally came together.

Jim

 

[4T5GUY]

I have copies of every PPC 9 I ever built, the original was always shipped with the gun.

Have you ever counted your total number of various configured PPC 9 targets? That would be an insight into the PPC 9 production numbers.

As I’ve said here before, the only name associated with any of the PPC 9 acceptance targets I’ve seen were by Tom Gordon. Was there anyone else crafting/test driving these?

Appreciate your input.

Jim

 

[CALREB]

When the first 6" PPC 9s were given out to the best PPC shooters they were built exactly like the 6" pictured by Colt SAA. John Pride got one, I believe Mark Cobb, probably Tippet and for sure Phil Hemphill. I do not know how many were made. After seeing John's several of us got on the line to the P/C and ordered 6" guns. Most of us were shooting 6" 1911s (Springfield Customs) but wanted a backup that didn't cost near what a 1911 did. When ours came, a month or so later, they had the full dustcovers. I have tried to chase down one of the earlier models, but it had been sold several times.