Perf Center J frames worth the extra expense, need your opinions.

Dang that would be nerve eating :)

It's no big deal. I also do dry fire training. Practice draw from concealment, getting a secure grip, sight alignment, trigger pull. Few minutes here and there. It has become a smooth natural move. When I get to the Range and practice with live ammo it has proven to pay off. I'm not saying I'm a expert or pro. I think I could take care of myself. Hopefully I will never find out.
 
I dry fire them at least 2000 times before I shoot them. This smooths the action. I don't need a light trigger pull.

Haywood is spot on, your costly action job just smooths two parts in the action so they rub smoothly together, same outcome as a lot of dry firing. This is why the old Model 10s and the old M&Ps are so smooth, they have been cycled countless thousands of times. Plus you get the benefit of thousands of cycles of firing the gun in double action so you know how it is supposed to feel.
 
Snap Caps

It's no big deal. I also do dry fire training. Practice draw from concealment, getting a secure grip, sight alignment, trigger pull. Few minutes here and there. It has become a smooth natural move. When I get to the Range and practice with live ammo it has proven to pay off. I'm not saying I'm a expert or pro. I think I could take care of myself. Hopefully I will never find out.

When you dry fire do you use any snap caps? Thanks.
 
Three of my four J-frames are Performance Center: a Talo Enhanced Action 637, a Wyatt Deep Cover 637 and a Pro Series 640. My Model 60 is a standard production revolver.

Is the Model 640 Pro considered a Performance Center pistol? I own one but was under the impression that it is just a normal 640 internally but with Performance Center parts. I am probably mistaken though.
 
Well, I took your advise and jumped in on a almost brand new one I found locally. The trigger pull is actually really good. So much so that I might opt for another one. Thanks for your help, here is a pic of it stoked with Federal Nyclad 158 grn +P lead semi wadcutter hollow points...

I picked up one of these a couple of weeks ago. This was a limited model originally made for Chattanooga Shooting Supply. S&W may have made it available through others as well - I got mine from Bud's.

You can do a search for other threads here with lots of details... The trigger, release, and screws are all stainless and polished. The cylinder is also stainless and the flutes are polished.

The trigger is much smoother and a bit lighter than my stock 642 - the PC trigger is really what sold me the gun. I wasn't sure that I would like the "bling" but it has really grown on me. This is my primary pocket revolver now.
 
I guess I'm simple-minded as well as cheap. I consider a J-frame an up-close-and-all-too-personal defensive gun, not one requiring target accuracy. Being able to precisely stage a trigger is likely to be the last consideration on my mind if, heaven forbid, I have to use my J to save my ancient bacon. Being able to place rounds with minute of miscreant accuracy will suit me just fine. A range gun it ain't, in my old-fashioned book.

If I were buying a new J-frame today, it's highly unlikely I'd spring another $125 for the extras, nice though they may be. A plain, workmanlike self-defense gun is fine, and has been serving people well for a long time.

As shouldazagged said, I'm not certain the enhancements are worth the extra cost involved. I have a 640-1, a 340 M&P and my trusty old Model 60 no dash. Through repeated dry firing with snap caps, you'll get the smoothed-out action so many are looking for. I've got to say I like the idea of the moon clips for quick reloads and ease of carry of spare ammunition, and improved sights are never a bad thing. However, it all depends on what you want to pay for the enhancements.

Unlike some, I believe that an improved trigger and sights are a good thing for greater accuracy. While it's not likely that you'll be using the J-frame for bullseye shooting, better accuracy can be needed under certain conditions, and sights and triggers give you that. For me, I'll work the action for trigger improvements for the most part. I might (and have) even change out sights where possible, but I doubt I'll spend a lot of money for these enhancements on an off-the-shelf gun. About the only thing I can't do myself is to cut the cylinder for moon clips.
 
As shouldazagged said, I'm not certain the enhancements are worth the extra cost involved. I have a 640-1, a 340 M&P and my trusty old Model 60 no dash. Through repeated dry firing with snap caps, you'll get the smoothed-out action so many are looking for. I've got to say I like the idea of the moon clips for quick reloads and ease of carry of spare ammunition, and improved sights are never a bad thing. However, it all depends on what you want to pay for the enhancements.

Unlike some, I believe that an improved trigger and sights are a good thing for greater accuracy. While it's not likely that you'll be using the J-frame for bullseye shooting, better accuracy can be needed under certain conditions, and sights and triggers give you that. For me, I'll work the action for trigger improvements for the most part. I might (and have) even change out sights where possible, but I doubt I'll spend a lot of money for these enhancements on an off-the-shelf gun. About the only thing I can't do myself is to cut the cylinder for moon clips.

Got to agree w/ the above comments.

For me at least, functional enhancements (stainless cylinder, barrel, trigger / better sights, etc.) are a good thing, but "bling" upgrades are money down the drain - on an every day carry, SD gun.

An action that is set up correctly in the first place, will only get better with use.

From the looks of it, I'd be willing to bet lunch, that the OP's new acquisition, will be with him a long time...
 
Well I have to say after having the first one for a couple of days and putting in some snap caps and getting in some serious trigger time, the trigger has smoothed out tremendously. I went to a couple local gun stores today and they both actually had some more of these 442PC models. I compared the enhanced trigger to the 438 that they also had that I really wanted (it also had that d*** IL that I really did not want) and the triggers were night and day and for he $50.00 difference in getting the 442PC at one store that was having a black Friday sale early or getting the 438 with the less than great trigger (when comparing these 2) I opted for another 442PC. Here is a pic of my twins.. I hope to enjoy both of these fine PC 442's. Thanks for all of your help guys, I am glad I opted for the enhanced versions...

btw, I was not thrilled with the plastic belt clip grips that came on them so I opted to swap them to what I had laying around.
 

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Well I have to say after having the first one for a couple of days and putting in some snap caps and getting in some serious trigger time, the trigger has smoothed out tremendously. I went to a couple local gun stores today and they both actually had some more of these 442PC models. I compared the enhanced trigger to the 438 that they also had that I really wanted (it also had that d*** IL that I really did not want) and the triggers were night and day and for he $50.00 difference in getting the 442PC at one store that was having a black Friday sale early or getting the 438 with the less than great trigger (when comparing these 2) I opted for another 442PC. Here is a pic of my twins.. I hope to enjoy both of these fine PC 442's. Thanks for all of your help guys, I am glad I opted for the enhanced versions...

btw, I was not thrilled with the plastic belt clip grips that came on them so I opted to swap them to what I had laying around.

I also bought a pair of these Chattanooga "choo-pinto" PC guns. One had to go to the gunsmith when the DA simply 'gave up the ghost'; I'll learn why when it's ready. The 2nd is merely OK. Neither can compare in smoothness to the "Wyatt" 637 PC guns I bought a few years back. Nor can the 637 PC I recently bought that seems to be little different from a standard production gun. Seems that with PC guns today, "you pays your $ and you takes your chances."

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. OP: so you also don't care for those grips! :D
 
No I did not like those grips...

Also, why are these guns called "Chattanooga Choo Choo's"?

That's just me having a little fun. :) "Chattanooga Choo Choo" is an old Glenn Miller tune; it was the 1st million-seller, if what I read is correct. I'm not a fan of 40s music, but this tune is a real toe-tapper. These guns were ordered by Chattanooga Shooting Supplies. I'm pleased that your "choo-pintos" were made correctly. Happy holidays to you and enjoy your guns!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
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