S&W Model 952-3 PC

Bizio · Feb 13, 2011

Hi all,

I saw yesterday a Model 952-3 PC blued 9x21IMI at a very interesting price in almost mint conditions.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57766_757752_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

The dealer told me that S&W PC discontinued this model as it is with 945-1 model 45ACP.
I had a search through the forums with '952' keyword but I was not able to get any result.
Some of you has this gun ? Any info about it please ?
Thank you in advance.

RGPM1A · Feb 13, 2011

As far as the cartridge goes check out this link:

9x21mm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As for the gun I have a 952-2 that is in 9mm, not 9x21. Its a fine gun and can be very accurate if you can spend the time developing reloads that it likes - didn't have much luck with factory ammo. After much effort I found some 115 and 150 grain LSWCs and developed loads that are very accurate in my gun (1"to 1.5" 5 shot groups at 25 yards). I also developed some very light loads with 115, 124 and 147 grain LRN bullets for shooting steel plates but to use them I need to use a recoil spring from a model 52-2.

After having the gun for some time now I have the following opinions:

The factory trigger on these guns is very crisp and creep free but is too heavy (around 3.5 to 4 lb) for bullseye work. I had to do a trigger job on mine to bring it down to 2.5 lb. Now its as good a shooter as my 52-2 with the above mentioned loads. If you have young eyes the sights are as good as those on a 52. But if you require optics a company called BME mounts sells mounts that replace the rear sight and mount one of the many brands of reflex or micro red dots.

IMHO the gun is a very good plate gun in games where you are only shooting 5 or 6 plates. For other games that require high capacity magazines I don't think the gun is a good choice because it only has 9 round magazines. For games that high capacity magazines are required I use a HiPower. Also for games that have power factor floors you would probably want a long slide version of the gun but I don't know if the 952-3 was made in a long slide version.

Hope this helps.

Bizio · Feb 13, 2011

Hello RGPM1A,

thank you for your feed back.
I decided to buy the 952-3 and I went to the range to test it.

You' are perfectly right, the trigger seems to be a little 'heavy' if compared to 52-2 38 WC (I have two of them).
Actually our Italian 9x21 is the equivalent of your 9 mm. caliber but I think just the lenght of the case is different, yours should be I think 'Parabellum' or 'Luger' 9x19 mm while our Italian is 9x21 mm due to the limits imposed by laws that 9 mm Parabellum is reserved to the Army and to the Police.
I used reloaded ammunitions I had ready for my Sig-Sauer with 5,1 grs VV N340 and FMJ Fiocchi 123 grs bullet.

RGPM1A · Feb 13, 2011

Congratulations on the pistol. It looks really nice in blue rather than stainless. Actually it would be very hard to tell the difference between your 952-3 and a 52-2. If you want to know how to make your trigger pull the same as a 52 PM me and I will tell you what you need to do.

Bizio · Feb 13, 2011

Thank you, RGPM1A
PM sent.

Grinder · Feb 13, 2011

They are an export model of the 952 for countries which limit 9X19 caliber. Quite rare here in the states. I wonder how many were exported.

Bizio · Feb 13, 2011

That's exactly the model 952-3 9x21 IMI I own, Grinder.

I can give a ring tomorrow to Bignami SpA, the S&W distributor in Italy and check with them if they kept any historical trace of the number of pieces thay have imported from USA.

Bizio · Feb 24, 2011

Unfortunatly no answer yet to my inquiry from Bignami Spa

S&W Model 952-3 PC

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