New PC Shorty .40 duo

Engine49guy · Jul 8, 2021

The story,
So my local gun shop "haunt" has had a pair of SW Shorty Fortys in the case for the past three years, I musta looked at them a hundred times but never had that much interest in a .40 CCW until a few days ago.

So was cleaning my PC9 comparing it to my run O the mill Model 6906 and admiring its build quality when suddenly it peaked my interest to research these "Shorty 40" variants... yadda yadda yadda I looked them up in the SCSW.
Long story short parleted two HK4 Pistols that had been hiding in the back of the safe into these two SW PC gems.
One is at the very end of the first 1500 run at PCS 1435, The other is from the low production second run at SPC 0116.
Can't believe it took me two years to finally have them "PING" on my radar.

Heymatt · Jul 8, 2021

Nice pickup, congrats!

4T5GUY · Jul 8, 2021

I agree with you passing over them. Originally.

I wasn’t interested in .40’s at all but that has changed. For whatever reason they aren’t popular in my area. Really nice ones, (some as new in case,) have been showing up for low prices. Of course I have to get them and I’m now actively searching for others.

I got mine real cheap so I could justify getting a complete MKIII top end with extra parts for it. It’s very happy on the 2nd run of the first and looks good doing it.

That’s pretty cool you have two of them now.

Jim

Engine49guy · Jul 8, 2021

For those interested in the evolution of the SW .40 caliber Performance Center "Shorty Forty" variants and its evolution here are a couple interesting threads:

History of the 40 S&W

F.B.I. why .10mm. over .45ACP. ?

twistedracer · Jul 8, 2021

Congratulations on your pair of 40’s.
I was the opposite of you. A Shorty 40 is what I was looking for and found myself a NIB MK3S.
Not long after that I was able to pick up a beautiful PC9 off a forum member here to keep it company.
I think the Shorty 40’s and PC9’s go hand in hand.
Definitely keepers.

DMcBB · Jul 8, 2021

To OP and the other folks here with PC Shorty pistols - how do you like the triggers? I briefly had a Shorty 40 and it had a very stiff SA trigger pull that really turned me off. Are they all like that or did I have a weirdo?

twistedracer · Jul 9, 2021

DMcBB said:
To OP and the other folks here with PC Shorty pistols - how do you like the triggers? I briefly had a Shorty 40 and it had a very stiff SA trigger pull that really turned me off. Are they all like that or did I have a weirdo?

My Shortys triggers SA pull are in the 6.25 to 6.5 lbs range. From what I’ve read, these pistols even though they are Performance Center, were made for duty carry. That’s why the stiff SA pull. But typical Smith, nice clean breaks.

colt_saa · Jul 9, 2021

Engine49guy said:
The story,
So my local gun shop "haunt" has had a pair of SW Shorty Fortys in the case for the past three years, I musta looked at them a hundred times but never had that much interest in a .40 CCW until a few days ago.

So was cleaning my PC9 comparing it to my run O the mill Model 6906 and admiring its build quality when suddenly it peaked my interest to research these "Shorty 40" variants... yadda yadda yadda I looked them up in the SCSW.
Long story short parleted two HK4 Pistols that had been hiding in the back of the safe into these two SW PC gems.
One is at the very end of the first 1500 run at PCS 1435, The other is from the low production second run at SPC 0116.
Can't believe it took me two years to finally have them "PING" on my radar.

Congratulations on the new additions to the Family. I am very fond of the Performance Center offerings from these earlier years of the PC

I am not sure if you realize it, but those are two different Shorty 40s with different product codes.

The PCS serialized one is product code 170011. Your example is from the third run of 500 pieces that Lew Horton had ordered.

The second pistol (SPC serial) may be the rarest variation of Shorty 40s. It is not a second run of Shorty 40s, it is a Shorty 40 MK-II, product code 170060. I do not think anyone has nailed down how many of these were manufactured. I realize you kind of hinted at this in your post

There are two visual clues that stand out on the different auto loader frames. Product code 170011 only has grooves on the front strap and has the original short tang on the back of the frame.

If you look at the second pistol, product code 170060, the front strap is checkered and the rear tang is noticeably longer.

Here is my MK-II

The older 170011 should have left the factory with a flash chromed hammer, trigger and magazine release.

Those might have been changed by the original owner to get the two firearms to appear more like twins. However more likely the assemblers ran out of the flash chromed parts and used the traditional black parts. Or of course the assembler might have grabbed or been given the wrong part set.

SVT28 · Jul 9, 2021

Nice shorty 40s OP. First and foremost, we will need a range report soon! Like you, it took me a while to warm up to the offerings from S&W in 40. My first 4046 had extraction problems and I did not like the DA trigger.

Fast forward to current times and I’m always looking for another discontinued 40. I love my 4040PD, Shorty 40, PC Comp 40, and CHP4006. I also like other manufacturers offerings in this caliber, like my p226 legion in 357 sig with extra 40 barrel or my 2 tone USP compact in 40.

My most recent acquisition is one you don’t see often (I think it’s been discontinued) and shoots as good if not better than my shorty 40 with similar dimensions, capacity, and build quality. It’s not a S&W though (gasp)

It’s this Sig P224 Equinox.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Engine49guy · Jul 9, 2021

Thanks Mark,
The info in my SCSW 3 is vague, using the sites search function resulted in quite a bit of threads about the Shorty 40, most were buy sell but the pics showed several variations .
I had intended to buy the 2nd variant after reading it had lower production numbers, it was also in slightly better condition but ended up buying both.
Of course now thinking I need the 3rd style n both finishes to complete the trio,
....
Of course then will need a Shorty 45 too but you know this addiction never ends

.

Btw, while I do not know if that first run parts were originally Flash chromed and changed my assumption is it came that way based solely on the high serial from the 3rd run of 500 and that the type 2 have the black controls.
Would be interesting to have some owners with high serial first style guns compare theirs.

As for the triggers while I find all 3 of my PC's DA triggers to be smoother than my 6906, none are as light as my DAO 3953 trigger but that is a totally different system that "Pre cocks" the hammer, downside is no second strike capability.

On a side note the .40 caliber mags have a "dimple" that protrudes at the lower front with a mating channel cut in the front of the magwell, interestingly my PC9 has the same channel cut in the magwell that allows the 40 mags to be inserted but the 6906 does not so they won't go into that gun.

Also recently realized that none of my third gen TDA guns have a half cock notch where all of my first and second generation TDA autos do have a half cock notch.

4T5GUY · Jul 9, 2021

Thought I’d add this into the mix.

It got it online so the quality isn’t good. Earl sent me one along with some other literature but it’s all in PDF. I don’t know how to get them in “pictures”, or even if it’s possible.

I remembered I had a picture of the letter I got from Earl also, (sure miss him,) so I added it.

Jim

Engine49guy · Jul 9, 2021

I recall reading somewhere that Lew Horton closed its doors around 12/2019.
That's a shame as IIRC they used to provide letters and info on guns they marketed of which I have had quite a few.

On a side note I lived in that area but moved in 1981, apparently Lew Horton originally opened in Framingham Mass then moved to Southboro and Westboro,
Very familiar with those towns as I lived in the neighboring town of Sudbury Mass.
Kinda miss the change of seasons but definitely not the taxs or traffic.

New PC Shorty .40 duo

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